D4 Preview: New Contenders On Verge
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 26, 2020
Only two teams have won Division 4 team wrestling championships over the last decade, and before last season only five teams had competed in the deciding match over the previous 10 years.
But Clinton broke into the mix making its first MHSAA Final last winter – and five of eight Division 4 teams competing at this weekend’s Quarterfinals are seeking their first team championships, even as the long-standing powers wait at the gate as favorites again at Wings Event Center.
The Division 4 Quarterfinals will be wrestled at noon Friday. Top seed Hudson will face Onaway, No. 2 New Lothrop will face Lawton, No. 3 Clinton takes on Carson City-Crystal and No. 4 Hart wrestles Manchester.
Semifinals are 9:30 a.m. 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 4, listed by seed.
#1 Hudson
Record/rank: 26-6, No. 3
League finish: Second in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Coach: Scott Marry, 32nd season (820-191)
Championship history: Eight MHSAA championships (most recent 2019), three runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Kannon Marry (20-4) fr., 103 Dallas Pibbles (29-9) sr., 112 Bronson Marry (32-6) soph., 112 Payton Rogers (23-14) soph., 125 Jackson Miller (23-13) soph., 125 Tyler Bolenbaugh (20-19) jr., 130 Caden Natale (34-4) jr., 135 CJ Berro (25-12) jr., 152 Dylan Smith (31-8) jr., 171 Cameron Underwood (27-14) soph., 189 Kyle Moll (35-7) sr.
Outlook: Hudson has won the last three Division 4 championships and eight of the last 11. The Tigers this time emerged from a Regional where they beat No. 8 Bronson and Addison, and after Addison had defeated No. 9 Union City in the other Regional Semifinal. Although four-time Individual Finals champion Jordan Hamdan graduated, there is still plenty of experience throughout the roster – six of the individual qualifiers mentioned above are repeat qualifiers from last season, when Bronson Marry and Natale finished runners-up at their weights and Moll also was a Finals placer. This is an annual note too, but important to mention – although Hudson did not win its league, the Tigers again finished second to Division 3 top seed Dundee.
#2 New Lothrop
Record/rank: 24-1, No. 2
League finish: First in Mid-Michigan Activities Conference
Coach: Jeff Campbell, 19th season (481-92)
Championship history: 15 MHSAA championships (most recent 2016), six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Daven Lockwood (28-12) fr., 125 Andrew Krupp (34-10) jr., 130 Alex Wolford (27-8) soph., 135 Logan Wolford (34-6) sr., 145 Harry Helmick (25-16) jr., 152 Bryce Cheney (28-3) jr., 160 Austin Barnette (35-6) sr., 189 Justin Carnahan (42-0) sr., 215 Camden Orr (38-3) jr., 285 Isiah Pasik (37-2) soph.
Outlook: New Lothrop saw its championship match streak end at five last season when it lost to Clinton in a Semifinal. But the Hornets are seeded to return to the final round after giving up only a combined 52 points over four postseason matches during this run. While last year’s team was relatively young with six seniors, this year’s has only three seniors but also six junior starters. Carnahan was an Individual Finals runner-up as a sophomore in 2018, and Krupp, Alex Wolford and Orr all were placers a year ago.
#3 Clinton
Record/rank: 28-5, No. 1
League finish: First in Tri-County Conference
Co-coaches: Jeff Rolland, seventh season (192-48); Casey Randolph, second season (58-10)
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2019.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Connor Busz (39-7) fr., 112 Chase Packard (31-13) soph., 112 Ethan Younts (29-18) fr., 119 Zak Shadley (28-12) fr., 130 Landis Gillman (40-8) jr., 135 George Ames (34-6) soph., 140 AJ Baxter (44-5) jr., 145 Kent McCombs (29-9) soph., 160 Spencer Konz (31-2) jr., 171 Brayden Randolph (46-4) jr., 189 Logan Badge (29-0) soph., 215 Jack Voll (35-9) jr., 285 Will Felts (26-6) jr.
