D3 Preview: Great Stories to be Told

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 27, 2020

This weekend’s Division 3 story is familiar. But last year’s finish no doubt has added to the buildup. 

Dundee or Richmond has won the last 10 Division 3 team wrestling championships, and they’ve faced each other in the deciding match eight of those 10 seasons. And for the third time in five seasons, last year’s title came down to the day’s final match – this time with Dundee earning the victory by the score of 26-25.  

Those headliners are the top-two seeded teams again at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo, but hardly the only story in Division 3. Among others, Fremont and Kingsley are in Quarterfinals for the first time, and Alma has made a big jump over the last two years to fall in alongside the favorites at the top.

The Division 3 Quarterfinals will be wrestled at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Top seed Dundee will wrestle Dowagiac, No. 2 Richmond will take on Kingsley, No. 3 Alma will face Fremont and No. 4 Montrose will match up with Remus Chippewa Hills. Semifinals are noon Saturday, with the championship match that afternoon at 3:45 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.

Below is a look at all eight teams competing in Division 3, listed by seed.

#1 Dundee

Record/rank: 20-1, No. 1
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association 
Coach: 
Tim Roberts, 21st season (535-75-1)
Championship history: Eleven MHSAA championships (most recent 2019), seven runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Braeden Davis (31-4) fr., 112 Kaden Chinavare (27-8) fr., 119 Jacob Fenbert (21-12) fr., 125 Aiden Davis (36-4) fr., 130 Austin Fietz (34-6) jr., 135 Casey Swiderski (32-1) soph., 135 Christian Killion (39-6) sr., 140 Kyle Yuhas (21-9) sr., 145 Tyler Swiderski (40-3) jr., 152 Dominick Lomazzo (17-4) jr., 160 Stoney Buell (38-3) jr., 181 Jaxon Guinn (31-8) sr., 215 Dennis Root (33-6) sr.
Outlook: Dundee has won two straight Division 3 titles and five of the last season, and this team remains built for now and the future with only four seniors among 13 Individual Finals qualifiers. After again winning an LCAA that included Division 4 top seed Hudson, Dundee gave up a combined 15 points over four District and Regional matches on the way back to Kalamazoo. Buell will be seeking his third individual championship next weekend, while Casey Swiderski will be seeking his second straight and Tyler Swiderski and Killion are both two-time Finals runners-up. Fietz and Guinn also are both repeat Finals placers.

#2 Richmond

Record/rank: 24-5, No. 2
League finish: First in Blue Water Area Conference 
Co-coaches: 
Brandon Day, 16th season (476-98); Preston Treend, fourth season (94-14)
Championship history: Eight MHSAA championships (most recent 2017), seven runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Emmet Kettle (26-8) jr., 103 Noah Harris (23-8) fr., 112 Hunter Keller (32-3) jr., 119 JD Gross (27-12) sr., 119 Josh Barton (24-8) sr., 130 Austin Kilburn (16-3) sr., 145 Kevin McKiernan (20-15) soph., 171 Wesley Peters (30-9) soph., 189 Noah Montanari (29-3) sr., 215 Luke Davis (35-2) sr., 285 Dan McKiernan (28-5) jr.
Outlook: Richmond is the two-time reigning runner-up and like Dundee always finds its way into the championship mix. After emerging with another BWAC title, the Blue Devils defeated three of league foes and also Madison Heights Bishop Foley soundly over the last two weeks, giving up a combined 48 points over four postseason matches. Keller and Davis were Finals runners-up last season, while Kilburn and Peters were placers too and Gross and Dan McKiernan also will be returning to Ford Field after competing there a year ago.

#3 Alma

Record/rank: 24-2, No. 3
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference East
Coach: Randy Miniard, ninth season (212-95)
Championship history: Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 119 Gianni Tripp (33-13) fr., 130 Solomon Rosales (37-9) jr., 135 Dametrius Castillo (33-7) jr., 140 Jarrett Ferman (25-5) sr., 152 Jacob Munger (28-12) soph., 160 Justin VanBlaricum (30-5) sr.
Outlook: The Panthers have made another jump, from the sixth seed last season to third this weekend as they return to the Quarterfinals for the third straight year. Alma’s road again took it through Lake Odessa Lakewood, and the Panthers doubled up the No. 5 Vikings 47-21 to win the Regional title. Rosales, Castillo, Ferman and VanBlaricum all were Finals qualifiers last season, as was sophomore Josiah Baltierra (125/31-14). Castillo was an individual champion in 2018, and he, Ferman and VanBlaricum all placed a year ago. Senior Carlos Espinoza (171/30-11) gives Alma another 30-match winner.

