Caro Champs Find Common Ground Again as Mental Health Providers
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
July 8, 2021
Phil Millerov and Phil Niklowicz wanted to do more than simply defeat opponents when wrestling at Caro High School.
They wanted to dominate – physically and mentally.
“We had this thing between us where we wanted to be done, and (opponents) didn’t want to come back on the mat with us,” Millerov said.
Twenty years later, both spend their days building people up. Millerov is a licensed professional counselor, while Niklowicz is a licensed therapist.
“I went out there looking to dominate and make sure it was known that I am the superior wrestler in all facets,” Niklowicz said. “I would try to run up as many points as fast as I can. I would teach the same thing when coaching, specifically with my nephew. You’re saying, ‘Listen, we want to break these people.’ Then the next day, in a therapy session, it’s like, ‘Let’s build up your self-esteem and set some goals to boost ourselves up.’”
The close friends and two faces of Caro’s surging wrestling program in the late 1990s now have very similar careers. Millerov – who finished second, third and first at 275 pounds in the 1998, 1999 and 2000 MHSAA Finals, respectively -- works in private practice at Transitions Counseling Service in Greenville, where he specializes in substance abuse disorders. He also has served as a Class 1 Fellow at the WK Kellogg Foundation.
Niklowicz – a two-time MHSAA Finals champion (1999 and 2000) and four-time placer – is working in private practice in Southfield, seeing mostly children. He also works in adult foster care with patients who have had traumatic brain injuries.
“He and I went and hiked Pictured Rocks at the beginning of May,” Millerov said. “And we joked about how nobody would have guessed that we’d be doing this now.”
That Millerov and Niklowicz are still close does not come as a surprise. Their friendship began when their wrestling careers did, as 6-year-olds in the Caro Growlers program. As they were becoming two of the state’s top wrestlers, they would share rides to tournaments, and their families grew close.
In high school, despite their size difference – Niklowicz wrestled at 135 his senior year – it wasn’t uncommon to see them warming up together.
“We were definitely easy going and liked to mess around a lot,” Niklowicz said. “We used to mess around before meets and throw each other. He would jump and I would throw him. People would look at us like, ‘Why is that little guy throwing that big guy?’”
While their teams never made it out of the Regional, Millerov and Niklowicz helped set the stage for a program that would become among the best in Division 3 throughout the 2000s, qualifying for five straight Quarterfinals from 2003-07 and winning the Division 3 Finals title in 2003.
Individually, they were among the most well-known and feared wrestlers in the state.
“Niklowicz and I were fortunate to have each other, because we pushed each other,” Millerov said. “We were in constant competition with each other and ourselves. Just to kind of push each other, it was a great thing.”
Niklowicz finished fifth as a freshman and third as a sophomore before winning back-to-back titles to close out his career. In 1999, he defeated Nick Oertel of Goodrich 9-2 in the 125-pound final, and the next year he defeated Oertel’s teammate, Ryan Tripp, 7-5 at 135. Tripp would go on to win an individual title the following year. Niklowicz would finish his career with 214 victories.
“I think probably both (Finals titles) were equal,” Niklowicz said. “I think there was probably a little more stress going into my senior year. My motivation always came from improving, then it was maintaining the state title. You don’t want to go the opposite direction.”
Millerov lost a tight 6-4 decision against Remus Chippewa Hills’ Bob Kozlowski in the MHSAA Finals as a sophomore, and had an epic 12-10 match against future NFL defensive lineman Jason Babin of Paw Paw in the 1999 semifinals before fighting back to take third. The next year, he won his title via first-period pin against Dan Kliphuis, a two-time runner-up from Grand Rapids West Catholic. Millerov finished with 196 career wins and set the state record for pins in a career (160), which was broken the next season by Nick Simmons of Williamston and is now held by Justin Zeerip of Hesperia. The 56 pins Millerov recorded his senior season remains second all-time to Simmons, who had two seasons with 57.
“I never really thought about (the pin record) to be quite honest,” Millerov said. “It was just kind of in the background. It didn’t matter; all I cared about was winning this match, and I wanted to do it in the most effective, efficient way I could.”
They both continued their wrestling careers, but went their separate ways in college, with Millerov heading to Neosho County Community College in Kansas and Niklowicz to Virginia Tech.
Millerov had interest from several Division I schools coming out of high school, including some in the Big Ten, but he admits his grades weren’t good enough at the time. Neosho provided a chance to compete with some of the best in the country while at the junior college level, however, as the team took second at the National Junior College Athletic Association championships in 2002.
He transferred to Central Michigan after his sophomore year, joining his girlfriend – now his wife – who was already attending, and walking onto the wrestling team. While his relationship lasted, wrestling did not.
“I was distracted,” Millerov said. “My grandmother passed away in 2002 in that summer. I was trying to get that motivation back, and I just lost it. There has to be that edge with wrestling. When things didn’t work out, I struggled. Wrestling was my identity.”
