Mendon's Crespo Completes 4-Title Drive
March 7, 2020
By Dan Stickradt
Special for Second Half
DETROIT — Skyler Crespo reached Michigan wrestling immortality Saturday night.
The senior from Mendon became just the 28th wrestler in MHSAA history — and second on the day — to earn a fourth Individual Finals title.
Crespo posted an 11-0 major decision victory over Clinton sophomore Kent McCombs in the Division 4 145-pound championship match at Ford Field.
Crespo finished with a 53-1 record as a senior and more than 200 career wins. His only defeat this season came against an out-of-state opponent.
“This feels better than you can imagine,” smiled Crespo.
“One day in seventh grade my coach texted me and asked me, ‘What are your goals?’ I told him I wanted to go D-I,” added Crespo. “He said ‘that we have to have some other goals, too. He said why not go for it all?’ That’s what I did each year.”
McCombs finished his sophomore campaign with a 37-10 record and was part of Clinton’s team championship run. He also lost in the 2019 quarterfinals to Crespo, and wound up finishing fifth.
“I knew he was good on top, but I knew I could take him. I knew I was better. I don’t want to sound cocky, but I have confidence in myself and my training,” added Crespo. “There was no way I was going to lose today.”
103
Manus Bennett, Marlette, Fr. (45-2)
Decision, 6-4, over Isaiah Mullins, St. Charles, Soph. (36-5)
The top-seeded Bennett’s Finals debut ended in grand fashion.
“I came in as a freshman and just wanted to do well,” said Bennett. “I never really thought about winning a state title. I just wanted to do as best as I could. Once I got here, I went for it. I thought my opponent was great. It went all the way to the end, and I was able to pull it out.
“Now that I won a state championship as a freshman, I want to come back again next year and go for another (title),” added Bennett. “This is a great feeling. I can’t even explain it.”
112
Bronson Marry, Hudson, Soph. (38-6)
Fall, 1:46, over Shawn McGuire, Iron Mountain, Fr. (41-2)
After finishing as the runner-up at 103 last season, the top-seeded Marry picked up just one of a few pins in the finals Saturday.
“I came so close last year,” said Marry. “This was the goal since last season. It was disappointing last weekend (to lose in the Team Final to Clinton), so I really wanted to come back and win today.”
119
Ben Modert, Bronson, Sr. (54-2)
Decision, 9-4, over Zack Hall, Byron, Soph. (50-5)
Modert capped a fine career with his third Finals title, having previously won at 103 as a sophomore and 112 as a junior.
“It’s just crazy that it’s over,” said Modert . “I was nervous, not because of the kid but because it’s my last match ever. So I got too scared for it, I know I did. But I still went out there and got it done.”
125
Jaron Johnson, Carson City-Crystal, Jr. (42-0)
Decision, 6-2, over Andrew Krupp, New Lothrop, Jr. (39-10)
Johnson capped an unbeaten season after entering this weekend as the top seed at his weight. He was third at 125 a year ago.
“I never want to underestimate anyone. That’s when mistakes happen,” said Johnson. “It feels great right now. It’s been unreal the past couple of days, especially being a senior and No. 1 all year. I just wanted to go out there and do my stuff. If I worried about it, that’s when I won’t do my best.”
130
Caden Natale, Hudson, Jr. (40-5)
Decision, 2-1, over Jacob Shelby, Manchester, Sr. (51-2)
Natale had to stop three times due to a bloody nose. He eventually came back to the mat to down Shelby by wearing a taped-over mask that had a bit of a horror movie feel.
A year ago, Natale lost in double overtime in the 119-pound final.
“There was blood the whole time; it was crazy,” said Natale. “I just wanted to go back out there. It was really hard because I couldn’t breathe with that mask on. But I kept battling.”
Natale has had to overcome some adversity — even being sidelined for his entire seventh and eighth grade years from sports due to a serious health condition.
“I had a brain cyst that ruptured (before) my seventh grade year. I had to sit out the entire year, spent six months home in bed, and then my eighth grade year I had to sit out for precaution,” added Natale. “It feels so great to be out here, and that makes winning this so special knowing the adversity that I faced a couple of years ago.”
135
Jamison Ward, Carson City-Crystal, Sr. (53-0)
Decision, 5-1, over Mason Cantu, Hart, Soph. (53-3)
A perfect season was capped with a perfect feeling for Ward, who finished with a second-straight Finals championship.
“We’ve been talking about it all season that we had two (champions) last year and we could have two this year,” said Ward, who finished a combined 101-1 over the past two years. “We did it. (Teammate) Jaron Johnson is an awesome kid and a great practice partner. He did his part, and I did mine. This is a great feeling and even better having two of us win titles on the same day.”
