Preview: Hundreds of Hopefuls, 56 Champs
March 1, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A total of 23 reigning champions will return to this weekend’s MHSAA Individual Finals, and all 56 who will be crowned will be celebrated by their schools and communities.
But as is often true on this biggest stage, the crowd’s focus will turn nearly in full when a pair of contenders take to the mats one last time at the high school level.
Dundee’s Brandon Whitman and Lake Fenton’s Jarrett Trombley will be among hundreds of hopefuls at Ford Field for the start of the two-day competition Friday. They also are the only two this season who can join 22 others as four-time Finals champions.
Below, we look at 10 contenders to watch in every division, plus list everyone who finished at least as a runner-up in 2017 and all of the top seeds heading into this weekend. Even then, we surely missed a few who will end up rising to the top of the podium 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 11:45 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 p.m.
Follow all matches on a subscription basis live on MHSAA.tv, and click here for results at MHSAA.com.
Division 1
112: Nick Alayan, Macomb Dakota junior (46-1) – He just missed winning the 103 championship last season, falling 4-3 in the title match, but enters this weekend as the top seed at 112.
119: Benyamin Kamali, Detroit Catholic Central senior (31-1) – Kamali is looking to finish his career with a third individual title after winning 103 as a sophomore and 112 last winter, and he’s the top seed again this weekend.
125: Michael Mars, Westland John Glenn senior (49-0) – The top-seeded Mars also is working for a third individual title after winning 103 as a freshman and 112 as a sophomore but finishing runner-up at 119 last year; he’s 208-8 over his career.
140: Nick Freeman, Walled Lake Central senior (25-0) – While brother Ben Freeman was winning his fourth individual championship last season, Nick was locking down his first at 125; now he’s a combined 60-1 over the last two seasons and the top seed at 140.
145: Kevon Davenport, Detroit Catholic Central junior (37-3) – The top seed at 145 won 119 as a freshman and 130 last year, and is a combined 127-9 over his first three seasons so far.
152: Cameron Amine, Detroit Catholic Central junior (40-2) – Amine also is looking to add a third title after winning 125 as a freshman and 145 last year, and enters as the top seed at 152 with a 124-14 career record.
160: William Marano, Dearborn Edsel Ford senior (51-0) – The top seed at 160 just missed his first championship last year losing a 6-4 decision at this weight; he also placed at the Finals as a freshman and sophomore and is 204-13 entering this weekend.
171: Layne Malczewski, Macomb Dakota senior (51-0) – Malczewski will try to add a first individual title after placing third twice and fourth once over his first three seasons; he’s the top seed at 171 and enters with a career record of 217-22.
189: Benjamin Cushman, Flushing senior (49-0) – The top seed at 189 was last season’s champ at 215 and is a combined 105-0 over the last two winters.
285: Austin Emerson, Temperance Bedford senior (44-3) – Two of the top seed’s losses were to Dundee three-time champ Brandon Whitman; Emerson was the runner-up at 285 last season and he’s 93-5 combined over the last two.
Other 2017 runners-up: 130 Joshua Edmond, Detroit Catholic Central sophomore (20-0, 135 in Division 2 in 2017 wrestling for Orchard Lake St. Mary's); 140 Anthony Gibson, Westland John Glenn senior (46-4, 135 in 2017).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 103 Blake Noonan, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek sophomore (43-0); 130 Joshua Edmond, Detroit Catholic Central sophomore (20-0); 135 Derek Gilcher, Detroit Catholic Central sophomore (35-5); 215 Easton Turner, Detroit Catholic Central junior (35-1).
Also undefeated: 135 Isiah Berry, Southfield Arts & Technology senior (44-0); 152 Alex Facundo, Davison freshman (27-0); 189 Chris Hackney, Fraser senior (18-0).
Division 2
103: Riley Bettich, Stevensville Lakeshore sophomore (39-2) – Last season’s runner-up at this weight lost in sudden victory to Chayse LaJoie (see below) but will come back this weekend as the top seed.