Millerov was working to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a police officer. But the elder Phil Millerov, who died in 2012, talked his son out of it.
“Looking back on it, for me, it was obviously the right decision,” Millerov said.
The idea to go into counseling came after Millerov was married in 2006, as his wife had gotten into the program. He went back to school to earn his bachelor’s degree from CMU in 2007, and would go on to get his master’s from CMU, as well.
“I had taken a bunch of psychology courses just because I liked the field,” Millerov said. “I liked to be challenged. I liked puzzles, and with psychology, it’s like a new puzzle every hour. It just clicked. I flew through and graduated with like a 3.8. I was like, ‘Wow, I kind of feel smart.’ It was good to find something I was passionate about again.”
Millerov said he’s constantly learning and honing his craft, much like he did as a wrestler. A major difference now, however, is that he’s found more balance in his life.
“I think about working with athletes in addiction, I find a lot of similarities,” he said. “Wrestling was my life, it’s how I identified myself. I hear that same kind of talk around people struggling with addiction. One you’re considered successful for, the other you’re not. Most of my growth has been around finding balance. I find that my happiness and my clients’ as well, is when we found that balance instead of being good at just one thing. I want you to have passion, I want you to do things you love, but I also want you to be effective as a husband, a father, whatever other responsibilities you have.”
Niklowicz’s journey to becoming a therapist was more telegraphed, as both of his parents work in mental health, and he said it was always something he wanted to do, as well.
He attended Virginia Tech on a wrestling scholarship, but transferred to Eastern Michigan after one year. The Hokies had recruited him to wrestle at 133 pounds, but when the team’s 125-pounder was injured, Niklowicz was asked to cut down further. Like Millerov, he struggled when his wrestling career ended.
“I just had a really bad taste in my mouth after leaving Virginia Tech and trying to cut all this weight,” he said. “Some of it was I had lost the desire to work out, to wrestle. Fifteen years, roughly, of my life was dedicated to wrestling, and once you stop, what do I do with my winters? What do I do with seven months of the year? It was definitely a part of my identity; that’s why I got into coaching. I did MMA fighting for a little bit to have something competitive.”
Like Millerov, Niklowicz said finding balance was important.
“In the mental health field, specifically, there’s a lot of burnout for people,” he said. “Every day, you’re listening to people talking about their problems, but at the same time, they’re coming for a reason and they’re there for help, so you have to provide that help and have to motivate yourself to come to the office every day and give it your best. I try to instill the motivation that I used to other people.”
When Niklowicz looks at his time as an athlete compared to his work as a therapist, he said that work ethic is the main characteristic that has carried over.
“I think my practice mentality was the same as it was on the mat,” he said. “Even in the wrestling room, these are people I’m friends with, people I grew up with, and I still didn’t want anyone to score on me. Then you just look at your work ethic outside of wrestling, whether you’re studying for exams or motivating yourself to get up and go to class.”
While they are no longer living in the same town or living similar lives – Millerov is married with three kids, while Niklowicz is single – the connection between Caro’s dominant duo remains strong, both professionally and personally.
“I don’t think we ever thought we would be going down such a similar path, and I doubt that either one of us grew up thinking we would do the exact same thing,” Niklowicz said. “We met when we were 6 years old, and we’ve been best friends forever. I think it’s hilarious that we’ve taken such similar paths but with some glaring differences. It’s definitely interesting that we’re still really good friends after 30-some years, especially since we’ve moved on and gone our separate ways.”
2020-21 Made in Michigan
June 28: Michigan's Minor Leaguers Making Up for Lost Season - Read
PHOTOS: (Top) Caro’s Phil Millerov lifts teammate Phil Niklowicz as both celebrate Division 3 championships during the 2000 Individual Finals at Joe Louis Arena. (Middle) Niklowicz, left, and Millerov were high school warm-up partners despite wrestling at significantly different weights. (Below) Niklowicz and Millerov take a selfie during a hiking trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in May. (Photos courtesy of Niklowicz and Millerov.)
Preview: Era of Wrestling Dominance Opens Opportunities for Suspense
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 20, 2025
We’re experiencing an era of unmatched dominance in Michigan high school team wrestling.
Lowell has won a record 11 straight Division 2 Finals championships. Dundee is up to seven in a row in Division 3, Hudson has won three straight in Division 4, and Detroit Catholic Central is seeking its third consecutive in Division 1. And all four are seeded first again in their respective divisions for Team Finals weekend at Wings Event Center.
It’s something to behold – and would make any potential challenges that much more spectacular.
Competition begins Friday at noon with the first of four sets of Quarterfinals. Semifinals are Saturday morning and noon, with championship matches on four adjacent mats at 3:45 p.m. Brackets for all four divisions, links to buy tickets and watch online can be found on the Wrestling page. See below for glances at all 32 hopefuls, listed by division and seed.
