Manuel Sisters Bring Pair of Titles Back to Romeo, Just Getting Started
By
Scott DeCamp
Special for MHSAA.com
March 2, 2024
DETROIT – Romeo wrestling coach Justin Gides was a busy man Saturday afternoon at Ford Field.
He guided sisters Belicia and Kaili Manuel to back-to-back MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals championships on the same mat in the 140- and 145-pound weight classes, respectively.
Sounds like the Manuel pipeline may be far from drying up, too, as Gides noted there are seven Manuel sisters in total.
“I think they’ve got me busy for the next 15 years,” he said with a hearty laugh.
Belicia Manuel, a sophomore, started it off with a tight 8-7 decision over Waterford Kettering senior Emily Medford. It was Belicia Manuel’s first Finals title and made her 23-0 on the season.
Kaili Manuel, a freshman, followed with a 14-4 major decision over Riverview Gabriel Richard junior Rihanna Venegas. That made Kaili’s season record 26-1.
Between the Manuels: Two championships and a combined 49-1 record.
“I was just thinking about my family coming and watching me, and I just really didn’t want to lose in front of them,” smiling Belicia Manuel said.
“Definitely a new experience,” she added. “Having this big crowd watching me is kind of scary, but we pulled through.”
When asked who holds the upper hand in family room tussles, Belicia took the more diplomatic approach and declared a tie.
Kaili has been wrestling since she was in kindergarten, while Belicia picked up the sport in third grade.
“They’re training partners, they work together all the time, every day. They’re always at each other’s mat, they notice the small things,” Gides said. “Honestly, I could probably make them the coach some days – they know so much. They’re so detail-oriented. There will be times I’ll go to yell something and they’re already yelling at their sisters, ‘You’ve got to do this, you’ve got to do this.’ They’re big students of the game.
“I mean, it’s crazy, man. They’re good kids, they train every day. They’re two of seven of them. There’s seven daughters, they all wrestle. They train year-round – they love it.”
100
Champion: Madison Nieuwenhuis, Plainwell, Soph. (18-0)
Medical forfeit over Olesya Mullins, St. Louis, Soph. (19-1)
Saturday’s Finals match was easier than last year’s for Nieuwenhuis, now a back-to-back champion, not that she wanted it to happen this way.
“I’m glad that I made it (to the championship bout), but a little sad that I didn’t get to wrestle,” said Nieuwenhuis, who like last year dealt with an injury on the way to winning a title.
In 2023, she had a foot injury. This season, it was a fractured bone in her wrist.
Nieuwenhuis hopes to be fully recovered in time for the World Team Trials.
“I guess just making it to the Finals (is the highlight this season),” she said.
105
Champion: Natalie Gibson, Remus Chippewa Hills, Jr. (18-2)
Fall, 0:54, over Tricia Pyrzewski, Gladwin, Sr. (42-5)
Pyrzewski had success against Gibson this season, but this time Gibson didn’t even give Pyrzewski time to think.
The bout was over in a hurry. Gibson captured her first championship after finishing runner-up at 105 pounds last season. This was her third Finals trip.
“Honestly, I think I just caught her and we’re super competitive with each other. She’s beat me twice already this year,” Gibson said. “I caught her in a perfect moment and I stuck her – it was super quick.
“We had a game plan and it kind of went with our game plan, but it just turned out a lot more perfect than we planned.”
Gibson has been wrestling for 11 years, picking it up from her older brother’s influence.
She hopes to be right back in the same spot next season.
“Honestly, I’m stunned -- a little bit in disbelief,” Gibson said. “Super proud of all the work and everything that my coaches and I have put in and that they continued to do with the support.
110
Champion: Nakayla Dawson, Westland John Glenn, Soph. (9-0)
Fall, 2:25, Cheyenne Frank, Oxford, Soph. (15-1)
Some believed that the Finals match at 110 pounds was going to be Dawson vs. Sky Langewicz of Algonac, with Langewicz having won Finals titles the last two years. But Frank earned an 8-4 decision over Langewicz in the Quarterfinals.
Dawson captured the 105-pound championship last season, so bumping up a weight class pushed her a bit.
“I mean, I feel like this year was a little bit more challenging because I bumped up a weight class, but it’s kind of the same,” Dawson said. “Girls, they’re just really flexible and they’re hard to get into turns and pins. But, yeah, it’s pretty much the same.”
Dawson did match up with Langewicz, but it was in the Feb. 18 Regional Final at Birmingham Groves, where Dawson earned an 8-5 decision.
Dawson made sure to keep the right mindset and stay focused in the Final. Her career goals are clear.
“Trying to go all four (years of winning championships),” she said.
115
Champion: Sunni LaFond, Gaylord, Jr. (30-6)
Decision, 13-9, over Gracey Barry, Grand Haven, Jr. (34-2)
LaFond broke through after runner-up finishes as a freshman and sophomore, but it was far from easy. She seemed to be in control of her Finals match Saturday, but Barry battled to the very end and made it very interesting.
“It was really intense. I did not think that it was going to be that tough to win it, but it was worth it in the end,” said LaFond, who absorbed two bloody noses in the bout.
