D1 Preview: One Champion Will Emerge
February 26, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Hartland, Davison and Detroit Catholic Central have taken turns against each other and as the presumed favorite in Division 1 this season.
They make up the top three seeds among another strong class of teams from Michigan's largest wrestling schools, but should be wary of at least a few others that already have surprised during this tournament run.
Below is a look at all eight teams competing in Division 1, listed by seed. Quarterfinal matches begin at 2 p.m. Friday, with Semifinals at 10 a.m. Saturday and the championship match at 3:30 p.m. All matches this weekend will be streamed live on a subscription basis on MHSAA.TV. For results throughout, check the MHSAA Wrestling page.
The MHSAA Wrestling Finals are presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
#1 Hartland
Record/rank: 32-1, No. 2
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West (also Lakes and overall)
Coach: Todd Cheney, 24rd season (665-97-2)
Championship history: Five MHSAA runner-up finishes (most recent 2015).
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Corey Cavanaugh (41-10) fr.; 103 Kyle Kantola (50-4) fr.; 125 Noah Lopez (43-6) sr.; 130 Garnet Potter (33-11) jr.; 135 Nick DiNobile (35-16) jr.; 140 Reece Hughes (45-4) jr.; 152 Sage Castillo (52-0) sr.; 152 Logan Vish (45-9) sr.; 171 Lucas LaForge (45-6) sr.; 189 Andrew Spisz (35-15) jr.; 285 Brandon Krol (23-3) sr.
Outlook: Will this end with Hartland’s first team championship? The Eagles have made 15 straight trips to the Quarterfinals and fell to Brighton by only six points in last season’s championship match. Hartland gave up only 34 points total in four postseason matches to return this weekend, and its only loss this season was to Detroit Catholic Central during their dual at CMU in January. Hughes, Vish and Potter all were individual placers last season and Castillo is a favorite to also contend next weekend, and they together help make up a nucleus of 11 upperclassmen that fill every weight from 125-285.
#2 Davison
Record/rank: 22-4, No. 2
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League
Coach: Roy Hall, 19th season (467-88-1)
Championship history: Eight MHSAA championships (most recent 2006), three runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Steven Garty (28-8) fr.; 112 Max Johnson (27-0) sr.; 119 AJ Facundo (28-9) soph.; 125 Deven Perez (35-6) sr.; 130 Ryan Schlak (24-13) jr.; 135 Brian Case (33-5) fr.; 145 Kurt Schlak (25-13) sr.; 160 Gabe Ellis (26-11) soph.; 189 Brenden McRill (34-2) jr.; 189 Logan Mabbitt (20-7) sr.; 215 Tanner Thomas (24-11) sr.
Outlook: Davison followed two straight runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2014 by falling to eventual champion Brighton by only four points in a Semifinal last season, but looks capable of taking the final step again for the first time since 2006. Facundo is the reigning champion at 112, and Johnson, Perez, McRill and Thomas all also placed last season (McRill for the second straight). Davison hasn’t given up more than 17 points to an opponent during this run, and is built for now and the future with six seniors plus six underclassmen among starters.
#3 Detroit Catholic Central
Record/rank: 15-5, No. 1
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League.
Coach: Mitch Hancock, ninth season (186-41)
Championship history: Eleven MHSAA championships (most recent 2014), two runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Benyamin Kamali (14-1) soph.; 112 Stone Moscovic (26-11) soph.; 119 Kevon Davenport (41-3) fr.; 125 Cameron Amine (34-8) fr.; 130 Aaron Rehfeldt (28-16) sr.; 140 Aidan Wagh (30-15) soph.; 171 Tyler Morland (39-1) jr.; 215 Jackson Ross (33-9) jr.; 285 Nicholas Jenkins (33-10) jr.
Outlook: The Shamrocks are seeking their fifth Division 1 championship in seven seasons and as mentioned above are the only team to beat Hartland this season. DCC has replaced a pair of strong graduating classes the last two years with a strong group of underclassmen to go with eight upperclassmen who hold down eight of the nine heaviest weights. Moreland and Jenkins were individual placers last season.
#4 Oxford
Record/rank: 24-8, No. 6
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red.
Coach: Paul McDevitt, 19th season (386-155)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2011, two runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Daltan Myers (15-1) soph.; 125 Sergio Borg (35-15) soph.; 140 Alex Hrisopoulos (44-5) sr.; 152 Devin Trevino (26-18) fr.; 215 Wyatt Harden (42-3) sr.
Outlook: The Wildcats are back at Finals weekend for the eighth time in nine seasons and as a fourth seed after competing as an eighth only a year ago. A young lineup last season is more veteran with eight upperclassmen but still five freshmen plus another four who have gained valuable experience this winter. Hrisopoulos is coming off his second-straight top-three individual finish, and Borg and Harden also were Finals qualifiers in 2015.
