D4 Preview: Veterans of the Medal Stand
February 27, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
If you're a Division 4 wrestling fan, you're going to recognize more than a few faces taking the mat this weekend.
Carson City-Crystal's Kenneth Dittenber will attempt to finish his high school career with a third-straight title. Five more 2012 champs also are back, plus six returning runners-up. A seventh second-place finisher from last season is wrestling in Division 3 instead.
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: Ryan Prescott, Whittemore-Prescott sophomore – Fell in last season’s Final at 285 by a score of 4-3, but enters this weekend’s tournament 44-1.
112: Kenneth Dittenber, Carson City-Crystal senior – After claiming the last two championships at 103 pounds, has moved up to 119 and comes to the Palace with a 50-4 record.
112: Logan Griffin, Erie-Mason sophomore – Won’t make winning that next title easy for Dittenber; finished runner-up last season and is 23-0.
119: Zack Yates, Hesperia junior – Boasts a 49-1 record after helping his team to second at the Team Final and finished runner-up at this weight last season.
130: Cole Weaver, Hudson junior – Helped the Tigers to a record-tying fifth-straight team title last weekend, and now will go for a third-straight championship match berth and second straight title; enters Thursday with a 48-0 record.
140: Jacob Perrin, New Lothrop senior – Looking to finish his high school career with a second-straight title after winning 130 last season; enters the weekend 59-2 this winter.
140: Chanc Ravish, Niles-Brandywine senior – Carries a 46-2 record into this weekend and after finishing second to Perrin at 130 last season.
152: Jared Bruner, Addison senior – Like Perrin, hoping to finish with a second-straight championship after winning 145 last season; comes to the Palace with a 47-3 record this season.
171: Galloway Thurston, St. Ignace senior – Claimed the championship last season at this weight after finishing runner-up in 2011; will carry a 48-2 record into the repeat quest.
215: Joe Ostman, St. Ignace senior – Can finish his high school career with three championships after winning 189 in 2011 and 215 last season, and is 50-0 so far this winter.
Also undefeated: Bangor senior Stephon Willis (130, 39-0).
Other runners-up: Springport sophomore Jacob Cooper (160, 42-2, 145 in 2012), Sand Creek senior Nick Garza (160, 46-7, 152 in 2012).
PHOTO: Carson City-Crystal's Kenneth Dittenber (right), here in last season's Division 4 championship match at 103, will go for a third-straight title this weekend. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Highlight Reel: Team Finals Video
March 1, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals came to an end Saturday evening with familiar champions in Lowell, Richmond and New Lothrop and a first-time winner in Brighton.
See below for highlights from all four championship matches – including one from all eight teams that competed – plus links to watch the matches in full on-demand on MHSAA.tv.
Division 1
Laforge at the Fore: Hartland jumped out to a 22-12 lead after eight weight classes in the Division 1 Final against league rival Brighton. Hartland's Lucas Laforge wins his 160-pound bout with Tanner Maschke, 4-3, in the final period.
Title Takedown: It came down to the final match at 112 pounds to decide the Division 1 title, and Brighton's Lee Grabowski claimed a 4-2 win over Hartland's Garnet Potter. Here's the second period takedown that gave Grabowski a 3-0 lead. Brighton won the crown, 31-25.
Watch the entire match and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 2
Dean Scores The Fall: Lowell scored the first 15 points of the Division 2 title tilt with Eaton Rapids and never looked back. Zeth Dean got a first-period pin against Eaton Rapids' Eric Anderson at 130 pounds in that streak.
Schultz In An OT Thriller: Tristen Schultz of Eaton Rapids and Logan Blough of Lowell took the 189-pound match in the Division 2 Final to its ultimate length, before Schultz prevailed, 9-8. It cut the Lowell lead to 24-16, but the Red Arrows pulled away for a 40-16 championship victory.
Watch the entire match and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 3
Drew Starts It For Dundee: Dundee jumped out to a 16-6 lead on Richmond in the Division 3 title match, with Drew Scholl starting things off with a 7-4 win over Cody Keller at 119.
Richmond Wins! Richmond Wins!: Richmond got two straight pins to come from behind and defeat Dundee, 27-25, for the Division 3 title. Connor Behem gets the fall at 112 pounds over Harry Wallace.
Watch the entire match and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 4
Copes Pins Welch: Trevor Copes of New Lothrop comes up with a key pin of Nick Welch of Hudson at 145 pounds in the Division 4 championship match.
Roberts Rules: Hudson gets off to a good start against New Lothrop in the Division 4 Final, as Tyler Roberts pinned Austin Birchmeier in 25 seconds. New Lothrop came back to win the title, 38-24.
Watch the entire match and order DVDs by Clicking Here.