D4 Preview: Contenders Pursue Hudson
February 19, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Hudson is seeking this weekend to become the first team in MHSAA history to win six straight wrestling team championships. And that’s the expectation, as the Tigers enter the MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals seeded first in Division 4 and ranked No. 1 in the state poll.
But the teams ranked 2-5 also are headed to Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena – and each would love to be the one to end this history-making streak.
Below is a look at all eight teams competing in Division 4, listed by seed. Their Quarterfinal matches begin at 1 p.m. Friday, with Semifinals at 9:30 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 HUDSON
Record/rank: 33-4, No. 1
League finish: Second in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Coach: Scott Marry, 26th season (690-145)
Championship history: Five MHSAA championships (most recent 2013).
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Zach Lopinski (29-16) fr., 112 Roddy Hamdan (39-11) jr., 112 Tyler Roberts (38-15) jr., 119 Isaac Dusseau (31-11) sr., 130 Mason Lopinski (34-13) soph., 135 Carlos Randall (13-11) sr., 140 Cole Weaver (50-0) sr., 145 JD Waters (43-9) sr., 152 Kyle Johnson (41-9) soph., 160 Clayton Brockway (29-22) jr., 160 Brian Sumber (17-14) sr., 171 Tylor Grames (16-16) fr., 189 Mitch Ely (28-21) jr., 215 Jacob Morgan (31-16) sr.
Outlook: Hudson last season became the second in MHSAA history to win five straight Finals team championships, tying the Davison teams from 2002-06 for the longest streak – and are heavily favored to extend it this weekend. Hamden, Weaver (two straight) and Waters are reigning individual champions and Dusseau was a runner-up last season, and all but one of the expected starters have qualified for next week’s Individual Finals. And yet, only six of the team’s 14 qualifiers are seniors.
#2 NEW LOTHROP
Record/rank: 28-1, No. 2
League finish: First in Genesee Area Conference
Coach: Jeff Campbell, 13th season (336-64)
Championship history: 12 MHSAA championships (most recent 2004), four runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Connor Krupp (35-12) fr., 119 Cole Hersch (44-7) soph., 125 Dalton Birchmeier (38-10) jr., 130 Gabe Bennett (47-3) jr., 135 Trevor Copes (40-12) jr., 140 Steven Garza II (22-0) soph., 145 Aaron Bauman (46-4) sr., 160 Josh Wendling (49-4) sr., 171 Taylor Krupp (50-0) sr., 189 Cody Symons (43-4) sr., 215 Dakota Clark (29-12) sr., 215 Owen Wilson (32-9) sr., 285 David Robertson (37-12) jr.
Outlook: New Lothrop has reached the Quarterfinals all 13 seasons under Campbell and missed its first championship berth since 2007 by only two points in the final match of last season's Semifinal. Wendling was an individual champion in 2013 and Taylor Krupp a runner-up, and all but two of the probable starters this weekend have qualified for the Individual Finals – with Wilson able to sub in at the heavier weights. New Lothrop’s lone loss this winter was to Division 2 top seed Lowell by five points.
#3 LAWTON
Record/rank: 29-0, No. 5
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Coach: Troy Johnson, first season (29-0)
Championship history: Four MHSAA championships (most recent 1990), two runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Jacob Chapman (25-8) fr., 112 Julian Torres (45-0) jr., 130 Kyle Barkovich (45-2) jr., 135 Cole Menck 45-3) jr., 140 Travis Smith (40-10) sr., 152 Chris O’Donnell (44-3) jr., 171 Brody Conner (47-0) jr. Outlook: Lawton is back at the Quarterfinals for the first time since 1997, and Johnson has led the Blue Devils through a tough run as former coach and program-builder Bryan Sosinski died earlier this year after a battle with brain cancer. Johnson was part of three MHSAA championship teams before graduating in 1987 and served as Sosinski’s assistant before taking over the program. Torres, Barkovich, Menck and Conner all were Individual Finals placers last season.
#4 CARSON CITY-CRYSTAL
Record/rank: 25-2, No. 3
League finish: First in Central Michigan Athletic Conference
Coach: Kacy Datema, fourth season (82-30)
Championship history: MHSAA runners-up in 2000 and 2001.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Taylor Barkley (34-10) soph., 112 Alex Baker (32-4) jr., 119 Dallas O’Green (40-3) soph., 145 Darren Decker (42-1) jr., 152 Dillen Decker (37-2) jr.,
Outlook: Carson City-Crystal returned to the Quarterfinals last season for the first time in a decade and is led by three returning Individual Finals placers in O’Green and both Deckers. Still, the Eagles are young and could be contending for at least the next few seasons; only two starters are seniors including Garner Cusack, another Finals placer in 2013.
