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Team Wrestling Finals Take Flight at Wings
By
Pam Shebest
Special for MHSAA.com
February 22, 2019
KALAMAZOO — Thirty-two teams, more than 9,000 spectators and 60 to 75 volunteers will converge at Wings Event Center this weekend for the MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals.
Volunteers gathered at the venue Thursday, setting up two of the three arenas and making sure everything was in working order in preparation for Friday’s Quarterfinals and Saturday’s Semifinals and Finals.
And tournament director Mike Garvey – who before retiring last year served as an athletic director for more than two decades at four area high schools, plus led Lawton to the Class D wrestling title in 1990 – can rattle off the details like a tour guide.
“There are 10 warm-up mats in ‘The Valley,’” Garvey pointed out Thursday. “That’s where the teams also weigh in.
“We have four registered MHSAA referees who are going to inspect the kids for skin diseases, which they always do for wrestlers, and weigh them in.
“There’s a doctor who has volunteered because if a referee says no … we say ‘Go see the doc,’ which is nice.”
And that's just the start of the setup that comes with hosting one of the MHSAA’s most popular championship showcases.
The tournament is a collaboration of the MHSAA, Wings Event Center and Discover Kalamazoo, and the event is in its second year of a four-year contract with the facility. Saturday's 3:45 p.m. championship matches will close a three-week team tournament with champions celebrated in four divisions.
Last year’s Finals drew a championship-record attendance of 9,469.
"There’s no way you can miss Wings Event Center right off I-94,” said Dan Hutcheson, assistant director of the MHSAA. “Parking, the facilities. In general, this is a great place for us. Probably the most important thing for us is the people who work here. They’ve been so good to us, especially Rob (Underwood, Wings Event Center general manager) and Melissa (Janecke, special events coordinator).”
Garvey started planning this year’s event the day after last year’s championships finished. He started getting commitments from volunteers in the fall.
Providing memorable experiences for wrestlers, officials and fans are main priorities, and that means covering every detail from weigh-ins to concessions to where teams will stay and parents will park.
Garvey has volunteers who act as liaisons for each team, greeting them, distributing their packets and familiarizing them with the venue.
How does he get so many volunteers?
“I beg,” he said, laughing. “I say that in jest because people are thrilled to be part of this. I emailed all the ADs and wrestling coaches in the area, and they’ve just jumped in.
“Also the Kalamazoo wrestling officials association has jumped in as well, not as referees (but) as volunteers. Chris Furlong, the wrestling coach at Portage Northern, has been invaluable.”
The main action will take place in the stadium, where four mats are showcased on risers.
“It’s like the movie ‘Hoosiers’ when the guy opened the door at Butler and the kids walked in and were awestruck,” Garvey said. “That’s how these kids look, especially for the first time.”
There is more to the tournament than the wrestlers.
Portage Northern softball players are selling programs, and the concession stands in the arena are open.
“Teams can bring in their own food, and we have a place for them to eat (in the area above the third rink),” Garvey said.
Referees have their own space in the ECHL Kalamazoo Wings locker room, and “Portage Northern wrestling moms are setting up something for the refs in the locker room so they can just go back there for their food,” Garvey said.
Taco John’s will cater lunches for the volunteers, which Garvey calls “Garv’s Guys.”
Garvey also selects singers of the national anthem before each round.
South Haven’s Jim McCloughan, who received the Medal of Honor in 2017 for his service in Vietnam, will sing before the Division 2 and 3 Quarterfinals.
Martin junior Aleyca Morey and Loy Norrix sophomore Sierra Ward will perform before the other two divisions on Friday. Saturday’s anthem singers will be Portage Central junior Ciara Williams, Mattawan junior Thomas Lamb and St. Augustine fifth grader Marissa Toweson.
Discover Kalamazoo, a tourist information center, also is involved in the tournament playing a key role in many behind-the-scenes necessities.