#5 Hudsonville
Record/rank: 27-5, unranked
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Coach: Mike Rottier, ninth season (147-108)
Championship history: Has never finished among the top two teams in Finals competition.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Kameron Kempker (28-7) soph.; 103 Jack Samuels (42-1) fr.; 130 Austin Fine (38-9) sr.; 140 Anthony Snead (24-17) sr.; 160 Brenden DeVries (34-9) sr.; 285 Lane Potter (26-19) jr.
Outlook: Hudsonville has built its best record under Rottier and is back at the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2011. The lineup is filled with veterans, with eight seniors, and upperclassmen at every weight from 119-285. Although the team doesn’t have any wrestlers who placed at last season’s Individual Finals, six have won at least 30 matches this winter, including both freshmen at the top of the lineup.
#6 Macomb Dakota
Record/rank: 26-12, No. 9
League finish: Second in Macomb Area Conference Red.
Coach: Ed Skowneski, fourth season (116-34)
Championship history: Has never finished among the top two teams in Finals competition.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Justin Tiburcio (48-10) fr.; 130 Tyler Sanders (52-5) soph.; 140 Layne Malczewski (50-7) soph.; 145 Dustin Solomon (34-16) fr.
Outlook: Dakota definitely is a team on the rise; the team has only one senior among 28 on the roster, starts eight sophomores and three freshmen, and beat rival and No. 8 New Baltimore Anchor Bay by a point on the way to its third Quarterfinal in four seasons. Malczewski and Sanders both placed at the Individual Finals as freshmen, and 12 wrestlers have at least 30 wins this season.
#7 Grand Ledge
Record/rank: 19-7, unranked
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Blue.
Coach: Steve Delaney, ninth season (185-71)
Championship history: Class B runner-up 1962.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Cole Janes (44-2) jr.; 125 Jack Snauko (43-4) jr.; 140 Dylan Steward (44-1) sr.; 285 Matt Lloyd (23-3) sr.
Outlook: Grand Ledge has been the surprise of the MHSAA Tournament after knocking off reigning champion Brighton, which was ranked No. 4 entering the postseason, in their Regional Semifinal. This is the Comets’ first trip to the Quarterfinals since 2005, but Steward has championship experience as the reigning winner at 140. Lloyd also placed in 2015, and they are two of a strong group of 10 upperclassmen leading the charge.
#8 Temperance Bedford
Record/rank: 11-0, No. 10
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference.
Coach: Kevin Vogel, fifth season (114-34)
Championship history: Eleven MHSAA titles (most recent 2001), seven runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 135 Austin Teague (34-11) sr.; 152 Brad Stewart (35-6) sr.; 160 Blake Montrie (46-1) sr.; 189 Gabriel Elarton (39-7) sr.; 285 Tim Stevens (38-5) sr.
Outlook: One of the most storied programs in MHSAA history is back at the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2013, with its last championship match appearance coming during a runner-up run in 2008. Montrie is one of six seniors in the lineup and the reigning champion at 152; Stewart at Stevens also were placers last season. The Kicking Mules eliminated No. 7 Westland John Glenn on the way to CMU.
PHOTO: Detroit Catholic Central and Hartland squared off during the CMU Duals last month, with the Shamrocks coming away victorious. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Preview: Annual Favorites Lead Title March, But Challengers Set to Pursue
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 22, 2024
There’s no debating that a handful of annual powerhouses have ruled the MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals over the last decade.
But this weekend's edition at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo is filled with intriguing possibilities for those favorites to be challenged.
Yes, Lowell has won 10 straight championships in Division 2, Dundee has won six straight in Division 3, Hudson is seeking a three-peat in Division 4, and a repeat for Detroit Catholic Central in Division 1 would give the Shamrocks 17 team championships overall.
But consider:
In Division 1, DCC could face a 2023 Finals rematch with undefeated Hartland. In Division 2, Lowell is joined by three undefeated contenders plus a second-seeded Freeland team seeking its first title. Dundee also may find itself in a 2023 Finals rematch, with Whitehall. And Hudson certainly has an eye on St. Louis, which is seeded second in Division 4 for the second-straight season and seeking its first title as well.
And that’s just glancing at a handful of the 28 teams total seeking to dethrone last year’s four title winners.
Competition begins Friday at noon with the first of four sets of Quarterfinals. Semifinals are Saturday morning and early afternoon, with championship matches on four adjacent mats at 3:45 p.m. Brackets for all four divisions, links to buy tickets and watch online can be found here. Click here to check out the program, and see below for glances at all 32 hopefuls, listed by division and seed. (Weight classes beginning with “G” are from the girls division of the Individual Wrestling Finals.)
