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.”
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.”
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.)
With Final Takedown, Goodrich's Phipps Arrives at Championship Destination
By
Drew Ellis
Special for MHSAA.com
March 4, 2023
DETROIT – A journey that had been 13 years in the making finally ended with a dream come true for Goodrich junior Easton Phipps.
Since he began wrestling at age 4, Phipps had been focused only on winning a state title.
At Saturday’s Division 2 Individual Finals, Phipps (41-4) had to tap into everything he had worked for to win the 190-pound championship.
After a 1-1 tie through three periods with Clio’s Jacob Marrs (37-5), the two remained tied after the sudden victory stage.
Things came down to the ultimate tiebreaker, which saw Phipps score a takedown to win.
“That state title is what was pushing me,” Phipps said. “I wanted to avenge all my teammates that didn’t get the shot to get a state title. I worked for them and the whole town. I get my picture on the wrestling room wall now.”
The junior said his championship match just came down to will power, as the two cancelled each other out in skill.
“I don’t really know what to say; the skill wasn’t there, it was just about toughness when it got into overtime,” Phipps said.
106
Champion: Brady Baker, Stevensville Lakeshore, Soph. (48-2)
Major Decision, 9-1, over Cristian Haslem, St. Clair, Fr. (46-2)
Baker had control throughout the whole match as the sophomore took home his first Finals championship.
He hit multiple takedowns and a reversal to keep Haslem from getting into the match.
“Things played out well,” Baker said. “I was getting into my attacks, scoring early and often. That’s what you have to do if you want to win.”
Baker failed to place at last year’s Finals and was motivated all season because of that. That motivation pushed him to a championship.
“It means a lot to not place last year and come in this year and win a state title,” Baker said. “It had been on my mind a lot, but there’s still bigger things to come.”
113
Champion: Malachi Kapenga, Hamilton, Soph. (48-4)
Decision 6-4 (OT) over Carter Cichocki, Lowell, Soph. (31-9)
The longest seconds of Kapenga’s life occurred as he awaited a referee’s decision at the end of the third period.
Trailing Cichocki 4-3, Kapenga managed to score an escape as the round ended, but also looked as if he may have had a takedown. Referees conferenced on whether he escaped in time, or even potentially won.
After ruling Kapenga got the escape point, he then went on to score a takedown in sudden victory to win his first Finals championship.
“I just was waiting and praying that they would at least give me one point,” Kapenga said. “I knew if I got the one point, I was at least still in the match. I was expecting a win or a loss, so getting the point, I was happy to at least be going into overtime.”
The match with Cichocki was back-and-forth, with both wrestlers holding leads during the first three rounds.
“It was a hard-fought match, and I had to be smart with my shots,” Kapenga said. “To win feels amazing. I have been working very hard toward it.”
120
Champion: Jackson Blum, Lowell, Soph. (39-3)
23-8 Technical Fall (4:52) over Tayden Miller, Mason, Sr. (37-2)
Blum was very workmanlike in winning a second championship.
The Lowell sophomore scored takedown after takedown to pick up the tech fall victory in the third period.
“There can be some built-up anxiety as you approach the match, but it’s just about getting into what you know you can do and the pressure goes away,” Blum said.
The pressure of a second consecutive title never seemed to get to Blum during the season, as he kept his focus on getting better each day.
“You feel that pressure, but you just have to block it out and do what you do in practice each day,” Blum said. “If you put in the work, the rest takes care of itself.”
126
Champion: Marcello Milani, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Sr. (50-0)
Decision, 3-0, over Bryce Shingelton, Linden, Sr. (45-3)
Milani had to wrestle a flawless match to get past Shingelton.
A first-round takedown got him off to a good start, and an escape in the third was the insurance point he needed to grind out the victory.
“I was just trusting in my wrestling, trusting in what I could do,” Milani said of what carried him through the match. “I have trained for this and had to trust that I did the work.”
The Orchard Lake St. Mary’s senior was able to cap off his career with a perfect 50-0 record on top of the title.
“This is something I really wanted since I was a freshman,” Milani said. “I am really glad I got to close it out this year.”
132
Champion: Grant Stahl, Mount Pleasant, Sr. (41-0)
Decision, 12-9, over Aaron Lucio, Stevensville Lakeshore, Sr. (49-2)
The long road to a Finals championship brought a lot of tough moments for Stahl, but it paid off Saturday.
The Oilers senior finished his career with a perfect season record capped by a 12-9 thriller against Lucio.
“This means everything. I had finished second and third and missed a year because of COVID,” Stahl said. “I have given everything to get this, and it feels incredible to finally get it. I wanted it so bad.”
Stahl was able to go up 8-1 thanks to a set of near-fall points early in the third period. He then had to fend off an aggressive Lucio to hang on for the championship.
“(Lucio) just shot in deep and he was sitting there, so I just reached back and hooked his arm, tilted him up and that was the difference,” Stahl said.
138
Champion: Jayden Schwartz, Charlotte, Sr. (52-2)
Decision, 11-5, over Owen Segorski, Lowell, Soph. (29-7)
Trailing 4-2 going into the third period, Jayden Schwartz knew it was time to go into overdrive.
Trusting in his stamina, Schwartz came out aggressive in the third and scored nine points to get past Segorski, a 2022 champion.
“All the work I have put in over the last few weeks, it was all for that third period,” Schwartz said. “I knew I had the stamina for the third to really push the pace.”
The top-seeded Schwartz finished with 52 wins while ending his prep career as a champion.
“This feels amazing,” Schwartz said of the title. “It hasn’t really hit me yet, but all the hard work really paid off.”