Division 1
#1 DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 24-5, No. 1
League finish: First in Catholic High School League
Coach: Mitch Hancock, 18th season (407-65)
Championship history: Seventeen MHSAA championships (most recent 2024), four runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Cadon Waatti (29-12) jr., 120 Wyatt Lees (32-5) jr., 120 Ryan Totten (41-10) soph., 126 Mack Moscovic (21-8) soph., 126 Jamison Gregory (33-5) soph., 132 Nathan Walkowiak (25-10) sr., 132 Meyer Murray (27-10) fr., 144 Grayson Fuchs (36-1) soph., 150 Alexander Buskirk (33-10) jr., 157 Braxten Roche (30-12) fr., 165 Andrew White (31-10) sr., 175 Caden Krueger (28-11) soph., 190 Lee Krueger (34-8) sr., 215 Connor Bercume (41-0) sr.
Outlook: DCC has won two straight Division 1 team championships and six of the last eight with runner-up finishes the other two seasons during that time, and it’s tough to imagine the dominance ending with only four seniors among 14 Individual Finals qualifiers. Lees and Bercume will both wrestle next week for third individual championships, and Fuchs will wrestle for his second straight. White, Lee Krueger, junior Ben Eziuka (5-1), Totten, Gregory, Moscovic and Walkowiak all were Finals placers as well last season.
#2 BRIGHTON
Record/rank: 27-0, No. 2
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Coach: Shawn Scott, fifth season (109-27)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2015, runner-up 2019 and 2018.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Jameson Wood (40-2) soph., 113 Bronson Shinkonis (43-2) fr., 126 Drake Pollins (35-9) jr., 132 Beck Yurkunas (33-12) fr., 144 Xander Courneya (30-9) jr., 150 Kaden Tindall (40-5) jr., 165 Dominic Nauss (40-9) fr., 165 Mason Gardner (39-9) jr., 175 Nate Stark (41-5) sr., 190 Sullivan Haas (37-3) soph., 215 Sean O’Keefe (33-1) sr., Girls-120 Rayna Richardson (30-6) soph., Girls-125 Emme Delisle (32-9) jr.
Outlook: Brighton is making its second-straight Quarterfinals appearance under Scott and after just missing making the Semifinals last year with a one-point Friday loss. Stark, O’Keefe and Jackson Johnson (132, 16-5) are the only senior starters, making this another team that should continue to be in the mix. The Bulldogs won three of four playoff matches by shutout, with only No. 10 Grand Ledge scoring on them during this run. Junior Ethan Smith (120, 33-4) was the individual runner-up at 106 last season, and O’Keefe and Pollins also were Finals placers.
#3 DAVISON
Record/rank: 17-3, No. 3
League finish: N/A, Saginaw Valley League
Coach: Jason Mester, first season (17-3)
Championship history: Ten MHSAA championships (most recent 2022), six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Steve Vaughn (25-10) soph., 132 Dominic Perez (22-10) sr., 138 Calvin Martz (12-2) jr., 144 Tanner McDunnah (29-7) sr., 144 Tobias Pacheco (23-13) fr., 150 Julius Pacheco (29-7) soph., 157 Kyle Jelinek (26-5) sr., 165 Race Eckles (24-12) sr., 175 Brayden Bundy (13-6) jr., 190 Cameron Savage (24-9) jr., 215 Brandon Glisson (29-8) jr., Girls-105 Aubrey Bowman (18-4) fr.
Outlook: Davison is returning to Kalamazoo after posting one of the most impressive runs of the 2024 Finals weekend, when as a No. 6 seed the Cardinals upset third-seeded Brighton in the Quarterfinal and fell to second-seeded Hartland only 37-31 in the Semifinal. Seeded much higher this time, Davison will make its move with Vaughn the reigning individual champion at 106, McDunnah the returning runner-up at 144 and Julius Pacheco, Jelinek and Martz also Individual Finals placers a year ago.
#4 CLARKSTON
Record/rank: 25-2, No. 5
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Coach: Brian Gibbs, fifth season (90-20)
Championship history: Class A champion 1991, runner-up 1995.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Joseph Hahn (28-12) fr., 106 Jay Wilson (23-9) fr., 113 Gavin Culloty (34-6) soph., 126 Archer Anderson (40-2) sr., 138 Preston Lefevre (43-1) sr., 144 Ayden Mutter (30-9) jr., 150 Nathaniel Carter (36-6) jr., 165 Trey Setter (30-10) jr., 285 Camden Neumann (30-4) sr.
Outlook: Clarkston is back at Finals weekend for the first time since 2021 and another team that looks good to stick around with only four senior starters and only three among nine Individual Finals qualifiers. The Wolves defeated Hartland 42-35 to advance, ending the Eagles’ run of 23 straight Regional titles. Anderson was the individual champion at 120 last season and Lefevre the runner-up, and Carter also is a returning Finals placer.
