The Lancaster Redskins are getting a big boost to their lineup just in time for the postseason tournaments in Section VI.

Junior Steve Michel has been out all season after having knee surgery, but he returned to the lineup last week for the first time since winning a first-place title at the Section VI Championships last February and heading to the New York State Championships. It didn’t take long for Michel to fit right in as he scored a technical fall in his match against Hamburg on Friday night.

Michel’s return should help support a Lancaster team that has turned up its play heading into the postseason. After a tough loss at Jamestown last Friday, Lancaster has come back with a 52-18 victory over Hamburg this past Friday on Senior Night and a strong showing at the Lewiston-Porter Invitational Tournament on Saturday.

Lancaster head coach Ron Lorenz said his team has stepped up its competitiveness in recent meets.

“The kids have competed hard,” Lorenz said. “That’s been the difference. They’ve been able to go out and have a better effort. They’ve actually competed.”

Senior Kyle Harrington scored a big win at 132 pounds on Senior Night, as did Vinny Argentieri at 126 pounds as he scored a pinfall.

The Redskins then turned around and headed to Lew-Port for the Invitational on Saturday. The Redskins didn’t exactly have their complete team, though, as Larkin and Eric Lewandowski were both unable to compete. Michel was also out as he was taking his SATs. Still, the Redskins got a top-notch performance from Tyler Hartinger, who defeated Niagara Falls’ Donny McCoy to win the championship title at 99 pounds. That clinched a No. 1 seed for Hartinger at 99 pounds in the upcoming Class AA tournament.

Harrington reached round two of his bracket at 132 pounds, but was pinned in 2:42 by Lew-Port’s Brandon Dallavia, who went on to finish first.

In the consolation bracket, Tommy Michel wrestled tough and made it to the final at 99 pounds. He lost a 4-0 decision to North Tonawanda’s Troy Keller, though, and finished fourth.

Argentieri went right through his consolation bracket at 120 pounds and defeated Lockport’s Chris Clay in the final with a fall at 2:16 to claim third.

The strong performance gives Lancaster some momentum heading into the Section VI Class AA tournament on Friday at Jamestown High School. Top-five finishers in each bracket will automatically qualify for the Section VI Championships one week later at Lake Shore High School. Lorenz has high expectations for Hartinger, Tommy and Steve Michel, Argentieri, Lewandowski and Larkin at the Class AA tournament. Larkin will have a challenge with the defending Section VI champion in his bracket.

Lorenz is also optimistic that other wrestlers like John Orlando and Mike Ziolo can step up and surprise this weekend. It would make for a satisfying conclusion to an up-and-down season.

“My expectations are high,” Lorenz said. “We’ve been wrestling tough. I have high expectations for my top six. I hope others that haven’t had much success can get through, too.” email: mmigliore@beenews.com