Division 1
#1 DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 1
League finish: First in Catholic High School League Central
Coach: Mitch Hancock, 17th season (380-58)
Championship history: Sixteen MHSAA championships (most recent 2023), four runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Ryan Totten (42-9) fr., 113 Gregory Jamison (36-6) fr., 113 Wyatt Lees (43-5) soph., 120 Mack Moscovic (32-8) fr., 120 Nathan Walkowiak (27-11) jr., 126 Simon Dominguez (30-11) sr., 126 Grayson Fuchs (36-5) fr., 132 Michael Cannon (23-16) sr., 150 Mason Stewart (44-3) sr., 157 Darius Marines (43-0) sr., 175 Andrew White (30-13) jr., 190 Lee Krueger (37-5) jr., 215 Connor Bercume (37-3) jr., 285 Ben Eziuka (30-11) soph.
Outlook: DCC turned its seventh-straight championship match appearance last year into its first Division 1 championship since 2020, and the Shamrocks are the only team at this Finals sending a full 14 qualifiers to Ford Field next weekend. Eight of those qualifiers are repeat contenders from a year ago. Marines will be wrestling for his fourth individual championship, while Bercume and Lees also were Finals champions in 2023, Stewart was a runner-up and Walkowiak and Krueger were placers.
#2 HARTLAND
Record/rank: 31-0, No. 2
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Coach: Kyle Summerfield, third season (87-4)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2016, six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Brayden Tougas (39-5) fr., 120 Ashton Jewell (36-8) fr., 126 Bohdan Abbey (51-0) soph., 126 Ty Biggert (40-9) jr., 132 Dallas Korponic (46-5) soph., 138 Easton Culver (23-1) jr., 150 Vinnie Abbey (45-3) sr., 150 Colin Jewell (40-6) sr., 157 Joseph Cappellano (36-8) soph., 165 James Butzier (41-8) sr., 175 Will Darish (31-13) sr., 215 Jacob Pretzel (41-4) sr.
Outlook: The seasoned Eagles start seven seniors and three juniors and emerged from a league that also included No. 3 seed Brighton as they attempt to take the final step after finishing runner-up to DCC a year ago. Hartland also defeated No. 7 Clarkston during this tournament run. Bohdan Abbey was last season’s champion at 113 and is a combined 95-3 over his first two, while Vinnie Abbey was last year’s runner-up at 157 and Korponic and Culver also placed in 2023.
#3 BRIGHTON
Record/rank: 26-2, No. 4
League finish: Second in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Coach: Shawn Scott, fourth season (82-27)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2015, runner-up 2019 and 2018.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Ethan Smith (43-7) soph., 106 Jameson Wood (25-11) fr., 113 Drake Pollins (30-10) soph., 144 Kaden Tindall (37-15) soph., 150 Xander Courneya (36-12) soph., 165 Zak Knapp (45-4) sr., 215 Sean O’Keefe (38-8) jr., G-115 Rayna Richardson (15-2) fr., G-190 Sabrina Nauss (5-0) sr.
Outlook: Brighton is back at Finals weekend for the first time since 2020, and has won District titles all four seasons under Scott – who previously assisted at Kent State. Knapp, Smith and junior Easton Hardesty (132, 28-2) were Finals placers last season, and Nauss is a two-time individual champion. Smith is one of five sophomore starters, and four of those five will wrestle at Ford Field next weekend.
#4 ROCKFORD
Record/rank: 29-3, No. 5
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Coach: Brian Richardson, 15th season (338-127)
Championship history: Two MHSAA championships (most recent 2009), three runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Layne Martin (41-6) fr., 132 Liam Fitzpatrick (37-11) soph., 144 James Diel (39-9) sr., 175 Louis Bosscher (34-9) sr., 175 Logan Hammingh (33-12) soph., 285 Ryan Ahern (44-0) sr., G-145 Hailee Budrick (8-0) sr.
Outlook: The Rams reached the Semifinals as the third seed last season, and they’re returning to championship weekend for the fifth time over the last six years. The lineup is anchored by five seniors and five juniors, and Ahern was the individual runner-up at 190 last season while junior Braylenn Aulbach (138, 38-10) and Budrick also were placers.
#5 TEMPERANCE BEDFORD
Record/rank: 24-4, No. 3
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference
Coach: Kevin Vogel, 13th season (310-69)
Championship history: Eleven MHSAA championships (most recent 2001), seven runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Cody Duvendack (41-6) fr., 113 Tristan King (36-13) soph., 138 Lucas Gerber (34-17) jr., 144 Noah Benore (42-9) jr., 165 Zach Miracle (43-7) soph., 215 Conner Green (32-4) sr., 285 Chase Norbury (45-3) jr.
Outlook: Bedford moved up two seeds from last season in reaching the Finals for the third straight, and defeated No. 10 Westland John Glenn on the way to Kalamazoo. While the team has three seniors and five juniors among starters, it also starts five sophomores with five more serving as key reserves. King, Benore and Green all are returning individual qualifiers.
