Lees Becomes 1st from Detroit Catholic Central to Win 4 Team, 4 Individual Titles

By Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com

March 8, 2026

DETROIT – There aren’t many opportunities for wrestlers to become the first to accomplish something at Detroit Catholic Central anymore, but Wyatt Lees found a way.

He defeated Eden Abdo of Grand Ledge 7-1 on Saturday in the 132-pound title match of the Division 1 Individual Wrestling Finals, becoming the first Catholic Central wrestler to win eight Finals titles – four team and four individual – and fourth to win four individual titles, joining Darius Marines (2021-24), Dylan Gilcher (2020-23) and Kevon Davenport (2016-19).

“It’s pretty awesome,” Lees said. “I got to follow Darius, Dylan and Kevon, and now I get to start a new trend of four and four, which hopefully Grayson Fuchs can get next year.”

Lees was one of five wrestlers to win a fourth title Saturday, joining a list of 46 in Michigan history. He is just the ninth wrestler to ever reach eight total titles, as Hudson’s Nicholas Sorrow accomplished the feat just minutes before him. 

“Before the match, he was messing with me saying, ‘Hey, whoever finishes their match first gets on the board first – did he finish before me?’” Lees said, before feigning disappointment and laughing when the answer was yes.

Lees previously had won titles at 106, 113 and 120, and this year he pinned his way into the finale. He was able to get an early takedown against Abdo and controlled the match from there.

Lees said he entered the Finals match with a bit of nerves, as he felt the weight of what he was about to accomplish.

“At first, I was doing a pretty good job blocking it out,” Lees said. “But I was kind of warming up and I felt it, it hit me. I said a prayer, ‘God help me. Help me channel my nervousness to good energy.’ Once I was out there, I was fine.”

106

Champion: Brody Compau, Rockford, Fr. (51-0)
Technical Fall (18-2, 3:03) over Grayson Van Valken, Grandville, Fr. (42-6)

Compau finished off a remarkable freshman season with another dominant victory.

“It feels great man,” he said. “Just knowing my work’s been paying off. I wrestled him at District and Regionals, so the plan was the same thing – keep pushing the pace, keep scoring. Just make sure I get the tech.”

Compau had a fall and two technical falls on his way to the championship match, and said he felt no added pressure as an unbeaten freshman.

“I know all the work that I’ve done to get here. I just had to show up and show people,” he said. “I think I can get four. Second one in Rockford after Kyle Waldo, just gotta do that again.”

113

Champion: Cyrus Woodberry, Detroit Cass Tech, Soph. (41-4)
Decision, 4-0, over Jase Sensor, Hartland, Soph. (49-9)

With the city of Detroit on his back – the skyline is literally printed on his singlet – Woodberry again came up big, claiming his second Finals title in as many tries.

“I feel like I’m representing all of Cass Tech, all of Detroit,” he said. “Showing people that Detroit wrestling is on the come-up, and I’m here to lead it.”

Woodberry entered the third period and rode Sensor out to complete the victory.

“Just to keep pressure on him,” Woodberry said. “It took everything out of me to keep him down, and when I finally got up, it felt great.”

Woodberry was the champ at 106 last year.

120

Champion: Layne Martin, Rockford, Jr. (51-0)
Technical Fall (19-4, 5:04) Matthew Quigley, Traverse City West, Jr. (51-1)

Martin dominated this matchup of unbeatens to claim his second-straight title.

“I felt pretty confident,” he said. “I was able to get to my attacks. Those high-Cs and those fireman’s, they were there the whole match.”

Martin claimed the 113-pound title a year ago, and after leading just 3-1 early Saturday, scored 16 points in the second and third periods to close out title No. 2.

“Coming in a little more used to the crowd and everything,” he said. “It’s just a little easier the second time.”

126

Champion: Jamison Gregory, Detroit Catholic Central, Jr. (34-7)
Major Decision, 8-0, over Steve Vaughn, Davison, Jr. (28-12)

Gregory was the first of six Catholic Central wrestlers to hit the mat on the night and set quite a tone by winning his first individual title.

“It felt pretty good,” he said. “I’ve been chasing it for a while. My coaches have been telling me all year that I’m a tone setter, and I just feel so glad that I’m able to set that tone here in this tournament.”

He scored a takedown and escape in both the second and third periods to win by major decision.

“The strategy was just kind of let him come toward me and find my offense,” Gregory said. “Then go out and win the state title.”