#5 TEMPERANCE BEDFORD
Record/rank: 33-1, No. 6
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference
Coach: Kevin Vogel, 14th season (343-70)
Championship history: Eleven MHSAA championships (most recent 2001), seven runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Cody Duvendack (46-7) soph., 120 Griffin Tibai (43-10) soph., 126 Tristan King (49-8) jr., 138 Lucas Gerber (34-10) sr., 144 Noah Benore (53-5) sr., 165 Zach Miracle (51-3) jr., 175 Connor Hall (40-13) sr., 285 Chase Norbury (49-4) sr..
Outlook: Bedford is making its fourth-straight Finals trip and advanced with a 43-24 Regional Final win over Westland John Glenn. The lone dual loss came to Clarkston on Dec. 4. A group of six seniors and five juniors anchor the lineup, and Benore, Norbury and Duvendack all were Individual Finals placers in 2024.
#6 ROCKFORD
Record/rank: 26-6, No. 8
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Coach: Brian Richardson, 16th season (366-135)
Championship history: Two MHSAA championships (most recent 2009), three runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Layne Martin (39-3) soph., 120 Keagen Elliott (13-9) soph., 126 Logan Welmerink (28-13) fr., 138 Liam Fitzpatrick (35-9) jr., 157 Braylenn Aulbach (40-2) sr., 190 Logan Hammingh (40-6) jr.
Outlook: Make it six trips to the Finals over the last seven seasons for Rockford, which reached the Semifinals a year ago. While Aulbach is the only senior Individual Finals qualifier, he’s also one of five senior starters anchoring the upper weights. Fitzpatrick and Hammingh were Finals placers last season.
#7 MACOMB DAKOTA
Record/rank: 20-6, unranked
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Coach: Ed Skowneski, 13th season (335-72)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Landon Smith (27-18) sr., 126 Carl Nihranz (41-6) IV jr., 138 Ozia Wilson (40-6) sr., 144 Ryan Tucker (33-13) sr., 150 Lucas Harper (39-10) jr., 215 Logan Criteser (40-1) sr., 285 Brady Hamby (40-4) sr.
Outlook: Dakota is another Finals weekend regular, with this the Cougars’ second-straight trip but 11th total during Skowneski’s 13 seasons. Wilson, Criteser, Hamby and Nihranz all were Individual Finals placers a year ago.
#8 ROMEO
Record/rank: 26-13, unranked
League finish: Second in MAC Red
Coach: Jim Cali, 33rd season (754-338-7)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Nico Adamo (43-13) fr., 113 Justin Rizzo (32-20) jr., 120 Valentino Adamo (40-12) soph., 126 Bryce Holt (36-12) jr., 144 Owen Perry (19-2) jr., 157 Jake Turley (37-11) sr., 190 Thomas Jaynes (50-5) jr.
Outlook: Excitement should be brewing for Romeo. Not only did the Bulldogs earn a second Regional title over the last three seasons, but they’ve won District championships five straight years and defeated No. 7 Rochester Adams 45-26 as part of this run. There are only four senior starters, all at upper weights, and Perry, Valentino Adamo and Holt are all returning Individual Finals placers.
Division 2
#1 LOWELL
Record/rank: 27-4, No. 1
League finish: First in River Cities Alliance
Coach: R.J. Boudro, 11th season (220-34)
Championship history: Fourteen MHSAA championships (most recent 2024), six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 John McKay (34-12) fr., 113 Jarrett Smith (36-3) jr., 113 Carson Blum (31-6) fr., 120 Cole Cichocki (23-15) soph., 126 Carter Cichocki (31-10) sr., 132 Jackson Blum (41-0) sr., 144 Logan Dawson (35-9) jr., 150 Trevor Boone (31-13) jr., 165 Owen Segorski (38-4) sr., 190 Casey Engle (35-8) sr., 215 Juan Acosta (23-13) sr., Girls-100 Veronica Tapia (28-1) jr., Girls-105 Tatianna Castillo (24-0) fr.
Outlook: Lowell’s record championship streak continues to have plenty of fuel with another crew of younger standouts joining the seven seniors including Blum, who will wrestle next weekend for a fourth Individual Finals title. Segorski won titles last year and as a freshman, and Smith and Carter Cichocki also are returning champions from 2024. Cole Cichocki was the runner-up last season to Smith at 106, and Boone, Dawson, Engle, senior Braddock King (120, 30-9) and Tapia also were Individual Finals placers.
#2 FREELAND
Record/rank: 22-3, No. 6
League finish: Second in Tri-Valley Conference
Coach: Jon Rosebush, first season (22-3)
Championship history: Division 2 runner-up 2024.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 144 Buddy Leonard (43-2) sr., 175 Fabian Facundo (37-1) sr., 215 Brigham Smith (32-4) jr.
Outlook: Freeland reached the season’s final dual last year for the first time, but there should be plenty of good times to come as Leonard and Facundo are among only four seniors on a roster with 13 underclassmen among 22 wrestlers total. Rosebush previously coached Saginaw Heritage and has a 365-176 record total over 17 seasons. Facundo was the runner-up at 150 last season, and junior Easton Rosebush (106, 37-7) was eighth at 106. Leonard was the Division 3 runner-up at 130 competing for Alma.
