Hall, Stevens Teaming Up to Continue Dundee Championship Tradition
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
November 22, 2022
DUNDEE – How do you replace a legendary coach?
For the Dundee Vikings wrestling program, it takes two.
Nate Hall and Garrett Stevens opened practice last week as the new co-coaches of the ultra-successful Dundee wrestling program, taking the reins from Tim Roberts, one of the winningest coaches in state wrestling history.
“From day one, we’ve done a really good job of pushing each other and staying focused,” Stevens said. “The kids have been getting after it. Things are going well.”
Dundee’s wrestling program is a rich one. Roberts stepped down with a state-record 10 MHSAA Finals titles over his 23 seasons as head coach. In all 23 of those years, Dundee won District championships, and in 22 of those 23 years the Vikings won Regional titles. Roberts not only accumulated 10 Finals championship trophies, but he also won more than 500 dual matches.
Hall and Stevens have coached together for several years on the Dundee staff. Now they are dividing up duties and looking to start the next era of Vikings wrestling.
“We know what we are up against,” Hall said. “We have a strong tradition to keep on. We understand two people going at it is probably the better route.”
The move is not without precedent. In the conference that Dundee competes in – the Lenawee County Athletic Association – Clinton had co-coaches lead the Redwolves to the Division 4 championship two seasons ago. Division 3 powerhouse Richmond has utilized co-coaches in the sport as well.
“We sort of applied together,” Stevens said. “We thought we could do this.”
Dundee Athletic Director Ross Crow said he was hesitant at first to consider the co-coach idea, but after meeting with both realized it could work.
span>“After sitting down with them and having a lengthy discussion, I realized they have an extremely organized and articulated plan as to how they are carrying the torch moving forward,” Crow said. “Whenever I have a question, I either text or e-mail both of them on a group thread. They both chime in and more often than not, the answer is exactly the same for both of them. It's a really good fit, as they are close friends and have no egos.”
Stevens is a 2007 Dundee graduate. He wrestled for Roberts. His dad was a Dundee wrestler as well, graduating in the 1970s. Stevens brings his connection to the Dundee wrestling community to the table as well as years of coaching experience.
Hall is from nearby Blissfield, where he was an all-state wrestler. He wrestled for Grand Valley State’s club program and was a coach there as well. He returned to southeast Michigan to coach with his father – Adrian Madison head coach Scott Hall – and joined the Dundee staff when he became a physical education teacher at the middle school about five years ago.
As co-head coach, Nate Hall handles a lot of the organizational duties, especially anything involving the school district, since he works there. Stevens brings a technical side of the sport with him.
The duo believe they can make it work because of the chemistry between them.
“I was always more of a technical wrestler,” Stevens said. “I think Tim (Roberts) felt I could help connect with the kids and teach them how to do a few things differently.
“After I graduated from high school, I got away from wrestling for a while, but in 2011, Tim reached out to me and asked if I wanted to get back involved and it seemed like a no-brainer. I missed it. I liked being around him and there were some things I could bring to the table. I was chomping at the bit once the opportunity opened for me.”
Stevens said Roberts was wonderful to learn from because he was such a great person and sought out input from his staff.
“Tim’s approach to coaching was unique,” Stevens said. “He’s very open-minded and understands there is so much more to learn. You constantly want your kids and program to grow. Every year I coached with him, he changed something every year. He was constantly modifying, tweaking, and seeking out help and advice from others.”
Hall likes how things have started.
“It’s going very well so far,” Hall said. “Tim didn’t leave the well dry. He’s got an established program and an established wrestling community that has been supportive of both Garrett and I so far.
“We’ve got a tremendous senior class – three state champions and another kid that was third in the state last year. Their leadership is really going to be a huge aspect of our success this year.”
The Vikings also have 14 freshmen.
“We’ve hit the ground running,” Hall said. “We provide a lot of opportunities in the offseason for kids to get into the wrestling room and stay active. Most of our guys are active throughout. The freshmen are a real promising group that we can keep the ball rolling,” Hall said.
The veterans in the wrestling room include Kaden Chinavare, a Central Michigan University signee who won an Individual Finals title as a sophomore; Aiden Davis, a two-time Finals champ headed to Bucknell; and Braeden Davis, a Penn State University recruit looking for a fourth consecutive Finals title in 2023.
“The biggest thing with this group, I would say, is their willingness to push each other in the right manner,” Hall said. “We’ve got a lot of successful individuals, and they are already going out of their way to make sure each person around them is getting the most out of their reps they can get.
“The team chemistry is already a big part of it.”
Both coaches admit there is pressure to maintain a program that is not just known at the state level, but nationally.
“If you’re not feeling that pressure, maybe you’re not taking it as seriously as it needs to be taken,” Hall said. “We are here to help kids accomplish their goals, and pressure is a part of that – especially at the elite level a lot of our wrestlers want to compete at.”
Despite the turnover in coaching, Dundee’s goals remain high.
Dundee opens with the Grappler Gold, will go to Davison, then compete at a big invitational in Ohio. They Vikings will compete at Detroit Catholic Central and the Hudson Super 16 in late January.