After the match was over, LaFond ran up the stairs of the press risers and gave her mom a hug in the front row of stands. Moments later, she was greeted by well-wishers and wrestlers with whom she’s familiar.
“I didn’t feel nervous before, I just felt like it’s just another tournament, it’s not anything special,” she said. “I mean, yeah, it’s states, but it definitely feels really good.”
120
Champion: Lola Barkby, Sturgis, Jr. (17-3)
Decision, 4-2, over Faith Burgess, Grand Blanc, Jr. (25-1)
Barkby finished runner-up as a freshman and took fourth as a sophomore, but she said that different training and changing up her style yielded the results she was seeking.
You might say she kept her nose to the grindstone, so to speak. She had marks on her face to prove it.
“I’m not too happy about the mat burn on my face, but it’s a part of it,” Barkby said with a smile.
When Barkby placed second in 2022, she lost to eventual four-time state champion Angelina Pena in the 120-pound weight class.
This time, it was Barkby’s turn to leave the mat a champ.
“I mean, this is the best season that I’ve had and my team, we competed really well as a team this year,” Barkby said.
125
Champion: Tyler Swanigan, South Lyon East, Sr. (12-1)
Fall, 3:45, over Jamie Cook, DeWitt, Jr. (30-3)
Swanigan collected her second championship in three years. Previous experience seemed to pay off.
“My sophomore year was my first year competing at high school sports, so nerves were a lot higher coming into today being in the Finals three years in a row,” Swanigan said.
For the Finals match, Swanigan said that getting a lot of sleep, eating healthy, and drinking a lot of water helped.
She’s certainly poured enough time into it.
“I’m very happy this is the way I ended my high school career,” Swanigan said.
130
Champion: Angelina Pena, Milan, Sr. (16-2)
Fall, 3:25, Isabella Cepak, South Lyon East, Jr. (10-2)
Pena won a fourth-straight championship, including the third in a row since the MHSAA added a girls division for postseason competition. She captured the 120-pound title as a sophomore and 130-pound championship as a junior.
“I mean, it’s similar (to the other three) in the fact that I won and I held the same amount of respect for all of my opponents regardless of how they lose,” Pena said. “I think it’s different (in how) it gets harder every year, you know. All the girls are getting better, they’re training all year, and you’ve just got to keep training and keep putting in more work than they are.”
Pena is proud of the growth of girls wrestling at the high school and lower levels.
She said that her Milan coach, Adam Cabarello, launched a youth program at the school and he’s invited her to come to his practices.
“The more I come in, the more girls I see. We’ve got, like, seven or eight girls in there right now. It’s really nice to be able to mentor,” Pena said. “I think it’s just going up from here. Exponentially, we’ve already seen a giant increase in the amount of girls that are joining wrestling or making it to Ford Field. I think it’s great.”
135
Champion: Margaret Buurma, Fowlerville, Jr. (24-1)
Major Decision, 11-2, over Paisley Denault, Clarkston, Soph. (28-2)
Buurma is a three-time champion, also achieving the feat at 125 pounds last season and 115 as a freshman.
Former Fowlerville and University of Michigan standout Adam Coon has influenced her career.
“Quite a few times over the summer when we’re training freestyle stuff, he comes in, he works with us, he tells about his journeys through high school and college and then through all the Olympic stuff and World teams,” Buurma said. “He’s somebody who I strive to be like with his success in wrestling, but also his success in the academic field and his success as an overall person.”
Buurma said she felt a little more stress and anxiety coming into the tournament.
“In the end, it’s a wrestling tournament, and we’re here because we like wrestling,” she said. “Winning’s just always a bonus.”
155
Champion: Maddie Hayden, Caledonia, Soph. (11-0)
Fall, 0:49, Brynn Campbell, Holt, Sr. (30-7)
Hayden defended her title at 155 pounds, but she also overcame obstacles in the form of injuries.
“I think it’s definitely trusting my training. I had a couple of injuries, too, so I was out for a while. That was a big obstacle to overcome, too. I mean, I wanted to repeat, but my goal was also to overcome those obstacles as well,” Hayden said. “So just trusting in my training, trusting in my faith that I was going to be all right and that I could do it again because I did it last year.”
In late December or early January, she broke her fingers. Hayden was back on the mat for a week before she hyperextended her elbow.
The injuries may have seemed like a curse to some, but Hayden took them on as a challenge. They certainly didn’t seem to hinder her performance Saturday.
“Like, going into Regionals and state, I had only been wrestling a week in the past two months,” she said. “It was definitely scary coming in here with not a lot of wrestling, but that was also a fun thing. ‘Let’s see how good I could do off of not a lot of practice.’”
170
Champion: Maddison Ward, Niles Brandywine, Jr. (37-1)
Fall, 5:48, Heaven Cole, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, Jr. (17-2)
The bear hug with her coach said it all immediately following Ward’s pinfall.
She summarized it with one word: “Amazing.”
“Like, I’ve been waiting for it for the longest time,” she said.
In her first Finals appearance, Ward pinned her way through the bracket.
“This year made it special because I knew I would be able to make it into the Finals this year, and it’s just exciting to be able to wrestle in the Finals – I’d never done it before,” she said.