140
Landyn VanWyk, Lawton, Sr. (52-4)
Decision, 8-5, over Reyden Rognow, Athens, Sr. (40-6)
VanWyk was not the No. 1 seed. But the Lawton senior still persevered and finished on top.
VanWyk posted an 8-5 decision to win his first title. He lost in the blood round at 135 last year.
“I wanted this more than anything,” smiled VanWyk. “I don’t think it settled in until the ref raised my hand. All of that hard work paid off. I still can’t believe it.”
152
Thomas Potter, Springport, Sr. (46-1)
Decision, 5-1, over Bryce Cheney, New Lothrop, Jr. (33-4)
Potter was not going down in his final match.
“This is what I was working for,” said Potter. “I wanted this more than you know. I knew that I had a chance this year, and I went out there and won the state championship.”
160
Trenton Holden, Grass Lake, Jr. (46-1)
Decision, 7-2, over Nick Phillips, Manchester, Sr. (35-10)
After not even qualifying for the Finals in 2019, Holden took a quantum leap toward the podium this year.
“I knew what he was going to do. I had (a feeling I) could get in one of my shots,” said Holden. “I never count anyone out. Don’t think, just go out and wrestle hard.
“This means everything,” continued Holden. “Last year I got knocked out at the Regional qualifiers in the blood rounds. This year I changed my whole mentality. I slimmed down a little bit, got in (better) shape and I was able to win it.”
171
Brock Nelson, LeRoy Pine River, Sr. (23-0)
Decision, 3-2, over Brayden Randolph, Clinton, Jr. (54-5)
Nelson and his teammates have faced plenty of adversity this school year — especially losing Nelson’s best friend Tim Rizor in a car crash four months ago. But Nelson battled through the devastating loss to post a perfect 23-0 season.
“I have been wrestling since I was a little kid, and since I was little I’ve dreamt of winning a state title,” said Nelson. “This year I’ve had some bad things happen to me in my life. What means the most to me is I won the state title for Tim Rizor. He was my buddy that died in a car accident last November. He took second at state two years in a row, and I know he would have taken it this year if he had the chance. This was for him.”
189
Logan Badge, Clinton, Soph. (37-0)
Decision, 6-4, over Justin Camahan, New Lothrop, Sr. (46-2)
One week after helping Clinton capture its first team title, Badge was back at it again winning an individual crown.
He won the Division 4 title at 215 last year, but dropped down a weight and still repeated.
“I just felt better about my performance (being down at 189),” said Badge of his weight loss. “I feel better. I am eating cleaner, not eating junk food and stuff like that. I cut everything out.
“This feels just as good as the first time,” continued Badge, who is 72-2 over the past two seasons. “Now I want to go after a couple of more.”
215
Camden Orr, New Lothrop, Jr. (44-3)
Fall, 4:40, over Shane Osantowski, Ubly, Sr. (35-7)
Seconds after winning, Orr nearly grabbed a few more takedown points by leaping onto his coaches in celebration and nearly forcing them onto the next mat.
Orr, the top seed, more than earned his celebratory rights.
“I did almost knock Coach over,” smiled Orr.
“There’s nothing quite like it, to be honest,” continued Orr, who was sixth at 189 last year. “I went for the reversal and I spun him around and got him on his back. I got in front and was able to take him down. It’s exciting. This is what I’ve been working for all year. When you get it — it’s awesome — and you don’t know what to do but celebrate. That’s why I ran over to my coaches.”
285
Simon Lato, Manchester, Sr. (53-2)
Decision, 5-4 (OT), over Emmett Bingaman, Mendon, Sr. (49-3)
Holding a slim 4-3 lead late in the third period, Lato was penalized for locking his hands.
That didn’t deter the senior and top seed.
Lato came back with an overtime point and captured his first championship.
“(The penalty) doesn’t matter. I got him (in overtime),” noted Lato, who was seventh at 285 last season. “That was my goal, and I was not going to let that bother me and take me away from winning.”
PHOTO: Mendon’s Skyler Crespo locks up Clinton’s Kent McCombs on the way to winning his fourth Individual Finals title. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Constantine Proving Its Power as Postseason Approaches
By
Wes Morgan
Special for MHSAA.com
March 2, 2021
Excuses are not permitted inside the Constantine High School wrestling room.
Despite being 15-1 with wins over several top-10 teams in the state, the Falcons are not among the programs ranked in Division 3 as of March 2. Constantine has defeated three of the best teams (Bronson, Union City and Lawton) in Division 4 so far this year and boasts four returning Individual Finals qualifiers.
But because Constantine has been tripped up at Team Regionals since 2013, seventh-year head coach Dale Davidhizar believes his squad has more to prove before it gets the recognition it might deserve.
A shortened season due to COVID-19, which eliminated big weekend tournaments that best prepare athletes for the grueling postseason, won’t be used as a defense for individuals or the team coming up short this month.
