Dylan Main and Lucas Luchonok are the present for the Edsel Ford wrestling team.

Coach Mike Zimnicki hopes that the duo can lay a foundation for the future that hearkens to the program's proud past. "We're on the right path," he said. "We're building."

With Main and Luchonok, Edsel Ford has two experienced wrestlers to lead a lineup that includes seven newcomers.

Main, a senior heavyweight, set a school record with a six-second pin last year.

Luchonok excelled at 215 pounds last year for the Thunderbirds. He won the league championship in the inaugural season of the Western Wayne Athletic Conference, and finished fourth at the district tournament to advance to regionals.

Team has grown during Zimnicki's tenure

Although injuries and illness have slowed Main and Luchonok early this season, Zimnicki hopes the two leaders can help continue the program's turnaround.

When Zimnicki assumed coaching duties four years ago, there were only six wrestlers on the team. Since then, though, the number of wrestlers has grown, with 19 two years ago and 32 last year. This season, the Thunderbirds have 30 on the squad.

Zimnicki has built a coaching staff with roots to the program's present and past. Ziminicki's former coach, Keith Scalzo, is an assistant coach, and Mike Stetz is in his third year on the staff. Nate Garcia, a former wrestling standout at Edsel Ford, also serves as an assistant coach.

Tim Bloom, who recorded 27 pins as a captain on last season's squad, is the latest addition to the staff.

With help from his assistants and dedication from wrestlers such as Main and Luchonok, Zimnicki believes the team can win.

"We're hoping to do well this year," Zimnicki said. "We're not real deep on the light weights, but on the heavy weights, we're really deep."