DCC Brothers Double Up on Upsets
March 1, 2014
By Nick Hankins
Special to Second Half
AUBURN HILLS – A set of brothers sent The Palace crowd into a frenzy Saturday night at the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals.
Detroit Catholic Central’s Myles and Malik Amine did so, as Myles, a junior, upset two-time Davison champion Justin Oliver 6-5 in overtime in their 140-pound title match. Malik Amine followed with a 34-second pin of previously-undefeated Alec Pantaleo of Canton.
“(DCC coach Mitch Hancock) prepares us to wrestle just like we are drilling,” Myles Amine said. “Oliver is a tough wrestler. He took me down right off the bat, and I found a way to battle back. Oliver has beat me four times before tonight; this is the first time I have beaten him. He is a great competitor. We are great friends and wrestled together all summer.
“Conditioning was a big part of this match. I had to keep my composure throughout the match, and my conditioning paid off in the end.”
Conditioning was not a factor in his brother's victory.
“Unreal just to go out there and compete against Alec,” Malik Amine said. “He is one of the most explosive wrestlers in the country. It is awesome that both my brother and I won back-to-back state titles.
“My mindset was to put him away. We have prepared for him all week. My dad always said when you get an opponent on his back, do not let him up. I went out and I expected to win. This is great momentum going into my career next year at Michigan.”
The win also avenged Malik Amine’s loss to Pantaleo in the Finals two years ago.
103
Champion: Ben Freeman, Walled Lake Central, Fr. (43-1)
Technical Fall, 20-5 in 4:31 over Carl Antrassian, Monroe, Soph. (48-5)
To win four MHSAA titles in your high school career, you have to win your first.
And sometimes that first one is not the easiest.
That's what Freeman said after winning his first as a ninth grader.
“I feel amazing,” Freeman said. “I am enjoying this moment. My coaches gave me confidence to wrestle tough this weekend. My goal is to win four state championships, and I got the toughest one out of the way. This tournament is more mental than physical, so I had to keep focused for three days to get it done.”
112
Champion: Max Johnson, Davison, Soph. (42-7)
Fall, 1:53, over Alex Hrisopoulos, Oxford, Soph. (48-9)
Johnson had enough time on the mat during this MHSAA tournament. So he decided to shorten the time in the Final.
Johnson got his only pin at The Palace in the championship match, but showed dominance throughout the tournament. He also beat returning champion Benny Gomez from Holt 12-6 in the Semifinal.
“My game plan was to go out and wrestle six tough minutes and whatever happens, happens,” Johnson said. “I saw an opening and took advantage of it to get the fall.”
119
Champion: Trevor Zdebski, Detroit Catholic Central, Jr. (27-2)
Decision, 3-0 over Martin Rodriguez, Holt, Sr. (45-2)
Zdebski had a tough road to The Palace this year. He started his season with a broken hand, an injury that required time off. His first week of competition was the Detroit Catholic Central Super Duals, and he started the season 0-2.
His performance from that point on was flawless.
“I knew I had to get on my offense going right away and push the pace,” Zdebski said. “Nobody works as hard as we do at CC, so I knew if I got up early I could wear him down and control the match.”
125
Champion: Lincoln Olson, Davison, Jr. (45-1)
Technical Fall, 22-7 in 5:39 over Kyle Noonan, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, Sr. (48-3)
Olson may have had the most dominating performance of all at the Division 1 Finals. He did the unthinkable, winning by technical fall in each of his four matches.
When his hand was raised, he held up three fingers toward the Davison crowd. He had just dominated his way to his third title.
“I am not training for state championships,” Olson said. “I am training for NCAA championships. My goal for the weekend was to dominate and to tech fall my way through the tournament. I knew if I opened up my offense that I would be unstoppable.”
130
Champion: Ben Griffin, Canton, Sr. (50-3)
Decision, 5-1 over Ben Calandrino, Howell, Sr. (52-2)
Ben Griffin came to the Finals this year with one goal in mind – to win a title.
He came up short two years ago, falling in the Final to Mitch Rogaliner from Temperance Bedford 9-5.
But this was Griffin's year. He beat Calandrino 5-1, his second win this season over the Howell opponent. With 20 seconds left and trailing by one, Griffin hit a Peterson roll for the reversal and back points as time expired.
“I kept my composure with time running down and went back to what I do best on bottom,” Griffin said. “I am very happy to win a state championship. It’s a lot better crying tears of joy than tears of sadness. Ben and I are great friends and will be teammates next year at Eastern Michigan.”
135
Champion: Austin Eicher, Hartland, Sr., (39-1)
Decision, 4-2 over Collin Tomkins, Grandville, Sr. (36-5)
Eicher finally got to celebrate his championship on the mat.