112: Chayse LaJoie, Gaylord sophomore (42-4) – He’s following his graduated brother Dominic’s three titles by going for a second straight after winning 103 last year; he sits at 94-7 over his first two and is seeded first at this weight.
119: Austin Franco, Niles senior (40-0) – Franco is hoping to add a championship to runner-up finishes at 119 last season and 112 as a freshman (and a third place at 112 as a sophomore); he’s 160-5 for his career and a top seed.
125: Chaise Mayer, Warren Woods Tower junior (47-1) – Mayer has finished runner-up at 103 and 112 the last two seasons, respectively, but is the top seed at 125 with a 148-10 career record.
130: Branson Proudlock, Gibraltar Carlson senior (42-1) – A fourth-place finisher at 103 as a freshman, runner-up at 112 as a sophomore and champ at 119 as a junior, he’s top-seeded at 130 and brings a 196-7 record into his final weekend as a high school competitor.
135: Corbyn Munson, Chelsea senior (50-0) – Last season’s runner-up at 125 is 102-3 over the last two seasons and a top seed this weekend.
145: Austin Boone, Lowell sophomore (40-1) – Boone is 80-4 over the last two seasons and the top seed at this weight after winning 135 a year ago over DCC’s Edmond (see above).
152: Alec Rees, Sparta junior (43-0) – Rees is another top seed, coming off a runner-up finish at 145 last season after losing a tie-breaker to Austin O’Hearon (see below) in the championship match; that was his only loss of the last two seasons, and he’s 138-6 over his career.
160: Austin O’Hearon, Eaton Rapids senior (43-1) – The top-seeded O’Hearon will try to add one more title to last season’s exciting win and has placed all three years of high school in building a 180-20 career record.
160: Dustin Gross, Dearborn Heights Annapolis senior (55-0) – A three-time placer and two-time runner-up, Gross is on the opposite side of the 160 bracket from O’Hearon as he seeks his first title and to add to a 211-12 career record.
Additional No. 1 seeds: 140 James Whitaker, St. Johns junior (35-1); 171 Ryan Ringler, Cedar Springs junior (49-1); 189 Drake Pauwels, New Boston Huron senior (46-0); 215 Tyler Moore, Three Rivers senior (53-2); 285 Tyler Hill, Stevensville Lakeshore senior (35-2).
Also undefeated: 112 Vincent Perez, Tecumseh junior (50-0).
Division 3
103: Hunter Assenmacher, Ida sophomore (49-0) – Last season’s runner-up at this weight is now the top seed and hasn’t lost again since falling to Sean Spidle (below) by 7-3 decision in that championship match.
112: Sean Spidle, Flint Powers Catholic sophomore (36-3) – Spidle won the matchup of freshmen over Assenmacher to claim last year’s title at 103 and now enters as the top seed at 112.
125: Dakota Greer, Howard City Tri-County senior (39-2) – Top-seeded Greer is looking to finish his career with a third championship after winning 103 as a freshman, failing to advance as a sophomore because of an injury but then coming back to win at 119 a year ago.
130: Jarrett Trombley, Lake Fenton senior (55-0) – Trombley is another top seed and looking to add this title to the others won at 112, 119 and 130 his first three seasons; he enters the weekend with a 191-1 record and hasn’t lost since freshman year.
130: Mitchel Christensen, Essexville Garber junior (49-2) – Anyone in Trombley’s bracket has an uphill battle, but Christensen is among the most capable for climbing it after winning the title at 112 last year.
145: Sean Trombley, Lake Fenton junior (45-1) – In addition to being Jarrett’s brother, Sean Trombley placed at 135 as a freshman and was the runner-up at 140 last season before earning the top seed at this weight this weekend.
152: Zachary Bellaire, Dundee senior (39-7) – Bellaire won the 140 championship last season in a decision over Sean Trombley and enters with a top seed and 77-12 record over the last two winters.
160: Tylor Orrison, Dundee senior (41-3) – Orrison is hoping to close with a title at 160 to go with his championship won last season at 145 and top-six placings as a freshman and sophomore; he’s 160-32 for his career.
