With Milestone Win, Lynch Continues to Help Fuel SMCC's Wrestling Resurgence
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
January 9, 2024
When her brother started wrestling in grade school, MaryAlice Lynch figured she would pick up the sport as well.
“I originally started wrestling with the Belleville wrestling club when I was in second or third grade,” Lynch said. “I wanted to do it because my brother was doing it, and I wanted to do everything my brother was doing. I really looked up to him. We did everything together.”
It did not take long, and Lynch – and her family – were hooked on the sport.
“I think it started off as just being something my brother (Michael) and I had in common, then it kind of grew into a whole family,” she said. “I still talk to a lot of people I met when I first started wrestling. It is like a family now. I still love it.”
She has stuck with wrestling over the years and today, Lynch is reaching milestones as a senior wrestler at Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
Last weekend she took part in a girls tournament Friday, then wrestled as part of an SMCC team tournament Saturday. Along the way, Lynch won her 100th career match, putting her in select company as one of the few female wrestlers in the state to reach the milestone. She is the first female wrestler in Monroe County Region history to reach 100 wins.
“It shows her dedication to the sport,” SMCC coach Nick Eby said.
Lynch went 11-9 as a freshman, 31-13 as a sophomore, 42-13 as a junior and is 17-5 this season, putting her at 101 wins going into this week.
“It’s cool to see all of the work I put in since my freshman year and how it all added up,” she said.
Lynch isn’t sure how many of those wins were against boys or came against girls.
“I don’t mind competing against the boys because that’s what I started with,” she said. “When I started, there were maybe one or two girls on my team, but there weren’t hardly any on the other teams.”
“At the end of the day, it’s still wrestling,” Lynch added. “I don’t really notice anything substantially different. I wrestle when I’m supposed to.”
Getting to 100 wins was no easy task. As a freshman, Lynch and SMCC had to navigate through COVID-19.
“We missed out on a whole bunch of meets,” she said. “I didn’t get many matches that year.”
She’s also experienced massive changes in Michigan high school wrestling. During her sophomore year, the MHSAA began sponsoring a postseason individual wrestling tournament for girls, something she was eager to take part in. For the few seasons prior, there was a girls state tournament hosted by the state coaches association.
“It was a big improvement,” she said. “The year prior we were wrestling in an old supermarket. I was really happy to be included with the guys and be at Ford Field.”
Lynch placed fourth at 105 pounds at last year’s Individual Finals. She is part of a wrestling rebirth of sorts at SMCC.
During the 1980s, the school – Monroe Catholic Central then – was a wrestling powerhouse, winning Class B titles in 1982 and 1983 and finishing runner-up in 1985.
There also was a season about six years ago, about the time current head coach Eby was graduating, when the team had just three wrestlers total.
“We didn’t have a youth program and there wasn’t much interest in the sport, honestly,” Eby said.
SMCC went 0-7 in duals in 2018-19, and Eby was hired the next year. His first season, the team consisted mainly of freshmen.
With his help – and athletes like Lynch dedicating themselves to the sport – SMCC wrestling is taking off again. Last season, SMCC won 17 matches. This year, Eby’s sixth as head coach, the Falcons have 24 wrestlers on the squad, and they are filling up every weight class and competing at a much higher level.
“I feel like last year really kicked it off,” Lynch said. “Last year, we got a lot of new people and they worked hard, and that brought in a lot of new people this year.
“I think as a team this year, things are going better than I anticipated. We lost a couple of good wrestlers, including my brother, but the newer guys have definitely stepped up. We are just making our way through the season.
Eby said Lynch has played a big part in the program’s rise.
“She’s definitely the most technical on the team and one of, if not the hardest workers, on the team,” he said. “She always has a good mindset going into her matches. For a couple of years, we didn’t have very many wrestlers, but we could always count on her to go out and fight.”
Lynch wrestles at 113 for the most part this season. Her sister, Brianna, occupies the 106-pound class.
“It’s an adjustment for her knowing she is carrying that weight class on her own, but she is doing well with it,” she said.
MaryAlice is the daughter of Collin and Christina Lynch. Her mom attended SMCC, and her dad went to Woodhaven. “My mom didn’t wrestle, but she did Tae Kwan Do in high school,” Lynch said. “My dad wrestled at Woodhaven.”
Lynch, 17, is a lifeguard during the summer at a park near her Belleville home. She is considering wrestling in college but also might have an opportunity to run track.
“It would be really weird if I wasn’t wrestling at this point,” she said.
