D3 Preview: Reigning Winners Abound
March 2, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Of 14 individual wrestling champions in Division 3 last season, 10 are back this weekend at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
So are five who finished runner-up a year ago, and two more who were runners-up in 2014.
And perhaps most noteworthy of all, Division 3 also has the only wrestler in any division going for a fourth MHSAA championship – Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Devin Schroder.
Below are 10 contenders we’ve broken out among many to watch this weekend at the Division 3 Individual Finals. 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 come back to Second Half this weekend as we’ll interview all 14 title winners.
119: Jarrett Trombley, Lake Fenton sophomore (29-0) – He’s wrestling now at Lake Fenton after winning the 112 title last season while attending Corunna and facing in the Final then-teammate Tristan Serbus, who he could see again at this weight.
119: Devin Schroder, Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior (42-1) – The champion at 112 in 2013 and 119 the last two seasons is seeking to become the 22nd wrestler in MHSAA history to win four Finals championships, and his lone loss was to Division 2 favorite Lucas Hall of Lowell.
125: Reiley Brown, Whitehall senior (47-1) – After helping his team to the Team Semifinals last weekend, Brown will try to repeat as individual champion at this weight; his only loss was to Division 2 contender Nate Ellis of Goodrich.
135: Matt Santos, Saginaw Swan Valley senior (48-1) – The future Michigan State grappler won the title at 130 last season after finishing runner-up at 119 as a sophomore; his only loss was to St. Johns reigning champ Ian Parker.
145: Kanen Storr, Leslie senior (55-0) – The champion at 103 as a freshman and 135 last season also finished runner-up at 119 to Schroder as a sophomore, and is the favorite again on his way to continuing at Iowa State.
160: Foster Karmon, Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior (30-0) – He’s also wrestling for a third MHSAA championship after winning 125 as a sophomore at Allegan and 145 last year for GRCC.
189: Brandon Whitman, Dundee sophomore (44-1) – He’s on his way to a fourth championship in two seasons of high school wrestling, with last weekend’s team title his second and after winning individually at 171 in 2015.
189: Jared Roehl, Millington junior (41-1) – Last season’s champion at this weight has only one loss over the last two seasons after taking a sixth place as a freshman.
285: Trent Hillger, Lake Fenton junior (59-0) – Last season’s champion at 215 is a combined 117-0 over the last two seasons after earning a fourth-place as a freshman.
285: Maddox Maki, Williamston senior (42-4) – He won this weight last season but finished second at last month’s Regional after being pinned by Hillger in the Final; they may meet again this weekend.
Other 2015 runners-up: Corunna senior Tristan Serbus (119, 50-3, 112 in 2015), Richmond senior Aaron Kilburn (125, 40-4, 119 in 2015), Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior Kole Krauss (130, 40-1, 130 in 2015), Dundee senior Zach Blevins (140, 46-4, 135 in 2015), Scottville Mason County Central senior Logan Merrick (145, 45-4, 145 in 2015).
Also undefeated: Ida senior Alex Martinez (130, 41-0), Croswell-Lexington junior Collin Lieber (152, 49-0), Midland Bullock Creek senior Adam McCann (171, 50-0).
Also of note: Perry junior Anthony Gallagher (103, 38-1), Howard City Tri-County senior Nick McGhan (112, 40-2), Saginaw Swan Valley senior KJ Suitor (51-1, 130), Dundee junior Sean Sterling (152, 43-4), Montrose senior Quintin Wilber (215, 44-4).
The MHSAA Wrestling Finals are presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
PHOTO: Grand Rapids Catholic Central's Devin Schroder stands atop the awards podium after claiming his third MHSAA title last season. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
D1 Preview: Davison, Detroit Catholic Central Lead Returning Champs Charge
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 3, 2022
The MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals returns to Ford Field this weekend, and Davison and Detroit Catholic Central will lead the way in Division 1 with four returning champions apiece.
After meeting again in Saturday’s Division 1 Team Final, those rivals dominate the list of 10 contenders we look at below – along with a list of other top seeds heading into this weekend, returning Finals runners-up and a few more making the trip to Detroit with an undefeated record.
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 Caleb Weiand, Macomb Dakota junior (44-0) – The top seed at his weight also entered last season’s Finals undefeated and suffered his only loss in the 103 championship match.
119 Drew Heethuis, Detroit Catholic Central junior (28-3) – Last season’s champion at 112 moves up a weight and is the top seed this weekend with only one loss this season to an in-state competitor (Dundee’s Braeden Davis).
119 Justin Gates, Davison sophomore (27-3) – Last season’s champion at 103 is up two weights, putting him on a course to meet Heethuis in the title match after losing to him 2-1 at last week’s Team Final.
125 Caden Horwath, Davison junior (26-0) – Last year’s champion at 119 is going for his third individual championship after also claiming the 103 title in 2020. He’s 96-2 for his career and hasn’t lost in two seasons.
140 Dylan Gilcher, Detroit Catholic Central junior (35-0) – He’s also wrestling for a third championship after winning 135 last year and 112 as a freshman. He’s 101-4 for his high school career.
152 Darius Marines, Detroit Catholic Central sophomore (31-4) – He debuted at the Finals last year by winning an all-DCC championship match at 145, and he’ll look to add another title as his weight’s top seed this weekend.
171 Manuel Rojas, Detroit Catholic Central senior (34-2) – The two-time reigning champ at 189 will attempt to close his career with a third-straight title, his only in-state loss this season at the Team Final to Davison’s Josh Barr 4-3. He also defeated Barr 3-2 at the beginning of January.
171 Josh Barr, Davison junior (24-1) – He’s also seeking a third title after winning last season at 160 and at 152 as a freshman. He’s on the other side of the bracket from Rojas this weekend, setting up a possible tie-breaker to their season series with the title on the line.
215 Jimmy Colley, Davison senior (28-2) – He’s wrestling his fourth Finals at this weight, entering as the top seed and reigning champion after also finishing fourth as a freshman and third as a sophomore.
285 Joshua Terrill, Holt senior (39-2) – He’s the top seed and will attempt to take the final step up the podium after finishing runner-up at this weight a year ago.
Other 2021 runners-up: 140 Evan Herriman, Davison junior (17-3, 135 last year); 189 Remy Cotton, Davison senior (23-3, 189 last year for Traverse City Central).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 103 Ozia Wilson, Macomb Dakota freshman (44-0); 130 Elijah Bunn, Rockford junior (39-1); 135 Aiden Smith, Brighton senior (40-1); 145 Nathan Jerore, Brownstown Woodhaven senior (34-1); 160 Jaylon Riggins, Jackson senior (24-0); 189 Aidan Wardell, Midland Dow senior (41-3).
Also undefeated: 152 Noah Tgiros, Utica Ford senior (40-0); 285 Giulian Bodiu, Canton senior (25-0).
PHOTO Detroit Catholic Central's Drew Heethuis, top, controls his match on the way to a major decision during Saturday's Team Semifinals. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)