D1 Preview: One Champion Will Emerge
February 26, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Hartland, Davison and Detroit Catholic Central have taken turns against each other and as the presumed favorite in Division 1 this season.
They make up the top three seeds among another strong class of teams from Michigan's largest wrestling schools, but should be wary of at least a few others that already have surprised during this tournament run.
Below is a look at all eight teams competing in Division 1, listed by seed. Quarterfinal matches begin at 2 p.m. Friday, with Semifinals at 10 a.m. Saturday and the championship match at 3:30 p.m. All matches this weekend will be streamed live on a subscription basis on MHSAA.TV. For results throughout, check the MHSAA Wrestling page.
The MHSAA Wrestling Finals are presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
#1 Hartland
Record/rank: 32-1, No. 2
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West (also Lakes and overall)
Coach: Todd Cheney, 24rd season (665-97-2)
Championship history: Five MHSAA runner-up finishes (most recent 2015).
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Corey Cavanaugh (41-10) fr.; 103 Kyle Kantola (50-4) fr.; 125 Noah Lopez (43-6) sr.; 130 Garnet Potter (33-11) jr.; 135 Nick DiNobile (35-16) jr.; 140 Reece Hughes (45-4) jr.; 152 Sage Castillo (52-0) sr.; 152 Logan Vish (45-9) sr.; 171 Lucas LaForge (45-6) sr.; 189 Andrew Spisz (35-15) jr.; 285 Brandon Krol (23-3) sr.
Outlook: Will this end with Hartland’s first team championship? The Eagles have made 15 straight trips to the Quarterfinals and fell to Brighton by only six points in last season’s championship match. Hartland gave up only 34 points total in four postseason matches to return this weekend, and its only loss this season was to Detroit Catholic Central during their dual at CMU in January. Hughes, Vish and Potter all were individual placers last season and Castillo is a favorite to also contend next weekend, and they together help make up a nucleus of 11 upperclassmen that fill every weight from 125-285.
#2 Davison
Record/rank: 22-4, No. 2
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League
Coach: Roy Hall, 19th season (467-88-1)
Championship history: Eight MHSAA championships (most recent 2006), three runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Steven Garty (28-8) fr.; 112 Max Johnson (27-0) sr.; 119 AJ Facundo (28-9) soph.; 125 Deven Perez (35-6) sr.; 130 Ryan Schlak (24-13) jr.; 135 Brian Case (33-5) fr.; 145 Kurt Schlak (25-13) sr.; 160 Gabe Ellis (26-11) soph.; 189 Brenden McRill (34-2) jr.; 189 Logan Mabbitt (20-7) sr.; 215 Tanner Thomas (24-11) sr.
Outlook: Davison followed two straight runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2014 by falling to eventual champion Brighton by only four points in a Semifinal last season, but looks capable of taking the final step again for the first time since 2006. Facundo is the reigning champion at 112, and Johnson, Perez, McRill and Thomas all also placed last season (McRill for the second straight). Davison hasn’t given up more than 17 points to an opponent during this run, and is built for now and the future with six seniors plus six underclassmen among starters.
#3 Detroit Catholic Central
Record/rank: 15-5, No. 1
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League.
Coach: Mitch Hancock, ninth season (186-41)
Championship history: Eleven MHSAA championships (most recent 2014), two runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Benyamin Kamali (14-1) soph.; 112 Stone Moscovic (26-11) soph.; 119 Kevon Davenport (41-3) fr.; 125 Cameron Amine (34-8) fr.; 130 Aaron Rehfeldt (28-16) sr.; 140 Aidan Wagh (30-15) soph.; 171 Tyler Morland (39-1) jr.; 215 Jackson Ross (33-9) jr.; 285 Nicholas Jenkins (33-10) jr.