190
Champion: Sabrina Nauss, Brighton, Sr. (9-0)
Fall, 1:35, Gabriella Allen, Marcellus, Sr. (25-3)
Nauss became just the third four-time state champ in Michigan high school girls wrestling history.
In another historical note, two years ago she was the first female to win an Individual Finals match at Ford Field.
“Just a lot of emotions right now. Excited. I’m excited about what’s to come next, but I’m also sad for what I’m leaving behind,” she said. “I’m leaving one of my coaches, who has coached me from the start until the very end. … I’m excited. I’m excited for the future. I’m excited for college, and there’s just so much going on right now.”
Nauss collected the 170-pound title in 2022 and 190-pound crown in 2023 at MHSAA Finals. Her freshman year, she won a championship at the Michigan Wrestling Association state tournament.
She was all business in Saturday’s Final, taking charge and trying to put it away early.
“I mean, I just wanted to come in and get the job done,” she said. “Like I’ve said before, this is a business trip for me. This is my job, so when I come in, I want to come in hard. I want to get the first takedown and I’m trying to score the most points, so coming in with a pin was my ideal for finishing the job.”
235
Champion: Madasyn Frisbie, Belding, Jr. (6-1)
Sudden Victory, 4-2, over Braelyn Flemming, Spring Lake, Jr. (18-4)
The now two-time champion Frisbie has been through her share of pain on the wrestling mat.
“I’ve had a really tough season because I missed the majority of my season because I dislocated my (right) shoulder,” Frisbie said. “When I got to come back, it was probably the best day of my life.
“And then I went to Regionals and lost in the Regional Finals, and I never want to have that feeling of losing again. I mean, that’s just what drove me. I decided I wasn’t going to lose, so I didn’t.”
PHOTOS (Top) Romeo’s Belicia Manuel, right, takes on Waterford Kettering’s Emily Medford in Saturday’s championship match at 140 pounds. (Middle) Kaili Manuel, right, works to gain control during her 145-pound championship match against Riverview Gabriel Richard’s Rihanna Venegas. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)
Preview: Wings Awaits Challengers Chasing Champions, Record-Setting Opportunity
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 26, 2026
Detroit Catholic Central. Lowell. Dundee. Hudson.
Together, they have won 20 of the 24 MHSAA Team Finals championships awarded this decade. And all are seeded first in their respective divisions again this weekend at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo.
While their winning streaks remain storylines of note, one more definitely deserves attention. Hudson coach Scott Marry will bring a 980-216 career record into this weekend. One more win will tie him with retired Stevensville Lakeshore coach Bruce Bittenbender for the most in MHSAA wrestling history. A second victory in Saturday’s Semifinal would send Marry to the top of the list.
Competition begins Friday at noon with the first of four sets of Quarterfinals. Semifinals are 9:30 a.m. and noon Saturday, with championship matches on four adjacent mats at 3:45 p.m. Brackets for all four divisions, links to buy tickets and watch online can be found on the Wrestling page. See below for glances at all 32 hopefuls, listed by division and seed.
Division 1
#1 DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 17-5, No. 1
League finish: First in Catholic High School League
Coach: Mitch Hancock, 19th season (422-68)
Championship history: Eighteen MHSAA championships (most recent 2025), four runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Gavin Boller (30-10) fr., 113 Gabriel Ryzyi (35-8) fr., 120 Brent Coak (23-17) fr., 126 Jamison Gregory (27-7) jr., 126 Ryan Totten (35-9) jr., 132 Wyatt Lees (37-3) sr., 132 Meyer Murray (23-14) soph., 138 Mack Moscovic (33-10) jr., 150 Grayson Fuchs (22-1) jr., 157 Alexander Buskirk (30-7) sr., 175 Braxten Roche (21-7) soph., 190 Caden Krueger (36-4) jr., 215 Collin Payne (30-15) sr.
Outlook: Detroit Catholic Central will attempt to win a fourth-straight Division 1 championship for the second time and run its total to eight Finals titles over the last decade. There are still only three seniors among 13 Individual Finals qualifiers, and two reigning individual champions in Lees and Fuchs. Totten finished runner-up to Lees at 120 pounds last year, while Moscovic, Gregory, Murray, Buskirk, Roche and Krueger all are returning Individual Finals placers as well. Lees will be wrestling for a fourth individual title and Fuchs for his third next weekend.
#2 HARTLAND
Record/rank: 24-1, No. 2
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Coach: Kyle Summerfield, fifth season (138-8)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2016, seven runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Brodie Dunbar (37-11) soph., 113 Jase Sensor (40-8) soph., 120 Jonah McPherson (38-11) soph., 138 Bohdan Abbey (43-1) sr., 144 Ashton Jewell (46-9) jr., 144 Braydon Tougas (36-5) jr., 150 James Kozsa (40-11) sr., 157 Dallas Korponic (45-2) sr., 165 Joseph Cappellano (40-10) sr., 175 Jacen Pocock (34-9) jr., 215 Lucas Bates (36-9) sr.
Outlook: Hartland is back at the Finals for the fourth time in five seasons under Summerfield and after winning a league that included two other top-10 teams. Abbey are Korponic are reigning Individual Finals champions and both seeking to finish their high school careers next weekend with third individual titles. Hartland defeated No. 4 Clarkston 52-18 in their Regional Final.
