By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

FERNDALE — There’s a hallway just outside of the Ferndale High gym with pictures of all of its past All-State athletes.

For a wrestler to appear on the wall, they need to finish in the top eight in the state tournament.

Senior wrestler Ryan Watts has a spot on the wall after finishing fourth last season.

And that’s where senior Lorenzo Lynch wants to be.

“I always wanted to get my face on the wall. I want to be one of those guys that the kids look up to,” Lynch said during a Feb. 24 practice. “Up on the wall, it’s you — ‘Lorenzo Lynch, an All-State wrestler, state champion.’ I always wanted to be that guy.”

Lynch, along with four teammates, gets his chance March 4-6 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Coach Charlie Morgan said five grapplers qualifying for the state finals is the most the school has ever sent. It is also further proof that the team’s 2-12 overall record was mostly due to a lack of numbers, not a lack of talent.

“We knew all along we had some kids that could wrestle,” he said. “We just didn’t have enough of them.”

Watts (145 pounds), Kody Crocker (215), Keith Williams (285) and Lynch (189) join sophomore Chevez Farris (171) at The Palace.

For all but Watts, it will be their first trip to the finals.

Crocker said making it to The Palace has been a goal of his since he lost in districts as a freshman to an eventual state placer, and that he’s proud to enter the finals with his teammates.

“We’re bringing five this year, which is a school record. It feels really good,” he said. “I haven’t been able to finish my past two seasons because of injury.”

Williams was close last season, losing in the “blood round” of regionals — one victory away from qualifying. This time around, he again found himself needing one victory to get in.

“This time I knew how hard you have to work in the blood round,” said Williams, who won the match by pin. “It’s the hardest thing to do, but I knew I had to do it if I wanted to continue my senior season.”

The qualifiers agreed that much of the reason they’re in the finals is because of each other. In practice, Watts and Farris train together, as do Lynch, Crocker and Williams.

“It helps a lot,” Crocker said. “I work with (Williams), and he’s strong. I work with (Lynch), and he’s faster. So that really gives you a mix of what you’re going to get.”

Lynch echoed those thoughts.

“Keith helps you work on your strength, because he’s a mean guy. He’s nice, but when it comes to wrestling, he’s mean,” Lynch said. “Kody is just smooth. He helps you work on your technique. … All of these guys have helped me out a lot. They’re the reason I’m going to states. I owe it all to them.”

You can reach Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1062.