Outlook: The Shamrocks are seeking their fifth Division 1 championship in seven seasons and as mentioned above are the only team to beat Hartland this season. DCC has replaced a pair of strong graduating classes the last two years with a strong group of underclassmen to go with eight upperclassmen who hold down eight of the nine heaviest weights. Moreland and Jenkins were individual placers last season.
#4 Oxford
Record/rank: 24-8, No. 6
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red.
Coach: Paul McDevitt, 19th season (386-155)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2011, two runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Daltan Myers (15-1) soph.; 125 Sergio Borg (35-15) soph.; 140 Alex Hrisopoulos (44-5) sr.; 152 Devin Trevino (26-18) fr.; 215 Wyatt Harden (42-3) sr.
Outlook: The Wildcats are back at Finals weekend for the eighth time in nine seasons and as a fourth seed after competing as an eighth only a year ago. A young lineup last season is more veteran with eight upperclassmen but still five freshmen plus another four who have gained valuable experience this winter. Hrisopoulos is coming off his second-straight top-three individual finish, and Borg and Harden also were Finals qualifiers in 2015.
#5 Hudsonville
Record/rank: 27-5, unranked
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Coach: Mike Rottier, ninth season (147-108)
Championship history: Has never finished among the top two teams in Finals competition.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Kameron Kempker (28-7) soph.; 103 Jack Samuels (42-1) fr.; 130 Austin Fine (38-9) sr.; 140 Anthony Snead (24-17) sr.; 160 Brenden DeVries (34-9) sr.; 285 Lane Potter (26-19) jr.
Outlook: Hudsonville has built its best record under Rottier and is back at the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2011. The lineup is filled with veterans, with eight seniors, and upperclassmen at every weight from 119-285. Although the team doesn’t have any wrestlers who placed at last season’s Individual Finals, six have won at least 30 matches this winter, including both freshmen at the top of the lineup.
#6 Macomb Dakota
Record/rank: 26-12, No. 9
League finish: Second in Macomb Area Conference Red.
Coach: Ed Skowneski, fourth season (116-34)
Championship history: Has never finished among the top two teams in Finals competition.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Justin Tiburcio (48-10) fr.; 130 Tyler Sanders (52-5) soph.; 140 Layne Malczewski (50-7) soph.; 145 Dustin Solomon (34-16) fr.
Outlook: Dakota definitely is a team on the rise; the team has only one senior among 28 on the roster, starts eight sophomores and three freshmen, and beat rival and No. 8 New Baltimore Anchor Bay by a point on the way to its third Quarterfinal in four seasons. Malczewski and Sanders both placed at the Individual Finals as freshmen, and 12 wrestlers have at least 30 wins this season.
#7 Grand Ledge
Record/rank: 19-7, unranked
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Blue.
Coach: Steve Delaney, ninth season (185-71)
Championship history: Class B runner-up 1962.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Cole Janes (44-2) jr.; 125 Jack Snauko (43-4) jr.; 140 Dylan Steward (44-1) sr.; 285 Matt Lloyd (23-3) sr.
Outlook: Grand Ledge has been the surprise of the MHSAA Tournament after knocking off reigning champion Brighton, which was ranked No. 4 entering the postseason, in their Regional Semifinal. This is the Comets’ first trip to the Quarterfinals since 2005, but Steward has championship experience as the reigning winner at 140. Lloyd also placed in 2015, and they are two of a strong group of 10 upperclassmen leading the charge.
#8 Temperance Bedford
Record/rank: 11-0, No. 10
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference.
Coach: Kevin Vogel, fifth season (114-34)
Championship history: Eleven MHSAA titles (most recent 2001), seven runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 135 Austin Teague (34-11) sr.; 152 Brad Stewart (35-6) sr.; 160 Blake Montrie (46-1) sr.; 189 Gabriel Elarton (39-7) sr.; 285 Tim Stevens (38-5) sr.
Outlook: One of the most storied programs in MHSAA history is back at the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2013, with its last championship match appearance coming during a runner-up run in 2008. Montrie is one of six seniors in the lineup and the reigning champion at 152; Stewart at Stevens also were placers last season. The Kicking Mules eliminated No. 7 Westland John Glenn on the way to CMU.