#5 HESPERIA
Record/rank: 26-3, No. 4
League finish: First in Central State Activities Association
Coach: John Dingledine, first season (26-3)
Championship history: MHSAA champion 2008, five runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Corey Agens (36-8) sr., 103 Davian Gowens (18-3) soph., 125 Zack Yates (41-0) sr., 125 Logan Eaves (34-13) soph., 135 Trenton Roesly (45-3) jr., 140 Chase Siersema (39-3) sr., 145 David Jacobs (33-11) sr., 160 Mark Workman (22-2) soph.
Outlook: Hesperia has finished MHSAA runner-up three times in five seasons, including last winter, and hopes to take the final step under Dingledine. He took over for longtime coach Doug Baird this fall and inherited a reigning individual champion in Yates and a last season runner-up in Siersema. Half of this weekend’s probable lineup competed in last season’s 32-24 championship match loss to Hudson.
#6 SPRINGPORT
Record/rank: 24-4, unranked
League finish: First in Big 8 Conference
Coach: Dave Pratt, ninth season (235-66)
Championship history: Class D runner-up 1984.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 119 Walter Betz (31-10) sr., 135 Nick Cooper (36-9) fr., 140 Brandon Tanner (39-12) sr., 145 Zeth Caudill (32-3) soph., 152 Andrew Grady (29-15) sr., 189 Jacob Cooper (40-2) jr., 215 Adam Lammers (35-11) jr.
Outlook: Although Springport is returning to the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2008, it has had plenty of local success with eight league and nine District titles in nine seasons under Pratt. The Spartans defeated an impressive slate to return to Battle Creek, including No. 6 Schoolcraft, Constantine and last season Quarterfinalist Bronson. Cooper is the reigning individual champ at 160 pounds.
#7 NORWAY
Record/rank: 19-0, unranked
League finish: First in Mid-Peninsula Athletic Conference
Coach: Nick Burklund, fifth season (62-26)
Championship history: Has never finished among the top two teams in Finals competition.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Zac DeCremer (40-2) soph., 140 Cole Gonzalez (41-4) jr., 171 Taylor Bonetti (37-7) jr.
Outlook: The Knights continue to shine after making the Quarterfinals last season for the first time. They’ve gone a combined 45-2 over the last two seasons. Norway will hope to make a splash despite entering as the seventh seed, but could be back for more in 2015 with only four starters graduating.
#8 CLINTON
Record/rank: 21-12, unranked
League finish: Does not compete in a league.
Coach: Jeff Rolland, first season (21-12)
Championship history: Has never finished among the top two teams in Finals competition.
Individual Finals qualifiers: None.
Outlook: Clinton sent 10 qualifiers to its individual Regional last weekend, but amazingly has advanced to the team Quarterfinal without a single Individual Finals qualifier. Junior Zech Johnston, 33-10 and wrestling at 119 pounds, leads the team in wins but was stuck in one of the toughest brackets in Division 4. It’s an impressive feat led by Rolland, a Clinton grad who previously coached Onsted to three straight District titles from 2009-11.
PHOTO: New Lothrop senior Aaron Bauman has his hand raised in victory after a match against Lowell this season. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
D2 Preview: Boone Pursues Title Sweep
March 5, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The name Brent Metcalf is as revered as any in the history of Michigan high school wrestling.
By Saturday night, Lowell’s Austin Boone may join the Davison legend in a pair of historic achievements.
Boone, with two others this weekend, will attempt to become the 27th wrestler to win four MHSAA Individual Finals championships. He’ll also attempt to join Metcalf as the only wrestlers in state history to win four individually and be part of four Team Finals titles. Metcalf won his from 2002-05 before going on to star at University of Iowa and internationally.
Below, we look at Boone and nine more contenders to watch in Division 2, plus list all of the top seeds heading into this weekend. Surely we missed a few who will end up among the biggest headliners Saturday – but come back to Second Half early Sunday as we’ll interview and report on all 56 champions.