215: Brandon Whitman, Dundee senior (43-0) – Whitman will go after his fourth title as a top seed and carrying a 193-2 career record; his first three championships came at 189 twice and 171.
285: Tyler Marino, Richmond senior (27-5) – Marino will enter his last Finals as a top seed after coming in runner-up at 215 a year ago; he’s 74-11 over the last two.
Other 2017 runners-up: 215 Colton McKiernan, Richmond senior (37-2, 189 in 2017).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 119 Noah Cantu, Hart junior (47-0); 135 Stoney Buell, Dundee freshman (39-4); 140 Matthew Lipka, Montague senior (46-1); 160 Gavin Morgan, Mount Morris sophomore (39-0); 171 Owen Guilford, Portland junior (36-1); 189 Ethan Weatherspoon, Napoleon junior (50-0).
Also undefeated: 103 Robbie Altland, Hart junior (48-0); 130 Adam Bruce, Gladstone junior (39-0); 189 Jamane Smith, Coloma senior (44-0), 215 Joe Nagle, Comstock Park senior (49-0).
Division 4
112: Reese Fry, Manchester senior (52-1) – Fry is the top seed at 112 after winning 103 last season and also finishing runner-up at that weight as a sophomore; he’s 147-9 over the last three seasons.
125: Noah Comar, Clinton junior (54-2) – Comar is a repeat top seed after winning at 112 last season and finishing runner-up at that weight as a freshman; he’s 160-6 over his first three seasons.
130: Jordan Hamdan, Hudson junior (48-0) – The top seed at 130 won 119 last year and 112 as a freshman and enters 147-8 for his career.
130: Robert Rogers, Burton Bentley senior (37-2) – Rogers is the reigning champ at 130 and won 125 as a sophomore; he enters his final weekend of high school competition 172-8 for his career.
135: Skyler Crespo, Mendon sophomore (51-1) – The top seed at this weight won last year at 125 against a 2016 individual champion; Crespo is 107-2 for his career so far.
145: Jayce Kuehnlein, St. Louis senior (41-3) – Last season’s runner-up at 135 is the top seed at 145 and also placed as a sophomore; he’s 135-17 over the last three years.
152: Gerrit Yates, Hesperia senior (35-5) – The top seed at 152, Yates is the reigning champ and also finished runner-up as a freshman (135) and sophomore (145); he’s 176-15 entering his final high school tournament.
160: Zach Young, Hesperia senior (47-0) – Young has made a jump in his final season from third place at 140 last year to the top seed at this weight and hasn’t lost since falling in last season’s semifinal.
160: Zack Menck, Lawton senior (51-2) – Menck was the runner-up at 152 last season and also a placer as a sophomore; he’s 149-13 over the last three winters.
215: Eric Cassiday, Beaverton senior (44-1) – Eric is the oldest of three Cassiday brothers who will compete this weekend and enters as the top seed at 215; he placed sixth at 189 last season.
Other 2017 runners-up: 119 Jamison Ward, Carson City-Crystal sophomore (48-1, 103 in 2017); 140 Nick Felt, Shelby junior (47-4, 130 in 2017); 145 Braxton Seida, Carson City-Crystal junior (45-3, 140 in 2017).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 103 AJ Baxter, Clinton freshman (51-2); 119 Khalil Moten, Flint Beecher junior (37-2); 140 Austin Wolford, New Lothrop junior (48-2); 152 Jake Davis, St. Louis senior (40-3); 171 Wyatt Cool, Mendon senior (49-2); 189 Kyle Cassiday, Beaverton junior (52-1); 285 Jackson Schenk, Mayville senior (44-2).
PHOTO: Wrestlers square off during the 2015 Individual Finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Hillger Becomes Palace King 1 Last Time
March 4, 2017
By Jeff Chaney
Special for Second Half
AUBURN HILLS – Trent Hillger was as impressive as ever during his run to his third straight MHSAA individual title.
