Sports
e
Groves' wrestling co-captains are in an unlikely place
after rocky beginnings.
MIKE ROSENBAUM
Special to The Jewish News
wo years ago, few would have predicted that Ryan
Lewin and Jake Lessem would be the leaders of
Birmingham Groves' wrestling team.
As a sophomore, Lewin, in just his second year of
wrestling, did a respectable job winning about half of his
matches. Lessem had a tougher time, winning just four of
22 matches. Both improved dramatically last year and now
serve as Groves' co-captains.
Lewin may never have begun wrestling if his brother
Jeremy had not led the way. When Jeremy wrestled at
Groves, Ryan recalled, "I started going with my mom to
watch him. I really didn't know [much about wrestling] but
I followed the Groves team around for his three years on
varsity.
"When I got to be a freshman, the coaches expected me to
be there. I wasn't planning on wrestling, but [Coach Andrew
Wilson] got me to come out and then I ended up staying."
Lewin learned quickly. As a.171-pounder last year, he set
a Falcons' one-season record with 48 victories. He finished
Lessem's family includes his par-
third in the Oakland County meet, won his district compe-
ents, Louis and Nancy, and sister
tition and qualified for the state Class A tournament.
Sarah, 19. Nancy believes that
Despite Lewin's record-setting improvement, Lessem,
wrestling has helped strengthen Jake's
who's always wrestled as a heavyweight, was Groves' most
character.
improved wrestler last season. He won 30 of his 50 matches
"Wrestling was a real challenge for
and was a state regional qualifier.
him and he really had to work hard at
Lessem is the hardest worker I've ever seen," said Lewin.
it," she said. "I can remember watch-
"It's amazing how much he's improved in the past four
ing him wrestle the first year and he
years.''
would just go up against these guys
Lessem, meanwhile, recalled that Lewin tore cartilage in
who were much bigger and much bet-
his knee late last season. "I had no idea how serious it was
ter than he was and he would know
until after he'd had it diagnosed and was scheduled for
that he was not going to win and he
surgery. Every day he showed up, he got it taped and he did
would just do it anyway. I thought
what he had to do. He knew that the team needed him. He
that really took a lot of courage and
worked through the pain and kept on striving and being a
dedication for him to just hang in
leader for the team, even after a lot of people would've
there. "
stopped for the year.
Both Lewin and Lessem are having strong senior seasons.
In addition to their wrestling success, both Lewin and
Through Jan. 9, Lewin's record was 19-5. Wrestling at 189
Lessem played varsity football. Both are equally successful in
pounds, he won the Observer & Eccentric Tournament, the
school, earning National Honor Society memberships and
Troy Invitational, and was fourth in the Oakland County
running the wrestling team's study group.
tournament. Lessem, 13-5, placed second at the Eccentric
Lessem described the role of captain as "a combination of Tournament, his highest tournament finish.
being a wrestler and being a coach. On the one hand you
Lewin and Lessem will move on to college next year.
want to lead, you have to tell people what to do at times
Neither is likely to wrestle, although Lessem said he'd like to
and sometimes you have to discipline. But on the other
"maintain contact with wrestling" in the future because of
hand you still want to be one of the guys."
the "work ethic and the camaraderie wrestlers share."
Lewin's family - father Maury, mother Dee, and brothers
"I really love the sense of bonding wrestlers have with
Brandon, 22, and Jeremy, 21 - are important to him. "We
each other," Lessem explained. "I've met people at tourna-
have a thing about family being an important part of our
ments who, normally, I'd never talk to in my life, who I've
lives," Dee Lewin said. "Family always comes first. I believe
become pretty good friends with." LI
that Ryan feels the same way."
T
1/29
1999
Top:
Jaco b Lessem
and Ryan Lewin
square off
at practice
Above:
Groves co-captains
Ryan Lewin and
Jacob Lessem