PHOTO: Detroit Catholic Central and Hartland squared off during the CMU Duals last month, with the Shamrocks coming away victorious. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Preview: Trio of Contenders Aim for Highest Achievement on State's Biggest Stage
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 27, 2025
The largest MHSAA championship event – competed in the largest arena to host one – begins again today, with 1,120 wrestlers taking the mats at Ford Field for the Individual Wrestling Finals.
There are at least that many storylines swirling as first-round matches get underway. But three in particular are likely to gain statewide attention as they begin final drives to join an elite group.
Lowell's Jackson Blum, Riverview Gabriel Richard's Sebasatian Martinez and Fowlerville's Margaret Buurma could bring the total of four-time champions in Individual Finals history to 40 by Saturday night – and Buurma could become the first four-time girls champion since the MHSAA added that division in 2022.
The Grand March begins at 10 a.m. today, with wrestling through semifinals this evening. Wrestling begins again at 9 a.m. Saturday, with championship matches at 3:30 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased from Ford Field. All matches will be broadcast live on MHSAA.tv, and we’ll talk to all 14 champions in each division for our coverage published later that evening and overnight. See the MHSAA.com Wrestling page for more information and to follow results this weekend.
Following are glances at just some of the many contenders who will compete this weekend.
Division 1
120 Wyatt Lees, Detroit Catholic Central junior (34-5) – The top seed at this weight has won championships at 106 and 113 pounds over his first two seasons, respectively.
120 Steve Vaughn, Davison sophomore (28-10) – He started his high school career with a championship at 106 last season.
126 Archer Anderson, Clarkston senior (42-2) – Last season’s champ at 120 – defeating teammate Preston Lefevre in overtime – and the 113 runner-up in 2023 is the top seed in his bracket.
132 Bohdan Abbey, Hartland junior (45-1) – The top seed at this weight is a combined 102-2 over the last two seasons, coming off a runner-up finish at 126 after winning 113 as a freshman.
144 Grayson Fuchs, Detroit Catholic Central sophomore (38-2) – Last season’s champion at 126 is the top seed in his bracket as he pursues a second title.
150 Wyatt Hepner, Grosse Pointe South senior (43-1) – The reigning champion at 138 is seeded second at this weight and also was the runner-up at 126 as a sophomore.
150 Dallas Korponic, Hartland junior (46-4) – He claimed the title at 132 last season with a third-period comeback and is seeded first in his bracket this weekend.
165 Jay’Den Williams, Roseville junior (49-0) – He’s seeded first at this weight after finishing runner-up last season at 157, when he faced DCC’s eventual four-time champ Darius Marines for the title, and at 144 as a freshman.
215 Connor Bercume, Detroit Catholic Central senior (44-0) – He’s seeking his third championship at this weight and has entered as the top seed all three seasons.
285 Logan Tollison, Grand Ledge junior (41-0) – Last season’s runner-up at 215 hasn’t lost since that championship match and is the top seed in his bracket.
Other 2024 runners-up: 120 Matthew Quigley, Traverse City West sophomore (44-1, 113 last year); 138 Preston Lefevre, Clarkston senior (45-1, 120 last year); 138 Josh Vasquez, Grandville senior (37-3, 132 last year); 144 Tanner Mcdunnah, Davison senior (31-8, 144 last year); 285 Anton Barynas, Jenison senior (32-4, 285 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Cyrus Woodberry, Detroit Cass Tech freshman (47-2); 113 Layne Martin, Rockford sophomore (39-3); 138 Jace Morgan, Rochester Adams senior (43-0); 157 Braylenn Aulbach, Rockford senior (45-2); 175 Luke Johnson, Oxford senior (42-4); 190 Lee Krueger, Detroit Catholic Central senior (37-8).