#3 NEW BOSTON HURON
Record/rank: 25-2, No. 7
League finish: First in Huron League
Coach: Logan Ritchie, fourth season (73-29)
Championship history: Class B champion 1981 and 1978.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Caleb Frazier (37-9) jr., 126 Daniel Gemmel (45-3) soph., 132 Jason Downs (47-6) jr., 138 Cayden Banko (41-9) soph., 144 Braydon Hall (53-5) soph., 157 Drew Ladach (50-3) sr., 157 Nathan Matsos (45-9) jr., 165 Garrett Marentette (30-16) fr., Girls-130 Hailey Wisler (20-1) jr.
Outlook: Huron has made a solid jump in its fourth season under Ritchie – an Individual Finals champion for the Chiefs in 2014 and 2015 – winning their first league, District and Regional titles under his leadership. Huron had to navigate a tough road to return, with three of its four postseason wins coming by six points or fewer, but did so with only two senior starters and eight underclassmen in the lineup. Ladach and Wisler were Individual Finals placers last season.
#4 THREE RIVERS
Record/rank: 25-0, No. 2
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference
Coach: Jeff Smith, ninth season (146-81)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 126 Jak Monroe (44-6) jr., 132 Gaven Babcock (38-10) soph., 138 Ethan Moreland (43-8) soph., 144 Ayden Keller (46-6) sr., 165 Braylon Faile (42-7) soph., 175 Louis Smith (41-6) jr., 215 Jaxon Smith (42-6) jr.
Outlook: Three Rivers has firmly established itself among the best in Division 2 the last two seasons, missing the Semifinals last year with a one-point Quarterfinal loss but bouncing back to bring a combined 55-1 record over the last two campaigns into this weekend. The Wildcats still have just four senior starters but six sophomores bolstering the lineup including Ethan Moreland, who finished sixth at 126 to cap his freshman season.
#5 GREENVILLE
Record/rank: 32-8, No. 8
League finish: Third in River Cities Alliance
Coach: Stephen Hilliker, first season (32-8)
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2008, runner-up 2011.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 157 Chayson Eberspeaker (24-12) soph., 215 Case Johnson (53-1) sr.
Outlook: After a decade away, Greenville has reached Finals weekend the last two seasons and this time under Hilliker, a two-time individual placer for the Yellowjackets before graduating in 2017. He’ll bring 28 wrestlers to Kalamazoo with six seniors including five who start. Johnson was the individual runner-up at 215 last season.
#6 LINDEN
Record/rank: 45-0, No. 4
League finish: First in Flint Metro League
Coach: Aaron Lawrence, second season (77-11)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Tyler Sage (55-1) fr., 113 Luciano Luna (49-8) fr., 144 Adoniah Delgado (56-2) jr., 165 Lucus Lewandowski (41-12) fr., 175 Jordan Brennan (37-12) sr., 190 Josh Ezell (49-9) sr.
Outlook: This will be Linden’s first Finals weekend appearance since 2007 – and keep an eye on this team moving forward. Lawrence took over last season after most recently assisting at Lake Fenton for nearly a decade, and he will graduate only three from an undefeated league champion – with the majority of his top reserves freshmen.
#7 FOWLERVILLE
Record/rank: 33-4, No. 3
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Red
Coach: Dan Coon, 28th season (record N/A).
Championship history: Class B champion 1994.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Matt Jeffrey (46-10) sr., 132 Connor Stankov (36-16) jr., 144 Levi Baker (17-4) sr., 150 Jacob Hodge (47-5) fr., 165 Waylon Lamkin (42-13) sr., 175 Brock Foster (24-6) jr., 190 Brayden Packer (28-8) jr., 215 Layne O’Neil (42-6) jr., 285 Liam O’Neil (39-4) fr., Girls-105 Cayden Taylor (25-17) jr., Girls-115 Anna Buurma (35-7) soph., Girls-130 Hannah Blyveis (36-4) sr., Girls-145 Margaret Buurma (34-3) sr.
Outlook: Fowlerville has won Regional titles two of the last three seasons, this time defeating formerly-ranked Mason 36-34 along the way. Layne O’Neal is a returning Individual Finals placer and Margaret Buurma is three-time individual champion in the girls division, with Blyveis and Anna Buurma also returning placers.
#8 WARREN WOODS TOWER
Record/rank: 10-7, unranked
League finish: Third in MAC Red
Co-coaches: Greg Mayer, 25th season (439-295); Russell Correll, 12th season (202-83)
Championship history: Division 2 runner-up 2017.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 138 Dominic Gumtow (19-1), 190 Amari Richardson (43-1), 215 Joshua Golding (34-10).
Outlook: Warren Woods Tower is headed back to the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2021, coming off also its 12th-straight District title and emerging from a MAC Red that also has two teams in the Division 1 bracket. Gumtow was the individual runner-up at 120 last season, and Richardson and Golding also are returning placers.