Outlook: Clinton won its fifth Regional title in seven seasons and returns to Wings after reaching the championship match last year for the first time. An impressive lineup has Individual Finals qualifiers at all but two weights – 125 and 152 – and some maneuvering produces an expected starting lineup featuring all 13 qualifiers with the 14th wrestler the lone senior starter Noah Deshano (21-14). Badge is the reigning champion at 215, Brayden Randolph was the runner-up last year at 160, and Baxter, Ames, Konz and McCombs also were Finals placers in 2019. Baxter was a Finals runner-up as a freshman.
#4 Hart
Record/rank: 33-3, No. 5
League finish: Second in West Michigan Conference
Coach: Brad Altland, eighth season (221-86)
Championship history: Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Trayce Tate (37-7) fr., 112 Trenton Swihart (18-17) fr., 125 Spencer Vanderzwaag (34-6) jr., 130 Chance Alvesteffer (48-3) soph., 135 Mason Cantu (49-2) soph., 145 Jerry Brandel (35-7) sr., 152 Thomas Tanner (35-7) jr., 171 Leo Guadarrama (43-10) soph., 215 Braeden Carskadon (34-16) jr., 285 Tanner Breitwisch (39-5) sr.
Outlook: Hart is making its second appearance at the Quarterfinals, and first since 1990, after defeating No. 7 LeRoy Pine River to open the District and then cruising through three big wins. This run is even more impressive considering the Pirates graduated an individual champion and two more Finals placers last spring. As with Hudson above, it should be noted that while Hart didn’t win its league this winter, it did finish second to Division 2 No. 8 Whitehall in the WMC.
#5 Manchester
Record/rank: 35-2, No. 4
League finish: First in Cascades Conference
Coach: Steve Vlcek, 30th season (636-215)
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2008.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Jacob Bunn (43-5) soph., 112 Jared Bunn (41-8) soph., 125 Drew Gebhardt (47-3) sr., 130 Jacob Shelby (46-1) sr., 140 Adam Pringle (38-10) jr., 145 Jacob Kurgin (39-7) sr., 152 Jacob Snowden (14-7) jr., 152 Garrett Pope (38-12) soph., 160 Nick Phillips (31-8) sr., 171 Derek Guenther (41-7) sr., 189 Collin McCaffrey (41-6) sr., 285 Simon Lato (47-2) sr.
Outlook: Manchester will make the trip the Quarterfinals for the fourth time in five seasons after giving up a combined 32 points over four postseason matches and defeating No. 10 Springport in the Regional Final for the second-straight year. Six returning Finals placers anchor the lineup, with Shelby a runner-up at 130 pounds last season after falling just 2-0 to Carson City-Crystal’s Jamison Ward in their championship match. He’s also one of seven Flying Dutchmen with at least 40 wins this season. Kurgin, Lato, Gebhardt, and Jared and Jacob Bunn also are returning placers.
#6 Carson City-Crystal
Record/rank: 32-4, No. 6
League finish: First in Mid-State Activities Conference
Co-coaches: Kacy Datema, 10th season (267-74); Dallas O’Green, first season (32-4)
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up in 2000 and 2001.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 125 Jaron Johnson (35-0) jr., 135 Jamison Ward (46-0) sr., 140 Cole Stone (42-5) soph., 145 Bryce Stanley (38-10) soph., 160 Blain Mitchell (31-7) jr., 171 Nash Akin (37-9) sr., 215 Ryan Holland (33-12) sr., 285 Brian Yeakey (45-3) sr.
Outlook: The Eagles are making their fourth-straight trip to the Quarterfinals and in sixth in 10 seasons under Datema. Although Carson City-Crystal graduated a good share of star power from last year’s run to the Semifinals, plenty returns to the mat this weekend. Ward is a two-time finalist and won the title at 130 pounds last season, and Johnson and Yeakey also were Finals placers.
#7 Lawton
Record/rank: 25-10, unranked
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Coach: Troy Johnson, seventh season (175-59)
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 1990), two runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Dustin Mallory (42-13) fr., 140 Landyn VanWyk (47-4) sr., 145 Carter Cosby (36-13) fr.