#6 DAVISON
Record/rank: 19-5, No. 6
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League
Coach: Drew Dixon, first season (19-5)
Championship history: Ten MHSAA championships (most recent 2022), six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Steve Vaughn (29-8) fr., 126 Calvin Martz (31-7) soph., 132 Dominic Perez (10-1) jr., 138 Julius Pacheco (17-7) fr., 144 Justin Gates (35-2) sr., 144 Tanner McDunnah (29-6) jr., 150 Kyle Jelinek (23-7) jr., 157 Bryan Shanks (29-19) sr., 165 Brayden Bundy (18-11) soph., 190 Charlie Armstead (28-13) sr., 215 Brandon Glisson (30-16) soph., 285 Alexander Holmes (34-11) sr.
Outlook: Davison is continuing its run of Finals appearances under first-year coach Dixon, who previously served as an assistant at St. Clair County Community College and inherited a program only a year removed from winning back-to-back Division 1 titles. Gates is the reigning champion at 138 and will wrestle for his third Finals individual title next weekend, while Jelinek is a two-time returning placer. Davison defeated No. 8 Oxford during its District run.
#7 MACOMB DAKOTA
Record/rank: 21-2, No. 9
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Coach: Ed Skowneski, 12th season (315-66)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Ethan Smith (43-7) soph., 113 Carl Nihranz (42-2) soph., 132 Jake Gawlowski (36-7) sr., 138 Ozia Wilson (44-2) jr., 150 Dominic de Mesa (37-8) sr., 190 Logan Criteser (37-4) jr., 215 Brady Hamby (35-6) jr., 285 Brad Haver (40-5) sr.
Outlook: After a season away, Dakota is back at Finals weekend for the 10th time under Skowneski and with a starting lineup that will graduate only four this spring. Those four seniors all have at least 35 wins, Connor Palazzolo (144, 35-7) joining the three noted above. He’s also one of four returning Finals placers, joined by Nihranz, Gawlowski and Criteser, and Wilson was the runner-up at 103 as a freshman.
#8 WARREN MOTT
Record/rank: 14-4, unranked
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference White
Coach: Paul Salyers, ninth season (129-52)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Cameron Leone (31-7) jr., 132 Kiet Tran (32-11) sr., 138 Adil Salam (27-13) sr., 144 John Kaminski (36-11) soph., 150 Jude Kaptur (33-17) sr., 165 Paul Khamo (39-6) sr., G-125 Megan Melnyk (20-8) jr., G-125 Makayla Perdue-Daniels (18-9) jr.
Outlook: Mott has won league and District titles all but two seasons under Salyers, a past individual runner-up at Sandusky, and now he’ll take the Marauders to the Team Finals for the first time. He’ll bring a lineup starting eight seniors of 14 total on the team. Perdue-Daniels placed sixth at girls 125 last season.
Division 2
#1 LOWELL
Record/rank: 19-3, No. 1
League finish: First in O-K White
Coach: R.J. Boudro, 10th season (190-30)
Championship history: Thirteen MHSAA championships (most recent 2023), six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Cole Cichocki (20-12) fr., 106 Jarrett Smith (32-1) soph., 113 Braddock King (21-14) jr., 120 Carter Cichocki (23-9) fr., 132 Jackson Blum (28-1) jr., 132 Logan Dawson (27-10) soph., 138 Trevor Boone (25-11) soph., 144 Owen Segorski (27-6) jr., 150 Tacho Gonzales (21-14) sr., 157 Jared Boone (27-8) sr., 190 Casey Engle (26-9) jr.
Outlook: Lowell’s record championship streak stands at 10. The Red Arrows defeated No. 7 Hamilton during this latest tournament run and have an experienced group despite only four seniors in the anticipated starting lineup. Blum was last season’s individual champion at 120, while Segorski was runner-up at 138, Carter Cichocki was runner-up at 113, and Dawson and Smith also placed.
#2 FREELAND
Record/rank: 23-2, No. 2
League finish: Second in Tri-Valley Conference Red
Coach: Scott VanLuven, fourth season (89-20)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Easton Rosebush (26-14) soph., 126 Malachi Hill (38-5) jr., 144 Ty Fournier (32-8) sr., 150 Fabian Facundo (40-0) jr., 157 Noah Graham (42-2) sr., 165 Gibson Shepard (37-5) sr., 175 Elijah Murphy (29-8) sr., G-140 Violet Cabrera (10-4) jr.
Outlook: Freeland has won four Districts under VanLuven and is making its second trip to the Finals under his leadership, thanks in part to a 31-27 win over No. 3 Bay City John Glenn in the District Final. The Falcons also defeated frequent contender Gaylord to clinch the Regional. Seven seniors lead this group, and Facundo was a Division 3 individual runner-up for Alma as a freshman.