138

Champion: Bohdan Abbey, Hartland, Sr. (51-1)
Technical Fall (19-4, 3:18) over Carl Nihranz, Macomb Dakota, Sr. (52-4)

In his fourth Finals appearance, Abbey claimed title No. 3 with a dominant performance. 

“It’s fun getting the third state title,” Abbey said. “It’s just another day to give the glory to God for what he’s gifted you with out there on the mat.”

He teched his way through the tournament, closing out an illustrious career. He was champion at 113 as a freshman, second at 126 as a sophomore, and champion at 132 a year ago.

“First one, I had to work for it really hard,” Abbey said. “Then obviously came up short my sophomore year, but the next two you have to find the Lord, and if you’re not wrestling for the Lord, you’re wrestling for yourself, and you can’t do anything by yourself.”

Hartland’s Bohdan Abbey, right, wraps up the legs of his opponent.

144

Champion: Nate Carter, Clarkston, Sr. (44-3)
Decision, 7-5, over Deacon Morgan, Rochester Adams, Jr. (27-3)

Carter and Morgan battled every second of the six minutes in their title bout, but after claiming his first Finals title, Carter still had plenty of energy.

“I’m feeling great, pumped up, excited,” Carter said. “Went full six minutes, me and my coaches we had a gameplan. We didn’t really strategize too much coming into the state tournament, because it goes match by match, one by one, but we came back right before Finals started and had a gameplan. Just stay basic and fire when it’s open, and that’s what I did.”

Carter hit a big move in the second period to take the lead over Morgan, who was runner-up at 126 a year ago.

“He was just pressuring, and I know I got some of the best hips in the country,” Carter said. “I know if someone is pressure too much, and I got that chance and opportunity – it was on the edge of the mat, so I was like, ‘Why not?’ Worse comes to worse, we go out of bounds.”

150

Champion: Grayson Fuchs, Detroit Catholic Central, Jr. (29-1)
Decision, 8-6, over Deacon MacNeill, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, Sr. (48-2)

Fuchs claimed his third individual title and sixth overall while battling through a laundry list of injuries.

“I’m wrestling through a sprained MCL, meniscus, my hand is like a little bit out of place, I’m going to get it fixed up after the season,” Fuchs said. “It’s another stepping stone, battling through adversity. This sport, it teaches you a lot of stuff, and it’s definitely bringing me closer to God, too.”

Fuchs won his first title at 126 pounds as a freshman and his second at 144 a year ago. If he can repeat the feat a year from now, and the Shamrocks can win their fifth-straight Team Finals title, he’ll join Lees and become the state’s 10th eight-time champ.

“That’s the goal next season,” Fuchs said. “Just stick to the process, do what I’ve been doing, get another team title, be a leader again. Just show the younger freshmen and stuff what it takes to be the best. I’m excited for the four and four.”

157

Champion: Dallas Korponic, Hartland, Sr. (54-2)
Decision, 8-4, over Alexander Buskirk, Detroit Catholic Central, Sr. (37-8)

Korponic won title No. 3 and claimed his 200th career victory at the same time. Fittingly, it ended with a takedown in the final seconds, keeping him on top.

“I know it was a close match in the state championship. He’s a great wrestler,” Korponic said. “It just feels good to kind of seal the deal there at the end for the crowd.”

Korponic won at 132 pounds as a sophomore and 150 as a junior, and now joins his teammate Abbey as the only three-time champions in Hartland history.

“Growing up with him, he’s my best friend, we do everything in life together,” Korponic said. “Just being able to complete that with each other is just unreal.”

165

Champion: Jay’Den Williams, Roseville, Sr. (41-1)
Technical Fall (20-3, 2:56) over Anthony Madafferi, Novi, Sr. (49-3)

The king of the technical fall got another one to close out his illustrious career and become a two-time champion. Williams, who holds the state record for most techs in a season (48 in 2024-25), won that way at the Finals for the second-straight year.

“I just know one thing, I worked hard for this,” Williams said. “Throughout this whole week, I’ve been practicing three to four times a day, pushing my stamina to where I get tired, so when I get tired out here I’m used to it. I’ve been here before. I’ve been in this same place multiple times. I just know I gotta push my guy to my standard.”

Williams started relatively slow for his standards, but scored 17 points in 95 seconds to finish off the victory. As his hand was raised, the crowd acknowledged the four-time finalist with an ovation typically reserved for four-time champs.

