Lowell Stretches Record Finals Streak to 10 in claiming 13th Title Overall

By Dean Holzwarth
Special for MHSAA.com

February 25, 2023

KALAMAZOO – It’s been a decade of dominance for the Lowell wrestling team.

The Red Arrows secured their 10th-consecutive Division 2 Finals championship Saturday with a 42-18 win over Goodrich at Wings Event Center.

“It’s amazing, and I can’t really put it into words,” Lowell coach R.J. Boudro said. “One is a feat in itself, and to win a state championship is special. For our guys to do it 10 years in a row … these seniors were in third grade the last time we didn't win a state championship. It’s crazy.”

The title also was the 13th overall for the Red Arrows.

“It’s a special thing, and we have a special community,” Boudro said. “Our coaching staff is second to none, and we just really like the sport and working with these kids.”

Freshmen Cody Foss (113) and Logan Dawson (126), and sophomore Jackson Blum (132) all recorded pins at their respective weight classes in helping lift Lowell to a commanding 28-3 advantage. 

“It was amazing to come out the way we did, and some of our young guys stepped up big,” Boudro said.

Goodrich’s James Mahon, right, works against Lowell’s Juan Acosta for a 2-1 decision at 285. Senior newcomer CJ Poole, who was on the team for the first time, won his match at 144 by major decision 17-7 to end his high school career. Poole moved to Lowell from Ohio and hadn’t been a part of a program of this caliber.

“My team wasn’t a good dual team, so to come from not winning a lot to winning a lot of duals was pretty cool,” Poole said. “I’ve never been a part of a state championship-winning team, so it’s pretty big.

“The atmosphere was pretty cool, and this is my first time being here and my last.”

Poole quickly realized the tradition of the program.

“I knew about the Dean family, and I was definitely excited to be part of this program and a state champion as a team,” Poole said. “Lowell has been good forever, and what RJ does is insane. Coming here for only one year, I feel like I got a lot better.”

The second-ranked Martians (32-1) came into the Finals unbeaten, but couldn’t end the unprecedented run by the Red Arrows.

It was the sixth runner-up finish overall for Goodrich.

“We’ve been state runner-up to them four of the last five years, and it’s frustrating,” Martians coach Kenneth Sirignano said. “We knew what we were up against, and we knew it was going to be a big challenge.

“I think we could’ve had a few matches go differently, but our kids competed hard. We are just maybe not there skill-wise, and that’s what we have to work on.”

Lowell advanced with wins over Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice in the Quarterfinal and Gaylord in the Semifinal. Goodrich reached Saturday afternoon by defeating Monroe Jefferson and Plainwell.

Click for full results.

PHOTOS (Top) Lowell’s Carter Cichocki, left, and Goodrich’s Ethan Garza lock up at 120 pounds. (Middle) Goodrich’s James Mahon, right, works against Lowell’s Juan Acosta at 285. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)

Performance of the Week: Detroit Mumford's Ja'Marcus Smith

March 11, 2022

Detroit Mumford wrestlingJa'Marcus Smith ♦ Detroit Mumford
Wrestling ♦ Senior

Smith entered last weekend’s Individual Wrestling Finals at Ford Field as the top seed at 103 pounds in Division 2, and he finished Saturday as the first Finals champion from the Detroit Public School League. He improved to 19-1 this season with a major decision in his first match, a decision in his semifinal, then a pin in his championship match to claim the title.

A three-time Finals placer, Smith previously finished fifth at 112 pounds as a junior and eighth at 112 as a sophomore. He was leading Saturday’s championship match 10-1 before getting the pin with one second left in the final period. He won 10 matches by fall this season and six more by technical fall.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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2021-22 Honorees

March 2: David Schaberg, Holt bowling - Report
Feb. 24:
Adelaide McRoberts, Kingsford swimming - Report
Feb. 17:
Christopher Kavanaugh, Petoskey hockey - Report
Feb. 10:
Ira Jenkins, Whitehall wrestling - Report

Feb. 3: Emma Stewart, Salem gymnastics - Report
Jan. 28:
Tyler Ray, Pinckney swimming - Report
Jan. 21:
Elle Craven, Traverse City Central skiing - Report
Jan. 14:
Nevaeh Williams, Mount Clemens basketball - Report
Dec. 2:
Lucas Dunn, Chelsea football - Report
Nov. 25:
Riley Nugent, Plainwell swimming - Report
Nov. 18:
Harper Murray, Ann Arbor Skyline volleyball - Report
Nov. 11:
Abby VanderKooi, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian cross country - Report
Nov. 4:
Arianne Olson, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Oct. 28:
Jack Guggemos, Okemos soccer - Report
Oct. 21:
Sachiv Kumar, Northville tennis - Report
Oct. 14:
Kate Brody, Grand Blanc golf - Report
Oct. 7:
Lilly Nelson, Negaunee tennis - Report
Sept. 30:
Stella Chapman, Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming - Report
Sept. 23:
Riley Hough, Hartland cross country - Report
Sept. 16:
Josie Bloom, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Report

(Top photo courtesy of the Detroit Mumford wrestling program; head shot by HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)