#3 THREE RIVERS
Record/rank: 29-0, No. 5
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference
Coach: Jeff Smith, eighth season (116-75)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Kale Parr (41-13) fr., 126 Ethan Moreland (48-4) fr., 132 Ayden Keller (49-4) jr., 150 Evan Harper (36-13) fr., 150 Landon Moreland (46-6) jr., 157 Braylon Faile (38-12) fr., 165 Louis Smith (48-1) soph., 175 Jeremiah Detwiler (44-7) sr., 190 Jaxon Smith (49-3) soph.
Outlook: Three Rivers will be making its second Finals appearance, and first since 2001, and the Wildcats are a combined 54-2 over the last two seasons. They made it here in part thanks to a Regional Semifinal win over No. 9 Stevensville Lakeshore. Detwiler was a Finals placer last season, and he’s the lone senior starter in a lineup that includes 10 underclassmen.
#4 MASON
Record/rank: 23-0, No. 4
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Red
Coach: Brian Martel, 21st season (600-118)
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2006), one runner-up finish.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Darius Ambs (32-6) soph., 126 Matt Ausel (13-3) jr., 144 Tex Smith (31-3) sr., 150 Jadyn Grimes (31-7) sr., 157 Gavin Vankirk (31-5) jr., 165 AJ Martel (16-1) sr., 175 Derek Badgley (35-2) sr., 215 Grant Gilchrist (27-9) sr.
Outlook: Brian Martel was Mason’s coach for its 2004 runner-up finish and Division 2 titles the following two seasons, and he has the Bulldogs on another nice run with the last five seasons including five league, four District and three Regional titles. Grimes and Badgley were Finals placers last season and are among six senior starters. AJ Martel finished his football career in the fall as the school’s all-time leading rusher, and he recently was named an MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award winner.
#5 MONROE JEFFERSON
Record/rank: 28-0, No. 6
League finish: First in Huron League
Coach: Ryan Nadeau, second season (46-2)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Tyler Vanderpool (38-15) jr., 126 Ty Rose (46-8) sr., 132 Issac Masserant (41-8) sr., Ryder Mulherin (48-12) jr., 144 Carter Simota (53-3) sr., 150 Vladimir Uhlik (31-11) sr., 157 Martre Pearson (46-8) sr., 215 Anthony Cousino (48-5) sr., G-120 Morgan Simota (7-2) soph.
Outlook: Jefferson has moved up two seeds from last season’s Finals appearance as the Bears return for the fourth-straight year. Few have as experienced a lineup, as last year’s junior-heavy group has turned into 10 senior starters with three more juniors and a sophomore filling things out. Six of this season’s individual qualifiers also reached Ford Field in 2023.
#6 GREENVILLE
Record/rank: 35-5, No. 8
League finish: Second in O-K White
Coach: Brett Peterman, third season (100-17)
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2008, runner-up 2011.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Kamden Witte (39-7) jr., 144 Alex Buskirk (41-3) soph., 150 Liam Dailey (37-5) sr., 165 Naythan Dobson (35-4) sr., 165 Casey Eberspeaker (39-8) sr., 190 Nick Earles (31-10) sr., 215 Case Johnson (47-2) jr.
Outlook: Peterman has led Greenville to at least 31 wins all three of his seasons guiding the program, and now to its first Finals weekend since 2013. Ten starters have at least 30 wins, including all seven Individual Finals qualifiers. Dobson, Buskirk, Dailey and Johnson all were individual placers last season.
#7 LAKE FENTON
Record/rank: 41-5, unranked
League finish: Tied for first in Flint Metro League
Coach: Vance Corcoran, 14th season (395-125)
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2011.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Marvin Jorge (49-6) sr., 120 Clay Cook (55-1) sr., 126 Robby Moore (52-7) sr., 138 Drew Corcoran (54-6) sr., 150 Noah Hall (55-3) sr., 190 Josh Ezell (45-13) jr.
Outlook: This is Lake Fenton’s fifth trip to Finals weekend under Corcoran, and first since 2017. The other four came in Division 3, but the Blue Devils have begun to make their move in Division 2 as well and bring a lineup to Kalamazoo with nine senior starters including five of the individual qualifiers noted above. Hall and Cook were Finals placers last season.
#8 BLOOMFIELD HILLS BROTHER RICE
Record/rank: 17-7, unranked
League finish: Second in Catholic High School League Central
Coach: Scott Kolesky, fifth season (90-39)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Richard Davis (44-2) soph., 126 Ricardo Saenz (45-2) jr., 144 Deacon MacNeill (41-3) soph., Alex Rabban (30-18) jr., Caleb Steele (44-7) soph.
Outlook: Brother Rice has strung together three straight Finals appearances and has plenty to look forward to with only two senior starters but six sophomores and two freshmen in the lineup. Davis, Saenz and MacNeill all placed at last season’s Individual Finals, Saenz for the second straight.