144
Champion: CJ Poole, Lowell, Sr. (31-8)
Injury Stoppage (5:00) over Louden Stradling, Gaylord, Sr. (50-1)
The final match of the night ended with unfortunate circumstances.
Tied 1-1 in the third, Poole shot in for a takedown on Stradling. The two collided heads and the impact from the shot, which finished out of the circle, left Stradling unable to continue.
Stradling suffered a head injury, and the match was ruled over and awarded to Poole.
“He’s a back-up-and-shoot kind of wrestler and I saw he was backing up and getting ready to shoot, so I shot for a double. He lowered his level and we hit heads and I was just trying to drive through on my shot,” Poole said.
The way the match ended wasn’t likely how Poole envisioned it, but he’s still grateful to be a champion.
“It still feels amazing,” Poole said of the title. “It’s been a lot of work.”
150
Champion: Trevor Swiss, Petoskey, Sr. (47-0)
Decision, 10-4, over Jack Conley, Lake Fenton, Sr. (31-3)
Swiss completed an unbeaten season, and the Petoskey senior never trailed in this match.
Going into the third period tied 4-4, Swiss picked up the pace and outscored Conley 6-0 to secure the championship.
“I knew I had to work, so I just came out knowing I needed to make something happen,” Swiss said. “I was able to capitalize when he got off-balanced, so I managed to put him on his back.”
Despite the unbeaten season, it was the Finals title that Swiss had been craving all year, fulfilling a childhood dream.
“This is what I have been dreaming of since I was in first grade,” Swiss said. “It feels amazing, and I really can’t put it into words.”
157
Champion: Cory Thomas Jr., Pontiac, Jr. (26-0)
Decision, 5-1, over Zach Jacobs, Jackson Northwest, Sr. (39-3)
After a scoreless first period, Thomas Jr. managed to ride out Jacobs in the second period to keep the match at 0-0.
In the third, Thomas Jr. knew he had put himself in position to win, which he did with an early escape and two takedowns during the closing two minutes.
“I work really hard at home, and I think that showed in being able to get those late takedowns,” Thomas Jr. said. “I was able to just keep pushing through.”
Thomas Jr. placed third at the 2021 D1 Finals at 125 pounds wrestling for Detroit Catholic Central, but being able to come back this year to win a title for Pontiac was even more rewarding.
“It’s been a crazy journey. I’m just so happy to be able to experience this,” Thomas Jr. said.
165
Champion: Philip Lamka, Fenton, Jr. (44-2)
Decision, 6-5, over Max Macklem, Goodrich, Soph. (33-5)
After placing third at last year’s Finals, Lamka wouldn’t let himself experience disappointment again.
He trailed Macklem 5-4 in the third period, but scored a late takedown to edge his opponent by one point.
“I’ve worked so hard for this all year,” Lamka said. “After last year, this is all I wanted. Coming up short in the semifinals in overtime to the eventual champ (in 2022) was hard. Coming in, I had one job to do and that was to win. I got it done.”
Following the victory, Lamka dropped to his knees and took in the moment.
“This is everything I have worked for my whole life,” Lamka said. “After coming up short before, (the emotions) just flood you.”
175
Champion: Brayden Gautreau, Gaylord, Sr. (52-1)
Decision, 3-1 (OT), over Carson Crace, Lowell, Sr. (33-6)
For Gautreau to come up with a second-consecutive championship, he needed a little more time. The senior was tied 1-1 with Crace through three periods after each scored an escape.
In OT, the past champ showed his mettle and came through with a takedown to earn the victory.
“I was on my stuff,” Gautreau said of the OT period. “(Crace) did a good job of keeping me off during most of the match. I just kept attacking, and it eventually paid off.”
Gautreau won the D2 171-pound title last year but said he never felt a lot of pressure to repeat.
“I didn’t feel a lot of the pressure. I just love wrestling, so I just love being able to compete,” Gautreau said. “You put in a lot of work for these moments, and this is where champions shine.”
215
Champion: Adam Haselius, Jackson Northwest, Sr. (50-0)
Decision, 5-1, over Joey Scaramuzzino, Croswell-Lexington, Jr. (51-4)
Haselius likes to be consistent, and he was very consistent Saturday night.
The Jackson Northwest senior claimed a second-consecutive Division 2 title after winning at 189 pounds in 2022.
“It feels great to repeat,” Haselius said. “Obviously that has been the goal since last year. It just comes down to consistency for me. Nobody that wins a state championship believes that they can’t win it again.”
Haselius never trailed, as he set the tone early with a takedown and added another in the second period before grinding out the victory in the third.
“I just wanted to keep myself in good positions,” Haselius said of the match. “Once I got the lead, I knew it was on him to bring the pressure, so I just had to wrestle smart.”
285
Champion: James Mahon, Goodrich, Soph. (14-0)
Decision, 5-4, over Aaron Holstege, Allendale, Sr. (49-1)
Battling through a labrum injury, Mahon managed to ride out Holstege for the final minute to secure a one-point victory.
“In a lot of my matches this year and last year, I’ve had to find ways to win 1-0 or win by one point,” Mahon said. “I’ve always found ways to get it done.”
Mahon trailed 4-3 in the third period, but scored a takedown with a minute left to go ahead and then worked on his top game to earn his first Finals title as a sophomore.
“I really expected this the whole year,” Mahon said. “It was never in doubt for me. Now I have to go and get two more.”
PHOTOS (Top) Goodrich’s Easton Phipps takes a champion’s photo at Ford Field. (Middle) Jackson Northwest’s Zach Jacobs, front, works to break the hold of Pontiac’s Cory Thomas Jr. on Saturday. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)