Also undefeated: 144 Ian Cook, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer senior (48-0).
Division 2
113 Jarrett Smith, Lowell junior (38-3) – He defeated teammate Cole Cichocki at 106 to win his first championship last season and is the top seed in his bracket for the second straight.
120 Devan Garcia, Battle Creek Harper Creek junior (32-1) – The top seed at this weight won at 113 last season and is a combined 79-2 over the last two.
126 Carter Cichocki, Lowell senior (33-10) – He won 120 last season and finished runner-up at 113 as a sophomore.
132 Jackson Blum, Lowell senior (43-0) – He’s won titles at 112, 120 and 132 and is a combined 78-1 over the last two seasons.
144 Jaron Bensinger, Gaylord junior (43-0) – The top seed at this weight is seeking to take the next step after finishing runner-up at 126 last season.
150 Lane Button, Wayland senior (48-0) – The reigning champion at this weight, he’s seeded first again and has built a combined 96-0 record over the last two seasons.
165 Owen Segorski, Lowell senior (41-4) – He’s seeking to graduate with three championships after winning 125 as a freshman and 144 last year, and placing second at 138 as a sophomore.
165 Zane Willobee, Gaylord junior (29-1) – A bit of an unexpected champion as the sixth seed last season at 157, he’s the second seed in this weekend’s bracket.
175 Zachary Taylor, Gibraltar Carlson senior (50-1) – The top seed in this bracket in Division 2 suffered his only loss last season in the 165-pound final in Division 1.
215 James Mahon, Goodrich senior (30-3) – The champion at 285 the last two seasons, last year with a 9-8 decision after trailing 5-0, has dropped down a weight this winter.
Other 2024 runners-up: 120 Cole Cichocki, Lowell sophomore (24-15, 106 last year); 120 Cristian Haslem, St. Clair junior (37-0, 113 last year); 138 Dominic Gumtow, Warren Woods Tower senior (20-1, 120 last year); 138 Trendon Bashore, DeWitt senior (55-1, 132 last year); 144 Buddy Leonard, Freeland senior (43-2, 138 last year competing for Alma); 165 D’Marion Erlenbeck, Clio junior (41-2, 157 last year); 175 Fabian Facundo, Freeland senior (39-1, 150 last year); 215 Case Johnson, Greenville senior (54-1, 215 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Tyler Sage, Linden freshman (56-1); 126 Jeremiah Brown, Flint Kearsley senior (21-0); 138 Trenden Bashore, DeWitt senior (55-1); 157 Tyler Bashore, DeWitt sophomore (51-0); 190 Casey Engle, Lowell senior (38-8); Charles White, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s senior (20-2); 285 Adin Young, Plainwell senior (42-0).
Also undefeated: 120 Joshua Ledford, Zeeland East sophomore (46-0); 157 Jacob Chase, Hamilton senior (50-0); 157 Ayden Tatum, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s junior (32-0).
Division 3
113 Mason Katschor, Dundee sophomore (30-5) – Last season’s champion at 106 is the top seed in his bracket for the second-straight year.
120 Haydn Nutt, Dundee junior (28-6) – He’s a top seed for the third-straight season after winning 106 as a freshman and finishing runner-up last year at 113.
126 Dale Gant, Grand Rapids Catholic Central junior (36-1) – He’s seeking a third title to go with championships at 113 as a freshman and 120 last year, and also is a top seed.
132 Braden Broderick, Dundee junior (31-10) – Last season’s runner-up at 120 enters this weekend as the top seed in this bracket.
144 Mikey Wilson, Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior (42-1) – The reigning champion at 138 is the top seed at this weight and a combined 60-1 over the last two seasons.
150 Blake Cosby, Dundee junior (33-0) – He went from runner-up at 144 as a freshman to champ at that weight last year, and he’s the top seed at this weight and a combined 77-1 over the last two winters.