He won an MHSAA title last year by beating his teammate Jacob Gorial 5-0, and he ended the match embraced in a hug with his teammate instead.
This year was different.
When his hand was raised he held up two fingers to the Hartland cheering section after completing his wrestling career with 205 wins and two championships. He is the first four-time MHSAA Finals placer in the storied Hartland program.
“I had a bad injury last week at team state finals tearing cartilage and muscle between my rib,” Eicher said. “This was the most important match of my life, and I was not going to let pain get in the way of a victory. I think God was testing my will to win this year.”
152
Champion: Nick Bennett, Detroit Catholic Central, Sr. (43-0)
Major Decision, 9-1 over Dominic Latora, Portage Central, Sr. (46-2)
Bennett was not a well known name in Michigan before the 2013-2014 season.
He was a two time state champion in Texas before moving back to Michigan to compete during his senior year. He won an MHSAA championship in dominating fashion with two falls and two major decisions.
“It has been a very gratifying year winning a team state championship and finishing with an individual state championship,” Bennett said. “I have the best training partners in the state with the Amine brothers. I wrestled very controlled and conservative this weekend and opened up when I had the opportunity to score. My game plan was to control ties and score on my feet and push my opponents. Coach (Mitch) Hancock did an excellent job getting us prepared this year.”
160
Champion: Jordan Atienza, Livonia Franklin, Sr. (64-1)
Decision, 10-5 over Dakota Juarez, Grand Haven, Sr. (41-1)
Jordan Atienza cruised through the tournament this year with a pin in his first round and a technical fall in the Quarterfinal match.
He then beat Jake Johnson of Macomb Dakota with a major decision, 13-5, in his Semifinal.
Atienza lost to Nick Vandermeer of Clarkston last year in the 152-pound Final and used the loss as a motivating factor to get the job done this year.
“I finally got the monkey off my back,” Atienza said. “I have been thinking about that Finals match for a year and I got it done. I am a state champ. I put in a lot of hours in the offseason so I would not have to go through what I went through last year. My gameplan was to dominate on my feet and score points.”
171
Champion: Drew Garcia, Detroit Catholic Central, Sr. (41-1)
Decision, 5-2 over Devan Richter, Harrison Twp. L’Anse Creuse, Sr. (53-2)
Garcia finished his career in fine fashion, winning his third individual championship Saturday and third team championship last weekend.
He beat Richter for the second time in two weeks.
Garcia had arguably the toughest weight class at The Palace in Division 1 this year. He defeated two-time champion Jordan Cooks of Davison in the Semifinal, 2-1 in overtime. Garcia finished off Catholic Central’s run in the Finals to become the team’s fifth individual champion this year.
“It is a great feeling to be in such an elite class of three-time state champs,” Garcia said. “I knew coming into the weekend this was going to be a very tough tournament with all of the tough competition at 171. We wrestled great this weekend, finishing with (eight) individual placers.”
189
Champion: Shwan Shadaia, Rochester, Sr. (44-3)
Fall, 5:56 over Derek Hillman, Brownstown-Woodhaven, Sr. (48-3)
Shadaia finished his career with another championship, leaving his legacy at Rochester High.
He avenged a loss earlier in the year to Hillman. It was Shadaia’s second straight title.
“He is a tough wrestler, and I am just happy I won,” Shadaia said. “He beat me pretty good this year. I just wanted to be a two-time state champ, and leave a legacy on my school. I stayed in good position and stuck to my gameplan to get the win.”
215
Champion: Jordon Brandon, Westland John Glenn, Sr. (54-2)
Decision, 3-1 over Matt Okaiye, Waterford Kettering, Sr. (40-2)
Brandon worked hard all year to grab what he thought he should have last year.
An MHSAA championship.
“I am very happy that I won a state championship this year,” Brandon said. “I would like to thank my grandmother. She has been with me throughout.
“Matt is a tough kid and I knew I had to stop his double to win this year. I should have had a state championship last year but I came up short. I worked hard all summer … to prepare for this.”
285
Champion: Parker Tillman, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, Sr. (46-0)
Decision, 3-2 UTB over Brian Darios, East Lansing, Jr. (40-2)
Parker Tillman took nothing for granted at this year's Finals – even though he was a runner-up last year.
Tillman won the title this time with 3-2 ultimate tiebreaker overtime win over Darios. It was the same result Tillman had over Darios at Regionals, when he pinned him in the third overtime.
“I feel great to have won a state championship,” Tillman said. “I was very nervous about every match down here. I came close last year but fell short in the Finals. I was hurt at Regionals and had to wrestle tough. I promised my coach I would win a state championship for him.
PHOTO: Detroit Catholic Central's Malik Amine has his hand raised in victory during the Division 1 Individual Finals. (Click to see more fromHigh School Sports Scene.)
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.)