Mumford's Smith Caps Career as Detroit PSL's 1st Finals Champ
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
March 5, 2022
DETROIT – Ja'Marcus Smith felt an immense sense of pride Saturday after becoming the first wrestler from a Detroit Public School to win an Individual Wrestling Finals title.
But he doesn’t plan to be the last to do it.
“It means so much to me,” the Detroit Mumford senior said. “Everything I worked for my freshman year, my 10th-grade year, my 11th-grade year, it’s finally paying off. There’s going to be more than me. There’s going to be a whole ’nother generation.”
Smith defeated Lowell freshman Carter Cichocki (32-5) by pinfall in the 103-pound Division 2 final at Ford Field. Smith was leading 10-1 before getting the pin with two seconds remaining in the third period.
As the referee's hand slapped the mat, the crowd roared. Suddenly, a collection of wrestling fans from all parts of the state joined together in cheering the achievement.
Smith placed fifth at 112 pounds a year ago, and admitted that he felt some pressure to accomplish the feat for his school and city.
“Everybody was on my back about it,” Smith said with a laugh.
112
Champion: Jackson Blum, Lowell, Fr. (37-3)
Fall, 3:02 over Connor Greer, Bay City John Glenn, Fr. (40-1)
Blum was dominant before finishing off his freshman year with a pinfall victory.
“I don’t think I surprised myself,” Blum said. “Obviously, he’s a really good wrestler, undefeated this year and only a freshman. But, just the way that we’ve trained all year and our schedule, I’ve been the most prepared I’ve ever been for this match.”
Blum attacked early and often in the match, and had amassed enough points for the technical fall prior to getting the pin.
119
Champion: Nolan Wertanen, St. Joseph, Sr. (53-0)
Decision, 7-3, over Tee Ward, Fremont, Soph. (49-3)
It took a couple shots to the nose, and a wrap that covered most of his face to get it done, but Wertanen left Ford Field as a three-time champion.
“Going into this match, I knew I was going to have a tough match, as always. It’s the state finals,” Wertanen said. “I wanted to make a point that I’m dominant. Unfortunately, I’ve never wrestled not being able to breathe entirely, so that was tough. But I got the job done.”
Wertanen won at 112 pounds in 2021 and 103 in 2020.
“If you would have told me a long time ago when I would get in every MYWA tournament, when I would get pinned and I was hiding under the bleachers, that I would be a three-time state champion, I would have been stoked,” he said.
125
Champion: Owen Segorski, Lowell, Fr. (28-11)
Decision, 6-1, over Bryce Shingleton, Linden, Jr. (45-3)
Despite wrestling in his first Individual Finals and falling behind, Segorski was unfazed.
“I felt good the whole time,” Segorski said. “I was never scared. I knew he was going to back up and keep diving in, so I just wanted to keep going forward and stay in my stance.”
He trailed 1-0 heading into the third period, but an escape, takedown and nearfall secured the victory and an individual title to go along with Lowell’s team championship won last weekend.
130
Champion: Louden Stradling, Gaylord, Jr. (24-1)
Decision, 3-2 (2OT), over Ramsy Mutschler, Lowell, Sr. (31-6)
Stradling avenged a loss from the week before, and needed to hold on into the final seconds of the second ultimate tiebreaker period.
“Last week I wrestled Ramsy, and it was a really close one,” Stradling said. “I couldn’t open up on him because his defense is amazing. This week, I took it slow, I focused on how to get out on bottom from him, and me getting out on bottom changed the match.”
Mutschler scored an escape early in the first ultimate tiebreaker period, and entered the second with a 2-1 lead. Stradling scored a reversal midway through the second, and held on for his first title.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Stradling said. “I plan on doing it again, but this year meant a lot to me.”
135
Champion: Aaron Lucio, Stevensville Lakeshore, Jr. (54-0)
Decision, 7-4, over James Link, Lowell, Sr. (38-6)
A year after finishing second in the Finals, Lucio broke through, finishing off an unbeaten season with his first title.
“It means a lot,” Lucio said. “I knew I put the work in. I knew I could get it done. I knew that my coaches told me to stay tough in close matches, and if that would happen, I would win.”
Lucio scored an early takedown in the match, and never trailed, but he used a three-point third period to give himself some space before Link scored an escape in the final minute.
“More points were on the board than I thought,” Lucio said. “But as I opened up and I got to feel him and he could feel me, I knew I could get to his legs a lot easier.”
140
Champion: Jacob Brya, St. Johns, Sr. (42-0)
Decision, 1-0, over Carsen Richards, Goodrich, Sr. (45-3)
After a positive COVID-19 test ended his junior season and a potential run at four individual titles, Brya came into his senior season with something to prove – after a nudge from his dad.
