D2 Preview: On the Cusp of History
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 27, 2013
A year ago, Fowlerville's Adam Coon shared The Palace of Auburn Hills spotlight with the latest wrestler to win four MHSAA individual championships, St. Johns' Taylor Massa.
This weekend, Coon will attempt to become the 17th to accomplish that historical feat.
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
285: Adam Coon, Fowlerville senior – Attempting to becom the 17th in MHSAA wrestling history to win four individual titles, and is the favorite entering 51-0.
125: Zac Hall, St. Johns junior – Trying to add a third individual championship after winning 112 last season and 103 in 2011, and is 44-0 after last weekend’s Team Finals.
130: Jacob Schmitt, St. Johns senior – Going for his fourth championship match appearance after winning 103 in 2010, 125 last season and finishing runner-up at 112 in 2011; enters 47-0 this winter.
135: Anthony Gonzales, Holly senior – Looking for his third championship after winning 130 last season and 112 in 2010; comes into the weekend 50-3.
140: Kyle Simaz, Allegan junior – Going for his first championship after finishing runner-up at 130 last season and at 119 in 2011; enters 57-1.
145: Ben Whitford, St. Johns senior – Comes in 33-0 and looking to add a second-straight championship after winning 140 last season.
152: Josh Pennell, St. Johns senior – Looking to finish his final season undefeated (he’s 36-0 coming in to this weekend) and with his first championship after finishing runner-up at 119 in 2010.
152: Kenny Cross, Hastings senior – Striving to finish strong in his first Individual Finals appearance and with a 49-0 record coming into the weekend.
171: Brett Dempsey, Mattawan senior – Just missed last season’s championship match at this weight, finishing third, and enters this weekend 52-0.
215: Brian Moran, Fowlerville senior – After finishing fourth at last season’s Finals, looking to graduate with a title and perfect season after entering this weekend 52-0.
Also undefeated: Chelsea junior Steve Bleise (135, 42-0), New Boston Huron sophomore Logan Ritchie (160, 52-0), Chelsea senior Mike Hovater (189, 39-0), Lowell junior Garett Stehley (189, 27-0), Lowell senior Taylor Kornoely (215, 33-0).
Other returning runners-up: Hamilton senior Collin Welcher (119, 46-2, 103 in 2012), Lapeer West senior Dean Somers (119, 43-1, 112 in 2012), St. Johns sophomore Logan Massa (135, 38-2, 119 in 2012), Holly senior Mason Cleaver (135, 50-2, 125 in 2012), St. Johns senior Payne Hayden (189, 41-1, 215 in 2012).
PHOTO: Fowlerville's Adam Coon (far left) stands at the top of awards podium after claiming a Division 2 championship last season. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
D3 Preview: Seeking 4 on Familiar Floor
March 4, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Few if any Michigan high school wrestlers have more MHSAA championship match experience than Richmond senior Devin Skatzka.
He helped his team to the Division 3 championship last weekend in Battle Creek and also to the title in 2012 – plus runner-up finished in 2013 and 2014. And this weekend, he’ll compete to join only 19 others who won four individual titles during their high school careers.
Skatzka enters the favorite at 160 pounds, having won 152 as a junior, 145 as a sophomore and 135 as a freshman.
See below for 10 contenders to watch this weekend, plus others who enter the tournament undefeated or coming off runner-up finishes in 2014. Follow all the matches beginning with Thursday's first round on a subscription basis live on MHSAA.TV, and click here for results at MHSAA.com.
Those listed below are only a handful of the numerous contenders for this weekend’s Division 3 championships. Come back to Second Half at the end of this weekend, when we’ll have post-match thoughts from all 14 title winners.
112: Tristan Serbus, Corunna junior (37-7) – Corunna actually might have the two best wrestlers at this weight, with Serbus getting a lot of matches at heavier weights after winning the title at 103 as a freshman.
119: Aaron Kilburn, Richmond junior (40-6) – Last season’s champion at 112 also earned a third place at 103 as a freshman and is coming off helping Skatzka and their team with the Division 3 team title.
119: Devin Schroeder, Grand Rapids Catholic Central junior (43-1) – The reigning champion at this weight is the only wrestler to have beaten Division 2 favorite Lucas Hall of Lowell this season, and Schroeder’s only loss was to reigning Division 4 champ Logan Griffin of Erie-Mason.
125: Jerry Fenner, Birch Run senior (48-3) – The 2013 champion at 119 earned that title with an overtime win and then fell to Foster Karmon (see below) by a 2-1 decision in the 125-pound championship match last season; Fenner earned a third place at 103 as a freshman.
135: Kanen Storr, Leslie junior (50-1) – Storr finished second to GRCC’s Schroder at 119 last season, losing 5-2 in the Final, but won the title at 103 in 2013.
135: Grant Turnmire, Almont senior (46-1) – The reigning champion at 130 has jumped up a class and been even better; he’s 93-5 over the last two seasons and 135-11 over his last three after finishing seventh at 125 as a sophomore.
140: Nate Limmex, Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior (40-0) – The champion last season at 135 and at 130 in 2013, Limmex hasn’t lost since his freshman year when he took fourth in Division 2 at 125 pounds wrestling for Lowell.
145: Foster Karmon, Allegan junior (26-0) – The reigning champion at 125 moved up four weight classes in his third high school season and has yet to lose after finishing 58-2 as a sophomore title winner.
160: Devin Skatzka, Richmond senior (50-2) – As mentioned above, he’s looking to graduate with four titles and carries a 189-15 career record into this weekend.
215: Trent Hillger, Lake Fenton sophomore (54-0) – Hillger finished fourth at 171 pounds his freshman season after entering the tournament with eight losses; he’s raised his performance to a championship level going undefeated after moving up two weights.
Other 2014 runners-up: Saginaw Swan Valley junior K.J. Suitor (125, 49-1, 112 in 2014), Dundee senior Tye Thompson (189, 44-6, 171 in 2014), Croswell-Lexington sophomore Collin Lieber (152, 53-3, 135 in Division 2 in 2014).
Also undefeated: Caro senior Marshall Conley (47-0, 140), Chesaning senior Justin Sloan (47-0, 171), Millington sophomore Jared Roehl (45-0, 189).
More of note: Howard City Tri-County freshman Dakota Greer (36-1, 103), Corunna freshman Jarrett Trombley (42-1, 103), Farwell sophomore Glenn Beardsley (45-2, 130), Saginaw Swan Valley junior Matt Santos (50-1, 130), Allendale senior Brandon Dyke (40-3, 152), Dundee freshman Brandon Whitman (53-2, 171), Allegan sophomore Chase Beard (51-2, 189), Williamston junior Maddox Maki (48-6, 285).
PHOTO: Richmond's Devin Skatzka celebrates his win as part of his team's Division 3 title match victory Saturday against Dundee. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)