Division 3
#1 DUNDEE
Record/rank: 20-0, No. 1
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Co-coaches: Nate Hall & Garrett Stevens, third seasons (34-7)
Championship history: Sixteen MHSAA championships (most recent 2024), eight runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Mason Katschor (28-5) soph., 120 Haydn Nutt (27-6) jr., 120 Mason Haines (31-5) jr., 126 Bryan Sterling (28-12) jr., 132 Braden Broderick (28-10) jr., 138 Wyatt Burns (31-9) soph., 144 Stone Redmon (38-13) fr., 144 Avery Lane (29-7) soph., 150 Blake Cosby (30-0) jr., 157 Jeremy Amrhein (38-6) jr., 165 Donny Beaufait (40-1) jr., 175 Kole Katschor (38-4) sr., 175 Owen Motylinski (22-11) jr., 190 Rocco Redmon (21-4) jr., Girls-100 McKenzie Mantei (25-2) fr.
Outlook: Dundee has an argument as the state’s best team this season thanks to a championship at the Detroit Catholic Central Invitational last month. The Vikings haven’t had a single-digit Division 3 championship match during their seven-year title run since 2019. The scariest part? Kole Katschor is the only senior starter. Cosby, Mason Katschor and Kole Katschor are reigning individual champions, and Kole Katschor actually will wrestle next weekend for a third Individual Finals title, while Nutt also won at the 2023 event. Beaufait was the runner-up at 150 last year, Nutt was the runner-up at 113, and Amrhein, Haines, Broderick and Burns all were placers.
#2 YALE
Record/rank: 30-2, No. 3
League finish: Second in Blue Water Area Conference
Co-coaches: Rob Majcher & Adam Sopha, 12th seasons (188-166)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Mackey McClelland (39-2) fr., 120 Landon Sopha (51-4) sr., 120 Logan Rhodes (26-11) soph., 132 Kersten McClelland (47-8) jr., 144 Caiden Hackett (29-11) jr., 165 Cole McLaughlin (48-7) sr., 190 William Spain (38-16) sr., 285 Shawn Coarse (33-18) soph., Girls-105 Gianna Hoskins (25-5) soph., Girls-190 Ember Marriott (20-10) sr.
Outlook: The Blue Water Area Conference continues to be one of the strongest wrestling leagues in the state, and Algonac and Yale entered the postseason ranked Nos. 2 and 3, respectively in Division 3, with Yale edging their league rival 32-31 in the Regional Final. Yale as a sixth seed missed upsetting third-seeded Clinton in the Quarterfinals last year, falling 34-27, and brings back Individual Finals placers Sopha, McLaughlin and Hoskins. Sopha and McLaughlin are among eight senior starters.
#3 WHITEHALL
Record/rank: 28-5, No. 5
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference Lakes
Coach: Justin Zeerip, seventh season (188-20)
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2024, 2023 and 2021, Class C runner-up 1984.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Cody Manzo (42-9) jr., 138 Caden Varela (29-17) sr., 157 Liam Leeke (46-7) soph., 190 Gavin Craner (53-0) sr., 215 Wyatt Jenkins (49-2) sr., 215 Billy Darke Jr. (22-13) fr., Girls-115 Kassie Sapp (12-2) fr.
Outlook: Whitehall has become an annual contender under Zeerip, and that should continue as this roster has only five seniors among 28 wrestlers total. Craner was the champion at 175 pounds last season and hasn’t lost since sophomore year. Junior Kolten Weiler (132, 32-18) also was an Individual Finals placer last winter.
#4 ALLEGAN
Record/rank: 30-2, No. 4
League finish: Tied for first in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Coach: Chase Beard, fourth season (57-42)
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2007), two runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Jacob Collier (43-13) soph., 113 Sullivan Morgan (41-14) fr., 138 Luke Wedge (46-13) sr., 144 Treydan Vander Kooi (52-6) jr., 150 Landon Coulson (46-11) sr., 157 Ryan Sparks (41-6) jr., 175 Rysten Williams (50-6) jr. Girls-135 Dawn DeGood (28-5) sr.
Outlook: Allegan won its first Regional title since 2016 and has made a jump every season under Beard, a 2017 grad. The Tigers went from just three dual wins his first season to 10, then 14 and now 30 this winter. A 33-30 Regional Semifinal win over Constantine was especially key to this run. Four seniors anchor the lineup including as well Aiden Pearce (157, 41-14) and Sylar Bush (215, 28-25).
#5 HART
Record/rank: 29-4, No. 7
League finish: First in WMC Rivers
Coach: Rocky Smith, second season (55-10)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Jordan Thies (36-9) fr., 113 Kole Thomas (42-8) soph., 113 Michael Chavira (22-9) soph., 132 Halen Boos (31-11) jr., 138 Ty Thomas (41-5) sr., 144 Logan Jorissen (38-15) jr., 165 Haegan Hansen (40-12) soph., 175 Alex Hicks (49-2) sr., 285 Adrian Lara (42-7) jr.