Division 3
#1 DUNDEE
Record/rank: 15-5, No. 1
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Co-coaches: Garrett Stevens & Nate Hall, second seasons (34-7)
Championship history: Fifteen MHSAA championships (most recent 2023), eight runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Mason Katschor (40-6) fr., 113 Mason Haines (25-12) soph., 113 Haydn Nutt (32-7) soph., 120 Braden Broderick (11-1) soph., 126 Wyatt Burns (20-9) fr., 126 Kade Kluce (24-9) sr., 132 Cameron Chinavare (32-2) sr., 138 Jeremy Amrhein (26-9) soph., 144 Blake Cosby (37-1) soph., 150 Donny Beaufait (34-8) soph., 150 Trey Parker (28-12) sr., 157 Kole Katschor (38-6) jr.
Outlook: As Dundee attempts to extend its Division 3 championship streak to seven, there are eight underclassmen in the lineup – which is more bad news for everyone else as the Vikings remain the team to chase. Kluce will wrestle next weekend for a fourth individual championship and is the reigning champ at 120, and Chinavare will attempt to win his third title after claiming 126 a year ago. Nutt (106) and Kole Katschor (150) also were 2023 champions, while Cosby was the runner-up at 144 and Broderick, Beaufait, Parker and sophomore Rocco Redmon (175, 25-15) were placers.
#2 WHITEHALL
Record/rank: 27-3, No. 2
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference Lakes
Coach: Justin Zeerip, sixth season (160-15)
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2023 and 2021, Class C runner-up 1984.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Cody Manzo (39-7) soph., 113 Kolten Weiler (33-13) soph., 120 Max Krukowski (31-12) soph., 126 Nolan Taranko (43-5) sr., 138 Ryne Christensen (40-6) sr., 144 Liam Leeke (37-11) fr., 150 Darnell Mack (47-0) sr., 157 Ryan Goodrich (42-5) jr., 175 Gavin Craner (47-0) jr., 215 Blake Morningstar (35-12) sr.; 285 Jason Smith (24-10) sr.
Outlook: Whitehall outwrestled its third seed last season to reach the championship match, and a combined 10 seniors and juniors returned to anchor all but one weight from 126 up. Mack and Goodrich were Finals placers last season when the team had five individual qualifiers – compared to 11 this trip, including all four underclassmen starters.
#3 CLINTON
Record/rank: 26-5, No. 4
League finish: Third in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Coach: Casey Randolph, 11th season (292-61)
Championship history: Two MHSAA championships (most recent 2021), one runner-up finish.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Nate Arntz (31-8) sr., 126 Braylon Long (39-4) jr., 132 Connor Younts (50-2) sr., 138 Maurice Ames (42-6) sr., 150 Cliff Jones (40-8) soph., Bryce Randolph (49-2) soph., Wyatt Hicks (40-13) sr., 285 Hamza Rafferty (40-10) jr.
Outlook: This will be Clinton’s eighth-straight trip to Finals weekend, and the team enters one seed higher than a year ago. The lineup has five seniors but also seven underclassmen including five straight wrestling from 150-190. Randolph, Long, Younts and Ames were individual placers last season, and Younts was the 103-pound champion in Division 4 as a freshman.
#4 CONSTANTINE
Record/rank: 25-2, No. 5
League finish: Tied for first in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Coach: Dale Davidhizar III, ninth season (215-71)
Championship history: 1993 Class C-D champion, 2002 Division 3 runner-up.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 132 Bear Geibe (42-7) soph., 132 Preston Like (35-9) jr., 138 Koltin Gross (36-6) jr., 157 Brody Jones (43-4) jr., 175 Dathan Smith (38-13) sr., 190 Gregg Reed (38-8) sr., 285 Bennett VandenBerg (48-0) sr., G-140 Shayla Nickoson (19-7) jr.
Outlook: Constantine also moved up a seed in returning to the Finals for the fourth-straight season, and a lineup that was young the last two seasons now boasts six senior and four junior starters. The Falcons also have nearly doubled last season’s five Individual Finals qualifiers with eight this time. VandenBerg was the runner-up at 215 last year, and Jones placed seventh at 144.
#5 HART
Record/rank: 26-6, No. 7
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference Rivers
Coach: Rocky Smith, first season (26-6)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Kole Thomas (40-7) fr., 144 JoseLuis Andaverde (42-12) sr., 157 Josue Salgado Velazquez (42-7) sr., 175 Alex Hicks (45-4) jr., 215 Ivan Lara (36-7) sr.
Outlook: Hart has a first-year head coach for the second-straight season and continues to rise. Smith is a 1996 grad and served as an assistant for a decade, and his first Pirates team has moved up three seeds from a year ago as it makes the trip for the fifth-straight season. Velazquez and Hicks also qualified for the Individual Finals last season.