The Lake Fenton senior heavyweight pinned his first three opponents at the Division 3 Finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills this past weekend, then beat Lake Odessa Lakewood's Luke Tromp by technical fall in the Final, 15-0, to end his season with a 59-0 record.
"I was feeling good," Hillger said. "I felt prepared coming into the tournament. My coaches prepared me well, I came in and wrestled like I have all season. You see upsets left and right, you always have to go into the match like he can beat you, like he is the number one guy in the state. You always have to wrestle aggressive, wrestle your style of match and that’s what I did and came out on top."
There would be no upset here, as now Hillger gets prepared to take his talents to the Big Ten and the University of Wisconsin.
103
Champion: Sean Spidle, Flint Powers, Fr. (39-3)
Decision, 7-3, over Hunter Assenmacher, Ida, Fr. (43-7)
Competing in a Final can make a wrestler an emotional wreck, especially a freshman taking his sport's biggest stage in high school.
But Flint Powers ninth grader Spidle took his coach's advice and turned that into a 7-3 win over Ida's Assenmacher.
"Everything I've worked for has paid off," Spidle said. "My coaches told me to stay aggressive, stay calm and stick to the game plain and I'd win, and I did that."
112
Champion: Mitchel Christensen, Essexville Garber, Jr. (49-2)
Decision, 8-3, over Anthony Gallagher (Perry), Sr. (48-3)
Winning a championship in wrestling is an incredible accomplishment.
Beating a returning champion to do so takes that accomplishment to another level.
That's what Garber's Christensen did, as Gallagher won a title in 2016.
"I had dreams about winning it, but I didn’t really think I could," Christensen said. "I knew I put in all the work during the offseason. I knew I just had to trust my stuff and wrestle my match. I felt good during the match. There was one thing I was thinking the whole time: six perfect minutes of wrestling. It hasn’t really sunk in yet, but it will once I walk up those podium steps."
119
Champion: Dakota Greer, Howard City Tri-County, Jr. (52-0)
Technical fall, 23-8, over Stuart Massa, Hemlock, Sr. (45-8)
Greer tries to not over-think things when he is on the wrestling mat.
He just wrestles, and that seems to work, as he won his second title.
"I won my freshman year, and I was feeling really confident coming into the match this year," Greer said. "I haven't wrestled that kid in forever, so I didn't really know what he would do. But I don't really think when I'm out there; it's just natural, I just do it."
125
Champion: Amante' Young, Clare, Jr. (53-4)
Decision, 11-6, over Hunter Corcoran, Lake Fenton, Sr. (56-3)
Young became a first Saturday night. He is the first champion crowned from Clare High School.
Young relied on quickness and athleticism for the victory.
"I can’t even describe it," Young said. "To win a state title and to be the first from Clare to win a state title, it's amazing. I thought it would only be a one-point match, going in. I was a little nervous before the match, but I've seen him wrestle before, and I knew he was bigger than me."
130
Champion: Jarrett Trombley, Lake Fenton, Jr. (57-0)
Decision, 9-6, over Keenan Gunnells, Brooklyn Columbia Central, Sr. (41-8)
Sometimes watching a teammate fall short of his dreams can inspire another to keep going.
That's what Trombley did when he watched teammate Corcoran lose in the championship match before his.
That helped motivate Trombley to win his third straight championship and keep his dream alive of becoming a four-time champion.
"It's always been one of my goals (to win four). I just came to compete and the match went my way," Trombley said. "After Hunter got beat, I was a little mad, but he wrestled a good match. We have been practice partners all year, and he just didn't come out on top today. I came in this year with one goal, and one goal only, and that was to win a state title. I kept on working harder and harder this year, and it paid off."
135
Champion: Nolan Saxton, Remus Chippewa Hills, Sr. (58-0)
Decision, 5-4, over Dallas Sortor, Ida, Jr. (50-3)
Saxton is a wrestler of few words.
He likes to let his talents do his talking on the mat, and they sure did this year, as the Chippewa Hills senior capped off a perfect 58-0 record.