“Our office is very engaged with helping place the participating teams and coaches into hotels,” said Greg Ayers, president/CEO of Discover Kalamazoo. “Of the 32 teams, most all of them will have at least one night (and some two nights) in our local hotels.
“While we don't have any specific number(s) regarding the economic impact of the event, we know 32 teams, their fans and others will have impact on area hotels, restaurants, retail, gas stations, etc.”
Ayers anticipates another large crowd this weekend.
“(With) three teams (Schoolcraft, Dowagiac and Niles) in our backyard, we anticipate big crowds to be in attendance supporting their teams,” he said.
Hutcheson, who wrestled at Ferris State University and spent three years at the Olympic training center, can look at the tournament from several vantage points
“When I look at an event like this, I look at it as a past wrestler, as a past coach, as an AD, and as a spectator,” he said.
“I try to think of all the different lenses you have to look through at an event, then we try to do the best we can.”
Wings Event Center has become a “Home of Wrestling,” Underwood said. “They like it, and we like it.
“The convenience off I-94, the great hotels we have around here with more opening, the seats in this venue, the concessions and bathrooms have made it a great location.”
Wings Event Center hosts five MYWAY youth wrestling events a year, and it was through Dave Dean, that organization’s president, that the MHSAA Finals began looking to Kalamazoo.
“My relationship with Dave Dean in MYWAY led me to Dan Hutcheson, and we started our conversations a couple years ago and here we are,” Underwood said. “It’s a great event, and we love having it here.”
Underwood has become a fan and spectator of the event.
“Once you start watching, it’s hard to walk away from it,” he said. “The team event is really neat because of the camaraderie with the wrestlers and the coaches and their following. When you look in the stands and just see color blocking for that team and the support, that’s cool to see.”
“(The MHSAA) does one (tournament) here and (individual championships) at Ford Field, so I guess we’re in good company.”
Garvey said he always wanted to run an MHSAA Finals tournament and jumped at the job when it went to Kalamazoo.
This year is especially special for Garvey.
“One of the neat things for me this year is that Schoolcraft has qualified,” he said “Their coach, Rob Ling, was a Lawton wrestler (with Garvey as coach), and he’s one of my boys.
“It makes me feel very proud. That’s a bonus for me.”
Ayers said more than half the teams are returning to Kalamazoo this year and “those teams and their fans are gaining familiarity with our community (hotels, restaurants, etc.)
“Having high school-aged students in our community provides excellent opportunities to introduce Kalamazoo. It can lead to prospective students for WMU, Kalamazoo College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College.”
Garvey said his team is always trying to improve.
“Last year everybody who came to this tournament as participants said it was the best Team Finals ever,” he said. “Being competitors, we want it to be better every year.”
Pam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) By Thursday evening, Wings Event Center awaited this weekend's MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals. (Middle) Clockwise from left: Lowell's Curt Cummings sets up the clocks. Portage Northern junior Shane Lisk, left, and senior Cameron Migliaccio clean the mats. Wings Event Center special events coordinator Melissa Janecke tapes the mats. Portage Northern senior wrestler Quinten Baughman continues the process of mat cleaning. (Below) Mike Garvey, left, and Rob Underwood. (Photos by Pam Shebest.)
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D2 Preview: Lowell Aims to be 3rd to 5
February 22, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
After becoming the fifth school in MHSAA history to win four straight Team Wrestling Finals last year, Lowell can become just the third to make it five consecutive this weekend at Wings Events Center.
The Red Arrows will be chasing the record for longest streak held by Davison 2002-06 and Hudson 2009-13, and are seeded No. 1 again heading into Friday’s Quarterfinals – but with last season’s runner-up Warren Woods Tower right behind at No. 2.
Below is a look at all eight teams competing in Division 2, listed by seed. Quarterfinal matches begin at 6:45 p.m. Friday, with Semifinals at noon Saturday and the championship match that afternoon at 3:30 p.m. All matches this weekend will be viewable live on a subscription basis on MHSAA.tv. For Friday’s schedule and results throughout, check the MHSAA Wrestling page.