The “Grand March” on Friday begins at 11 a.m., with five rounds wrestled throughout the day including the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Wrestling picks back up with consolation rounds at 9 a.m. Saturday, and concludes with the championship matches that afternoon at 3:30 p.m.
Follow all matches on a subscription basis live on MHSAA.tv, and click here for results at MHSAA.com.
112 Jacob Brya, St. Johns sophomore (37-0) – The latest Redwings standout is off to a championship start after winning the title at 103 a year ago, and he’s the top seed at his weight this weekend. He has won 27 times by pin this winter and three more by technical fall as he’s pushed his career record to 79-2.
130 Christopher Lilly, Croswell-Lexington senior (50-1) – After qualifying for the Finals but missing out on placing his first two seasons, Lilly broke out in a big way with the championship at 135 in 2019. His only loss this winter came Friday during the Team Quarterfinals; he’s 102-8 over the last two seasons.
135 Nick Matsuko, Chelsea senior (45-0) – The top seed in his bracket this weekend, Matsuko hasn’t lost since suffering his only defeat of last season in the 140 final. He’s won 35 matches this winter by pin and built a combined 90-1 record over the last two seasons.
140 Nate Young, Holly senior (45-1) – After finishing runner-up at 130 a year ago, Young has been nearly unstoppable this winter with his only loss to Detroit Catholic Central two-time champ Joshua Edmond. Young is the top seed at this weight, and 37 of his wins have come with bonus points. He took sixth at 103 as a freshman.
145 Austin Boone, Lowell senior (37-0) – Boone’s first three championships have come at 135, 145 and 152, and another title run also will give him his first undefeated season at the high school level. He’s the top seed at this weight and will continue his career wrestling at Penn State.
145 Chayse LaJoie, Gaylord senior (35-1) – The champion at 103 and 112 his first two seasons, respectively, finished runner-up by 3-2 decision in the final at 125 a year ago. He could end up in the premier match of the weekend if he faces Boone in the final at this weight; LaJoie’s only loss this winter came to Boone at last week’s Team Final. LaJoie will continue his career at Cornell.
160 Caleb Fish, Eaton Rapids senior (42-0) – The Greyhounds standout will look to finish his high school career with a second-straight championship after winning at 145 last season. He also was runner-up at 135 in 2018 and fifth at that weight as a freshman, and has just one loss over the last two seasons. He’s the top seed at his weight and will continue at Michigan State.
171 Cody Brenner, New Boston Huron junior (45-2) – The top seed at this weight earned it in part with a Regional win over reigning 160 champ Omari Embree of Warren Woods Tower (see below). Brenner’s most recent loss came to an out-of-state opponent, and his only instate defeat was at the first event of the season to a Division 1 contender. Brenner was eighth at 160 as a freshman and third at 171 last season.
171 Omari Embree, Warren Woods Tower sophomore (25-2) – He also debuted in the best possible way last season, with the championship at 160. He’s not the top seed at this weight as one of his two losses came two weeks ago to Brenner by an 8-6 decision. But Embree’s only other loss came to an out-of-state opponent.
189 John Shelton, East Grand Rapids senior (47-0) – The future Central Michigan wrestler is the top seed at this weight after finishing runner-up a year ago losing a 3-2 decision in the final to Cedar Springs’ Sage Serbenta, the only wrestler to defeat Shelton (twice total) during 2018-19. Shelton also took sixth at this weight as a freshman and fifth as a sophomore.
Other 2019 runners-up: 112 Jamison Zimmerman, Niles senior (28-5, 103 in 2019); 119 Joe Haynes, Warren Woods Tower junior (45-3, 119 in 2019); 160 Nelson Poet, New Boston Huron senior (38-4, 160 in 2019); 189 Kayleb Venema, Whitehall senior (35-5, 189 in Division 3 in 2019).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 103 Nolan Wertanen, St. Joseph sophomore (42-2); 119 Joe Haynes, Warren Woods Tower junior (45-3); 125 John Sosa, Gaylord senior (38-2); 130 Rico Brown, Gaylord senior (31-2); 152 Jacob Gonzales, Holly sophomore (45-0); 215 Zolen Marron, Lake Fenton senior (50-0); 285 Joe Harper, Imlay City senior (43-1).
Also undefeated: 140 Shenard Foster, Harper Woods freshman (16-0).
PHOTO: Lowell’s Austin Boone (top) works toward a major decision at the end of last Friday’s Quarterfinal win over Muskegon Reeths-Puffer. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)