Outlook: Hart has reached the Quarterfinals both seasons under Smith, both times as the fifth seed but this time with nearly twice as many Individual Finals qualifiers. Of nine who will wrestle next weekend at Ford Field, only two are seniors, and four more seniors help fill out the starting lineup. Hicks is a returning individual placer from a year ago.
#6 LAKE ODESSA LAKEWOOD
Record/rank: 39-7, No. 6
League finish: First in CAAC White
Coach: Anthony Harmer, fifth season (123-37)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 126 Vincent Stamm (30-3) fr., 150 Bryson Boucher (41-7) soph., 285 Joel Simon (44-4) sr.
Outlook: Lakewood also is making a return trip to Kalamazoo, but seeded two spots higher than a year ago. The Vikings also moved up one spot to win their league and have their most wins of Harmer’s five seasons. Simon and Stamm were Individual Finals placers last year.
#7 ADRIAN MADISON
Record/rank: 25-8, No. 10
League finish: Fourth in LCAA
Coach: Scott Hall, 17th season (240-167)
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 1979)
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Jacob Byrd (37-9) sr., 126 Malaki Mosher (38-9) sr., 132 Paul McClure (33-10) jr., 150 Landon Mohr (33-13) sr., 165 Jalonn Borders (46-5) sr., 285 Logan Russell (41-13) sr.
Outlook: One of the most senior-heavy lineups at Wings this weekend has Madison making the trip to the Quarterfinals for the first time since the present-day MHSAA Team Tournament was created in 1988 (although Madison’s first three championships came via an abbreviated dual format from 1974-76). The five seniors who advanced to the Individual Finals are part of a group of 10 senior starters total. Mosher, Borders and senior Lukas Leonard (144, 33-16) were individual placers in 2024.
#8 OGEMAW HEIGHTS
Record/rank: 23-8, unranked
League finish: Fourth in Jack Pine Conference
Coach: Dominic Goulette, 12th season (229-115)
Championship history: Division 2 champion 1998.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Roman Goulette (30-9) soph., 120 Charles Bruder (28-22) jr., 138 Jackson Ziegler (41-11) soph., 175 Conner Lambert (44-9) jr., 215 Calvin Marshall (29-1) jr.
Outlook: Ogemaw Heights is celebrating a historic accomplishment as well as this trip to the Quarterfinals will be the team’s first since its championship season of 1998. The Falcons have won District titles five straight seasons and seven of the last nine, but they’ve achieved this run with only one senior starter – which should mean more good things to come.
Division 4
#1 HUDSON
Record/rank: 26-5, No. 1
League finish: Second in LCAA
Coach: Scott Marry, 37th season (943-210)
Championship history: 11 MHSAA championships (most recent 2024), four runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Jaxton Kimling (33-15) soph., 126 Nicholas Sorrow (46-1) jr., 132 Colt Perry (35-10) jr., 138 Julien Kimling (17-2) sr., 144 Beckett Campbell (45-3) fr., 144 Owen Loop (28-17) soph., 157 Jacob Pickford (39-10) sr., 165 Devon Brigman (29-19) jr., 190 Barron Mansfield (29-16) sr., 215 Kenny Sledge (23-12) jr., 285 Malachi Marshall (31-20) jr.
Outlook: Hudson has won at least three team championships in a row three times and this weekend can add a second streak of at least four. The Tigers have defeated five teams competing at Wings this time, including Dakota and Romeo from Division 1, and their losses were to Dundee, Clarkston, Davison and two Ohio teams. Sorrow defeated Perry in the 120-pound individual championship match last season, and Julian Kimling was the champ at 126. Pickford, Jaxton Kimling and sophomore Chase Clark (120, 35-10) also are returning placers.
#2 ST. LOUIS
Record/rank: 28-0, No. 2
League finish: First in Jack Pine Conference
Coach: Kevin Kuhn, 18th season (375-108)
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2024, Class C-D runner-up 1995.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Rudy Clapp (35-12) fr., 113 Owen Fogel (42-2) jr., 120 Alex Rodriguez (48-3) jr., 120 Cole Grollimund (30-11) fr., 132 Colin Kuhn (49-3) sr., 138 Laythan Haworth (10-0) jr., 150 Maddox Cline (34-7) sr., 165 Drew Challender (46-7) jr., 175 Justin Rodriguez (29-16) sr., 215 Ray Frye (31-16) sr.
Outlook: St. Louis will be seeking to return to the championship match for the second-straight season and defeated No. 7 Lakeview to advance to Finals weekend for the fourth year in a row. All but three starters are seniors or juniors. Alex Rodriguez is the reigning champion at 113 pounds, and Challender, Fogel and Colin Kuhn were all Individual Finals placers as well last winter.