Outlook: Johnson – an individual champion as a senior in 1987 during Lawton’s string of team titles – has the program back at the Quarterfinals for the first time since his first season coaching in 2014. Eight expected starters are freshmen or sophomores. But Andrew O’Donnell (38-12/160 pounds) and Harrison Maynard (16-5/189) join VanWyk in providing senior anchors, and junior Dominic Pickett (33-18/135) also is among five with at least 30 wins this winter.
#8 Onaway
Record/rank: 11-14, unranked
League finish: Fifth in North Star League
Coach: Mark Grant, 19th season (156-223)
Championship history: Has not appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 135 Teddy Peters (17-3) sr., 140 Matthew Grant (20-1) sr., Brendan Fenstermaker (27-9) jr., Seth Enos (22-15) jr.
Outlook: Onaway has now won three-straight Regional titles and three in program history, and all four individual qualifiers mentioned above also were individual qualifiers in 2019. All 10 weights beginning with 130 and heavier are filled by juniors and seniors. Grant placed sixth at 135 pounds last season after finishing runner-up at that weight in 2018.
PHOTO: Clinton enters the competition area prior to last season's Division 4 Semifinals win over New Lothrop at Wings Event Center. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Finals Family: McKiernan Kids Closing Richmond Run with Combined 10 Finals Titles
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
June 3, 2026
As Jake McKiernan watched his brother Jordan help Richmond win the Division 3 Team Wrestling Finals title in 2006, he knew he wanted to one day do the same.
“To be a part of that crowd, to see all the parents going crazy and feel the energy of that, I think that’s one of the things that helped spark me,” Jake said. “Ever since that day, I wanted to be part of that. I wanted to win a state title for Richmond.”
And he did, claiming a pair of Team Finals titles (2011 and 2012) and an Individual Finals title (2014) during his time coming for the Blue Devils.
But what Jake couldn’t have known back then is that Jordan was starting a two-decade run of McKiernan excellence at the school.
Not only did Jake follow in his brother’s footsteps with a Finals title, but so did their sister Raechel, and their brothers, Colton, Danny and Kevin. And, finally, their youngest sister, Anna, who just wrapped her senior year at Richmond.
One family, seven kids, all of whom left the school with at least one MHSAA Finals title.
“We’ve got a lot to be thankful for,” said their father, Kevin McKiernan. “A lot of great coaches, a lot of great teammates and parents. They have a total of 10 (Finals titles), and every time I think about it I could tear up. I can’t believe my heart didn’t explode in the bleachers.”
After Jordan and Jake, the titles came pretty fast and furious for the McKiernans. Colton won team titles in wrestling in 2015 and 2017, with Raechel’s softball title sandwiched in between in 2016.
Dan won an individual wrestling title in 2021, with Kevin winning his own individual title the following year. Anna won hers with the softball team in 2025.
Dad can run down each one of those championships with incredible detail. He remembers the scores and moves that changed specific matches, and each of the big hits his daughters came up with through their teams’ postseason runs.
But beyond that, he and his family remember the support that was always surrounding them in their community.
“Brandon Day is a special coach, and I was so fortunate to be part of his teams,” Jake said. “I was with him from the time I was in second grade and through high school. He sacrificed so much time to give us an opportunity to succeed. There were a lot of special athletes and a lot of special people that were part of those titles. We were really fortunate to have those types of people around us, supporting us. Even with Raechel and Anna on the softball team, it’s a community. It’s something that made me really proud to be part of a community like that.”
There was also plenty of support within the home, especially for the younger siblings who were able to lean on their older brothers and sister for advice as they made their own runs.
“I talked to them a lot (during the Finals run),” Anna said. “We would always have family parties after each round, and they would always give me as much advice as they could. I would probably say Raechel (gave the best advice), just because she was playing the same sport. She knew exactly what it was like, so she was always able to help me.”