#1 Lowell
Record/rank: 17-4, No. 1
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference White
Coach: RJ Boudro, fourth season (86-11)
Championship history: Seven MHSAA championships (most recent 2017), six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Nick Korhorn (28-8) soph. 119 Dawson Jankowski (22-9) soph., 125 Zeth Strejc (21-9) fr., 130 Jeff Leach (24-7) jr., Doak Dean (29-9) fr., 135 Avry Mutschler (35-4) jr., James Fotis (30-10) soph., 145 Austin Boone (37-1) soph., 171 Austin Engle (30-7) sr., 189 Dave Kruse (35-3) sr., 215 Connor Nugent (33-11) sr., 215 Keigan Yuhas (15-1) sr., 285 Tyler Deloof (29-7) soph.
Outlook: Lowell will try to win a fifth straight Division 2 title led by a reigning individual champion in Boone and 2017 placers Leach, Mutschler and Kruse. They are four of nine Individual Finals qualifiers who also took the mat for last season’s championship match win over Warren Woods-Tower. The Red Arrows marched through the District and Regional rounds this time giving up a total of 34 points over four matches. Two of this year’s losses were to Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central and Division 3 top-ranked Dundee.
#2 Warren Woods Tower
Record/rank: 25-5, No. 3
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Co-coaches: Greg Mayer and Russell Correll, 18th seasons (352-238)
Championship history: Division 2 runner-up 2017.
Individual Finals qualifiers: Joe Haynes (40-4) fr., 112 Dru Wilson (34-14) fr., 119 David Stepanian (38-2) jr., 125 Chaise Mayer (46-1) jr., 145 Keff O’Connell (29-13) jr., 152 Jajuan Lovejoy (40-6) sr., 215 Joel Radvansky (38-4) jr., 285 CJ Sheir (30-17) jr.
Outlook: The Titans reached their first MHSAA championship match last year and gave Lowell a run before falling 32-21. Nine upperclassmen (but just three seniors) dominate the lineup, with Mayer a two-time Individual Finals runner-up and O’Connell, Lovejoy, Radvansky and senior Austin Frederick (152, 11-7) all placers a year ago. Haynes, Wilson, Stepanian and Mayer give the team strength at the lightest weights and are backed up by two more freshmen with at least 26 wins apiece this winter.
#3 Gaylord
Record/rank: 35-1, No. 4
League finish: First in Big North Conference
Coach: Jerry LaJoie, 24th season (666-131-2)
Championship history: Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Chayse LaJoie (40-3) soph., 119 John Sosa (31-6) soph., 125 Derek Giallombardo (45-3) sr., 140 Jacob McKnight (33-6) soph., 160 Nick Brewster (22-8) sr., 171 Cade Foster (45-3) sr., 285 Joe Markham (44-4) sr.
Outlook: Gaylord got past nemesis and No. 8-ranked St. Johns at the Regional to return to the Quarterfinals for the third time in four seasons after missing a year ago. Chayse LaJoie is a reigning Individual Finals champion, and Markham, Sosa and Giallombardo also were placers in 2017. Nine expected starters have at least 30 wins, including three of five seniors who will take the mat – but seven starting sophomores indicate good things are yet to come as well.
#4 Eaton Rapids
Record/rank: 26-4, No. 5
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference White
Coach: Joe Ray Barry, sixth season (190-42)
Championship history: Eight MHSAA championships (most recent 1999), nine runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Robert Davids (33-5) fr., 125 Chris Haynes (35-9) soph., 135 Chad Haynes (30-8) soph., 140 Caleb Fish (43-2) soph., 152 Brayden McNamara (35-9) jr., 160 Austin O’Hearon (40-1) sr., 215 Dallas Price (28-12) sr.
