D2 Preview: Hall of Fame

February 26, 2014

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

For the second time in three seasons, a St. Johns wrestler can finish his career as one of the MHSAA’s all-time greats.

Redwings senior Zac Hall will compete this weekend for his fourth MHSAA individual championship. Succeeding would make him the 18th ever to do so, joining recent additions to the list Adam Coon of Fowlerville in 2013 and former teammate Taylor Massa in 2012.

Win or lose, his run this weekend is sure to make headlines. But the Division 2 field appears wide open in terms of who might join him. Bay City Western’s Christian Schoenherr is back from an injury and shining again. Lowell’s Lucas Hall, Kanon Dean and Josh Colegrove are coming off helping the Red Arrows to a team title, and St. Clair’s Colton Pfaendtner and Eaton Rapids' Jaedin Slapsky are among those also not mentioned in much detail below – but don’t forget those names or any of the others that follow.

See below for 10 more contenders to watch this weekend, plus others who enter the tournament undefeated or coming off runner-up finishes in 2013. 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. And check back with Second Half later Saturday night for full coverage from the Finals, including comments from all 14 champions.

112: Ian Parker, St. Johns sophomore (46-0) – Fell by pin in last season’s 103-pound Final, but hasn’t lost since and enters as the favorite at his new weight.

119: Mason Smith, Clio junior (51-0) – Following up last season’s 112-pound championship and 55-4 record by moving up a weight and building a perfect record.

119: Zeth Dean, Lowell sophomore (32-4) – Last season’s runner-up at 112 fell by pin in that match to Smith, but looks good to force a rematch after also moving up.

130: Bailey Jack, Lowell junior (31-4) – Moved up to first place in his class last season after two lower finishes as an underclassmen, and can make it two championship weekends in a row after helping the Red Arrows to the team title in Battle Creek.

140: Zac Hall, St. Johns senior (48-0) – Claimed titles at 103, 112 and 125 his first three seasons and carries a 194-2 career record into this weekend.

145: Steve Bleise, Chelsea senior (45-0) – Lone loss last season came by pin in the 135-pound Final, but he hasn't lost again and can add his first title to that second place, a fourth earned as a sophomore and a fifth achieved while wrestling at Dexter as a freshman.  

152: Logan Massa, St. Johns junior (47-0) – Has added an undefeated season so far to his championship at 135 in 2013 and runner-up finish at 119 as a freshman.

171: Devon Pingel, North Branch sophomore (52-1) – Said after last season’s championship at 160 that he hopes to win four, and he’s off to another great start after beating a senior in 2013 to secure his first.

189: Angus Arthur, St. Johns junior (43-0) – Claimed last season’s championship at 171 after finishing fifth at 145 as a freshman for Lowell; combined for 14 losses over those first two seasons but is expected by some to finish this winter with none.

189: Garrett Stehley, Lowell senior (28-1) – Last season’s runner-up at 189 likely will have to face former teammate Arthur to win his first championship, but has improved every season from sixth as a freshman to fourth as a sophomore to second a year ago.

Another 2013 runner-up: Christian Schoenherr, Bay City Western junior (140, 14-4).

Also undefeated: Fremont senior Luke Spotts (130, 33-0), Lowell sophomore Lucas Hall (112, 33-0), St. Clair senior Colton Pfaendtner (285, 54-0).

Others of note: Edwardsburg sophomore Michael Higley (103, 40-1), Warren Woods Tower senior Nick Pipes (125, 44-5), Eaton Rapids junior Jaedin Slapsky (130, 47-1), Lowell junior Jordan Hall (135, 30-3), Lowell senior Kanon Dean (160, 29-6), Lowell junior Josh Colegrove (215, 31-1). 

PHOTO: St. Johns’ Zac Hall (red head gear) works on an opponent during last week’s Team Semifinal against Tecumseh. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)

D4 Preview: Familiar Contenders Aiming to Become Next Champions

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 3, 2022

Opportunities abound for new Individual Finals Division 4 champions to make headlines this weekend at Ford Field.

In part because Clinton is wrestling in Division 3 this season, only three 2021 champions will be returning in Division 4 – although two more contenders have that experience as well after climbing the podium in 2020.

The Grand March on Friday begins at 10 a.m., with wrestling through semifinals that evening. Wrestling begins again at 9 a.m. Saturday with championship matches at 3:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at Ford Field. All matches will be broadcast live on MHSAA.tv, and we’ll talk to all 14 champions in each division for our Second Half coverage published later that evening and overnight. See the MHSAA Wrestling Finals page for more information and to follow results this weekend.

112 Jacob Bunn, Manchester senior (42-2) The three-time Finals placer is seeded first at this weight after finishing eighth last season to go with a sixth at 103 as a sophomore and eighth at 103 as a freshman.

119 Shawn McGuire, Iron Mountain junior (35-2) – He’s the top seed at this weight after finishing third last season and runner-up at 112 as a freshman. He’s 109-6 combined over those three seasons.

140 Manus Bennett, Marlette junior (39-0) – He’s looking to climb back to the top of the podium after winning at 103 as a freshman and finishing third at 125 last season.

140 Bronson Marry, Hudson senior (24-2) He’s aiming for his fourth championship match appearance and second title after finishing second at 130 last year, winning 112 as a sophomore and finishing runner-up at 103 as a freshman.

145 Dillon Raab, Bark River-Harris junior (31-2) The top seed at this weight is looking to take the next championship step after finishing runner-up at 135 a year ago.

160 Shenard Foster, Detroit Loyola senior (13-0) He hasn’t lost since just missing out on last season’s championship at this weight, when he took his title match into overtime. He also finished seventh at 140 as a sophomore.

160 Gavin Wilmoth, Traverse City St. Francis senior (36-2) He’s the top seed at 160 after winning 152 a year ago and is a combined 70-3 over the last two seasons.

171 Cole Hopkins, Evart junior (50-0) He’s back as the top seed at this weight after finishing runner-up last year and suffering his only loss of the season in the title match. He was seventh at 160 as a freshman.

215 Caden Ferris, Delton Kellogg senior (45-0) The reigning champion and top seed at 215 is a combined 78-2 over the last two seasons and also earned an eighth place at that weight as a freshman.

285 Isiah Pasik, New Lothrop senior (43-0) The top seed at this weight is the reigning champion and undefeated since his sophomore year, when he finished third. He’s a combined 111-3 over the last three seasons.

Additional No. 1 seeds: 103 Logan Gilbert, Martin freshman (37-6); 125 Austin Marry, Hudson sophomore (24-11); 130 Jackson Miller, Hudson senior (26-10); 135 River Roberson, Hesperia senior (41-2); 152 Parker Stroud, Iron Mountain senior (37-6); 189 Cameron Kimble, Hudson senior (40-1).

PHOTO Isiah Pasik's arm is raised in victory after taking a forfeit win during New Lothrop's Division 4 Quarterfinal victory Friday. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)