#6 YALE
Record/rank: 21-6, No. 6
League finish: Tied for first in Blue Water Area Conference
Coach: Rob Majcher, 11th season (158-163)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Gable Majcher (38-5) fr., 113 Chase Sopha (35-12) fr., 120 Landon Sopha (45-5) jr., 126 Kersten McClelland (40-12) soph., 157 Jeremy Griffith (42-3) sr., 175 Cole McLaughlin (42-6) jr. G-100 Gianna Hoskins (18-2) fr., G-130 Madison Mason (15-8) sr., G-235 Grace Warnke (4-7) fr.
Outlook: Yale is making its second trip to Finals weekend and first since 1990 after defeating No. 9 Otisville LakeVille Memorial in the District and No. 8 Richmond and No. 3 Algonac in the Regional. It’s been arguably the most impressive run in any division to get to Kalamazoo, and Yale did it with only three seniors in the lineup but seven more junior starters also helping to anchor. Griffith and Landon Sopha both were individual placers last season.
#7 GLADSTONE
Record/rank: 18-1, No. 10
League finish: First in Mid-Peninsula Conference
Coach: Jeff Brazeau, fifth season (79-16)
Championship history: Upper Peninsula Finals champion 1987, two UP Finals runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 126 Drew Hanson (42-1) sr., 150 Austin Solis (37-2) sr., 175 Trevor Thorbahn (37-6) soph.
Outlook: Gladstone has run its Regional title streak to three and continues to stack experience with a lineup this weekend including only four senior starters and also four freshmen. Hanson and Solis were Individual Finals placers last season, Hanson finishing third at his weight for the second straight.
#8 LAKE ODESSA LAKEWOOD
Record/rank: 24-6, unranked
League finish: Second in Capital Area Activities Conference White
Coach: Anthony Harmer, sixth season
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Vincent Stamm (31-8) fr., 126 Kade Boucher (28-10) jr., 138 Bryson Boucher (32-12) fr., 144 Jonathan Krebs (36-2) sr., 215 Joel Simon (32-2) jr.
Outlook: Lakewood has won five league and three District titles under 2001 grad Harmer, and now will return to Finals weekend for the first time since 2017. The Vikings also start only three seniors but four juniors, including Simon who finished third at 215 last season.
Division 4
#1 HUDSON
Record/rank: 24-4, No. 1
League finish: Second in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Coach: Scott Marry, 36th season (914-205)
Championship history: 10 MHSAA championships (most recent 2023), four runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Jaxton Kimling (19-21) fr., 113 Chase Clark (28-13) fr., 120 Colt Perry (16-7) soph., 120 Nicholas Sorrow (45-1) soph., 126 Julien Kimling (36-10) jr., 126 Owen Loop (28-19) fr., 138 Cole Marry (41-8) sr., 144 Coy Perry (42-6) sr., 150 Austin Marry (35-7) sr., 157 Jacob Pickford (30-14) jr., 175 Logan Ryan (34-9) sr., 190 Barron Mansfield (22-18) jr., G-105 Grace Miller (19-13) fr.
Outlook: The Tigers keep rolling as they pursue a third-straight title and sixth over the last eight seasons, with the forecast very similar to last year’s heading into Finals weekend. Scott Marry remains the winningest active coach and second-winningest overall, 67 dual victories behind retired record holder Bruce Bittenbender. Coy Perry and Sorrow were Individual Finals champions a year ago, and Austin Marry, Cole Marry, Julien Kimling, Colt Perry, Ryan and Pickford were placers.
#2 ST. LOUIS
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 2
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference Blue
Coach: Kevin Kuhn, 17th season (345-108)
Championship history: Class C-D runner-up 1995.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Owen Fogel (47-2) soph., 113 Paul Eldredge (19-8) soph., 113 Alex Rodriguez (41-2) soph., 120 Genaro Soto (30-9) jr., 126 Colin Kuhn (46-3) jr., 126 Ben March (19-13) sr., 132 Laythan Haworth (42-9) soph., 144 Martine Wiggins (43-6) jr., 157 Drew Challender (42-6) soph., 190 Udter Tweh (27-13) sr., 215 Ramon Anguiano (34-12) sr., G-100 Olesya Mullins (34-2) soph.
Outlook: St. Louis is the second seed for the second-straight season and will look to build on runs to the Semifinals the last two years. The Sharks defeated No. 10 Lakeview to advance to Kalamazoo. Rodriguez was the Individual Finals runner-up at 113 last season and Colin Kuhn and Fogel both placed at 106, while Mullins finished sixth in the girls 100 class.
#3 BENZIE CENTRAL
Record/rank: 25-4, No. 3
League finish: Tied for first in Northwest Conference
Co-coaches: Cody Vandonkelaar, second season (50-8); Josh Lovendusky, 11th season (159-138)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Dayne Gillison (35-8) soph., 120 Benjamin Deridder (35-9) jr., 132 Nathan Higgins (18-8) jr., 138 Jacob Gillison (42-7) sr., 138 Joe Morse (30-14) sr., 144 Owen Cruden (40-10) sr., 150 Dalton Geetings (34-15) sr., 157 Tyrone Brouillet (37-16) sr., 157 Conner Wenkel (34-15) jr., 175 Danny Wallington (19-10) sr., 190 Michael Pfeiffer (31-9) sr., 215 Lane Sanchez (36-12) soph., 285 Ryan Kincaid (35-14) sr., G-130 Cambrie Lawrence (20-7) sr.