“I was sitting around for a while, then my dad started yelling at me,” Brya said. “Ever since then I’ve been doing two-a-days and lifting all the time. I just feel like I have more motivation than I’ve ever had.”
Brya won at 112 pounds in 2020 and 103 in 2019. He held a slim 1-0 advantage in Saturday’s final, but rode Richards out to get the victory.
It was the third time the two had wrestled this season, and while each match was close, Brya was able to win the battle while on top, giving him the confidence to do it again.
145
Champion: Zamuel Thompson, Stevensville Lakeshore, Sr. (51-3)
Decision, 8-6, over Timmy Simons, Gibraltar Carlson, Jr. (37-4)
Thompson joined his sister, Sydney, of Eaton Rapids in winning a Finals title (110 pounds), becoming the first brother-sister combination to win MHSAA wrestling titles in the same season.
“It’s amazing,” Zamuel Thompson said. “I didn’t even know she was going to do it until three or four weeks ago. That made my day.”
In his own match, Thompson needed a third-period takedown to hold off Simons.
“I knew I shouldn’t have let him take me down in the first place,” Thompson said. “I was wrestling sloppy. Just conditioning we’re doing, I knew that in the end I would get him, there was no doubt in my mind. It was just a matter of when.”
152
Champion: Micah Hanau, Stevensville Lakeshore, Sr. (52-2)
Decision, 3-2, over Julius Polk, Pontiac, Sr. (36-2)
Hanau felt he was too reckless his junior season, which didn’t allow him to repeat as an individual champion.
But he was well under control Saturday as he was able to wrap up a second title.
“I feel great,” Hanau said. “I wrestled the match I wanted to. Last year, I didn’t do how I wanted because of how (out-of-control) my wrestling style was. I took time to control that, and I feel like I won the match I planned on winning.”
Hanau was the champion at 130 pounds in 2020.
160
Champion: Jacob Gonzales, Holly, Sr. (49-0)
Decision, 7-3, over William Bradley, Paw Paw, Sr. (51-2)
Gonzales became a three-time individual champion with his victory. The Holly senior won at 152 pounds in 2021 and 2020.
“It’s everything I wanted,” Gonzales said. “I wanted four, I had to settle for three, but history isn’t easy.”
Gonzales was in control for most of the match, but Bradley was able to put a little scare into the Holly fans near the end. Gonzales was less scared.
“I knew he was a funky wrestler,” Gonzales said. “I knew I was going to have to be flexible and ready for everything he threw at me, and I was.”
171
Champion: Brayden Gatreau, Gaylord, Jr. (42-1)
Major decision, 10-2, over Derek Badgley, Mason, Soph. (49-3)
Gatreau turned up the heat in the third period, making what was a tight match a major decision.
“I felt great,” he said. “I worked towards my cardio all season. I knew that, no matter what, I’m working harder than anybody else. At the end of the day, it comes down to who wants it more, and I want it more than anyone else in this state. No matter what time, I’m going to close out the match and I’m going to win it.”
Gatreau scored six points in the third period, including a takedown and nearfall during the final 20 seconds.
189
Champion: Adam Haselius, Jackson Northwest, Jr. (45-1)
Decision, 7-2, over Kael Wisler, New Boston Huron, Sr. (54-2)
Haselius won the match on his feet, getting three takedowns to Wisler’s zero. And as the match was ending, he was still pushing for a pin, despite having it wrapped up.
“Can’t let up, that’s letting the other guy into the match,” Haselius said. “I have to keep grinding no matter what the score is. It’s the feeling of accomplishment.
“This right here is what you work for. It feels so good to finally complete that goal. To finally reach that high point. I just wrestled my match; it’s a great feeling.”
215
Champion: Carter Blough, Lowell, Sr. (37-2)
Decision, 4-0, over James Campbell, Mattawan, Sr. (36-1)
As Blough walked off the mat following his first individual title, he was mobbed by his family.
“That’s crazy,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for this since I was like 6. It couldn’t be any better. This is what I’ve been wanting since I started wrestling. This is the best moment of my life right here.”
Blough got an early takedown in the first period, and while there wasn’t much scoring afterward, he appeared to be in control throughout.
“I just had to be careful, cautious,” Blough said. “I was just being stingy on top. Just keeping my hips up so he couldn’t hit any big moves, and I knew the match was mine.”
285
Champion: Ira Jenkins, Whitehall, Sr. (51-0)
Fall 0:38, over Joshua Cook, Ferndale, Sr. (52-1)
Jenkins had a dominant run through the tournament, pinning each of his opponents, including the final three in the opening minute.
“I just knew I had to go out there and do what I do,” Jenkins said. “I was just taking it one thing at a time, and I guess that’s what it ended up being.”
It was the second-straight individual title for Jenkins, who pinned through the 285-pound bracket in Division 3 a year ago.
