Midland's Spears Catches Up Quickly to Become Nationally-Recognized Finals Contender
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
January 22, 2026
Halle Spears may have had a later start when it comes to wrestling, but she’s starting to lap the field.
The Midland senior is a three-time placer at the MHSAA Individual Finals and ranked No. 3 in the country at her weight class, all despite not starting until her freshman year.
“It was good to start off with a good, athletic, foundational base,” said Midland wrestling coach Mike Donovan, who oversees the school’s program as a whole and coaches the boys in competition. “She had done other sports before, and that helped her a great deal. When she really kind of committed to finding high results in wrestling, it really took off. She kind of made eight seasons of work into her four here with all of her offseason work, lifting and practices. She caught up on the experience very fast.”
Spears was the Finals Girls Division runner-up at 190 pounds in 2025, and has packed in multiple seasons’ worth of experience at major tournaments since then.
During the offseason, she placed fourth at Fargo Nationals, won the Super 32 Challenge in Greensboro, N.C., and placed fifth at the Midlands Championships, an open tournament in Evanston, Ill., that features some of the best collegiate competition in the country.
“I was just kind of looking for college tournaments and to go where I thought I could get good competition,” Spears said. “I could still get better wrestling here, but it would be so much more fun to wrestle somewhere with really, really good competition.”
It’s an incredibly quick rise from the volleyball player and former gymnast who took up wrestling after some convincing from her older brother Hunter, who also happens to be the Midland girls wrestling coach.
“At first, I did not want to do wrestling at all,” she said. “My main sport was volleyball, but my parents have this rule that you have to have two sports every year, so I was like, ‘I guess I’ll do wrestling since my brother is the coach.’ Then I ended up loving it so much.”
A big part of that love is getting to work with her brother. Hunter wrestled at Midland and graduated in 2019, and said his style was a very different one from how his sister wrestles. But as she’s grown in the sport, he’s adapted his own style to better prepare Halle.
“I think that the first year it was kind of frustrating because we were always siblings, and now he had a little more authority over me and he had to figure out how to coach me,” Halle said. “After that first year, it was so fun because we just got to hang out every day. It means so much to me, I love him so much and I’m grateful he has spent this time to figure out how I want to wrestle, and put in the time to learn it and adapt to it with me. I’m so grateful.”
Now, Spears is ranked No. 3 nationally at 190 pounds by FloWrestling. She’s 12-0 this high school season with nine pins, one technical fall and two major decisions. She’s ranked No. 2 at 235 pounds by Michigan Grappler, a ranking that should flip in the next update, as she recently defeated the No. 1 wrestler, AnnMarie Green of Clare, 12-3 at the Girls Wolfpack Challenge in Bay City.
“She’s constantly comparing herself to the people that are above her,” Hunter Spears said. “She’s chasing an image of Sabrina Nauss (three-time MHSAA champion from Brighton) that led Team Michigan to such great things. She’s super confident when she’s wrestling her peers right now, but she hasn’t let (the national success) get to her head in a way. She’s still fighting for something.”
That something, partially, is a title at the MHSAA Finals.
Spears placed fourth at 190 pounds as a freshman and sixth as a sophomore.
Her junior year ended in the Finals with a 4-2 loss against Kanata Richardson of Bloomfield Hills, who is currently ranked fifth nationally at 190.
“I don’t really think about it that much anymore,” Spears said. “At first, it didn’t really motivate me, it just made me really sad. After, I sort of just started to let it go. I don’t really think about it anymore. I just want to get better for myself.”
Winning it all at Ford Field on March 7 to become Midland’s first female Finals champion, and first in general since 1994, would mean a lot to Spears. But she also now sees it as another step on her bigger journey, which includes wrestling collegiately at Grand Valley State University.
“It would be really nice to have my name on the banner and have my name in the trivia that Donovan does every year,” she said. “But I think somewhere last year after I lost my state finals match, it started to matter a little less to me. Not because I didn’t want it, but because I realized there are so much bigger things to strive for. It would be great, and I would be so thankful to get a state title. But sometimes, I think there are bigger things, and I’d rather strive for a national championship.”
As she continues working toward that, she continues to set an example for those who come behind her, no matter when they start.
“Just to kind of show that opportunity does exist here to do the biggest things in the sport and be on top of that,” Donovan said. “It’s not a sport where, if you didn’t do it as a youth you’re completely lost in terms of any kind of top goals. If you put the time in and the dedication in, while it can be a bit delayed and growth isn’t always linear in our sport, but given that example, that roadmap, if you invest in yourself, that will do a lot for future Chemics wrestlers.”
Paul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Midland’s Halle Spears, in blue, wrestles during the Girls Wolfpack Challenge. (Middle) Halle takes a quick photo with her older brother and coach Hunter Spears. (Photos courtesy of the Spears family.)
Lowell's Blum Joins Pair of Elite Clubs with 4th Individual Finals Title
By
Drew Ellis
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2025
DETROIT – Lowell senior Jackson Blum entered rarefied air Saturday at the 2025 MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals.
