D1 Preview: Ready to Repeat

February 27, 2013

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Detroit Catholic Central and Davison dominated MHSAA Division 1 wrestling all season before meeting in Saturday's team championship match, which the Shamrocks won to claim their second straight MHSAA title. 

So it's little surprise that they combine to bring back five individual champions plus another runner-up from last season's Finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills. 

See below for 10 contenders to watch this weekend, plus others who enter the tournament undefeated or coming off runner-up finishes in 2012. Follow all the matches beginning with Thursday's first round live on MHSAA.tv, and click here for results at MHSAA.com. And check back with Second Half later Saturday night for full coverage from the Finals, including comments from all 14 champions. 

10 to watch

112: Kyle Gillies, Westland John Glenn senior – Seven wrestlers in this bracket have four or fewer losses, but Gillies is the only undefeated contender, entering 52-0.

112: Lincoln Olson, Davison sophomore – May be an underdog with an undefeated wrestler in the way, but won 103 last season.

119: Shayne Wireman, Holt senior – Driving for his second MHSAA title in three seasons (he won 103 in 2011) and at 43-0 is the only undefeated wrestler in his bracket.

119: Mitch Rogaliner, Temperance-Bedford senior – Boasts a 45-2 record this winter after winning 112 with a 9-5 decision in 2012.

135: Justin Oliver, Davison junior – Won 112 as a freshman and 119 as a sophomore, and enters this weekend 12-1 after helping Davison to last week’s Team Final.

135: Ken Bade, Detroit Catholic Central senior: Looking to win his third championship after taking 130 last season and 125 in 2011, and enters with a 36-7 record against one of the state’s toughest schedules.

152: Aaron Calderon, Brighton senior – Made one of the biggest headlines of 2012 by beating a three-time champion to claim the title at 152, and looks to repeat entering 45-4.

160: Dakota Juarez, Grand Haven junior – Seeking Grand Haven’s first championship since 2008 while entering 41-0 and after finishing third at 152 in 2012.

160: Jordan Cooks, Davison junior – Moved to 39-1 during last weekend’s Division 1 Team Finals and looking to add a repeat individual title after winning this weight in 2012.

171: Drew Garcia, Detroit Catholic Central junior – Won 171 pounds last year after finishing runner-up at 152 in 2011, and could make it two in a row entering this weekend 48-0.

Also undefeated: Holt sophomore Benny Gomez (103, 43-0), Holt junior Martin Rodriguez (125, 12-0), Rochester senior Josh Wood (125, 15-0), Livonia Franklin junior Jordan Atienza (152, 55-0)

Returning MHSAA runners-up: Canton junior Ben Griffin (125, 49-4, 112 in 2012), Grand Haven sophomore Camden Bertucci (112, 40-1, 103 in 2012), Hartland junior Austin Eicher (130, 48-1, 119 in 2012), Detroit Catholic Central junior Malik Amine (140, 36-6, 135 in 2012), Portage Central junior Dominic Latora (152, 44-2, 145 in 2012), Temperance Bedford senior Brandon Sunday (215, 47-1, 285 in 2012). 

PHOTO: Detroit Catholic Central's Drew Garcia gets his arm raised high after winning his match during Friday's Team Quarterfinal against Grandville. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)

Performance of the Week: Dundee's Braeden Davis

March 10, 2023

Braeden DavisBraeden Davis ♦ Dundee
Senior ♦ Wrestling

Davis capped his high school wrestling career with his fourth Individual Finals championship Saturday at Ford Field, in the process also becoming just the fifth wrester to be part of four team and four individuals Finals championships in MHSAA history as Dundee clinched its sixth-straight Division 3 team title the previous weekend at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo. 

In defeating Grand Rapids Catholic Central's Michael Wilson 3-1 in the Division 3 138-pound championship match, Davis finished 41-0 this winter and added to previous titles at 119 in 2022, 112 in 2021 and 103 in 2020. He also finished with a combined record of 147-6. Davis will continue his career at Penn State, the reigning NCAA Division 1 champion and winner of that title nine of the last 11 seasons. 

@mhsaasports 🤼POW: Braeden Davis #performanceoftheweek #wrestler #champion #individual #team #record #dundee #vikings #congrats #MHSAA #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #TikTok#mistudentaid #fyp ♬ Beat Automotivo Tan Tan Tan Viral - WZ Beat

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2022-23 Honorees

March 2: Gabriel Sanchez-Burks, Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming - Report
Feb. 23:
Grace Sobczak, Marquette swimming - Report
Feb. 16:
Kaitlynn Demers, Gibraltar Carlson competitive cheer - Report
Feb. 9:
Indya Davis, West Bloomfield basketball - Report
Feb. 2:
Braydon Sorenson, Onekama skiing - Report
Jan. 26:
Shayna Hruska, Iron Mountain wrestling - Report
Jan. 19:
Kayla Tafanelli, Warren Woods-Tower bowling - Report
Dec. 20:
Brenden Paden, Riverview Gabriel Richard hockey - Report
Dec. 16:
Tuff Scott, Holton bowling - Report
Dec. 9:
Macey Fegan, Standish-Sterling basketball - Report
Dec. 2:
Treyton Siegert, Gladwin football - Report
Nov. 24:
Lily Witte, Dexter diving - Report
Nov. 17:
Navea Gauthier, Shelby volleyball - Report
Nov. 10:
Derek Huisman, Holland Christian soccer - Report
Nov. 3:
Thomas Westphal, New Baltimore Anchor Bay cross country - Report
Oct. 27:
Justin Wickey, Colon football - Report
Oct. 20:
Owen DeMuth, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood tennis - Report
Oct. 13:
Mia Melendez, Ann Arbor Greenhills golf - Report
Oct. 6:
Shawn Foster, Grand Ledge football - Report
Sept. 30:
Hannah Smith, Temperance Bedford swimming - Report
Sept. 22:
Helen Sachs, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Sept. 15:
Nina Horning, Lake Orion volleyball - Report
Sept 8:
Arturo Romero, Muskegon Oakridge soccer - Report
Sept. 1:
Austin King, Midland Dow tennis - Report
Aug. 25:
Olivia Hemmila, Troy Athens golf - Report

PHOTO Dundee's Braeden Davis wrestles Grand Rapids Catholic Central's Michael Wilson for the 138-pound championship in Division 3 this season. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)