While they were giving out advice, the older siblings weren’t putting any pressure on their younger siblings to keep the streak alive.
“It was something we strived for, and we always had a goal of being successful athletes and wanted to have good results, but I feel like the pressure of being a state champ was never something we put on anyone,” Colton said. “Let’s celebrate each other’s success, and push each other to be better. It was never, ‘You’ve gotta win.’ We were going to celebrate each other regardless of whatever they won. But we were all successful and we all helped each other get to that point, and I think that’s what makes it more special.”
That doesn’t mean the younger McKiernans didn’t feel pressure, though.
Anna said she felt it through her high school career, and while her needing to win a championship was a joke with the softball program, one of the first feelings she experienced after last year’s title was relief.
Her older brother Kevin may have felt it the most, though.
“He put so much pressure on himself,” his dad said. “Danny does not show much emotion; he’s just a bulldozer. But with Kev, it was, ‘I will not be the only young man in this family who doesn’t win one.' You could tell he was really feeling the pressure.”
So, how does a streak like this even happen? Genetics certainly didn’t hurt. Both parents were Division I college athletes who met while competing at Southern Utah University – Kevin as a football player, and their mother, Jodi, as a gymnast.
But that only gets you so far.
“The final accolades were outstanding, but if you were around for the early struggles, tears and frustration, it’s even more impressive,” said Day, who coached all of the boys on the Richmond wrestling team. “I think most people look at the state titles and college scholarships and think these kids have been good at these things their entire lives, but the truth is all of them struggled when they were young. Fortunately, their parents removed excuses from their lives and instilled an attitude of hard work, perseverance and unselfishness. Being at every practice and giving your best effort regardless of how you felt was non-negotiable. In a society full of parents who let their kids give up when things don’t come easily and get challenging, Kevin and Jodi McKiernan gave their kids the gift of accountability at a young age, and as a result, they won when it truly mattered. They never questioned us as coaches, but rather focused on supporting everyone’s kids and letting their own children know they were going to love them regardless of their athletic accomplishments.”
Kevin said that while athletics were a major part of the family’s lives, they were more a means to an end, to help teach his children life lessons. That seems to have worked, too.
Jordan, who was an All-American wrestler at Muskegon Community College, recently moved back to Michigan and owns a home improvement business. Jake’s wrestling career was cut short because of injury while at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, but he has continued to coach at the collegiate level, with a position on a Division I staff soon to be announced.
Colton and Danny also wrestled at SIUE, with Colton winning a Mid-American Conference championship and twice qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. He’s now returned to his alma mater as a member of the coaching staff after coaching for three seasons at Fort Hays State University in Kansas. Danny suffered the same career-ending injury as Jake, but recently completed his degree.
Raechel served a year in the National Guard in Poland and is working as a physician assistant at a trauma center in Flint. Kevin is working to become an electrician through Motor City Electric, and Anna will head to Macomb Community College this fall where she will play softball.
“In the back of my mind, I wanted to use sports to keep the kids on the straight and narrow and teach them the rewards of hard work,” Kevin McKiernan said. “As they become adults, that worked. It was a good plan. We really meant to do it to help them be good people and succeed in life.”
While the family has now completed its time in Richmond schools, the mark the McKiernans have left on the record books and trophy case is eclipsed only by the example they set for future Blue Devils.
“I feel like my family is just known to be really hard workers,” Anna said. “Everybody knows about our farm and the horses, and all the extra work we’ve done other than sports. My siblings have gone out of the way to help with anything anyone has needed. We’re all just known as hard workers.”
Paul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Clockwise from left: Jake and Colton McKiernan hoist sister Raechel onto their shoulders while celebrating her softball team’s 2016 Finals championship. Parents Jodi and Kevin McKiernan pose for a photo with Colton and Raechel after Colton’s team won a wrestling title in 2017. Danny and Kevin pose for a trophy photo in 2019. (Middle) The McKiernans celebrate Anna’s softball team’s championship last spring. (Photos courtesy of the McKiernan family.)