D2 Preview: On the Cusp of History

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 27, 2013

A year ago, Fowlerville's Adam Coon shared The Palace of Auburn Hills spotlight with the latest wrestler to win four MHSAA individual championships, St. Johns' Taylor Massa. 

This weekend, Coon will attempt to become the 17th to accomplish that historical feat. 

See below for 10 contenders to watch this weekend, plus others who enter the tournament undefeated or coming off runner-up finishes in 2012. Follow all the matches beginning with Thursday's first round live on MHSAA.tv, and click here for results at MHSAA.com. And check back with Second Half later Saturday night for full coverage from the Finals, including comments from all 14 champions. 

10 to watch

285: Adam Coon, Fowlerville senior – Attempting to becom the 17th in MHSAA wrestling history to win four individual titles, and is the favorite entering 51-0.

125: Zac Hall, St. Johns junior – Trying to add a third individual championship after winning 112 last season and 103 in 2011, and is 44-0 after last weekend’s Team Finals.

130: Jacob Schmitt, St. Johns senior – Going for his fourth championship match appearance after winning 103 in 2010, 125 last season and finishing runner-up at 112 in 2011; enters 47-0 this winter.

135: Anthony Gonzales, Holly senior – Looking for his third championship after winning 130 last season and 112 in 2010; comes into the weekend 50-3.  

140: Kyle Simaz, Allegan junior – Going for his first championship after finishing runner-up at 130 last season and at 119 in 2011; enters 57-1.

145: Ben Whitford, St. Johns senior – Comes in 33-0 and looking to add a second-straight championship after winning 140 last season.

152: Josh Pennell, St. Johns senior – Looking to finish his final season undefeated (he’s 36-0 coming in to this weekend) and with his first championship after finishing runner-up at 119 in 2010.

152: Kenny Cross, Hastings senior – Striving to finish strong in his first Individual Finals appearance and with a 49-0 record coming into the weekend.

171: Brett Dempsey, Mattawan senior – Just missed last season’s championship match at this weight, finishing third, and enters this weekend 52-0.

215: Brian Moran, Fowlerville senior – After finishing fourth at last season’s Finals, looking to graduate with a title and perfect season after entering this weekend 52-0.

Also undefeated: Chelsea junior Steve Bleise (135, 42-0), New Boston Huron sophomore Logan Ritchie (160, 52-0), Chelsea senior Mike Hovater (189, 39-0), Lowell junior Garett Stehley (189, 27-0), Lowell senior Taylor Kornoely (215, 33-0).

Other returning runners-up: Hamilton senior Collin Welcher (119, 46-2, 103 in 2012), Lapeer West senior Dean Somers (119, 43-1, 112 in 2012), St. Johns sophomore Logan Massa (135, 38-2, 119 in 2012), Holly senior Mason Cleaver (135, 50-2, 125 in 2012), St. Johns senior Payne Hayden (189, 41-1, 215 in 2012).

PHOTO: Fowlerville's Adam Coon (far left) stands at the top of awards podium after claiming a Division 2 championship last season. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)

Dundee's Dominance Reaches Next Level with 8th-Straight Title Run

By Jeff Chaney
Special for MHSAA.com

February 22, 2025

KALAMAZOO -- Total Domination.

Those are only words to describe the Dundee wrestling team's march through the MHSAA’s Division 3 Team Wrestling Tournament this year.

Dundee won its eighth-straight championship with a 74-0 win over Yale on Saturday at Wings Events Center. 

During the entire MHSAA Tournament, the Vikings wrestled seven teams, outscoring them  by a combined 537-13. They lost only three individual matches through the whole tournament.

"It is pretty exciting to do this," senior 175 -pounder Kole Katschor said. "We go to the practice room every day to work hard, and it shows. This is pretty cool to see, but we work hard."

Dundee earned its way to the Final by defeating Ogemaw Heights 75-6 in the Quarterfinals and Allegan 72-0 in the Semifinals. 

This after downing Milan 82-0 and Ida 76-4 at Districts and Livonia Clarenceville 77-3 and Hazel Park 81-0 at Regionals. 

"Our team work ethic makes us," Dundee junior Blake Cosby said. "We go in and out of our practice room every day, and we train harder than anyone else out here. That separates us from everyone else."

With that kind of leadership, it's easy to see why the Vikings have such a strong program from top to bottom.

"Throughout the state tournament, especially at Districts and Regionals, we are able to give our starters some time off," Dundee co-coach Nate Hall said. "They don't have to make weight on Wednesday, we slide up guys and we are able to give some of our starters some rest and some other guys opportunities. We are happy to put those guys in those situations so they are prepared later on."

The Vikings' Mason Katschor (left) gets ahold of Mackey McClelland's foot during their bout at 113. Katschor, a two-time returning Individual Finals champion, and Cosby, also a returning champ, led a Vikings team this year that has eight wrestlers ranked No. 1 in their respective weight classes. 

In the championship match, Dundee won every bout by at least bonus points, including six pins and six technical fall victories.

Katschor and Cosby both won their matches by first-period falls.

"Their kids are very dedicated and put a lot of time in during the whole year," said Yale coach Rob Majcher, whose team finished a successful year with a 32-3 record. "Our kids saw where they need to be. I'm very happy with where we are at. A lot of kids have bought into the program. This was definitely a magical season for them."  

And it looks like the magic will continue for Dundee.

The Vikings have three returning champions and a total of 14 wrestlers who qualified for next weekend's Individual Finals. 

And the Vikings graduate only one senior, Katschor. 

"We lose a good one,:" Cosby said of his teammate. “But our junior class is a stud class."

"From ‘our Finals’ lineup we only lose one senior," said Hall, whose team ended the year with a 23-0 record. "We lose a total of four seniors this year, and their dedication and character is to be sought after. Our junior class, we are junior heavy, and that class may be the toughest class we have had at Dundee."

Click for this weekend’s Division 3 meet summaries.

PHOTOS (Top) Dundee's Braden Broderick (top) takes control of his match at 132 pounds Saturday. (Middle) The Vikings' Mason Katschor (left) gets ahold of Mackey McClelland's foot during their bout at 113. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)