#3 BRIGHTON
Record/rank: 24-2, No. 3
League finish: Second in KLAA West
Coach: Matt Wisniewski, first season (24-2)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2015, runner-up 2018 and 2019.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Bronson Shinkonis (33-7) soph., 126 Drake Pollins (31-8) (sr.), 132 Ethan Smith (33-9) sr., 144 Xander Courneya (33-9) sr. 150 Kaden Tindall (34-7) sr., 175 Mason Gardner (30-13) sr., 190 Dominic Nauss (33-4) soph., 215 Sullivan Haas (31-7) jr., 285 Alexander Salmon (32-9) sr., G-140 Alexis Lazar (23-0) sr.
Outlook: Brighton is seeking to take the next step again after falling by just a point in last year’s Semifinals. Wisniewski took over the program this season after seven as an assistant and has returning Individual Finals placers in Shinkonis, Courneya, Tindall, Nauss, junior Jameson Woods (19-10, 113) and sophomore Beck Yurkunas (35-10, 138). Woods was the runner-up at 106 last season. The Bulldogs defeated No. 6 Grand Ledge, No. 10 Howell and No. 15 Hastings on the way to this weekend.
#4 TEMPERANCE BEDFORD
Record/rank: 29-5, No. 8
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference
Co-coaches: Kevin Vogel, 15th season (375-69) & Logan Rimmer, first season (29-5)
Championship history: Eleven MHSAA championships (most recent 2001), seven runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Cody Duvendack (41-5) jr., 126 Maxim Benore (37-13) sr., 132 Tristan King (43-6) sr., 138 Nolan King (41-8) sr., 157 George Yockey (28-13) jr., 175 Zach Miracle (43-2) sr.
Outlook: Bedford has moved up a seed from last season after just missing making the 2025 Semifinals with a one-point Quarterfinal defeat. Miracle was the individual runner-up last season at 165 pounds and is one of five senior starters. Duvendack also was a Finals placer a year ago. Bedford advanced to this weekend with a 42-21 Regional Final win over No. 7 Westland John Glenn.
#5 ROCKFORD
Record/rank: 26-4, No. 9
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Coach: Brian Richardson, 17th season (392-139)
Championship history: Two MHSAA championships (most recent 2009), three runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Brody Compau (43-0) fr., 120 Layne Martin (43-0) jr., 126 Keagen Elliott (39-6) jr., 132 Logan Welmerink (25-7) soph., 144 Liam Fitzpatrick (44-0) sr., 175 Logan Hammingh (42-1) sr., G-155 Ashton Wright (18-7) soph., G-170 Easton Wright (15-5) sr.
Outlook: The Rams are back at Finals weekend after defeating No. 13 Grandville 44-30 in their Regional Final, and also moved up a seed from a year ago. This team could be on the verge of something more over the next few seasons with only three seniors and six underclassmen in the starting lineup. Martin is the reigning champion at 113, and Elliott, Welmerink, Fitzpatrick and Hammingh all are returning individual placers.
#6 DAVISON
Record/rank: 10-6, No. 11
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League
Coach: Jason Mester, second season (27-10)
Championship history: Ten MHSAA championships (most recent 2022), seven runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Jacob Holley (29-7) fr., 113 Brice Hamlin (22-16) soph., 120 Bryce Holt (26-8) sr., 126 Steve Vaughn (24-11) jr., 144 Calvin Martz (24-12) sr., 150 Wyatt Cross (22-12) soph., 157 Julius Pacheco (30-3) jr., 215 Brandon Glisson (27-11) sr., G-110 Aubrey Bowman (25-3) soph.
Outlook: Just like two years ago, when Davison nearly made the championship match as a No. 6 seed, the Cardinals could be dangerous from this spot also coming off finishing runner-up a year ago. Vaughn was an Individual Finals champion as a freshman and placer last year, along with Martz, Pacheco, Glisson and Tobias Pacheco (4-4, 157).
#7 ROCHESTER ADAMS
Record/rank: 15-4, No. 12
League finish: Third in Oakland Activities Association Red
Coach: Mike Holtz, 19th season (289-129)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 1998, runner-up 1999.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 126 John David Quinlan (38-5) jr., 132 Will Eastin (28-17) soph., 144 Deacon Morgan (24-1) jr., 150 Demetrious Thomas (31-12) jr., 165 Dominic Beccari (35-6) sr., 190 Jackson Harris (19-6) jr., 215 Maxim Vostryakov (39-9) sr.
Outlook: Adams has won four straight District titles and taken the next steps this time with its first Regional championship since 1999, thanks in part to a 37-35 win over No. 14 Romeo in their Regional Semifinal. Holtz was an all-stater for the Highlanders and part of the teams that finished champion and runner-up during the late 1990s. Morgan was the individual runner-up last season at 126, and Beccari and Quinlan were placers.
#8 MACOMB DAKOTA
Record/rank: 23-4, unranked
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Coach: Ed Skowneski III, 14th season (358-76)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Kevin Shamblin (35-17) soph., 113 Kayson Spens (37-16) fr., 138 Carl Nihranz (49-2) sr., 144 Lucas Harper (38-7) sr.
