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.)
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.)