#4 Montrose

Record/rank: 32-3, No. 4
League finish: Second in Mid-Michigan Activities Conference 
Coach: 
Steve Barnette, eighth season (172-79)
Championship history: Nine MHSAA championships (most recent 2005), five runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Seth Coffin (30-19) soph., 125 Aidan Bernard (45-4) soph., 152 Robert Skinner (28-6) jr., 171 Cody Smith (29-16) soph., 215 Levi Harber (44-4) soph.
Outlook: After last season ending a 13-year hiatus from the final weekend, Montrose is back for the second straight after wins over No. 8 Birch Run and No. 10 Otisville-LakeVille at the Regional. The lineup continues to be young and promising with only two senior starters but eight sophomores and a freshman in the expected lineup. Skinner was a Finals qualifier last season and senior Griffin Barnette (285/34-7) placed although he fell just shy of qualifying for Ford Field this season.  

#5 Remus Chippewa Hills

Record/rank: 24-5, No. 6
League finish: First in Central State Activities Association
Coach: Kevin Edwards, second season (52-7) 
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2016.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Robert VanVleet (30-16) soph., 119 Gavin Miller (27-7) jr., 119 Taylor Gibson (32-14) sr., 125 Ozaawa Manito (24-17) sr., 130 Carson Hayes (32-8) jr., 171 Gabe Petoskey (28-18) sr., 189 Chayton Wiggins (35-8) sr., 215 Colby Roosa (33-4) jr.
Outlook: Make it nine straight Regional titles for Chippewa Hills as they look to also make the Semifinals for the sixth-straight season. The Warriors edged No. 9 Shepherd 37-31 in the Regional Final to advance this time. Hayes and Roosa are returning Individual Finals placers, and bolstering those above is junior Carl Whipple (215/33-10), a Finals qualifier in 2019 and one of five 30-match winners this winter.

#6 Fremont

Record/rank: 24-4, No. 7
League finish: Second in Central State Activities Association 
Co-coaches: 
Craig Zeerip, sixth season (129-60)
Championship history: Has not competed in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 RJ Thome (44-3) soph., 152 Trey Breuker (40-8) jr., 189 Michael Romero (33-15) fr., 215 Kyler Kolk (39-8) sr.
Outlook: The former Fremont and Ohio State wrestler and Hesperia head coach Zeerip will bring his alma mater to the Quarterfinals for the first time. After coming in second in the league to Chippewa Hills, Fremont edged Howard City Tri County 39-37 in its District Semifinal – but has doubled up all of its opponents since. Eight starters have won at least 30 matches, with seniors Matthew Halasinkski (140/38-10) and Chase Knudsen (160/36-9) among those joining Finals qualifiers listed above.

#7 Kingsley

Record/rank: 25-3, unranked
League finish: Second in Mid-Michigan Wrestling Conference 
Coach: 
Corey Crew, first season (25-3) 
Championship history: Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Justin Grahn (40-7) fr., 135 Aidan Shier (36-5) soph., 145 Kyan Fessenden (31-20) fr.
Outlook: In his first season leading the program, Crew has guided Kingsley to its first Regional championship and Quarterfinals trip. Eleven of 13 starters (while giving up 152) have winning records, and eight have at least 30 wins – and the team is nearly all underclassmen, with one senior and one junior on the roster. Sophomore Kaden Patterson (160/40-12), while falling shy of making the Individual Finals, also has topped 40 wins.

#8 Dowagiac

Record/rank: 23-9, unranked
League finish: Second in Wolverine Conference 
Coach: 
Colin Burandt, fifth season (99-45)
Championship history: Two runner-up finishes (most recent 1998).
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Jordan Simpson (41-7) soph., 160 Lamberto Parades (35-12) sr., 215 Chris Schultz (19-12) sr., 285 Wyatt Bailey (40-8) jr.
Outlook: Dowagiac will bring double the number of Individual Finals qualifiers to Kalamazoo this weekend as it did a year ago as the program continues to build under former Niles standout Burandt. This team has six senior starters, as opposed to just two a year ago, and Bailey was an Individual Finals placer coming in eighth at 285 in 2019.