Outlook: Dakota has made it 12 Regional titles under Skowneski, and a third straight with a lineup featuring only four seniors but a large group of juniors through the mid to heavier weights. Nihranz has placed at the Individual Finals his first three seasons and should be a championship contender next weekend.
Division 2
#1 LOWELL
Record/rank: 32-3, No. 1
League finish: First in River Cities Alliance
Coach: Kyle Slocum, first season (32-3)
Championship history: Fifteen MHSAA championships (most recent 2025), six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 John Carter McKay (40-9) soph., 120 Jarrett Smith (42-2) sr., 126 Carson Blum (40-8) soph., 138 Cole Cichocki (36-10) jr., 144 Logan Dawson (42-7) sr., 150 Cody Foss (36-12) sr., 157 Trevor Boone (33-8) sr., 175 Seth Harvey (32-7) sr., 215 Weston McFarland (21-8) jr., 285 Braylen Meeuwsen (35-16) soph., G-100 Veronica Tapia (26-3) sr., G-110 Tatianna Castillo (30-1) soph.
Outlook: Lowell will be seeking a 13th-straight Division 2 title and first under Slocum, who was promoted after 18 years as an assistant for the Red Arrows and was an individual champion at Belding in 2004. Smith will be wrestling for his third individual championship next weekend and defeated Blum to win last year’s, and Cichocki and Dawson also were Division 2 placers. Castillo is the reigning champion in the girls 105 class and Tapia was the runner-up at 100 last season.
#2 THREE RIVERS
Record/rank: 35-4, No. 2
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference
Coach: Jeff Smith, 10th season (182-86)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Owen Moreland (41-13) fr., 120 Kyler Snellenbarger (36-15) soph., 126 Brody Morrill (42-10) jr., 138 Jak Monroe (42-11) sr., 144 Ethan Moreland (45-11) jr., 150 Carter Hensley (42-6) sr., 165 Braylon Faile (49-5) jr., 175 Louis Smith (53-0) sr., 190 Jaxon Smith (46-8) sr., G-140 Stella Eachen (37-7) fr., G-145 MacKenna Webster (38-1) sr.
Outlook: Three Rivers reached the Semifinals last season and will look to continue climbing led by four seniors who all have topped 40 wins this season. The Wildcats are making a third-straight trip to Finals weekend and have a combined record of 91-6 during that time. Both Louis and Jaxon Smith were Finals placers last season, and Moreland was as a freshman.
#3 ALGONAC
Record/rank: 29-3, No. 3
League finish: Second in Bluewater Area Conference
Coach: Brian Ranger, 14th season (354-109)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Jack Reyes (38-12) sr., 126 Christian Brown (37-11) soph., 132 Vincent Finn (43-6) jr. 150 Nate Clemons (33-18) jr., 165 Julian Walker (48-2) sr., 175 Andrew Brown (42-6) sr., 215 Trevor Jarvi (45-7) soph.
Outlook: Algonac – which moved into Division 2 this season – earned its first Regional title since making a run to the Division 3 Semifinals in 2023 and after emerging from what remains one of the strongest wrestling leagues in the state. Walker was the runner-up at 165 in Division 3 a year ago, and Reyes and sophomore TJ Landrum (27-10, 126) also are returning Finals placers.
#4 LINDEN
Record/rank: 25-4, No. 4
League finish: First in Flint Metro League
Coach: Aaron Lawrence, third season (102-15)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Ethan Hunt (34-9) soph., 113 Tyler Sage (46-2) soph., 120 Luciano Luna (41-12) soph., 144 Wyatt Devasher (39-14) sr., 150 Parker Makela (38-14) jr., 157 Adoniah Delgado (46-5) sr., 190 Lucas Lewandowski (15-3) soph.
Outlook: Linden jumped up two seeds for its second-straight trip to Finals weekend, and after defeating No. 8 Fenton along the way. The future continues to look bright; although five seniors start, so too do eight sophomores. Among them, Sage was an individual placer last season and is a combined 102-5 over his first two seasons.
#5 NEW BOSTON HURON
Record/rank: 25-3, No. 5
League finish: First in Huron League
Coach: Logan Ritchie, fifth season (95-32)
Championship history: Class B champion 1978 and 1981.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Caleb Frazier (31-4) sr., 113 Max Banas (33-15) soph., 126 Daniel Gemmel (47-3) jr., 150 Nathan Matsos (42-9) sr., 165 Joshua Hubbard (40-9) sr., G-130 Hailey Wisler (22-4) sr., G-190 Madelyn Grube (26-5) fr.
Outlook: Huron advanced to the Semifinals last season with only one senior individual qualifier, and has just four senior starters this time. Gemmel is a returning Finals placer and one of 10 starters who have topped 30 wins this winter – with three sophomores included in that group.
#6 EATON RAPIDS
Record/rank: 37-5, No. 7
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference White
Coach: Devin Milheim, fourth season (102-33)
Championship history: Eight MHSAA championships (most recent 1999), seven runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Jameson Onstott (53-5) fr., 120 Nicholas Wade (38-6) soph., 144 Logan Adleman (50-9) soph., 175 Gavin Sebastian (43-11) fr., 190 Donny Hoyt (43-8) jr., 285 Jamison Brown (53-7) jr.