Not only did Blum become one of 40 wrestlers to win a fourth individual championship, but he also became one of just seven in MHSAA history to win four individual titles and four team titles when he claimed the 132-pound championship in Division 2.
“It’s an amazing feeling. God has blessed me so much,” Blum said of the accomplishment. “The road has had a lot of ups and downs, but in the end, I was able to come out on top because of Him.”
Blum was one of three wrestlers to become a four-time individual champion Saturday, and he admitted the pressure of fulfilling that goal got to be challenging this season.
“At the beginning of this year, I felt pressure on myself. I felt like I had to win my fourth and be the next one,” Blum said. “But, that’s when I really just tried to let God guide me and take off that pressure.”
Blum (47-0) was in control of his opponent, Gull Lake junior Rasler Warner (33-4), throughout the bout.
Blum scored four takedowns in the first round and added two more in the second to secure the 19-4 technical fall 2:53 into the contest. He was one of four Lowell wrestlers to claim an individual title Saturday.
106
Champion: Pilot Swab, Stevensville Lakeshore, Soph. (45-7)
Decision, 8-1, over Tyler Cooper, Plainwell, Fr. (39-10)
Behind a late takedown in the third period that led to near-fall points, Swab claimed his first championship with a decision win over Cooper.
Swab avenged a pair of losses to Cooper during the season to claim the title.
“I just decided to pick up the pace during the last 30 seconds of the match,” Swab said. “I knew I had to pick it up. It means a lot to be a state champion.”
113
Champion: Jarrett Smith, Lowell, Jr. (42-3)
Major Decision, 8-0, over Carson Blum, Lowell, Fr. (37-7)
Facing off with a teammate at the Finals for the second consecutive season, Smith came away with a second championship.
“It’s tough, but it’s also really cool because you know you are training with the best guy in the state at your weight, every day in practice,” Smith said. “I have some years on (Blum), but he’s going to be great. He’s a great wrestler.”
Smith managed a takedown in each of the first two rounds and then scored a reverse to control the match and keep Blum off the scoreboard.
120
Champion: Cristian Haslem, St. Clair, Jr. (41-0)
Decision, 17-12, over Devan Garcia, Battle Creek Harper Creek, Soph. (37-2)
Haslem avenged a loss to Garcia at the 2024 Finals at 113 pounds, coming away with a win in a high-scoring championship match.
“I had been working all season toward getting my revenge and getting that title,” Haslem said. “It motivated me every step of the way this season. I made sure to wrestle my match at my pace this time around, and it feels amazing to be a state champion.
The key moment came in the second period when Haslem got a takedown on an ankle pick that put him ahead for good at 9-6. He followed that up with a takedown to open the third and controlled things from there.
126
Champion: Jeremiah Brown, Flint Kearsley, Sr. (25-0)
Decision, 6-5, over Quinten Cassiday, Cedar Springs, Soph. (47-2)
Trailing 5-3 late in the third period, Brown scored a takedown to go up 6-5 and held on from there to complete an unbeaten senior season.
“I knew I had nothing to lose at that point,” Brown said of the late takedown. “I was already down, it was my senior year, I had to just go. It feels great. I am living on a high right now.”
They had met in the Regional Final last weekend with Brown winning 13-7, but he knew Saturday’s rematch wouldn’t be so easy.
“I wasn’t sure if I could beat (Cassiday) again. He improved a lot,” Brown said. “He’s just a sophomore, and he’s a phenomenal wrestler. I’m really happy to have been able to win.”
138
Champion: Trenden Bashore, DeWitt, Sr. (59-1)
Decision, 8-4, over Luke Egan, Cedar Springs, Jr. (50-3)
Takedowns in the second and third rounds allowed DeWitt’s Bashore to close out his high school career with his first championship.
“All I ever wanted to be was a state champion, and I always came up short. But, not this time,” Bashore said after the win.
Bashore finished runner-up at 132 pounds at the 2024 Finals, but took the loss to heart and let it motivate him to Saturday’s victory.
“Last year, I got my butt kicked by one of the best, and I took what happened and let it drive me,” he said. “This year, I put focus on the small part of my technique and being on the attack.”
144
Champion: Jaron Bensinger, Gaylord, Jr. (47-0)
Ultimate Tie-Breaker, 2-2, over Buddy Leonard, Freeland, Sr. (46-3)
Bensinger let the pain of finishing runner-up last season drive him to winning his first title.
A 1-1 match in regulation was ultimately decided on an ultimate tiebreaker, with Bensinger riding out Leonard to claim the championship in the final stage.
“I knew it was going to be a battle, but I never stopped wrestling and never stopped pushing the pace,” Bensinger said. “I was confident I could ride (Leonard) for those 30 seconds. I worked my whole life to be a state champ.”
Leonard and Bensinger each scored escape points in regulation and in the overtime periods to force the ultimate tie-breaker.