PHOTO: Alma, here against Lakewood in the Regional Final, will attempt to reach its first MHSAA team championship match this weekend. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)

Amrhein's Pin Run Highlights Another Record-Setting Finals for Dundee

By Drew Ellis
Special for MHSAA.com

March 1, 2025

DETROIT – The Dundee wrestling program had another statement night at the 2025 MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals.

The Vikings tied the MHSAA record for most individual champions in a single year with eight, matching their 2021 effort.

Of the eight champions, none was more impressive than junior Jeremy Amrhein, who won his first title at 157 pounds.

The junior ran through the competition all weekend, winning all of his four matches by pinfall during the first period.

The longest bout was Saturday’s championship, where Amrhein (45-6) defeated Constantine junior Brody Jones (55-2) in 1:17.

“I was just going out there and trying my best. It was my first time winning the state final, so I was nervous, but I just had to go out there and give it my all,” Amrhein said. “I think my cardio was where it needed to be this weekend. It has allowed me to become stronger and more dominant. I was expecting three periods for this final, but I will take the early night.”

Adding to the victory for Amrhein is that it also marked his 100th win of his high school career.

106

Champion: Danny Vaneeckhoutte, Erie-Mason, Soph. (46-2)
Decision, 5-3, over Branlun Simon, Portland, Soph. (45-5)

Vaneeckhoutte took a 5-0 lead midway through the final and held off a game Simon.

“I knew I had to dig deep,” Vaneeckhoutte said. “I knew the match was getting late and (Simon) got two, but I wasn’t going to give up. It felt great to hear that final whistle and be a champion.”

Vaneeckhoutte scored takedowns in each of the first two rounds. Simon threatened with a reversal in the third to make it 5-3, but couldn’t get any closer.

113

Champion: Mason Katschor, Dundee, Soph. (34-5)
Fall (3:45), over Mackey McClelland, Yale, Fr. (44-4)

Katschor won his second championship in as many years, as the sophomore pinned McClelland in the second period.

“It was on my mind all the time,” Katschor said of winning a second title. “I work hard all year for these moments.”

Katschor had an 8-1 lead after the first period and got a reversal to open the second, which eventually led to the pinfall.

120

Champion: Mason Haines, Dundee, Jr. (37-5)
Decision, 4-2, over Haydn Nutt, Dundee, Jr. (31-7)

After being forced to forfeit in the District Final and Regional Final, Haines finally got his match with Dundee teammate Nutt.

With things tied 1-1 in the third period after each scored an escape, it was Haines that managed a takedown that pushed him to the victory.

“After having to forfeit the last two tournaments, I was going to leave it all on the mat today,” Haines said. “I got what I wanted, a state title.”

126

Champion: Dale Gant, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Jr. (40-1)
Technical Fall (5:02), 21-6, over Logan Whidden, Comstock Park, Sr. (33-4)

Gant cleared his third hurdle toward becoming the next four-time individual champion.

After winning the 113-pound title as a freshman in 2023, Gant won the 120-pound title as a sophomore in 2024.

This year, Gant scored seven takedowns to earn the technical fall and put his focus toward his senior season.

“That is everyone’s goal, to be a four-time state champion. Now that I have three, that is where my focus is,” Gant said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s definitely a goal I have set for myself.” 

132

Champion: Braden Broderick, Dundee, Jr. (35-10)
Decision, 1-0, over Lucky Gartin, Algonac, Sr. (53-6)

After finishing runner-up at 120 pounds last year, Broderick dug deep to win a low-scoring match in the 132-pound final Saturday.

After a scoreless first period, Broderick executed an escape to start the second, then rode Gartin for two minutes in the third to win, 1-0.

“We do these situations all the time in the practice room. I was tired, but I knew that was all that stood between me and a state title,” Broderick said of the third period. “I just wanted it more and got it done. Last year really stung, so it drove me each day and in that third period.”

138

Champion: Wyatt Burns, Dundee, Soph. (38-9)
Decision, 7-2, over Jacob Fink, Richmond, Sr. (39-9)

In a rematch from last week’s Regional Final that went to an ultimate tie-breaker, Burns made sure he left no doubt in Saturday’s championship match.

He scored a quick takedown in the opening period and then added another one late in the third to claim his first title.

“I just made sure to stay on my offense. I didn’t attack like I needed to last week. I think that was the difference this time,” Burns said. “I knew I had the speed and the takedowns to win. I just needed to believe in my abilities.”

