D3 Preview: List of Favorites Grows
February 19, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Dundee returned as champion in Division 3 in 2013 after four runner-up finishes over the previous five seasons. And Richmond, last season’s runner-up after three straight titles, would love to regain the top spot again this weekend.
But it’s no guarantee those two will meet in the championship match for the fourth time in five years. A possible crasher is Allegan, Division 2 Quarterfinalist the last four years and Semifinalist three of those four, back in Division 3 for the first time since making those semis in 2009.
Below is a look at all eight teams competing in Division 3, listed by seed. Their Quarterfinal matches begin at 7:45 p.m. Friday, with Semifinals at 11:45 Saturday morning and the championship match at 4 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. Rankings below are from MichiganGrappler.com.
#1 DUNDEE
Record/rank: 22-2, No. 1
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Coach: Tim Roberts, 15th season (411-55-1)
Championship history: Seven MHSAA championships (most recent 2013), five runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Drew Mandell (30-16) soph., 112 Kenny Reinhart (31-9) jr., 125 Zach Blevins (40-8) soph., 130 Brendan O’Connor (42-2) sr., 135 Sean Sterling (33-7) fr., 140 Brad Scholl (20-8) sr., 140 Doug Rojem (41-5) sr., 145 Sean Marogen (22-7) sr., Donny Mandell (35-11) jr., 171 Tye Thompson (37-6) jr., 189 Teddy Warren (19-3) sr.
Outlook: Dundee is back for its 12th straight appearance at Kellogg. Rojem and Warren are reigning individual champions and lead a lineup returning eight from last season’s 35-26 championship match win over Richmond. No postseason opponents, including No. 6 Manchester, have scored double-digit points against the Vikings.
#2 ALLEGAN
Record/rank: 33-2, No. 3
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference
Coach: Murray Rose, 27th season (688-144-2)
Championship history: Two MHSAA championships (most recent 2007 in Division 2), two runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Liam Noble (39-12) sr., 125 Foster Karmon (52-2) soph., 130 Zane Corey (41-2) sr., 135 PJ Cole (37-8) jr., 145 Kyle Simaz (55-1) sr., 160 Chase Beard (50-7) fr., 171 Levi Sabin (47-8) soph., 189 Austin Farrell (29-11) soph., 215 Jonah Pfau (42-13) sr.
Outlook: Allegan frequently has been a Division 2 power and made last season’s Semifinals in that division. The Tigers have been up to the new competition, giving up a total of nine points in four playoff matches with three shutouts. Simaz has wrestled in three individual championship matches and won the 140 weight at Division 2 in 2013. He’s one of only four senior starters and joins Zane Corey with only one loss this winter.
#3 RICHMOND
Record/rank: 21-4, No. 2
League finish: First in Blue Water Area Conference
Coach: Brandon Day, 10th season (327-68)
Championship history: Six MHSAA championships (most recent 2012), four runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Connor Behem (24-7) jr., 112 Aaron Kilburn (32-5) soph., 135 Austin Vannatter (29-10) jr., 140 Nick Burg (32-4) sr., 145 Jake Van Scoter (28-12) sr., 152 Devin Skatzka (31-3) jr., 160 Austin Pawlak (23-8) jr., 189 Jake McKiernan (29-5) sr., 285 Adam Boyd (27-11) jr.
Outlook: Richmond made its fourth straight MHSAA Final in 2013 but fell for the first time in a championship match since 2007. Eight starters from that loss to Dundee are expected to start again this weekend, with Skatzka a reigning individual champion and Burg a runner-up last winter. The lineup is deep with three subs winning more than 20 matches this season including freshman 103 Roy Costello (38-9).
#4 SAGINAW SWAN VALLEY
Record/rank: 40-1, No. 7
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference Central
Coach: Darrell Burchfield, 12th season (373-70)
Championship history: Has never finished among the top two teams in Finals competition.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Edwin Hernandez (41-8) soph., 112 K.J. Suitor (47-2) soph., 119 Jose Hernandez (29-7) jr., 125 Matt Santos (52-0) soph.; 135 Collin Dole (48-3) jr., 140 Josh Flores (51-5) sr., 145 Sam McLean (54-2) jr., 160 Brody Noykos (33-11) sr., 171 James Dwenger (39-14) sr.
Outlook: Swan Valley is back in the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2010, when it finished a three-year Semifinal run. To get back, the Vikings needed to beat No. 10 Caro and did so by 14 in the Regional Final. Santos was an Individual Finals runner-up last season, and Suitor and Flores also placed. All but one starter from 103-145 has won at least 42 matches this winter, and three from that group have won at least 50.
