D3 Preview: Reigning Winners Abound
March 2, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Of 14 individual wrestling champions in Division 3 last season, 10 are back this weekend at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
So are five who finished runner-up a year ago, and two more who were runners-up in 2014.
And perhaps most noteworthy of all, Division 3 also has the only wrestler in any division going for a fourth MHSAA championship – Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Devin Schroder.
Below are 10 contenders we’ve broken out among many to watch this weekend at the Division 3 Individual Finals. Follow all the matches beginning with Thursday's first round on a subscription basis live on MHSAA.TV, and click here for results at MHSAA.com. And come back to Second Half this weekend as we’ll interview all 14 title winners.
119: Jarrett Trombley, Lake Fenton sophomore (29-0) – He’s wrestling now at Lake Fenton after winning the 112 title last season while attending Corunna and facing in the Final then-teammate Tristan Serbus, who he could see again at this weight.
119: Devin Schroder, Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior (42-1) – The champion at 112 in 2013 and 119 the last two seasons is seeking to become the 22nd wrestler in MHSAA history to win four Finals championships, and his lone loss was to Division 2 favorite Lucas Hall of Lowell.
125: Reiley Brown, Whitehall senior (47-1) – After helping his team to the Team Semifinals last weekend, Brown will try to repeat as individual champion at this weight; his only loss was to Division 2 contender Nate Ellis of Goodrich.
135: Matt Santos, Saginaw Swan Valley senior (48-1) – The future Michigan State grappler won the title at 130 last season after finishing runner-up at 119 as a sophomore; his only loss was to St. Johns reigning champ Ian Parker.
145: Kanen Storr, Leslie senior (55-0) – The champion at 103 as a freshman and 135 last season also finished runner-up at 119 to Schroder as a sophomore, and is the favorite again on his way to continuing at Iowa State.
160: Foster Karmon, Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior (30-0) – He’s also wrestling for a third MHSAA championship after winning 125 as a sophomore at Allegan and 145 last year for GRCC.
189: Brandon Whitman, Dundee sophomore (44-1) – He’s on his way to a fourth championship in two seasons of high school wrestling, with last weekend’s team title his second and after winning individually at 171 in 2015.
189: Jared Roehl, Millington junior (41-1) – Last season’s champion at this weight has only one loss over the last two seasons after taking a sixth place as a freshman.
285: Trent Hillger, Lake Fenton junior (59-0) – Last season’s champion at 215 is a combined 117-0 over the last two seasons after earning a fourth-place as a freshman.
285: Maddox Maki, Williamston senior (42-4) – He won this weight last season but finished second at last month’s Regional after being pinned by Hillger in the Final; they may meet again this weekend.
Other 2015 runners-up: Corunna senior Tristan Serbus (119, 50-3, 112 in 2015), Richmond senior Aaron Kilburn (125, 40-4, 119 in 2015), Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior Kole Krauss (130, 40-1, 130 in 2015), Dundee senior Zach Blevins (140, 46-4, 135 in 2015), Scottville Mason County Central senior Logan Merrick (145, 45-4, 145 in 2015).
Also undefeated: Ida senior Alex Martinez (130, 41-0), Croswell-Lexington junior Collin Lieber (152, 49-0), Midland Bullock Creek senior Adam McCann (171, 50-0).
Also of note: Perry junior Anthony Gallagher (103, 38-1), Howard City Tri-County senior Nick McGhan (112, 40-2), Saginaw Swan Valley senior KJ Suitor (51-1, 130), Dundee junior Sean Sterling (152, 43-4), Montrose senior Quintin Wilber (215, 44-4).
The MHSAA Wrestling Finals are presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
PHOTO: Grand Rapids Catholic Central's Devin Schroder stands atop the awards podium after claiming his third MHSAA title last season. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Highlight Reel: Team Finals Video
March 1, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals came to an end Saturday evening with familiar champions in Lowell, Richmond and New Lothrop and a first-time winner in Brighton.
See below for highlights from all four championship matches – including one from all eight teams that competed – plus links to watch the matches in full on-demand on MHSAA.tv.
Division 1
Laforge at the Fore: Hartland jumped out to a 22-12 lead after eight weight classes in the Division 1 Final against league rival Brighton. Hartland's Lucas Laforge wins his 160-pound bout with Tanner Maschke, 4-3, in the final period.
Title Takedown: It came down to the final match at 112 pounds to decide the Division 1 title, and Brighton's Lee Grabowski claimed a 4-2 win over Hartland's Garnet Potter. Here's the second period takedown that gave Grabowski a 3-0 lead. Brighton won the crown, 31-25.
Watch the entire match and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 2
Dean Scores The Fall: Lowell scored the first 15 points of the Division 2 title tilt with Eaton Rapids and never looked back. Zeth Dean got a first-period pin against Eaton Rapids' Eric Anderson at 130 pounds in that streak.
Schultz In An OT Thriller: Tristen Schultz of Eaton Rapids and Logan Blough of Lowell took the 189-pound match in the Division 2 Final to its ultimate length, before Schultz prevailed, 9-8. It cut the Lowell lead to 24-16, but the Red Arrows pulled away for a 40-16 championship victory.
Watch the entire match and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 3
Drew Starts It For Dundee: Dundee jumped out to a 16-6 lead on Richmond in the Division 3 title match, with Drew Scholl starting things off with a 7-4 win over Cody Keller at 119.
Richmond Wins! Richmond Wins!: Richmond got two straight pins to come from behind and defeat Dundee, 27-25, for the Division 3 title. Connor Behem gets the fall at 112 pounds over Harry Wallace.
Watch the entire match and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Division 4
Copes Pins Welch: Trevor Copes of New Lothrop comes up with a key pin of Nick Welch of Hudson at 145 pounds in the Division 4 championship match.
Roberts Rules: Hudson gets off to a good start against New Lothrop in the Division 4 Final, as Tyler Roberts pinned Austin Birchmeier in 25 seconds. New Lothrop came back to win the title, 38-24.
Watch the entire match and order DVDs by Clicking Here.