Doug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Monroe St. Mary’s MaryAlice Lynch, in green, works to gain control during a match. (Middle) Lynch’s teammates and spectators celebrate her 100th career win. (Photos by Tom Hawley/Monroe News.)
Preview: More than 1,100 Contenders Converge at Individual Finals at Ford Field
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 3, 2023
More than 1,100 wrestlers begin their pursuit today of championships at the MHSAA’s Individual Finals.
By Saturday evening, 70 will climb to the top of the podium as title winners across five divisions, including a girls division for the second season.
Four wrestlers – Davison's Josh Barr and Caden Horwath, Dundee's Braeden Davis and Detroit Catholic Central's Dylan Gilcher – will attempt to join 31 others who have won four Finals championships.
The Grand March on Friday begins at 10 a.m., with wrestling through semifinals this 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 coverage published later that evening and overnight. See the MHSAA.com Wrestling page for more information and to follow results this weekend.
Following are glances at just some of the many likely contenders who will compete this weekend:
Division 1
113 Conor McAlary, Hudsonville sophomore (24-3) – Last season’s champion at 103 pounds is a combined 69-4 over the last two.
120 Caleb Weiand, Macomb Dakota senior (43-0) – Last season’s champion at 112 and the 2021 runner-up at 103 has only one loss combined over the last three seasons and is a top seed this weekend. He has committed to Michigan State.
132 Drew Heethuis, Detroit Catholic Central senior (49-1) – The top seed at this weight will wrestle for a third individual championship after winning 112 as a sophomore and 119 as a junior. He has committed to Princeton.
126 Caden Horwath, Davison senior (18-1) – Another top seed, he’ll be wrestling for his fourth championship with previous titles at 103, 119 and 125. He’s signed with Michigan.
144 Clayton Jones, Detroit Catholic Central senior (45-3) – He’s seeking a second-straight title after winning his first at 130 pounds last season.
147 Darius Marines, Detroit Catholic Central junior (32-3) – The top seed at this weight is seeking his third championship to go with his previous at 145 and 152 the last two seasons.
150 Dylan Gilcher, Detroit Catholic Central senior (28-0) – He’s top-seeded and also wrestling for a fourth championship after winning 112 as a freshman, 135 as a sophomore and 140 as a junior. He has signed with Michigan.
175 Josh Barr, Davison senior (29-0) – One more four-championship hopeful in Division 1, he won 152 as a freshman, 160 as a sophomore and 171 last year and is top-seeded this weekend. He has signed with Penn State.
2022 runners-up: 120 Ozia Wilson, Macomb Dakota sophomore (31-6, 103 last year); 120 Mariano Lopez, Holt senior (36-4, 112 last year); 132 Elijah Bunn, Rockford senior (47-2, 130 last year); 138 Justin Gates, Davison junior (30-2, 119 last year); 144 Evan Herriman, Davison senior (28-4, 140 last year); 165 Tatum Bunn, Detroit Catholic Central senior (36-12, 152 last year); 190 Brayden Mirjavadi, Romeo senior (48-4, 160 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Wyatt Lees, Detroit Catholic Central (38-10); 113 Bohdan Abbey, Hartland freshman (40-3); 138 Justin Gates, Davison junior (30-2); 144 Evan Herriman, Davison senior (28-4); 165 Cameron Adams, Detroit Catholic Central senior (31-4), 190 Ryan Ahern, Rockford junior (46-2); 215 Connor Bercume, Detroit Catholic Central sophomore (45-4); 285 Owen Hawley, Livonia Franklin senior (51-0).
Also undefeated: 150 Cole Schelb, Midland senior (45-0); 157 Justin Gorman, Grandville senior (41-0).
Division 2
120 Jackson Blum, Lowell sophomore (35-3) – The top seed at his weight is pursuing his second championship after debuting last year with a title at 112.
126 Bryce Shingleton, Linden senior (42-2) – Last season’s runner-up at 125 will attempt to close his career with his first championship and Linden’s first since 1994.
132 Aaron Lucio, Stevensville Lakeshore senior (46-1) – The top seed at his weight won 135 last winter and was runner-up at 125 as a sophomore, and he’s a combined 100-1 over the last two seasons.
138 Owen Segorski, Lowell sophomore (26-6) – He also debuted with a championship last season, at 125, and will look to add his second in one of the strongest brackets in this division.
144 Louden Stradling, Gaylord senior (47-0) – A two-time Finals runner-up at Battle Creek Lakeview earned his first championship last season at 130 and is the top seed this weekend at his weight. He has signed with Central Michigan.