Outlook: Eaton Rapids is back at the Quarterfinals for the first time since finishing Division 2 runner-up in 2015. After winning their District matches by a combined 147-3, the Greyhounds got past rival Mason and upset No. 2 DeWitt at the Regional. O’Hearon is a reigning individual champion but one of only three senior starters. Fish also was an Individual Finals placer last season and is one of seven underclassmen expected to take the mat.
#5 Stevensville Lakeshore
Record/rank: 21-1, No. 6
League finish: First in Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West
Coach: Bruce Bittenbender, 48th season (911-256-2)
Championship history: Two MHSAA runner-up finishes (most recent 1994).
Individual Finals qualifiers: Riley Bettich (38-2) soph., 103 Bailey DeLaTorre (30-10) soph., 125 Shane Williams (33-7) soph., 140 Tony Williams (39-2) sr., 145 Kearri Myrick (25-10) sr., 160 Cody Carlisle (40-3) sr., 189 Ryan Rush (30-13) sr., 215 Zeke Rohl (29-10) soph., 285 Tyler Hill (34-2) sr.
Outlook: Lakeshore is back at the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2012, led by the winningest coach in state wrestling history in Bittenbender. The Lancers got past rival and No. 7-ranked Niles at the District before giving up a total of 20 points in sweeping the Regional. Bettich was an individual runner-up last season and Tony Williams also placed at the Individual Finals. Interestingly, the starting lineup is split evenly between seniors and sophomores, and almost evenly with seniors at seven of the eight heaviest weights.
#6 Goodrich
Record/rank: 25-5, No. 9
League finish: First in the Genesee Area Conference
Coach: Kenneth Sirignano, eighth season (record N/A)
Championship history: Two MHSAA championships (most recent 2009), two runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 119 Caleb Teague (38-4) jr., 125 Carson Turnbow (32-12) jr., 160 James Penfold (11-1) jr., 171 Juwan Vines (31-8) soph., 189 Honour Kline (40-4) jr., 285 Blake Coffell (38-5) jr.
Outlook: Goodrich had a nice run in Division 3 over the previous two decades with all four of its championship match appearances between 1997-2009. This is the Martians’ second Quarterfinal trip in Division 2 after they also made it in 2016, and they haven’t let an opponent get closer than 19 points during this postseason run. Coffell and Kline were Individual Finals placers last season.
#7 Allendale
Record/rank: 35-7, unranked
League finish: First in O-K Blue
Coach: Duane Watson, 30th season (606-235)
Championship history: Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 125 Asher Meekhof (46-7) sr., 135 Gabe TeBos (45-6) sr., 145 Nathan Wynsma (43-4) jr., 160 Dillon Reeder (29-13) jr., 215 Jordan DeGroot (43-8) soph., 285 Adam Ginn (30-12) sr.
Outlook: Allendale will make its second straight Quarterfinals appearance after giving up 40 points total over four District and Regional matches. The Falcons are bringing six Individual Finals qualifiers instead of five a year ago, when they entered the weekend seeded fifth. Wynsma was an individual placer last season and Meekoff placed in 2016 – the latter is one of nine senior starters.
#8 Tecumseh
Record/rank: 24-7, unranked
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference White
Coach: A.J. Marry, third season (62-29)
Championship history: Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Vincent Perez (49-0) jr., 119 Joshua Hilton (41-15) jr., 125 Kellen Patton (39-7) jr., 140 Kyle Yuhas (38-13) soph., 160 Gabe Bechtol (34-8) sr., 171 Clayton Boatright (24-21) jr., 189 Ryan Roberts (47-6) sr.
Outlook: It’s tough to imagine a more accomplished No. 8 seed. Tecumseh will be wrestling in its seventh Quarterfinal in eight seasons, bringing in seven Individual Finals qualifiers – one more than last year’s team that fell to Lowell 41-20 in the opener. Patton was a repeat individual placer last season and Perez also placed at the Individual Finals – and both are among 11 starters who should return for another run in 2019 as well.
PHOTO: Lowell’s Keigan Yuhas and Warren Woods Tower’s Jajuan Lovejoy lock up during last season’s Division 2 championship match. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)