Running Finals Streak to 9, Lowell Keeps D2 Dominance in 'Family'
By
Jeff Chaney
Special for MHSAA.com
February 26, 2022
KALAMAZOO -- When asked about his team's unprecedented success, Lowell wrestling coach RJ Boudro admits that the recipe for success is not that hard.
It's all about family.
Boudro's Red Arrows won their ninth straight Division 2 championship, and 12th overall, by defeating Goodrich in the 46-16 in Saturday’s Final at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo.
"I have coached these guys since they have been knee-high," Boudro said. "I have been coaching at Lowell for 15 years; some of the guys on this team weren't even born when I started. It just starts getting more personable, and that is what coaching is really about. Making relationships, and relationships grow stronger. I love these kids, and I love their families – they support you a lot."
You could tell the closeness of this year's Lowell team all weekend in Kalamazoo, as the Red Arrows marched through Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice in the Quarterfinal and then Gaylord in the Semifinal to set up a rematch with the Martians in the championship match.
Starting at the 189-pound weight class, Goodrich got on the scoreboard first with Cameron Macklem’s pin in 1 minute, 36 seconds.
Lowell got on the board thanks to one of its senior leaders, as Carter Blough – the top-ranked 215-pounder in Division 2 – won by technical fall, 22-7.
Lowell went on to win six of the next seven matches after Blough's impressive victory, setting the tone for another team title heading back home to Lowell.
"Last year we didn't have the energy, the people here, like we did this year," Blough said. "We didn't have that stage, but this year we had our crowd here, we secured the dual and we are super excited."
Last year, in the middle of the pandemic, Lowell beat Goodrich 59-7 for the championship. This year would be a bit tougher, but the Red Arrows continued to show the dominance in the division they have displayed over the past decade.
"Lowell is a good team. I don't know what else to say," said Goodrich coach Kenneth Sirignano, whose team ended its year with a 31-3 record. "They were better than us today, by quite a bit."
Sirignano said momentum swung on some tight matches throughout the Final.
"We lost three close matches, and we gave up bonus points," Sirignano said. "In those tight duals, you have to win the close ones and you can't give up bonus points."
Those three sway matches came at 112 pounds – an 8-7 win by Lowell's Landon Musgrave – at 125 with a 3-0 win by the Red Arrows’ Owen Segorski, and at 145 with a 3-0 win by Lowell's Jared Boone.
"Even during COVID we found a way to work around it and get better," Blough said. "That's how this team is – we always find a way to get better no matter what's in front of us."
Lowell, which finished this winter with a 23-3 record, will wrestle for a 10th-straight championship next season. No other team in the state, no matter the division, has won more than five consecutive titles.
"This is ridiculous," Boudro said. "It's hard to put into words."
PHOTOS (Top) Lowell celebrates Saturday’s Division 2 championship win over Goodrich, which ran its title streak to nine seasons. (Middle) Lowell and Goodrich wrestlers work to gain control during their match. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
D4 Preview: Familiar Contenders Aiming to Become Next Champions
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 3, 2022
Opportunities abound for new Individual Finals Division 4 champions to make headlines this weekend at Ford Field.
In part because Clinton is wrestling in Division 3 this season, only three 2021 champions will be returning in Division 4 – although two more contenders have that experience as well after climbing the podium in 2020.
The Grand March on Friday begins at 10 a.m., with wrestling through semifinals that 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 Second Half coverage published later that evening and overnight. See the MHSAA Wrestling Finals page for more information and to follow results this weekend.
112 Jacob Bunn, Manchester senior (42-2) – The three-time Finals placer is seeded first at this weight after finishing eighth last season to go with a sixth at 103 as a sophomore and eighth at 103 as a freshman.
119 Shawn McGuire, Iron Mountain junior (35-2) – He’s the top seed at this weight after finishing third last season and runner-up at 112 as a freshman. He’s 109-6 combined over those three seasons.
140 Manus Bennett, Marlette junior (39-0) – He’s looking to climb back to the top of the podium after winning at 103 as a freshman and finishing third at 125 last season.
140 Bronson Marry, Hudson senior (24-2) – He’s aiming for his fourth championship match appearance and second title after finishing second at 130 last year, winning 112 as a sophomore and finishing runner-up at 103 as a freshman.
145 Dillon Raab, Bark River-Harris junior (31-2) – The top seed at this weight is looking to take the next championship step after finishing runner-up at 135 a year ago.
160 Shenard Foster, Detroit Loyola senior (13-0) – He hasn’t lost since just missing out on last season’s championship at this weight, when he took his title match into overtime. He also finished seventh at 140 as a sophomore.
160 Gavin Wilmoth, Traverse City St. Francis senior (36-2) – He’s the top seed at 160 after winning 152 a year ago and is a combined 70-3 over the last two seasons.
171 Cole Hopkins, Evart junior (50-0) – He’s back as the top seed at this weight after finishing runner-up last year and suffering his only loss of the season in the title match. He was seventh at 160 as a freshman.
215 Caden Ferris, Delton Kellogg senior (45-0) – The reigning champion and top seed at 215 is a combined 78-2 over the last two seasons and also earned an eighth place at that weight as a freshman.
285 Isiah Pasik, New Lothrop senior (43-0) – The top seed at this weight is the reigning champion and undefeated since his sophomore year, when he finished third. He’s a combined 111-3 over the last three seasons.
Additional No. 1 seeds: 103 Logan Gilbert, Martin freshman (37-6); 125 Austin Marry, Hudson sophomore (24-11); 130 Jackson Miller, Hudson senior (26-10); 135 River Roberson, Hesperia senior (41-2); 152 Parker Stroud, Iron Mountain senior (37-6); 189 Cameron Kimble, Hudson senior (40-1).
PHOTO Isiah Pasik's arm is raised in victory after taking a forfeit win during New Lothrop's Division 4 Quarterfinal victory Friday. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)