157 Timothy Simons, Gibraltar Carlson senior (43-4) – In finishing runner-up at 145 last season, he became the third wrestler from Carlson to reach a Finals championship match.
175 Brayden Gatreau, Gaylord senior (48-1) – Last season’s champion at 171 pounds is a combined 90-2 over the last two. He also has signed with CMU.
215 Adam Haselius, Jackson Northwest senior (46-0) – He’s a combined 91-1 over the last two seasons and the reigning champion at 189 as he enters this weekend the top seed at his weight. He has committed to Columbia.
Other 2022 runners-up: 113 Carter Cichocki, Lowell sophomore (28-8, 103 last year); 138 Tee Ward, Fremont junior (52-2, 119 last year); 175 Derek Badgley, Mason junior (45-2, 171 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Brady Baker, Stevensville Lakeshore sophomore (44-2); 113 Santana Ramon, Allen Park junior (48-0); 126 Marcello Milani, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s senior (46-0); 138 Jayden Schwartz, Charlotte senior (48-2); 144 Peter Pena, Milan senior (32-1, 140 last year in Division 3); 150 Trevor Swiss, Petoskey senior (43-0), 157 Cory Thomas Jr., Pontiac junior (22-0), 165 Philip Lamka, Fenton junior (40-2); 175 Carson Crace, Lowell senior (30-5); 190 Easton Phipps, Goodrich junior (37-4); 285 James Mahon, Goodrich sophomore (10-0).
Also undefeated: 285 Ben Przytula, Gibraltar Carlson senior (40-0), 285 Aaron Holstege, Allendale senior (46-0).
Division 3
106 Landon Sopha, Yale sophomore (42-7) – Last season’s runner-up at 103 is a combined 95-9 over his first two seasons.
113 Talan Parsons, Ovid-Elsie junior (47-0) – Last season’s champion at 103 is the top seed at his weight this weekend with a combined 84-1 record over the last two years.
120 Kade Kluce Dundee junior (38-5) – The reigning champion at 112 is the top seed at 120 as he seeks a third Finals title after also winning 103 as a freshman. He has committed to Navy.
120 Connor Busz Clinton senior (40-2) – Last season’s runner-up at 119 is seeking end with his first championship after also finishing Division 4 runner-up at 112 as a sophomore and third at 103 in Division 4 as a freshman.
126 Cameron Chinavare, Dundee junior (33-2) – The reigning champion at 125 is the top seed at 126 this time and a combined 62-4 over the last two seasons.
132 Braeden Davis, Dundee senior (37-0) – The top seed at 132 is the next Dundee wrestler seeking to finish with four championships after winning 119 last winter, and he’s never wrestled into the third period at the Individual Finals. He has signed with Penn State.
157 Aiden Davis, Dundee senior (40-2) – The top seed at 157 won 145 last year and 135 as a sophomore, and also finished runner-up at 125 as a freshman.
165 Connor Owens, Flint Powers Catholic senior (23-1) – Another top seed, he’s pursuing his third title match after finishing as the 160 runner-up in 2021 and the champion at that weight a year ago.
2022 runner-up: 175 Noah Etnyre, Lutheran Westland senior (42-3, 171 last year in Division 4).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Haydn Nutt, Dundee freshman (34-6); 138 Kaden Chinavare, Dundee senior (37-6); 144 Blake Cosby, Dundee freshman (40-6); 150 Cole Karasinski, Grand Rapids West Catholic senior (41-0); 175 Josh Kasner, Algonac junior (47-0); 190 Troy Demas, Constantine senior (45-1); 215 Joel Simon, Lake Odessa Lakewood sophomore (47-0); 285 Shane Cook, Whitehall senior (58-0).
Also undefeated: 157 Tyler Schofield, Olivet junior (44-0); 165 Darrin Alward, Dundee senior (41-0).
Division 4
106 Logan Gilbert, Martin/Climax-Scotts sophomore (43-5) – Last season’s champion at 103 is up to a combined 84-11 over his first two seasons.
126 Shawn McGuire, Iron Mountain senior (36-1) – The top seed at 126 is a combined 149-7 over his high school career after winning last year’s 119 title and finishing top-three both of his first two seasons.
132 Landyn Crance, Union City junior (40-3) – Last season’s 125 champion is a combined 85-6 over his last two years.
150 Manus Bennett, Marlette senior (45-1) – The reigning champion at 140 and top seed this time at 150 is seeking his third title after also winning 103 as a freshman.