“We always want to aim high,” Stevens said.
Doug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Nate Hall, left, and Garrett Stevens walk together during the opening march at an MHSAA Team Finals; retired coach Tim Roberts is behind them, waving. (Middle) Stevens, top, and Hall stand with their retired coach and mentor at various events. (Below) Stevens and son Brady, and Hall and daughter Kimberly, celebrate the 2020 championship. (Top and below photos by Kathy Killion.)
Teammates' Successes Make 4-Time Moment More Special for Martinez
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2025
DETROIT – Sebastian Martinez got his four-timer moment Saturday at the Division 4 Individual Wrestling Finals at Ford Field.
The Riverview Gabriel Richard senior defeated CJ Copeland of Lakeview 15-0 in the 175-pound Final, becoming the 40th four-time champion in MHSAA history.
But making that moment even more special for Martinez was the fact he got to share a successful night with his best friend.
“It was incredible,” Martinez said. “My teammate who won, Jordan Zambon, he’s my best friend. I’m so happy that he got to come back after his Finals loss last year. My other teammate, Luke (Harrington), is the hardest worker I know. I’m super grateful that I get to spend this time with them. It’s amazing.”
Zambon won at 106 pounds for Gabriel Richard, while Harrington was runner-up at 138. Their accomplishments buoyed an already historic night for the Pioneers, as prior to Martinez in 2022, the program had never had a Finals champion.
He became the third wrestler to win a fourth straight title on the night, as Lowell’s Jackson Blum and Fowlerville’s Maggie Buurma had accomplished the feat earlier.
“Words can’t describe it,” Martinez said. “It’s amazing, you know. After all the hard work I’ve put in, it’s paid off. To join this exclusive club, it’s an unreal experience.”
Martinez (45-2) was dominant on his way to his fourth title, pinning his way through the first three rounds before finishing it off with a technical fall Saturday night.
Copeland (48-9) was wrestling in his second Final, as he was runner-up at 190 pounds a year ago.
106
Champion: Jordan Zambon, Riverview Gabriel Richard, Soph. (39-2)
Decision, 4-1, over Jaxton Kimling, Hudson, Soph. (41-16)
Zambon opened the night for Gabriel Richard by becoming the school’s second-ever champion.
A year ago, he had placed second at the weight, but was able to get over the hump in his return trip to Ford Field.
“It feels great,” he said. “I’ve worked all season. I’ve been trying to keep working, getting better. It was a close match and felt rough. It feels amazing.
“Last year, I took a hard loss. I really wanted that one. But this, being able to bounce back, it’s a much greater feeling.”
113
Champion: Owen Fogel, St. Louis, Jr. (46-2)
Major Decision, 14-3, over Kolton Burns, Decatur, Soph. (33-1)
A four-point nearfall near the end of the second period put Fogel up 10-0 and had him well on his way to claiming his first Finals title.
“I feel amazing,” Fogel said. “All the hard work just paid off right here. I couldn’t feel any better. I felt prepared, I knew that I had done everything, every single day to prepare myself for this match, knowing I didn’t leave a single ounce off the mat, and I put it all out there.”
120
Champion: Sammy Stewart, Manchester, Jr. (51-1)
Decision, 8-3, over Alex Rodriguez, St. Louis, Jr. (52-5)
In a rematch of the 2023 113-pound Final, Stewart again was able to come out victorious and claim his second championship in three years.
Both wrestlers were in their third-straight Final, as Stewart was runner-up at 126 a year ago, and Rodriguez was the champ at 113.
“It’s fun,” Stewart said. “I wouldn’t call it a rivalry, he’s a good dude, but it’s cool. You don’t get to see that very often. It’s a great experience. It’s a fun way to end off junior year – I love the crowd and the energy, and knowing that people know that (I) wrestled him before on this same stage, it’s fun to me.”
Stewart was able to take a 6-0 lead midway through the first period, and control the match from there.
126
Champion: Nicholas Sorrow, Hudson, Jr. (55-1)
Fall, 1:27, over Austin Garcia, Lawton, Sr. (52-5)
Sorrow claimed his third-straight Finals title, giving himself a chance to join the four-time club a year from now.
He’s also won three team titles with Hudson.
“It’s great getting to go to Kalamazoo a week before and get ready a little bit,” he said. “A lot of teams get that off week; I’d rather be out there competing, so that helps sharpen the tools before the last tournament.
“It’s a great program. (Coach) Scott Marry, he built it from the ground up and they’re not slowing down. Every year we’re trying to build off what we had.”
Sorrow had a dominant run throughout the tournament, winning by technical fall in his three bouts, only wrestling into the second period once, and then closing it with a first-period pin against Garcia, who was a runner-up at 113 a year ago.
132
Champion: Braylon Long, Clinton, Sr. (38-3)
Decision, 6-1 (OT), over Colt Perry, Hudson, Jr. (43-11)
Most wrestlers would have been happy to hang on after getting a go-ahead reversal in the second overtime of their Finals match. Not Long.
The Clinton senior went for back points to stretch out his lead and claim his first title.