165 Donny Beaufait, Dundee junior (43-1) – He finished runner-up at 150 last year, losing an ultimate tie-breaker to teammate Trey Parker, and enters this weekend as another Dundee top seed.
175 Kole Katschor, Dundee senior (41-4) – He’s won at 150 and 157 the last two seasons and is the top seed in this bracket.
190 Gavin Craner, Whitehall senior (54-0) – He’s a combined 108-0 over the last two seasons, having won 175 a year ago and also finishing runner-up at 175 in 2023.
285 Wyatt Spalo, Reed City senior (47-4) – Last year’s runner-up at 285, by a 3-0 decision, is the third seed in his return.
Another 2024 runner-up: 113 Kaleb Reese, Frankenmuth senior (43-5, 106 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Brody Ashley, Coloma freshman (55-2), 138 Wyatt Burns, Dundee sophomore (34-9); 157 Jeremy Amrhein, Dundee junior (41-6); 215 Wyatt Jenkins, Whitehall senior (49-3); 285 Reid Hiltunen, Algonac senior (51-1).
Also undefeated: 190 Trevor Thorbahn, Gladstone junior (21-0).
Division 4
120 Logan Gilbert, Climax-Scotts/Martin senior (40-5) – The second seed at this weight is looking to finish with a third title to go with wins at 106 last year and 103 as a freshman, and also a runner-up finish at 106 as a sophomore.
120 Alex Rodriguez, St. Lous junior (49-4) – He’s the third seed in this bracket after winning 113 last season and finishing runner-up at that weight as a freshman.
120 Sammy Stewart, Manchester junior (47-1) – He finished runner-up at 126 a year ago but is the top seed in this strong bracket looking to add to his title at 113 from 2023.
126 Nicholas Sorrow, Hudson junior (49-1) – He’s looking to add a third title to championships won at 120 last year and 106 as a freshman, and is a top seed for the third-straight year as well.
138 Julien Kimling, Hudson senior (23-2) – The reigning champion at 126 edged Stewart in that final last year and will look to emerge from the middle of this bracket.
144 Haylen Buell, Climax-Scotts/Martin junior (50-4) – He’s a top seed and seeking a second-straight title after winning 132 last year and finishing runner-up at that weight as a freshman.
150 Blake Sloan, Manchester junior (47-3) – He finished runner-up at 144 both last year and as a freshman, and is hoping to emerge from the middle of this bracket.
157 Montana Connell, Union City senior (21-7) – He’s also seeking a second-straight title, after winning 150 last year, and positioned in the middle of his bracket this weekend.
165 Layne Knisely, Bronson junior (44-2) – He missed out on the championship last season at 157 with a 1-0 loss, and he’ll pursue again entering as the second seed in this bracket.
175 Sebastian Martinez, Riverview Gabriel Richard senior (41-2) – He’s won championships at 145, 157 and 165 and is the top seed in his final high school bracket.
Other 2024 runners-up: 106 Jordan Zambon, Riverview Gabriel Richard sophomore (35-2, 106 last year); 126 Austin Garcia, Lawton senior (49-4, 113 last year); 132 Colt Perry, Hudson junior (38-10, 120 last year); 138 Logan Mears, Union City senior (37-3, 132 last year); 157 Gabriel Erwin, Bronson junior (36-4, 150 last year); 175 CJ Copeland, Lakeview senior (45-8, 190 last year); 190 Bryce Randolph, Clinton senior (38-5, 175 in Division 3 last year); 285 Chaz Underwood, White Pigeon senior (49-3, 285 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Jordan Zambon, Riverview Gabriel Richard sophomore (35-2); 113 Owen Fogel, St. Louis junior (44-2); 132 Braylon Long, Clinton senior (34-3); 138 Luke Harrington, Riverview Gabriel Richard junior (40-4); 150 Dalton Birchmeier, New Lothrop senior (47-2); 157 Jericho Holmes, LeRoy Pine River junior (42-2); 165 Fred Hammond, Otisville LakeVille Memorial junior (50-1); 190 Bryce Randolph, Clinton senior (38-5); 215 Landen Johnson, Lakeview senior (51-1); 285 Mitchell Swift, Delton Kellogg junior (37-6).