“I’m thankful for everyone here that’s watching me,” Williams said. “It feels exciting and builds momentum. I know I’m getting in my opponent’s head, too, with them, and it makes it easier for me.”

175

Champion: Braxten Roche, Detroit Catholic Central, Soph. (28-7)
Major Decision, 23-11, over Zach Miracle, Temperance Bedford, Sr. (47-3)

Roche was emotional following his match after sharing a long hug with his grandfather near the edge of the mat.

“It’s been a grind,” he said. “I came from a wrestling family, and all of our goals were to be a state champion and a DI wrestler. Unfortunately we had never became a state champ in my family; I was the first to be a state champ in my family. We’ve had lots of DI wrestlers, but never a state champ. So, it means a lot to me and my family.”

Miracle, who was runner-up at 165 a year ago, took an early 7-0 lead in the match, but Roche hit some big moves himself to get back in it. He also was dealing with a bloody nose that required tape to be wrapped around his face.

“That was very annoying, it definitely was not comfortable,” Roche said. “It’s OK, you have to persevere through, and I had to go through a couple times of adversity in the match. You just have to keep pushing through, and you’ll love the outcome.”

190

Champion: Caden Krueger, Detroit Catholic Central, Jr. (42-4)
Decision, 7-5, over Dominic Nauss, Brighton, Soph. (38-5)

Krueger built a big lead and held off Nauss to claim his first Finals title.

“It feels great,” Krueger said. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. I’ve always been stuck at second my whole life at all these tournaments, and to finally get that victory, that was well-deserved.”

Krueger led 7-2 after the second period and played defense in the third, not allowing Nauss to hit any of the big throws for which he’s known.

“I knew he was going to go big – he’s a great thrower, great Greco guy,” Krueger said. “I just had to stay on my defense, stay in good position, with a good base, and I knew he wouldn’t get to me.”

215

Champion: Tyler Meeuwsen, East Kentwood, Jr. (31-1)
Decision, 14-8 (SV), over Hadi Mazraani, Dearborn, Sr. (49-2)

Meeuwsen rallied to force overtime and finished off his first Finals title with a cradle, giving the fans in attendance one last thrill in the final match of the night.

“I just knew that I had to use my hips,” Meeuwsen said. “I saw the cradle opportunity and I wasn’t going to let go. It was a blessing. I’ve worked so hard for this the past few years, and I’m just so happy I was able to get my goal.”

Mazraani built a 7-1 lead during the first period, but Meeuwsen pushed the pace the rest of the way, forcing two stalling calls and two separate grabs of the singlet by his opponent to tie the match.

“We go hard in the room every day,” Meeuwsen said. “I know in matches like this when you go down early and make a mistake, you gotta battle back. I just had to keep fighting through it and battle through adversity, and this time I came out on top.”

285

Champion: Logan Tollison, Grand Ledge, Sr. (55-0)
Major Decision, 8-0, over Jase Fuller, Lapeer, Jr. (49-4)

Tollison capped off an unbeaten senior season, claiming his second-straight Finals title.

“It means a lot,” Tollison said. “I worked hard to get here. It definitely does mean a lot to me.”

Tollison also won at 285 a year ago after finishing as runner-up at 215 the year before. On Saturday, he opened up a scoreless match by getting an escape and a takedown in the second period, adding another takedown in the third for the major decision.

“He wasn’t doing anything on bottom, and got me a little upset,” Tollison said. “But, I just kept wrestling.”

Click for full results.

PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Catholic Central's Wyatt Lees, top, locks up Grand Ledge's Eden Abdo during their Division 1 championship match Saturday at Ford Field. (Middle) Hartland’s Bohdan Abbey, right, wraps up the legs of his opponent. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)

Finals Contender Anderson, State-Ranked Kent City Carrying High Expectations Into February

By Dean Holzwarth
Special for MHSAA.com

January 29, 2026

KENT CITY – The summer before his freshman year, Kent City’s Sammy Anderson admittedly was unsure of his potential as a wrestler.  

West MichiganThat all changed, however, when the season began and a talented group of seniors altered the course of Anderson’s future on the mat.

“We went to a CMU camp in July and to be honest, I was not very confident in myself,” Anderson said. “From there, I didn’t know how my first high school season was going to go, but there were a ton of great seniors that really pushed me and motivated me to be the best I could be at this sport.

“Those seniors gave me a lot of confidence, and I just kept working hard throughout the season and I made it to state and found out that I could be good if I kept working hard at it.”

Kent City wrestling coach Chad Kik remembers those seniors showing Anderson the ropes and helping guide him through his first season.