Outlook: The Greyhounds are making their first trip to Finals weekend under Milheim, who formerly coached at Jackson Northwest and was an individual placer for Eaton Rapids during his time on the mat. The Greyhounds defeated No. 14 Fowlerville and No. 6 Portland to win their Regional.
#7 FREELAND
Record/rank: 25-7, No. 11
League finish: First in the Tri-Valley Conference
Coach: Jon Rosebush, second season (47-10)
Championship history: Division 2 runner-up 2024.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Easton Rosebush (44-9) sr., 126 Maddox Wilson (39-10) jr., 132 Michael Wilson (43-8) jr., 144 Nolan Cunningham (41-10) jr., 190 Colton Winchell (37-10) fr., 285 Brigham Smith (46-5) sr.
Outlook: The Falcons made the Semifinals two seasons ago and enter this weekend with twice as many individual qualifiers as last year even with only four senior starters. Smith also was an Individual Finals qualifier last season. Freeland defeated No. 12 Bay City John Glenn in the Regional Final to advance.
#8 FRUITPORT
Record/rank: 24-6, No. 13
League finish: First in O-K Silver
Coach: Chad Johnson, fourth season (record N/A)
Championship history: Class B runner-up 1975.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 126 Zachary Aardema (42-5) jr., 132 Murphy Lengkeek (46-7) fr., 138 Alex Aardema (39-17) soph., 215 Chase Rosema (36-11) sr.
Outlook: Fruitport has won four District and two league titles under Johnson, and now will make its first trip to the Quarterfinals in program history. The Trojans defeated No. 10 Greenville and annual contender Gaylord in the Regional. Rosema is one of six senior starters.
Division 3
#1 DUNDEE
Record/rank: 23-3, No. 1
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Coach: Garrett Stevens, fourth season (77-10)
Championship history: Seventeen MHSAA championships (most recent 2025), eight runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Dom Sindone (29-8) fr., 113 Ryan Williams (32-10) soph., 120 Mason Haines (33-7) sr., 126 Bryan Sterling (33-6) sr., 132 Mason Katschor (35-7) jr., 144 Braden Broderick (38-7) sr., 150 Stone Redmon (16-4) soph., 157 Blake Cosby (37-2) sr., 165 Donny Beaufait (33-1) sr., 175 Avery Lane (32-10) jr., 190 Owen Motylinski (25-12) sr., 215 Rocco Redmon (28-11) sr., 285 Austin Miller (32-10) soph.
Outlook: Dundee’s pursuit of an eighth-straight team title rides on the shoulders of eight senior starters including four who are among the team’s five returning Individual Finals champs from a year ago – Haines, Broderick, Cosby and Beaufait. Katschor also won his individual bracket last season, both Redmons were runners-up, and Sterling and Lane were placers. The Vikings also have a dual win this season over Detroit Catholic Central, giving them again a claim as the state’s overall top team.
#2 WHITEHALL
Record/rank: 30-0, No. 2
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference Lakes
Coach: Justin Zeerip, eighth season (218-21)
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2021, 2023 and 2024, Class C runner-up 1984.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Robert Belinger (41-8) soph., 113 Blake Wallace (40-11) soph., 120 Dominic Zygmuntowski (47-5) fr., 126 Cody Manzo (42-7) sr., 126 Issac O’Boyle (31-16) soph., 132 Max Krukowski (41-8) sr., 150 Kolten Weiler (35-15) sr., 157 Liam Leeke (47-2) jr., 190 Tanner Woodworth (34-8) soph., 215 Billy Darke Jr. (39-13) soph., G-115 Miley Manzo (32-10) soph., G-130 Kassie Sapp (35-1) soph.
Outlook: Whitehall has reached Finals weekend the last six seasons and finished runner-up three of those six, most recently in 2024. The Vikings defeated No. 5 Kent City 38-30 in the Regional Final to advance this time and will make this run with six senior starters including three who advanced to the Individual Finals as well. Whitehall graduated two individual champions from a year ago, but Leeke was a Finals placer and Sapp was the runner-up in the girls 115-pound division last winter.
#3 YALE
Record/rank: 26-6, No. 3
League finish: First in BWAC
Co-coaches: Rob Majcher, 13th season (216-173) & Adam Sopha, second season (58-9)
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2025.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Pierce Moran (40-11) soph., 113 William Lawson (41-12) jr., 120 Kason Soucy (34-13) fr., 126 Mackey McClelland (50-5) soph., 132 Logan Rhodes (46-6) jr., 138 Chase Sopha (45-12) jr., 144 Kersten McClelland (8-3) sr., 144 Austin Rhodes (51-3) fr., 150 Levi Frazer (34-20) jr., G-110 Gianna Hoskins (27-8) jr., G-125 Adriana Murray (35-3) soph., G-130 Lydia Stevens (41-1) fr.
Outlook: The Bulldogs reached the championship match last season for the first time and should challenge again. As noted with Algonac above, the BWAC is one of the state’s best leagues, and Yale finished ahead of Algonac and had to get through Imlay City, No. 12 Armada and Richmond again during the postseason. Mackey McClelland was an individual runner-up last season, and Rhodes, Kersten McClelland and Hoskins were Finals placers.