Also undefeated: 113 Kolton Burns, Decatur sophomore (30-0); 190 Rowan Bradford, Decatur junior (49-0).
Girls Division
100 Madison Nieuwenhuis, Plainwell junior (22-0) – She’s the top seed again as she wrestles for her third-straight championship in this bracket and to finish a second-straight undefeated season.
105 Natalie Gibson, Remus Chippewa Hills senior (16-2) – The reigning champion at this weight will need to emerge from the middle of the bracket to repeat.
110 Nakayla Dawson, Westland John Glenn junior (8-0) – She’s a top seed again as well pursuing her second-straight title at this weight and third overall after winning 105 as a freshman.
125 Lola Barkby, Sturgis junior (19-1) – She’s seeded second in this bracket after winning at 120 a year ago.
145 Margaret Buurma, Fowlerville senior (34-3) – She could become the first four-time champion since the MHSAA Finals added a girls division, as she won 135 last year, 125 as a sophomore and 115 as a freshman.
145 Belicia Manuel, Romeo junior (27-2) – Last season’s champion at 140 is the top seed in this bracket and a combined 50-2 over the last two seasons.
155 Kaili Manuel, Romeo sophomore (38-0) – The reigning champion at 145 also is top-seeded in this bracket and a combined 64-1 over the last two seasons.
155 Maddison Ward, Niles senior (27-0) – The reigning champion at 170 is a combined 64-1 over the last two seasons and seeded second in this bracket.
170 Maddie Hayden, Caledonia junior (18-1) – Last season’s champion at 155 is the top seed at this weight and is wrestling for her third title after also winning 155 as a freshman.
190 Madasyn Frisbie, Belding senior (20-1) – She won titles at 235 the last two seasons after finishing runner-up as a freshman, and she’s seeded third in this bracket as she goes for a third championship.
Other 2024 runners-up: 115 Gracey Barry, Grand Haven senior (30-1, 115 last year); 120 Cheyenne Frank, Oxford junior (22-0, 110 last year); 125 Jamie Cook, DeWitt senior (39-3, 125 last year); 130 Faith Burgess, Grand Blanc senior (31-1, 120 last year); 135 Isabella Cepak, South Lyon East senior (14-0, 130 last year); 145 Rihanna Venegas, Riverview Gabriel Richard senior (19-1, 145 last year); 190 Heaven Cole, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (18-0, 170 last year); 235 Braelyn Flemming, Spring Lake senior (6-2, 235 last year).
Additional top seeds: 105 Tatianna Castillo, Lowell freshman (24-0); 115 Kennedy Perez, Livonia Franklin senior (13-0); 125 Cecilia Williams, Mason junior (6-0); 130 Faith Burgess, Grand Blanc senior (31-1); 135 Isabella Cepak, South Lyon East senior (14-0); 140 Mackenna Webster, Bronson junior (30-0); 190 Heaven Cole, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (18-0); 235 Annmarie Green, Clare junior (23-8).
Also undefeated: 115 Zionah Gardner, Homer senior (9-0), 115 Harmony Gonzales, Oxford freshman (13-0); 130 Elyse Morales, Mattawan junior (30-0); 235 Isabel Anaya, Holland West Ottawa senior (29-0); 235 Mya Brandenburg, Allen Park junior (22-0).
PHOTOS (Top) Lowell's Jackson Blum, left, wrestles Fowlerville's Caleb Cyman during last Saturday's Division 2 Team Final. (Middle) Riverview Gabriel Richard's Sebastian Martinez, right, holds up three fingers on both hands after winning his third Finals championship last season. (Below) Fowlerville's Margaret Buurma, left, wrestles Clarkston's Paisley Denault last season on the way to winning her third championship. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)