#3 CLIMAX-SCOTTS/MARTIN
Record/rank: 24-1, No. 5
League finish: Tied for first in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Co-coaches: Logan Curry & Mike Reitz, third seasons (79-11)
Championship history: Martin was Class D champion in 1998, with three runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Urijah Joostberns (29-11) fr., 120 Logan Gilbert (37-5) sr., 132 Cole Reitz (31-12) sr., 138 Jayce Ritchie (38-13) sr., 144 Haylen Buell (47-4) jr., 157 Jack Bagwell (34-16) sr., 165 Jakub Tomyslak (38-17) sr., 215 Sam Bleeker (36-14) sr.
Outlook: CSM has jumped up four seeds from a year ago, with its only loss this season to Division 3 quarterfinalist Allegan – and CSM then shared the SAC title by winning the league tournament. All six seniors in the starting lineup also will compete next weekend at Ford Field. Gilbert (106) and Buell (132) are reigning individual champions, and Bagwell, Reitz and Ritchie are returning placers as well.
#4 OTISVILLE LAKEVILLE MEMORIAL
Record/rank: 35-1, No. 4
League finish: First in Mid-Michigan Activities Conference
Coach: Dan Huggler, 12th season (273-133)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Izayah Richards (25-19) sr., 126 Tommy Heatwole (45-8) sr., 132 Adam Hoch (46-6) soph., 138 Adrian Wing (35-18) sr., 144 Andrew Tucker (32-15) soph., 157 Gavin Bodnar (29-11) jr., 165 Fred Hammond (49-1) jr., 165 Randy Loewen (21-7) jr., 190 Aiden Tucker (47-2) sr., 215 Jake Hascall (39-9) jr., 285 Doug Hoyt (43-10) sr.
Outlook: Otisville LakeVille has reached the Quarterfinals for the first time since 1993, with its only loss to Division 3 second seed Yale and four commanding postseason wins by a combined score of 297-21. Hammond was a Finals placer last year and is one of five Falcons with at least 40 wins this season.
#5 CLINTON
Record/rank: 26-10, No. 6
League finish: Third in LCAA
Coach: Casey Randolph, 11th season (318-71)
Championship history: Two MHSAA championships (most recent 2021), one runner-up finish.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Zach Taylor (41-9) soph., 126 Brock Worden (33-22) fr., 132 Braylon Long (33-2) sr., 157 Cliff Jones (31-3) jr., 190 Bryce Randolph (37-4) jr., 215 Owen Wright (24-18) soph.
Outlook: Tough competition pays off as Clinton is making its ninth-straight trip to Finals weekend, emerging as one of four teams from the LCAA. The Redwolves reached the Semifinals in Division 3 a year ago, as Bryce Randolph finished individual runner-up in that division at 175 pounds and Long also placed.
#6 UNION CITY
Record/rank: 26-4, No. 9
League finish: Second in Big 8 Conference
Coach: Jason Counterman, seventh season (141-37)
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 1997, Class C-D runner-up 1972.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Blayne Crance (34-15) soph., 120 Kaden Russell (34-14) fr., 126 Mitchell Graham (35-9) soph., 132 Mason Hawthorne (37-8) sr., 138 Logan Mears (36-3) sr., 144 Aidan Taylor (42-5) sr., 150 Alex Boyer (40-3) sr., 157 Montana Connell (20-7) sr.
Outlook: Often a factor in the Big 8 and a District winner for the fourth time in six seasons, Union City broke through for its first Regional title since 2000 in part thanks to a District Semifinal win over rival Bronson. The Chargers load five straight seniors through the middle weights, and all five are Individual Finals qualifiers as well. Connell is the reigning champion at 150, Mears was runner-up at 132 last year, and Taylor and Boyer also were placers.
#7 CHARLEVOIX
Record/rank: 15-8, unranked
League finish: First in Northern Shores Conference
Coach: Mike Hinkle, 12th season (record N/A)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 150 Collin Jess (44-12) fr., 157 Logan Wilks (32-10) sr., 175 Brady Warchol (37-17) sr., 190 Ryan Glass (26-14) soph., 215 Sawyer Blaszczyk (48-5) jr., 285 Connor Ortiz (35-15) sr.
Outlook: Charlevoix is making its first trip to Finals weekend coming off a dominating run to its first Regional title. The Rayders will have to take a void at 113, but have a foundation that could see them back in the hunt the next few seasons with six freshman starters and only three seniors in the lineup.
#8 ROSCOMMON
Record/rank: 17-9, unranked
League finish: Second in the Highland Conference
Coach: Drake Lewandowski, first season (17-9)
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2006.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Kasen Spencer (34-15) fr., 120 Mason Hodnett (29-10) soph., 165 Crew Tyler (41-3) jr., 175 Toby Bigford (37-10) jr.
Outlook: Roscommon has reached the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2012, Lewandowki’s junior season on the team. He was an assistant the last two years as the Bucks won two straight District titles – an incredible rise as the program had only six wrestlers four seasons ago. The starting lineup will graduate only one senior but could have six returning senior starters next winter.
PHOTO Hudson accepts its Division 4 championship trophy last season at Wings Event Center. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)