#4 LAKE ODESSA LAKEWOOD
Record/rank: 22-7, No. 4
League finish: Third in CAAC White
Coach: Anthony Harmer, eighth season (149-44)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Dakota Harmer (37-4) soph., 113 Austin Rohrbacher (27-14) soph., 132 Vincent Stamm (28-11) jr., 157 Bryson Boucher (39-2) jr.
Outlook: Lakewood has moved up two seeds for the second-straight Finals weekend with close wins over Delton Kellogg and Bronson among the most notable of this postseason run. Boucher was an individual runner-up last season, and Stamm also was a Finals placer.
#5 MONTROSE
Record/rank: 28-3, No. 9
League finish: Second in Mid-Michigan Activities Conference
Coach: Jason Perrin, ninth season (195-67)
Championship history: Nine MHSAA titles (most recent 2005), five runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Brysen Briggs (41-11) soph., 113 Jonathan Kreider (29-16) soph., 113 Colt Robbins (33-10) fr., 132 Ivin Perior (40-18) soph., 150 Noah Szwed (38-3) sr., 157 Gauge Vincke (49-4) sr., 165 Richard Cummings (37-12) sr., 215 Lucas Viar (45-11) jr., 285 Owen Perior (23-5) sr.
Outlook: The Rams are back after claiming their first Regional title since 2022 thanks in part to postseason wins over No. 10 Birch Run and No. 13 Saginaw Swan Valley. A strong group of six seniors and one junior – including five Finals qualifiers – anchors the heavier side of the lineup, with Szwed a returning individual placer.
#6 OGEMAW HEIGHTS
Record/rank: 38-6, No. 6
League finish: First in Jack Pine Conference large-school division
Coach: Dominic Goulette, 13th season (267-121)
Championship history: Division 2 champion 1998.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Roman Goulette (43-9) jr., 132 Apollo Goulette (36-11) fr., 138 Gage David (48-7) fr., 144 Landon Lauria (35-10) soph., 150 Jackson Ziegler (45-8) jr., 190 Conner Lambert (46-9) sr., 215 Calvin Marshall (52-1) sr., G-105 Addison Wenkel (13 1) fr.
Outlook: Ogemaw Heights returned to the Quarterfinals last season for the first time since 1998, and this year has moved up two seeds for its repeat trip. The Falcons also remain young with three senior starters and also five freshmen and four sophomores in the probable Friday lineup. Roman Goulette and Lambert were Individual Finals placers last season.
#7 HART
Record/rank: 26-6, No. 7
League finish: First in WMC Rivers
Coach: Rocky Smith, third season (81-16)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Jude Salazar (28-7) soph., 126 Kole Thomas (39-3) jr., 138 Logan Jorissen (39-10) sr., 138 Caden VanGelderen (31-18) jr., 144 Halen Boos (41-10) sr., 175 Haegan Hansen (42-7) jr., 285 Adrian Lara (33-5) sr.
Outlook: Hart has won seven straight Regional titles, this time doubling up or more all four postseason opponents to return to Wings. Thomas and Lara both were individual placers a year ago.
#8 ALLEGAN
Record/rank: 31-4, No. 11
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Coach: Chase Beard, fifth season (89-47)
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2007), two runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 150 Treydan Vanderkooi (53-0) sr., 157 Ryan Sparks (47-6) sr., 175 Rysten Williams (50-3) sr., G-130 Annabell Roden (19-14) soph.
Outlook: Allegan is coming off a second-straight Regional title and up to a combined 62-7 over the last two seasons. Sparks and Williams were Finals placers a year ago.
Division 4
#1 HUDSON
Record/rank: 34-3, No. 1
League finish: Second in LCAA
Coach: Scott Marry, 38th season (980-216)
Championship history: Twelve MHSAA championships (most recent 2025), four runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Jaxton Kimling (35-10) jr., 113 Royce Beal (43-5) fr., 120 Liam McClain (38-7) fr., 132 Ethan Rising (23-7) jr., 132 Nicholas Sorrow (47-2) sr., 138 Colt Perry (40-7) sr., 144 Chase Clark (22-10) jr., 150 Beckett Campbell (49-0) soph., 157 Wyatt Kimble (45-4) fr., 165 Owen Loop (29-14) jr., 190 Devon Brigman (37-10) sr., 285 Malachi Marshall (34-14) sr., G-105 Grace Miller (13-6) jr.
Outlook: It’s easy to understand why the LCAA is another of the strongest leagues in the state when Hudson has won four straight Division 4 titles but finished runner-up to Dundee and just ahead of Clinton, another contender. The Tigers defeated No. 7 Springport to advance to this weekend and continue to have a star-studded lineup led by two-time reigning individual champion Sorrow and Campbell coming off his first title. Kimling and Perry were runners-up last season and Brigman also was a placer.
#2 ST. LOUIS
Record/rank: 23-3, No. 2
League finish: First in Jack Pine Conference small-school division
Coach: Kevin Kuhn, 19th season (399-111)
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2024, Class C-D runner-up 1995.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Rudy Clapp (36-10) soph., 120 Alex Rodriguez (39-0) sr., 126 Owen Fogel (48-3) sr., 126 Cole Grollimund (38-16) soph., 138 Laythan Haworth (41-8) sr., 165 Karson Tweh (37-17) jr., 190 Drew Challender (44-6) sr., 190 Carson Zacharko (34-20) soph., 285 Tiger Russell (30-24) sr.