150
Champion: Lane Button, Wayland, Sr. (52-0)
Decision, 11-4, over Dylan Granger, Mason, Jr. (44-2)
Button closed out a two-year undefeated run with a decision win over Granger to win his second consecutive championship and finish 100-0 over his final two prep seasons.
The senior celebrated by honoring the Detroit Lions in their home, doing an Amon-Ra St. Brown headstand, following by the Kerby Joseph cartwheel and back flip.
“That was the plan all along,” Button said of the celebration. “(Granger) was my last high school loss, so it was good motivation for me all year. I felt like I had the pace and the speed and knew what I needed to do to finish with a win.”
Button’s early takedown in the first period set the tone, and he followed up with two more in the match, as well as a reversal, to keep Granger from getting within striking distance.
157
Champion: Johnathan Ford, Bay City John Glenn, Soph. (42-6)
Decision, 7-3, over Drew Ladach, New Boston Huron, Sr. (55-4)
After an injury during the District tournament kept him from competing for a Finals title in 2024, Ford made the most of this opportunity, winning a hard-fought contest with Ladach.
“It was a stressful match, but I knew I had to just keep attacking,” Ford said. “I’ve been envisioning this moment for a long time. Getting injured last year really motivated me and pushed me this weekend.”
Ford held a 4-1 lead in the second period before Ladach was able to cut the margin to one thanks to an escape and a stalling point. As the match closed, Ford secured another takedown to seal the deal.
165
Champion: Owen Segorski, Lowell, Sr. (45-4)
Decision, 9-7, over Zane Willobee, Gaylord, Jr. (32-2)
In a matchup of two 2024 champions, Segorski, the 144-pound title winner last year, overcame a deficit to grind out a 9-7 win over Willobee, the 157-pound champion from a year ago.
“I just had to trust in my training. I know the match is only six minutes, so I know I can go hard for six minutes, no matter how tired I get,” Segorski said.
Segorski trailed 6-5 early in the third period, but tied the match up with an escape and then scored a takedown on Willobee with 35 seconds remaining to get the win.
It was the third Finals championship for Segorski, who also won the 125-pound title as a freshman.
“It feels a lot better to win here, for sure,” Segorski said. “It was really important (to win). I didn’t want to go out with any regrets.”
175
Champion: Fabian Facundo, Freeland, Sr. (43-1)
Decision, 8-1, over Zachary Taylor, Gibraltar Carlson, Sr. (53-2)
Coming up one match shy of a championship in 2024, Facundo pushed himself late to break a 1-1 tie with Taylor and earn his first title.
The two were tied 1-1 in the closing moments of the match before Facundo blitzed for a takedown and got near-fall points to secure the victory.
“I could see (Taylor) was backing up and that’s what I wanted,” Facundo said of the late takedown. “It feels good, really good.”
190
Champion: Casey Engle, Lowell, Sr. (42-8)
Decision, 9-3, over Martin Knight, North Branch, Jr. (53-3)
The Lowell senior came out fast, scoring nine points in the opening period and then fending off Knight from there to secure the 190-pound title.
“I was just trying to score the first points of the match and set the tone. It always puts you in a good place,” Engle said. “I knew (Knight) was going to throw everything at me in a state final. I just had to stay composed and not get too excited.”
Engle would be the fourth and final Red Arrow to win a championship on the night.
“It’s just being part of the legacy,” Engle said. “It means a lot to be a part of it and to be able to be a champion for the program.”
215
Champion: James Mahon, Goodrich, Sr. (38-3)
Fall (1:35), over Holden Otter, Carleton Airport, Soph. (49-5)
After winning the 285-pound championship in 2023 and 2024, Mahon made the move down to 215 pounds this season.
The change didn’t keep him from adding a third title, as he scored a takedown early in the match and eventually worked it into a pinfall.
“It was tougher (this season at 215). I wasn’t used to people shooting on me. I had to make my stance a lot lower. I couldn’t just run through people,” Mahon said. “At points, (I doubted if I could win), but it didn’t last long. If I had that thought, I just told myself, ‘I am the best. I am going to win a third (title).’”
285
Champion: Dustin Warner, Sparta, Sr. (56-3)
Decision, 4-0, over Caden Sides, Gaylord, Sr. (42-4)
In a rematch of a Regional championship from last weekend, Warner avenged a loss to Sides with a 4-0 victory.
“I wrestled smarter this time around,” Warner said. “I took advantage of my strengths. I felt really good coming into the match, and it feels awesome to be a state champ.”
The two were scoreless through two periods, but Warner opened the third with an escape and then added a takedown with 34 seconds left in the match.
“I had to use my conditioning. I know I am in better shape than everyone,” he said. “So, if the match lasts, they’re going to gas. I had to keep pushing the pace.”
PHOTOS (Top) Jackson Blum’s arm is raised in victory Saturday after he claimed his fourth MHSAA Individual Finals championship. (Middle) Wayland’s Lane Button, right, prepares to lock up with Mason’s Dylan Granger at 150 pounds. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)