"I wasn’t really nervous out there. I was just ready," Saxton said. "I'm just so happy right now."
140
Champion: Zachary Bellaire, Dundee, Jr. (38-5)
Decision, 6-1, over Sean Trombley, Lake Fenton, Soph. (53-6)
Bellaire and the Dundee wrestling team took part in an epic championship match with Richmond last week at Central Michigan University.
Bellaire and his Vikings teammates lost on the eighth criteria, leaving a bad wrestling taste in the mouths of all Dundee faithful.
He helped ease the pain just a bit Saturday.
"He made a mistake, and I capitalized on it," Bellaire said. "All I had to do was wrestle for six minutes, and I knew I would win.
"It feels great to make it to the top of the podium. I used the loss we took at the team state meet last week as fuel against all the other kids I wrestled this week."
145
Champion: Tylor Orrison, Dundee, Jr. (42-5)
Fall, 4:44, over Glenn Beardsley, Farwell, Sr. (32-1)
Orrison didn't let an early takedown get to him. He knew if he kept working that the coaching and work he gets in his team's practice room would pay off.
"I knew I just had to out-compete him and just keep scoring," Orrison said. "Once he took me down, I knew I had to get a point back. It feels great; once I got that (chicken) wing in, I knew it was over."
152
Champion: Jacob Shoop, Scottville Mason Count Central, Sr. (52-1)
Technical fall, 17-1, over Gavin Morgan, Mount Morris, Fr. (48-4)
Experience got the better of youth at 152 pounds, as Shoop handled Mount Morris freshman Morgan.
"It feels incredible, just knowing everything I've done in the past has paid off. It’s a feeling like no other," Shoop said. "I felt like I controlled him during the whole match."
160
Champion: Sean Sterling, Dundee, Sr. (28-0)
Decision, 4-3, over Dylan Briggs, Corunna, Sr. (46-4)
Sterling didn't let his nerves get the best of him.
He proved that sometimes winning your second title can be tougher than earning that first championship, but was still able to do so by beating Corunna's Briggs.
"The first state title was a lot easier," Sterling said. "I was a lot more nervous during these Finals. Last year I had to get on top, but this year I had to say on top, and it's a lot easier to get on top than to stay on top. Last year's state title was for everyone who ever made a sacrifice for me, and this state championship is for me."
171
Champion: Collin Lieber, Croswell-Lexington, Sr. (44-0)
Decision, 4-3, over Daniel Thompson, Lake Odessa Lakewood, Sr. (44-2)
Lieber felt disrespected, and he wanted to prove a point.
"I got the third seed coming into this tournament, and I wanted to prove everyone wrong," Lieber said. "I've finished second, third and second here, and last year was a devastating loss. I thought about it every day during practice, and if I was ever about to give up, I just reminded myself how bad I want that state title."
189
Champion: Brandon Whitman, Dundee, Jr. (45-0)
Decision, 9-3, over Colton McKiernan, Richmond, Jr. (47-5)
Whitman came into his high school career at Dundee with a lot of fanfare and a national ranking out of the youth ranks.
And he has lived up to his lofty billing by winning his third straight championship.
"It feels pretty good," Whitman said of his third title. "It kind of dies down at the end, but feels good. I was very confident coming into this tournament. I knew that if I wrestled well, no one would touch me. Now the only goal is winning my fourth state title next year."
215
Champion: Jared Roehl, Millington, Sr. (38-0)
Decision, 6-1, over Tyler Marino, Richmond, Jr. (47-6)
Two titles are good, even if three would have felt better to Millington senior Roehl.
"I had a big chip on my shoulder, because I lost by one point last year, and trained all offseason for this match," Roehl said.
And the hard work paid off, as he controlled his match with Marino throughout and walked away with that second championship to cap an accomplished career.
"It feels amazing to redeem a loss from the Finals last year," Roehl said.
PHOTO: Lake Fenton’s Trent Hillger has his arm raised for the third time at the MHSAA Finals to celebrate his third championship Saturday. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)