144

Champion: Mikey Wilson, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Sr. (46-1)
Technical Fall (5:14), 15-0, over Stone Redmon, Dundee, Fr. (43-14)

Wilson won his second consecutive championship in dominant fashion, not giving up a point.

He had a pair of takedowns that were followed by numerous near-fall points to earn the tech fall in the third.

His 144-pound title came a year after he won the 138-pound championship.

“If you put this tournament on too much of a pedestal, it’s going to impact how you wrestle, so I tried not to let the focus be on this match or winning another title, just going out and wrestling to the best of my ability,” Wilson said.

150

Champion: Blake Cosby, Dundee, Jr. (37-0)
Technical Fall (1:56), 19-4, over Bryson Boucher, Lakewood, Soph. (46-7)

Cosby completed an unbeaten season and won his second-consecutive championship with an impressive tech fall in the first period.

Cosby had five takedowns in the first and used some near-fall points to secure the win. Last year, he was the champion at 144 pounds.

“I wanted to go out and dominate. I knew I could do it; the training has been there,” Cosby said. “I know nobody is working as hard as me, so if I just go out and wrestle, I will get positive results.”

165

Champion: Donny Beaufait, Dundee, Jr. (47-1)
Fall (4:42), over Julian Walker, Algonac, Jr. (53-6)

Losing in the 2024 150-pound Final in an ultimate tie-breaker stuck with Beaufait throughout this season.

In Saturday’s 165-pound Final, he was going to leave no doubt.

With the match trending toward a technical fall in the third period, Beaufait managed to get Walker’s shoulders on the mat to close out his junior year with his first championship.

“The match last year affected how I approached this season in every way. From the summer, to lifting, to practices, to each match of the season, it drove me,” Beaufait said. “This year, I was going to make sure nobody but me decided how things were going to go.”

175

Champion: Kole Katschor, Dundee, Sr. (44-4)
Major Decision, 10-2, over Alex Hicks, Hart, Sr. (53-3)

Katschor secured his third-consecutive championship thanks to a pair of early takedowns that gave him a sizable lead.

“There was a little bit of pressure coming into this, but I am just glad I could end my career with a third state title,” Katschor said.

After winning the 150-pound championship as a sophomore and the 157-pound title as a junior, Katschor was the eighth and final champion on the night for the Vikings.

“It’s a great program with a lot of great wrestlers that do things the right way,” Katschor said of Dundee. “I am very proud to be able to be part of the success that Dundee has had.”

190

Champion: Gavin Craner, Whitehall, Sr. (58-0)
Major Decision, 11-0, over Rocco Redmon, Dundee, Jr. (27-5)

Craner concluded a second-consecutive unbeaten season with a dominant 11-0 victory.

He won the 175-pound title as a junior and went 112-0 over the last two years.

“I just had the mindset that nobody could touch me this weekend,” Craner said. “It’s been a tough season, but it’s all about keeping that positive mindset. If I am scoring points, I don’t think anyone can beat me.”

Craner got points in all three periods, scoring takedowns in the first and third, along with near-fall points in the second. 

215

Champion: Wyatt Jenkins, Whitehall, Sr. (53-3)
Decision, 4-3, over Josh Petersen, Hillsdale, Sr. (50-4)

Jenkins had scored three first-round pins this weekend coming into Saturday’s Final. 

However, Petersen gave him a championship-worthy match.

After Jenkins established a 4-0 lead in the first period, Petersen fought back to cut the deficit to one point. But Jenkins managed to hold on, driven by the motivation of his ailing grandfather.

“My grandfather is at home and not sure how much time he has left, so that was what was on my mind today and what was pushing me in that third round,” Jenkins said. “I am proud to be a state champion, but I really just wanted to do it for him more than myself. It feels good to get this for him.”

285

Champion: Reid Hiltunen, Algonac, Sr. (55-1)
Major Decision, 11-1, over Joel Simon, Lake Odessa Lakewood, Sr. (49-5)

Hiltunen stormed out to an 11-0 lead after one period and then did his part to keep Simon from getting back in the match, securing his first championship.

“I felt like I could dominate on my feet and on top,” Hiltunen said. “The first period was great, being able to put up 11 points. My mindset all year had been to win this, and it feels amazing to have it all come together.

Hiltunen scored a takedown in the first period and then had two near-fall attempts score four points each. Simon wasn’t able to mount much offense from there, as Hiltunen proved to be elusive.

Click for full results.

PHOTO Dundee’s Jeremy Amrhein, in blue, hoists his opponent into the air during their Division 3 championship match. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)