Outlook: After making the Finals for the first time last season, as the seventh seed and nearly upsetting the second-seeded Sharks, Benzie has moved up to the third seed this weekend with eight returning Individual Finals qualifiers as well. Gillison was seventh at 138 last season, Pfeiffer was eighth at 175 and Lawrence was seventh at girls 125.
#4 BRONSON
Record/rank: 28-8, No. 4
League finish: Second in Big 8 Conference
Coach: Chad Butters, 11th season (290-74)
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2023, 2003 and 2002.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 126 Owen Kimmons (38-11) jr., 150 Gabriel Erwin (38-6) soph., 157 Layne Knisely (47-6) soph., 165 Mason Lindsey (47-5) jr., 175 Carson Norton (47-6) sr.; 190 Jacob Britten (44-6) sr., G-135 Mackenna Webster (27-2) soph.
Outlook: Bronson finished above its seed last season, reaching the championship match for the first time in two decades and after entering as the third seed for the second-straight year. Just like last winter, Bronson advanced in part this time by defeating No. 5 Union City in the District Final. Norton, Britten, Knisely and Webster all are returning Individual Finals placers from last season.
#5 MANCHESTER
Record/rank: 28-7, No. 6
League finish: First in Cascades Conference
Coach: Steve Vlcek, 34th season (729-37)
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2008.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Onyx Ostrom (40-9) jr., 126 Sammy Stewart (51-1) soph., 138 Nathan Meyer (40-10) jr., 144 Blake Sloan (47-5) soph., 165 Drake Neff (28-24) jr., 175 Gunner Carson (48-4) jr., 215 Nathan Fletcher (39-12) jr., 285 Dylan Gauss (34-13) jr.
Outlook: After returning to the Finals last season with a lineup filled with underclassmen, Manchester is much more experienced this trip, with several juniors setting the program up for a potentially strong 2025 run as well. Stewart won the individual championship at 113 last season, while Ostrom was eighth at 106 and Carson was eighth at 157. Vlcek is up to 10th on the all-time coaching wins list.
#6 IRON MOUNTAIN
Record/rank: 15-2, unranked
League finish: Second in Mid-Peninsula Conference
Coach: Cory McLaren, seventh season (88-49)
Championship history: Five Upper Peninsula Finals championships, three UP Finals runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Alexander Wilson (34-6) sr., 126 Di’Angelo Saldana (24-16) soph., 126 Tyler Winch (39-2) sr., 138 Daniel Manier (29-4) jr., 165 Fulton Stroud (32-2) sr., 165 Bradon Walstrom (24-10) sr., G-105 Shayna Hruska (20-10) sr.
Outlook: Eight senior starters lead the Mountaineers back to Wings and a few spots higher after the team was seeded eighth a year ago. Stroud and Wilson were repeat Finals placers last season – Stroud the runner-up at 165 and Winch fourth at 126 – and Hruska was seventh at girls 105.
#7 CLIMAX-SCOTTS/MARTIN
Record/rank: 26-5, No. 8
League finish: Tied for first in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Coach: Logan Curry, second season (55-9)
Championship history: Martin was Class D champion in 1998, with three runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Logan Gilbert (45-3) jr., 120 Cole Reitz (33-10) jr., 126 Jayce Ritchie (26-3) jr., 132 Haylen Buell (38-4) soph., 144 Jack Bagwell (47-10) jr., 215 Sam Bleeker (34-13) jr.
Outlook: CSM – a cooperative formed in 2015 – is making a return trip to the Finals after defeating No. 7 Decatur and No. 9 White Pigeon to win the Regional title. Gilbert was the runner-up last season at 106 after winning the 103 individual title as a freshman, and Buell also was a runner-up last winter at 132 while Ritchie placed fourth at 120.
#8 SAGINAW MICHIGAN LUTHERAN SEMINARY
Record/rank: 20-10, unranked
League finish: Fourth in TVC Blue
Coach: Joshua Wakefield, second season (38-26)
Championship history: Class D runner-up 1975.
Individual Finals qualifier: 190 Ethan Wakefield (41-4) jr.
Outlook: MLS is coming off its first Regional championship since that 1975 runner-up season, giving the TVC Blue two teams in this bracket, and did so while giving up a weight. The future could be even brighter, with Ethan Wakefield just a junior and only three seniors – but six freshmen – in the starting lineup.
PHOTOS (Top) St. Louis works toward a pin during a match against Chesaning this season. (Middle) Greenville, right, faces off against Mount Pleasant. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)