Outlook: St. Louis finished runner-up in 2024 and just missed making the championship match again as the second seed last season. The Sharks will make another run at reaching Saturday afternoon with four returning Individual Finals placers, led by Fogel who won 113 a year ago. Rodriguez was the runner-up at 120 after winning 113 in 2024, Challender was runner-up at 165, and Haworth also was an individual placer last winter.
#3 CLINTON
Record/rank: 28-8, No. 3
League finish: Third in LCAA
Coach: Casey Randolph, 12th season (346-79)
Championship history: Two MHSAA championships (most recent 2021), one runner-up finish.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Hudson Miller (37-13) jr., 113 Zach Taylor (42-8) jr., 150 Tanner Bolton (36-16) sr., 157 Braxton Randolph (32-9) soph., 165 Cliff Jones (36-8) sr., 175 Landon Lakatos (25-13) sr., 190 Bryce Randolph (46-2) sr., 190 Owen Wright (19-17) jr., 215 Gradyn Whelan (39-3) soph.
Outlook: After reaching the Semifinals as a fifth seed a year ago, Clinton is up to a third seed this weekend coming off its 10th-straight Regional title. The Redwolves have defeated No. 12 Riverview Gabriel Richard and No. 10 Manchester on the way to Kalamazoo. Bryce Randolph is the reigning champion at 190, and Jones also was an individual placer last season.
#4 DECATUR
Record/rank: 37-6, No. 5
League finish: First in Southwest 10 Conference
Coach: Mitchell Kennedy, ninth season (167-81)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Colton Cady (37-13) fr., 120 Kolton Burns (46-2) jr., 157 Tyler Morales (51-2) soph., 165 Brody Mead (22-4) sr., 165 Aidan Wiggins (43-11) jr., 175 Parker Wiggins (39-14) jr., 190 Rowan Bradford (36-1) sr., G-130 Elyse Morales (24-0) sr.
Outlook: Decatur is returning to Finals weekend for the first time since 2022 and with its winningest season during Kennedy’s successful run that’s also included three straight league and seven consecutive District titles. Decatur defeated No. 4 Martin to advance to this weekend. Burns was the runner-up at 113 last season, Bradford was the runner-up at 190, and Wiggins and Mead also were individual placers.
#5 UNION CITY
Record/rank: 27-8, No. 9
League finish: Third in Big 8 Conference
Coach: Jason Counterman, eighth season (168-46)
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 1997, Class C-D runner-up 1972.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 126 Kaden Russell (42-8) soph., 132 Blayne Crance (36-8) jr., 138 Mitchell Graham (33-6) jr., 157 Isaiah Waidelich (41-15) soph., G-105 Onalee Taylor (16-5) fr.
Outlook: Union City has moved up one seed for this return trip to Kalamazoo and could make a run at reaching Saturday with five seniors and four juniors anchoring the lineup. The Chargers graduated three Individual Finals placers and five qualifiers total after last season, but Crance, Russell and Graham all will be making repeat trips to Ford Field.
#6 ROSCOMMON
Record/rank: 32-7, No. 8
League finish: Second in Highland Conference
Coach: Drake Lewandowski, second season (49-16)
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2006.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Kasen Spencer (43-4) soph., 132 Kayden Miller (40-11) soph., 138 Heath Varner (36-10) soph., 165 Cael Tyler (52-0) fr., 190 Toby Bigford (49-4) sr., 285 Walker Borchers (40-16) sr.
Outlook: Roscommon has moved up two seeds from last season, and with a lineup featuring just four seniors after graduating just one starter a year ago. Cael Tyler has been an immediate standout, and senior Crew Tyler (8-0, 175) was a Finals placer last season.
#7 NEW LOTHROP
Record/rank: 19-9, No. 11
League finish: Fourth in MMAC
Coach: Jeff Campbell, 25th season (590-135)
Championship history: Sixteen MHSAA championships (most recent 2016), eight runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Christian Hansen (31-12) fr., 113 Cameron Naessens (27-11) soph., 138 Conner Eickholt (33-19) jr., 157 Kyler Campbell (41-1) jr., 165 Evan Ostrander (33-14) soph., 215 Tony Ingersoll (27-12) sr.
Outlook: After two years away, New Lothrop is headed back to the Quarterfinals and with a lineup with only three seniors that could continue to make noise in 2027. Kyler Campbell leads a group of five starters who have won at least 30 matches.
#8 POWERS NORTH CENTRAL
Record/rank: 17-5, unranked
League finish: Does not compete in a league.
Coach: John Raab, third season (27-20)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Praxton Labonte (43-6) fr., 138 Cooper Raab (39-7) jr., 215 Myles Nehring (29-18) soph., G-105 Maizy Olson (26-7) soph.
Outlook: North Central will wrestle in a Quarterfinal for the first time and with plenty to look forward to while bringing a lineup with no seniors but four freshmen and four sophomores. Cooper Raab and Olson were both Individual Finals placers last season.
(Photo of Roscommon/LeRoy Pine River match by Tonya Holmes.)