157 Sebastian Martinez, Riverview Gabriel Richard sophomore (35-3) – He’s the top seed at 157 coming off last year’s title at 145 and with a combined 68-7 high school record.
157 Dillon Raab, Bark River-Harris senior (45-4) – Last season’s runner-up at 145 is seeking to finish with his first title after also finishing runner-up at 135 as a sophomore.
175 Cole Hopkins, Evart senior (44-0) – Another top seed, he’s a combined 94-0 over the last two seasons after winning 171 a year ago, and his only loss as a sophomore was in the title match.
190 Drew Allgeyer, Bark River-Harris senior (32-4) – The reigning champion at 189 is a top seed this weekend as well and a three-time Finals placer overall.
Other 2022 runners-up: 113 Logan Mears, Union City sophomore (33-7, 103 last year); 126 Tyler Winch, Iron Mountain junior (27-9, 119 last year); 138 Austin Marry, Hudson junior (42-9, 125 last year); 132 Dalton Birchmeier, New Lothrop sophomore (29-13, 130 last year); 285 Grayson Orr, New Lothrop senior (35-2, 215 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Nicholas Sorrow, Hudson freshman (46-1); 113 Austin Garcia, Lawton sophomore (48-2); 120 Wesley Edie, Grass Lake senior (34-6); 132 Cole Marry, Hudson junior (44-7); 138 Blake Sloan, Manchester freshman (49-3); 144 Coy Perry, Hudson junior (36-8); 165 Fulton Stroud, Iron Mountain junior (33-6); 215 Grady Iobe, Union City senior (35-1), 285 Eathan Westfall, Reading senior (41-0).
Girls Division
100 Emme Hicks, Saline senior (25-10) – The top seed and reigning champion at this weight will be seeking her fourth state championship after also winning Michigan Wrestling Association titles as a freshman and sophomore.
110 Sky Langewicz, Algonac sophomore (42-5) – She’s the top seed after opening her career with last season’s championship at 105.
115 Sydney Thompson, Eaton Rapids junior (15-4) – Last season’s champion at 110 is a combined 35-10 over her first two seasons.
125 Margaret Buurma, Fowlerville sophomore (27-7) – The reigning champion at 115 is the top seed at 125 and a combined 41-9 over the last two years.
130 Angelina Pena, Milan junior (17-5) – She won last year’s championship at 120 and is top-seeded this weekend with twice as many wins this season.
130 Tyler Swanigan, South Lyon East junior (35-14) – The reigning champion at 130 has nearly quadrupled her win total this winter from a year ago.
140 Danni Swihart, Hanover-Horton senior (32-6) – The reigning champion at 135 is top-seeded at 140 and a combined 52-10 over the last two seasons.
140 Emma Pendell, Montague junior (17-8) – Last season’s champion at 140 was Montague’s first in any division of the sport since 1989.
190 Sabrina Nauss, Brighton junior (9-0) – The reigning champion at 170 is a combined 18-0 over the last two seasons and another top seed.
2022 runners-up: 100 Tricia Pyrzewski, Gladwin junior (31-4, 100 last year); 110 Sunni LaFond, Gaylord sophomore (27-14, 105 last year); 125 Lola Barkby, Sturgis sophomore (20-19, 120 last year); 140 Ryen Allen, Goodrich junior (3-2, 125 last year); 130 Faith Blackburn, Clinton junior (7-3, 130 last year); 145 Teairah Elsemann, Saline senior (10-2, 145 last year); 170 Khloe Williams, Clio senior (28-0, 170 last year); 190 Gabriella Allen, Marcellus junior (27-4, 190 last year); 235 Mady Frisbie, Belding sophomore (17-12, 255 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 105 Nakayla Dawson, Westland John Glenn freshman (37-2); 115 Morgan Irwin, Westland John Glenn senior (27-6); 120 Cecilia Williams, Mason freshman (19-5); 135 Caylynn Chandler, Birch Run senior (10-2), 145 Lydia Roope, St. Charles senior (21-7); 155 Maddie Hayden, Caledonia freshman (21-4); 170 Khloe Williams, Clio senior (28-0); 235 Mady Frisbie, Belding sophomore (17-12).
PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Catholic Central’s Dylan Gilcher wrestlers during his team’s Division 1 championship match last weekend at Wings Event Center. (Middle) Dundee’s Braeden Davis finishes a pin in his team’s Division 3 Final last Saturday. (Below) Algonac’s Sky Langewicz has her arm raised in victory after winning a match during her team’s Division 3 Semifinal. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)