Lowell Sets Record With 6th Straight Title
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
February 23, 2019
KALAMAZOO – Jeff Leach was in a familiar place as he stepped onto the mat with a chance to clinch the MHSAA Division 2 wrestling team title for Lowell.
In 2017, Leach clinched the Red Arrows’ fourth straight title with a decision against Warren Woods-Tower. And Saturday, he did it again, defeating Goodrich’s Carson Turnbow 9-2 to give Lowell a 29-23 victory and a state-record sixth straight MHSAA Finals team championship.
“It’s a lot of pressure,” Leach said. “Coaches were talking to me before because I was pacing back and forth with my nerves, but they reminded me, ‘Surrender the outcome. No matter what happens, put it all right where you got it, right here on the big stage.’ It’s my last time wrestling here, my last time wrestling a high school state, so I thought I might as well do it for them so they can keep the tradition going after I’m gone.”
Prior to Saturday, Lowell was one of four Lower Peninsula teams to have won five straight titles, joined by Hudson (2009-13), Davison (2002-06) and New Lothrop (1984-88). Escanaba won six straight Upper Peninsula titles from 1976-81. (The tournament was unified in 1988.)
Now the Arrows stand alone as the only program to accomplish the feat with the entire state competing together.
“Wrestling is a difficult sport,” Lowell coach R.J. Boudro said. “We have to take care of these kids’ weights, their grades, making sure they’re not injured, just making sure they’re mentally there – their girlfriend breaks up with them – so many things that could go wrong. To think of all those things that could go wrong, and we won six in a row, it’s just an amazing feat. I’m proud of the community, proud of the kids – it’s so cool.”
Four of the previous five titles for Lowell were decided by 10 points or more, and wrapped up prior to the final match – in some cases, well before. Only the 2014 title was decided by fewer points than this year, as the Red Arrows started their streak with a 35-34 win against the previous Division 2 power, St. Johns.
“Goodrich is a heck of a team,” Boudro said. “They brought everything they had. I feel like through the year, they were kind of working their lineup down to beat us. It kind of gave us motivation. Our guys showed up, and we had plenty of opportunities to win the dual in a lot of different ways, but I think we wanted to give the fans something to get a little nervous. They’re spoiled fans.”
Each team won seven matches in the dual, but Lowell was able to get a technical fall from Avry Mutschler at 140, a pin from Nicholas Kohorn at 112 and a forfeit to Austin Boone at 160. Goodrich, meanwhile, was only able to get bonus points at two weight classes, major decisions from Honour Kline at 215 and Cameron Macklem at 119.
“I think the worst part about it is that we wrestled so well and tough and we came up short,” Goodrich coach Kenneth Sirignano said. “That’s the worst part. To come that close and come up short – we did that in 2016, we did it again today, and that’s the worst part of it. They should have been rewarded for what they did, but that’s life and that’s a life lesson. They’ve really learned a lot this year, and I’m really proud of them. I just wish they could have had it.”
Lowell went up 17-0 in the dual, getting decisions from James Fotis at 145 and Doak Dean at 152, along with Mutschler and Boone’s wins. Goodrich stormed back, however, winning the next four matches, as Kline’s major decision was surrounded by decisions from Juwan Vines at 171, James Penfold at 189 and Blake Coffell at 285. Vines won on a last-second throw, while Coffell won in double overtime.
“We pulled a lot of upsets, and we just tried to give ourselves the best shot to win,” Sirignano said. “The guys came through, and they won a lot of big matches. I would say they won five big matches.”
Lowell’s Ramsy Mutschler won by decision at 103, and that, combined with Kohorn’s pin, gave the Arrows a 26-13 lead with four matches to go.
The Martians won the next three, as Macklem’s major decision was followed by decisions from Carson Richards at 125 and Caleb Teague at 130. That set up the dramatic final match.
“We draw a weight class (to start the dual) an hour before, they drew 140 and I was like (yes),” Boudro said. “Two years ago, we beat Tower and it came down to him and he pulled it out. He’s got a lot to talk about for the rest of his life, being able to say he won two state titles in the last match of the dual. It’s pretty cool.”
Leach got out to a 5-0 lead in the match and had to hold off a pair of throws from Turnbow, rolling through one headlock that nearly put him to his back.
“It was more of a reaction,” Leach said. “My (practice) partners, some of them throw really good headlocks, so over the years, I’ve been pretty much practicing how to defend a headlock over and over.”
Lowell advanced to the Final with a 34-24 win against Gaylord in the Semifinals, while Goodrich defeated DeWitt 37-22.
Both Mutschlers and Fotis won three matches on the weekend for Lowell, while Vines, Penfold, Kline, Coffell, Macklem and Teague each won three matches for Goodrich.
PHOTOS: (Top) Ramsy Mutschler earned a key championship match win for Lowell at 103 pounds. (Middle) Wrestlers lock up during the Division 2 Final. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
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.)