#5 GRAND RAPIDS CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 14-0, No. 4
League finish: First in O-K Gold
Coach: B.J. Schroder, third season (54-12).
Championship history: Has never finished among the top two teams in Finals competition.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Domenic Ciucci (22-14) sr., 119 Devin Schroder (36-3) soph., 125 Dan Sayfie (32-10) sr., 125 Kole Krauss (32-4) soph., 135 Nate Limmex (19-0) jr., 135 Dominic Forbes (17-9) soph., 152 Jared Tennihill (14-13) jr., 171 A.J. Zervoudakis (27-10) sr., 189 Grant Tennihill (35-6) jr., 215 Danny Drummond (28-9) sr., 285 Ross Hulick (23-13) sr.
Outlook: A group led by six senior starters won the program’s first Regional championship by a point over Allendale and also beat last season Quarterfinalist Belding along the way. Limmex is a reigning individual champion and hasn’t lost a match in two seasons, while Devin Schroder also is a reigning champion and Krauss was a placer in 2013. B.J. Schroder has 308 coaching wins overall having previously led Grand Rapids Northview.
#6 REMUS CHIPPEWA HILLS
Record/rank: 25-4, No. 8
League finish: Second in Central State Activities Association
Coach: Nate Ethridge, 14h season (406-84)
Championship history: Has never finished among the top two teams in Finals competition.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Richie Ostrander (22-6) sr., 103 Keaton Zuern (30-12) fr., 112 Zach King (44-4) sr., 119 Mike Felix (40-11) jr., 125 Austin Spedowski (32-20) fr., 130 Todd Slade (35-12) soph., 145 Kevin Briscoe (34-13) jr., 145 Mason Dey (33-16) jr.
Outlook: Chippewa Hills has become a regular at the Quarterfinals with seven appearances in nine seasons, and it just missed upsetting Birch Run to advance to last year’s Semifinals. King is the only returning Finals individual placer from last season, but also one of only three seniors in the expected starting lineup for the weekend. Eight starters have at least 30 wins this winter, and Zuern is a strong fill-in who will join senior Ostrander in next weekend’s individual field.
#7 MASON COUNTY CENTRAL
Record/rank: 33-3, unranked
League finish: Third in the West Michigan Conference
Coach: Jim Allen, sixth season (99-71)
Championship history: Class C runner-up 1979.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 125 Trever Skinner (46-2) sr., 130 Jacob Shoop (37-6) fr., 140 Logan Merrick (47-5) soph., 145 Jordan Steiger (37-9) jr., 152 Spencer Knizacky (44-9) soph, 189 Josh Quinn (48-2) jr., 285 Doug Wyman (47-3) sr.
Outlook: The Spartans have been building toward this during six seasons under Allen, finishing 6-15 in 2008-09 before increasing their winning percentage every season under his guidance. They’ve beaten their first four playoff foes by an average of 33 points and are seeking their first Semifinal berth since 2004. Mason County Central also hasn’t had an individual champion since 1986, but looks to have a nice chance at breaking that streak as well before the end of this winter.
#8 LAKE FENTON
Record/rank: 33-5, No. 9
League finish: Second in Genesee Area Conference
Coach: Vance Corcoran, fourth season (124-35)
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2011.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 119 Jared Corcoran (48-9) sr., 130 John Barry (46-7) sr., 152 Cody Sanders (36-9) sr., 160 Carson Whaley (49-6) sr., 171 Trent Hillger (53-5) fr., 171 Andy Donoho (48-6) sr., 215 Chase Hull (28-3) sr.
Outlook: Lake Fenton has won District titles all four seasons under Vance Corcoran after reaching the championship match in his first as head coach. The Blue Devils finished behind only Division 4 second-seeded New Lothrop in the GAC this season. Jared Corcoran is a returning Individual Finals placer and helps key a lineup with six seniors, but also six freshmen. Hillger is one of three freshmen with at least 38 wins.
PHOTO: Richmond’s Devin Skatzka works against a Lowell opponent during a match this season at Olivet College. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Lawrence's Schuman Sets Example for Well-Rounded Success
By
Pam Shebest
Special for MHSAA.com
December 14, 2022
LAWRENCE — If redshirting was a thing in high school, at least two coaches at Lawrence would stick that label on senior John Schuman.
“We don’t want to lose this kid ever,” said Derek Gribler, the Tigers’ first-year varsity football and baseball coach.
“If we could put a red shirt on this kid every year, we would.”
Athletic director John Guillean, who also coaches varsity basketball, agreed.
“He is what we strive to have all our student-athletes achieve: high GPAs, multi-sport athletes, good, overall well-rounded human beings,” Guillean said.
