Broncos' VanLanen Preps for Big Finish
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
January 29, 2016
HARRIS — It hasn’t always been easy, but Bark River-Harris senior Morgan VanLanen has held her own for four years in the male-dominated sport of wrestling.
This year, she is entered in the 152-pound division after competing at 140 a year ago.
"I hadn’t been able to drop weight and had to move up,” she said. “It really hasn’t seemed like that big of an adjustment. I was in a pretty packed bracket last year, which prepared me for this year.”
VanLanen is 7-17 heading into Saturday’s Manistique Super Duals after finishing 1-2 in the Upper Peninsula Championships at Marquette last Saturday.
A total of 88 girls wrestled on teams at MHSAA member schools during the 2014-15 school year, representing 66 schools. Participation numbers for this season will be announced at the end of the school year.
VanLanen tuned up for the U.P. tournament by pinning Menominee’s Seth Smith in two minutes, 27 seconds in the Broncos’ lone home meet on Jan. 19.
“That was a pretty big boost,” she said. “I wrestle a lot of stronger guys. I had been weight lifting every day, trying to prepare myself for that. I’ve had a few quick pins, but win or lose you always learn something. I like sports that are more individual because you have to take all the responsibility for how you perform. You’re not just sitting the bench.”
VanLanen said practices are challenging, but have also been productive.
“We run a lot, but that doesn’t always condition you for wrestling,” she added. “I haven’t been focusing so much on my technique. I’ve been wrestling since second grade and have the technique down for the most part. We focus more on team wrestling during practice, which is good for conditioning and gets us prepared more for the matches.”
Outside of high school wrestling, VanLanen has competed in out-of-state girls tournaments during the offseason. This winter, VanLanen is on a Bark River-Harris high school team of just five.
“It’s going to be tough to compete in the (Division 4) Team District with only five on the team,” she said. “There’s also a lot of good teams out there. The Individual District (at Munising) will be similar to the Escanaba Elks tournament. There just won’t be as many numbers.
“I think our team has been pretty successful this year. Some of the kids have done real well. I’m probably going to be pretty sad when the season ends, knowing I’m done with everything.”
VanLanen plans to attend Grand Canyon University in Arizona this fall.
“I want to go into athletic training,” she said. “I’ve thought about wrestling in college, but I don’t want to be in college more years than I have to.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Bark River-Harris' Morgan VanLanen waits for the whistle to wrestle during a match. (Middle) VanLanen is hoisted by the other four members of the Bark River-Harris wrestling team. (Photos courtesy of Bark River-Harris athletic department.)
Team Finals Make McGuirk Arena Debut
February 27, 2016
By Jeff Chaney
Special for Second Half
MOUNT PLEASANT – Change can be good, but difficult at the same time.
After 28 years competing at Battle Creek's Kellogg Arena, the Michigan High School Athletic Association moved it's team wrestling finals to Central Michigan University's McGuirk Arena this weekend.
MHSAA assistant director in charge of wrestling, Mark Uyl, knows a lot of good faith and memories were made since 1988, the year of the inception of the Team finals and the first year in Battle Creek. But he also knew the change was needed.
"This was very hard, because the people of Battle Creek were outstanding; that's what made this a tough decision," Uyl said. "But the facility (Kellogg Arena) told us this was time. We were looking at the total wrestling experience, from the warm-up area, to a newer building and the ample hotel space, and Central Michigan said they could take care of all those needs – and did."
Those needs were met. But like any big move, some issues happen. And that was no different then on Friday, the first day of the Team Finals.
"Overall it's been good, but we do have some little things to work on," Uyl said. "Give it some time. We'll get some good feedback, and we'll make the proper changes."
Some feedback was already taking place.
"I see some changes that have the move headed in the right direction," said New Lothrop coach Jeff Campbell, whose reigning Division 4 championship team opened up action with a 69-10 win over Munising. “Having an area for the kids to warm up is big. I never understood not having one in Battle Creek, asking a kid to wrestle one of the biggest matches of his career and not having a proper warm up area."
Floor space may be at a premium, but the good side of that is the proximity of the fans to the mats and wrestlers.
The arena was loud Friday.
"There are a lot of big changes," said Hartland senior 140-pounder Reece Hughes, who is wrestling in his fourth team finals this weekend. "The atmosphere in Battle Creek was phenomenal, it felt like the team finals. There was a lot of history there, but I can definitely feel the atmosphere build here, too."
Pluses noted by fans in attendance were the finals being on a college campus, and public address announcers updating action on the mat as the matches were being wrestled.
And thankfully, the MHSAA brought Battle Creek's Jeff McGinnis with them to Mount Pleasant, because his rendition of the National Anthem is iconic.
PHOTOS: (Top) Wrestlers stand for the national anthem before Friday's Division 1 matches. (Middle) The stands are nearly filled as wrestlers compete in Quarterfinals. (Photos by Michelle Campbell.)