“I was trying to open the gap,” Long said. “I wasn’t really proud of how I wrestled, so I tried to open it up a little bit. I felt like I was solid. I was confident in wrestling through positions I do with my teammates all day.”
138
Champion: Julien Kimling, Hudson, Sr. (27-2)
Decision, 4-1, over Luke Harrington, Riverview Gabriel Richard, Jr. (43-5)
For the second-straight year, Kimling walked out of Ford Field a champion, having accomplished the feat at 126 pounds a year ago.
And for the second-straight year, he’ll walk right into an operating room to have a major surgery.
Kimling, who wrestled a year ago with a torn labrum, won this title on a torn ACL, which he’ll have surgery to repair Monday.
“I tore my ACL in the second tournament of the year, and I just looked over at Coach Scott (Marry) and I said, ‘Scoot, it’s God’s plan, I don’t know what to tell you.’ I didn’t know if I was going to be back; nobody thought I’d be able to be back on the mat,” Kimling said. “I trusted my faith, and He got me here and got it done for me.”
144
Champion: Beckett Campbell, Hudson, Fr. (54-3)
Fall, 5:20, over Haylen Buell, Climax-Scotts/Martin, Jr. (55-5)
Campbell closed out a phenomenal freshman season in spectacular fashion, pinning Buell in the third period of what was a 1-1 match.
It puts him on track to accomplish his lifelong goal of winning four titles.
“It’s what I worked for my entire life,” Campbell said. “Ever since I started wrestling, it’s the goal I set, I wanted to win a state title as a freshman, (be a) four-timer.”
Buell was making his third appearance in the Finals in as many tries, as he was runner-up as a freshman and champion a year ago at 132.
150
Champion: Blake Sloan, Manchester, Jr. (51-3)
Decision, 4-2, over Dalton Birchmeier, New Lothrop, Sr. (50-3)
Sloan said he had to take the hard way to Saturday night’s Final, as a Regional DQ prevented him from getting the No. 1 seed.
That motivated him to claim his first title after coming in second both of the past two years.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “The road getting here was hard, but this made it even better winning in the Finals, taking the hard way there.”
A takedown nine seconds into the first period was all the scoring Sloan needed in the match, as neither wrestler was able to get more than an escape the rest of the way.
157
Champion: Eli Roe, Beaverton, Jr. (36-6)
Decision, 4-2, over Jacob Pickford, Hudson, Sr. (47-11)
Roe scored a takedown 32 seconds into the match and held Pickford off the rest of the way to claim his first Finals title.
“I just knew I have to be the first one, I have to be the aggressor,” Roe said. “I honestly would have liked to rack up a couple more points. I think I could have, but I got it done, so it feels good. I had a loss at Regionals because of some ignorance up on points, so I didn’t want to have that feeling again.”
165
Champion: Fred Hammond, Otisville-LakeVille, Jr. (54-1)
Technical Fall, 16-0, over Drew Challender, St. Louis, Jr. (51-8)
Hammond became the first LakeVille wrestler to win a title since Stan Marshall in 1997.
“I’m just excited for the community and everybody that believed in me and put time into me,” Hammond said. “My friends, my family, everybody, I just wanted to give it to them because they’re the ones that believed in me. One man can only go so far.”
Hammond was dominant in the tournament, winning by pinfall in his first three matches before closing it out with the technical fall in the Final.
190
Champion: Bryce Randolph, Clinton, Jr. (42-5)
Decision, 5-3, over Rowan Bradford, Decatur, Jr. (52-1)
Randolph made the most of his second trip to the Finals, claiming a title while handing Bradford his lone loss of the season.
“I’m just so grateful,” he said. “Being able to defend and win that match after taking second last year. Just the feeling of losing, coming back and taking care of the job this year was great.”
Randolph, who was runner-up at 175 pounds in Division 3 a year ago, had two falls and a technical fall in his run to the Finals.
215
Champion: Landen Johnson, Lakeview, Sr. (55-1)
Decision, 3-0, over Isaac Westfall, Reading, Soph. (48-5)
Johnson hadn’t had a bloody nose all season, but he suffered one early in his Finals match Saturday and had to deal with multiple stoppages before getting his hand raised.
Fortunately for him, a first-period takedown stood up throughout the match.
“It’s a dream come true, that’s for sure,” Johnson said. “(While dealing with the blood) I was just thinking of how much work had been put into this season.”
285
Champion: Tanner Kraft, Leslie, Sr. (51-2)
Decision, 3-1, over Chaz Underwood, White Pigeon, Sr. (52-4)
An emotional Kraft dedicated his win to a close friend who had passed away two years prior.
“It feels amazing,” he said. “My best friend died a couple years ago, and I made a promise to him that I’d do it. I didn’t fulfill my promise last year, so this just means that much more to me.”
A takedown in the opening minute of the match was enough for Kraft, who had pinned his previous three opponents on his way to the Finals.
It was the second-straight year Underwood finished as runner-up at the weight.
PHOTOS (Top) Riverview Gabriel Richard’s Sebastian Martinez, front, prepares for the referee to restart his match. (Middle) Manchester’s Blake Sloan, right, gets leverage during his match with New Lothrop’s Dalton Birchmeier. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)