Schuman has participated in five of the seven boys sports Lawrence sponsors.
As a freshman and sophomore, Schuman played football, wrestled, ran track and played baseball.
He had wrestled since he was 4, and went from the 119-pound weight class as a freshman to 145 the following year. That sophomore season he qualified for his Individual Regional. But as a junior, he traded wrestling for basketball.
“My older brother wrestled at Lawrence, so I would come to practices,” he said. “I quit for a couple years (in middle school) because I liked basketball, too. It was hard to do both. Obviously, in high school, I still struggled with choosing,” he added, laughing.
Guillean is thrilled Schuman made the switch.
“He’s 6-(foot-)4, he’s super athletic, defensively he’s a hawk, offensively he can put the ball in the bucket. But really, aside from his skills, just that positive attitude and that positive outlook, not just in a game, but in life in general, is invaluable,” the coach said.
Last season, Schuman earned honorable mention all-league honors in the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference, averaging 9.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
Lawrence left the BCS for the Southwest 10 Conference this year, joining Bangor, Bloomingdale, Hartford, Decatur, Comstock, Marcellus, Mendon, Centreville, White Pigeon and Cassopolis. Schuman and senior Tim Coombs will co-captain the Tigers, with Guillean rotating in a third captain.
At a school of fewer than 200 students, Schuman will help lead a varsity team with just nine – joined by seniors Andy Bowen and Gabe Gonzalez, juniors Christian Smith, Noel Saldana, Ben McCaw and Zander Payment, and sophomore Jose Hernandez, who will see time with the junior varsity as well using the fifth-quarter rule.
“I attribute a lot of (last year’s successful transition) to my coach, helping me get ready because it wasn’t so pretty,” the senior said. “But we got into it, got going, and my teammates helped me out a lot.”
Great anticipation
Gribler is one coach already looking ahead to spring sports after seeing what Schuman did during football season.
In spite of missing 2½ games with an injury, the wide receiver caught 50 receptions for 870 yards and 11 touchdowns.
“I just like the ability to run free, get to hit people, let out some anger,” Schuman laughed.
Gribler said the senior is “an insane athlete.
“On top of his athletic ability, how smart he is in the classroom (3.88 GPA), he helped mold the culture we wanted this year for football. He got our underclassmen the way we wanted them. He was a big asset in many ways.”
Schuman earned all-conference honors for his on-field performance in football as well.
“I would say that my main sport is football,” the senior said. “That’s the one I like the most, spend the most time on.”
In the spring, Schuman competed in both track and baseball, earning all-conference honors in both.
“Doing both is tough,” he said. “I have to say my coaches make it a lot easier for me. They help me a lot and give me the ability to do both, so I really appreciate that.
“Throughout the week you’re traveling every day, it seems like. Baseball twice a week and track, but it’s worth it.”
Schuman’s commitment is so strong that he made a special effort not to let his teammates down last spring.
“He qualified for state in the long jump and did his jumps up in Grand Rapids, then he drove all the way to Kalamazoo to play in the District baseball game,” Guillean said. “That speaks volumes about who this kid is. He did his jumps at 9 a.m. (but did not advance) and made it back to Kalamazoo for a 12:15 game.”
Big shoes to fill
As the youngest of four children of Mark and Gretchen Schuman, the senior was following a family tradition in sports.
Oldest brother Matthew played football, basketball and baseball as well as competed in pole vault and wrestling.
Middle bother Christopher competed in football, wrestling and baseball.
Sister Stephanie played basketball, volleyball and softball.
“I like to say they blazed a pretty good trail for me at this high school,” Schuman said.
As for feeling pressure to live up to his siblings, “I used to when I was younger, but now I feel like I’ve made my own way and done enough things to be proud of that I’m happy with it.”
His own way led him to achieve something none of the others did.
He was named the Tigers’ Male Athlete of the Year, just the third junior to earn the boys honor over the last 25 years.
“I was very honored to win that as a junior,” Schuman said. “There were good athletes in the grade above me. I guess hard work pays off.”
Guillean said while Schuman is “darn good at every sport here,” an athlete does not have to be a “top dog” in every sport.
“Learn how to take a back seat,” he said. “Learn how to be a role player. That will make you a better teammate and a well-rounded human being.
“Johnny has that work ethic, in the classroom, on the field, on the court, on the track. It doesn’t go unnoticed and, obviously, he’s reaping the benefits now.”
Pam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Lawrence’s John Schuman has participated in five varsity sports during his first 3½ years of high school. (Middle) Lawrence athletic director John Guillean. (Below) Lawrence football and baseball coach Derek Gribler. (Action photos courtesy of John Schuman; head shots by Pam Shebest.)