“When he hit the high school scene he was in a good situation to learn,” Kik said. “We had a good handful of upperclassmen he got to work out with during those first two years in the room.

“He’s taken on their approach to wrestling, as well as learning lessons as far as work ethic and how to be a leader from them.”

Fast forward to Anderson’s senior year, as he has blossomed into one of the top wrestlers at 126 pounds in Division 3.

Earlier this month, Anderson reached a career milestone while competing at the Fruitport Legends Tournament.

Anderson went 5-0 on the day, winning his final match 10-6 against an opponent who had beaten him at Regionals last year, to earn a career milestone with his 150th win.

He became the 14th wrestler in school history to accomplish the feat and attributes his success to that group of seniors.

“It’s a pretty nice milestone to hit, and a bunch of the seniors from my freshman year really pushed me to be really good in the sport,” Anderson said. “I wanted to be like them, and wanted to get to 150 and maybe even surpass them.”

Anderson owns a 165-36 overall record, including 35-4 this winter as he eyes a return to the Individual Finals.

“He has a great demeanor for wrestling,” Kik said. “He never gets too high after a win, or too low after a loss. He keeps things in perspective. He’s very good at going back and analyzing the things he needs to work on or what went wrong. He’s able to move forward rather quickly, and he’s fun to watch.

“He’s constantly in motion, constantly on the attack and he wears down a lot of opponents, because he just comes at you.”

After his early success, Anderson failed to qualify for the Finals as a sophomore with a one-point loss in the blood round at Regionals.

The Eagles take a team photo after winning their Kent City Kickoff Classic. While disappointing, he used that tough loss to refocus.

“I was trying to make state again and, unfortunately, took that loss, which happens,” Anderson said. “It just drove me and motivated me a lot more for my junior year, and I wanted to do well that year.

“Coach always preaches to keep moving forward and don't look back. Every tough match has a purpose, and take it as an opportunity to grow yourself, learn from it and do better next time.”

Anderson rebounded with a terrific campaign last winter and garnered fifth place at 120 pounds to achieve all-state status.

“He had that setback his sophomore year, but he came back strong and was focused on getting back to state,” Kik said. “He had an incredible state meet, and it’s been fun to watch him grow.

“This year he has a chance to be District and Regional champ and set himself up for a top-four seeding to hopefully make a run.”

Anderson has been the catalyst for a squad that is currently ranked No. 10 in Division 3.

The Eagles won the Kent City Kickoff Classic to open the season and claimed the top honor at last week’s Hopkins Invitational.

They also took third at the 20-team Kent County Classic, finishing behind only Rockford and Byron Center.

“I think we had high expectations coming into the season,” Kik said. “We returned quite a few from last year with some new additions that have been helping our team as well.

“We set goals of conference champs, District champs and then contending for a Regional championship. Those are our goals every year, and we thought coming in we had a good chance to put ourselves in position to try and achieve those goals.”

Kent City achieved one of them Wednesday night by clinching the Central States Athletic Association title with victories over Reed City and Central Montcalm to finish the league dual schedule with an unbeaten record.

The Eagles have four wrestlers with more than 30 wins so far, including Anderson, Dylan Russo (106), Sam Kik (113) and Adam Hunter (138).

Jayden Loomis-Sandison (144), Travis Pike (132), Hunter Gustinis (150), Victor Vasquez (157) and Jackson Carr (165) all have won 23 or more matches.

“At the beginning of the season there were some pretty high expectations,” Anderson said. “This is one of the best teams we've had in a minute, I think, and I think we can go far this season.

“I’ve been trying to be a leader and push the guys in the room that don’t have as much experience, and I think we can make a run in the postseason if we stay healthy and things can go our way.”

The Eagles will meet Grant in Team Districts next month with Newaygo and Fremont on the other side of the bracket.

“If we continue to grind and wrestle the way we have,” Chad Kik said, “then I think we have a chance to do well in the postseason.”

Dean HolzwarthDean Holzwarth has covered primarily high school sports for Grand Rapids-based WOOD-TV for five years after serving at the Grand Rapids Press and MLive for 16 years along with shorter stints at the Ionia Sentinel and WZZM. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties. 

PHOTOS (Top) Kent City’s Sammy Anderson works to break his opponent’s grasp during a match this season. (Middle) The Eagles take a team photo after winning their Kent City Kickoff Classic. (Photos courtesy of the Kent City wrestling program.)