“With our senior leadership that we have, I think the kids will be ready to go and rolling without a problem,” Davidhizar said. “We’ve filled our team schedule with some pretty good teams throughout the year.”
Two of those seniors, both captains, have endured plenty of adversity. Neither one of them has let it derail them. Due to various injuries over the years and waiting their turns behind talented upperclassmen, Gage Ensign (152 pounds) and Isaac Hall (189) finally reached 100 career victories in February as they eye returns to the Finals.
Ensign placed seventh in Division 3 in 2019 at 130 pounds and opted not to duck anyone the following year as a junior. In 2020, a stacked Division 3 Regional at 140 pounds resulted in four wrestlers eventually snagging the first, second, third and fifth podium positions at Ford Field at the championship. Ensign was not one of them.
“He wanted to stay in the toughest weight class in the state in any region,” Davidhizar said of Ensign’s competitiveness. “He took on the challenge and fell a little short. Those were some seriously tough kids he went after.”
At 12-1 this year, Ensign, who’s battling a nagging injury, hopes to finish out his career with a strong run at 152.
“This year I’m an underdog,” Ensign said. “I sort of embrace it, and I feel more relaxed in practice and in meets. I have nothing to lose now. I was pretty dang happy (to reach 100 wins) because I didn’t know if I was going to be able to wrestle this year. I’m just happy to be able to be on the mat.”
Hall stepped up as a freshman at 171 and finished around .500. He missed time as a sophomore due to an injury — about a third of the season — but accumulated more than 40 victories in 2020 at 189 en route to a fourth-place Finals finish. Hall dropped his opening match by fall in the first period but went on to win four consecutive bouts in the consolation rounds. He’s currently 16-0.
“I’m very happy that he got to that milestone (100 wins),” Davidhizar said. “For him to reach that milestone is a huge deal for him and his whole family. It really shows the work he has put in. Without putting too much pressure on him, I feel he should be in the Finals. He’s the only returning state placer at 189 in Division 3. He’s put in even more work this year. Troy Demas has really been able to push him past some barriers, and it’s going to show at the end of the year.”
Hall broke through with his 100th win against Vicksburg, bumping up to 215 to avoid a victory by forfeit.
“I was just excited to get back to wrestling and prove what I could do this year,” Hall said. “I wanted my 100th win to be a real match, not a void. It was pretty awesome. I wish I would have hit it sooner, but I’m glad I made it there.
“I’m confident we will make it to team state this year. I don’t know what it’s like to make it to state (as a team), and I’d like to experience that. Individually, I’d like to make it to the Finals and get that state championship.”
Boe Eckman has been dinged up this year, but he’s another Falcons senior leader with a wealth of Finals experience. At 215, Eckman was edged by two points in the Division 3 title match last year by Richmond’s Luke Davis. Eckman racked up three pins on his way to the championship bout.
While trying to get healthy this year, the Falcons have gotten a boost from freshman Bennett VandenBerg, who has bounced between 215 and 189 and has racked up double-digit wins already.
Senior Dylan Reiff made it to Ford Field last year at 130 and finished eighth. He’s 14-2 this season at the same weight class. Sophomore Troy Demas (171) and junior Eric Demas are both 14-2, and senior Chuck Taylor has a 15-1 record.
“Our practices, they go hard,” Davidhizar said. “It shows the level of skill those kids bring in and getting some of those freshmen and sophomores to the level of state qualifiers and state placers. Dylan Reiff hadn’t wrestled in three years and he came in last year for the first time and was a state placer. I attribute that to wrestling with Gage and Eric Demas. I attribute that to practice partners and how the guys practice in our room.
“Boe Eckman and Isaac Hall have been practice partners since seventh grade. Isaac works his tail off to get where he is now, but Boe has helped him along tremendously. Boe had the higher skill when Isaac was just starting out, and now Isaac has gotten to that point. That’s teammates working hard together. Kids are pushing everyone in the room.”
With a seasoned group in the upper weights and some pieces falling into place in the lighter slots, Constantine continues to gain momentum as the season winds down.
“I thought, as a whole, we were probably going to be one of the best teams that I’ve coached in the seven years since I’ve taken over the high school (program),” Davidhizar said. “We’re pretty solid. With our senior leadership that we have with our five core seniors, I thought we were going to be pretty tough to handle for anybody in the state.”
Wes Morgan has reported for the Kalamazoo Gazette, ESPN and ESPNChicago.com, 247Sports and Blue & Gold Illustrated over the last 12 years and is the publisher of JoeInsider.com. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Constantine’s Gage Ensign faces off with an opponent this season. (Middle) Isaac Hall’s arm is raised in victory, one of more than 100 during his career. (Photos by Terena Reif.)