“Being able to pin through the state tournament two years in a row, that’s pretty cool, I think,” Jenkins said.
PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Mumford’s Jamarcus Smith works toward a pin in his 103-pound championship match Saturday at Ford Field. (Middle) St. Johns’ Jacob Brya maintains a hold on his way to winning at 140. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Freeland Establishing Itself as Annual Contender, Filling Schedule with More
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
December 10, 2025
Two years ago, Freeland was the upstart at the Division 2 Team Wrestling Finals.
While seeded second, the Falcons were making just their third appearance at the event, and advanced to the title match, where they lost to Lowell.
Now, following a second-straight trip to the Quarterfinals and with the No. 3 ranking attached to it early this season, Freeland is looked at much differently.
“I feel like everyone wants to be an underdog against us,” junior Colton Cunningham said. “We’re definitely more known now. We aren’t just a wrestling team, we’re here to win.”
The Falcons, who lost two individual finalists but returned the majority of their team from a year ago, are 7-0 to start the season, with a win over No. 9 North Branch.
The toughest stretch of their season is coming up, though, and the fact they’ve been able to schedule what they have might be the biggest sign of their rise.
On Dec. 20, Freeland will host a team tournament featuring multiple ranked opponents. Among them are Division 2’s Nos. 1 and 2 teams, Lowell and Three Rivers.
“The big guys want to come to us now,” Cunningham said.
The meet will serve as an early measuring stick for the teams, and could be a large decider of seeding as Freeland and Three Rivers try to chase down Lowell, which has won 12 straight titles in Division 2.
“I think that we can show everyone where we’re at, but we can also find out where we’re at this year,” Freeland senior Easton Rosebush said. “We have kind of a freshman-heavy team, but a lot of them are at a super high level already. It can be a motivator, like ‘Wow, we did this well.’ Or, ‘Wow, we have this far to go.’”
The learning where they are part is what Freeland coach Jon Rosebush is most focused on. He said he’s beefed up the Falcons’ schedule to make sure they’re ready for February.
“I think we’ll see 11 state-ranked teams before the first of the year,” Jon Rosebush said. “That’s what I’ve always preached, we have to start getting after the toughest competition and challenging these guys. Otherwise, come the postseason, we’re not going to be prepared. It’s hard, because you have to be on your game all the time, and if you’re not on your game all the time, you’re probably going to take a pounding. But we don’t look at our wins and losses; all it is is preparation for that postseason.”
Rosebush added that his athletes have bought into that mentality, and it doesn’t appear as if it was a hard sell.
“I just love the competition,” Freeland senior Zack Clark said. “I feel like in football that was where we struggled, where we didn’t have many good teams to play. But I feel like in wrestling, we always push for good competition. It makes you get on that level. I’m excited to see Lowell earlier in the season.”
Having a dynasty like Lowell sitting on top of your division can be tough. The Red Arrows are on a historic run, and with three more titles would tie a state record for consecutive Finals titles in any sport.
But having been in a Final and seen Lowell up close didn’t demoralize the Falcons – it motivated them.
“When we wrestled them in the Finals, we took five matches against them,” Rosebush said. “We get a couple more matches out of it and it’s 7-7. We’re not that far off with them. Knowing that, knowing where our kids are at, we’re trying to get up to that level.
“Lowell has such a good program over there. They have a community that supports them 100 percent. They have an athletic department that supports them 100 percent. We’re trying to get there. It’s more motivation for us and drives us as coaches.”
That drove Freeland back to the 2025 Finals, as the Falcons won back-to-back Regional titles for the first time. In fact, their 2024 and 2025 Quarterfinal runs doubled the number of appearances in program history (2004 and 2021).
But the 2025 run ended in that Quarterfinal with a loss against eventual finalist Fowlerville. It was a devastating defeat for the Falcons, but once again they found a way to turn that into fuel.
“It was a disappointment and devastating because we knew we won’t be able to wrestle again with our seniors we had that year,” Freeland sophomore Preston Wetherell said. “But there was definitely a fire feeling that makes you want to come back and work harder in the summer. Come back and just keep up that intensity.”
Freeland graduated its two most successful wrestlers, as Fabian Facundo and Buddy Leonard wrapped up their seasons and careers in the Division 2 Individual Finals at Ford Field. Facundo was the champion at 175 pounds, while Leonard was runner-up at 144.
Facundo became the program’s fourth champion, and first since 2004. The previous two won in 1966.
“He was my friend, and I was really proud of him,” said Freeland senior Brigham Smith, who had also qualified for the Individual Finals. “I was excited. But it also showed me the possibilities of what I could do if I put my mind to it.”
Smith is one of three current Freeland wrestlers who has competed at the Individual Finals. Easton Rosebush is a two-time qualifier (2023 and 2024), having placed eighth at 106 as a sophomore. Senior Ella Mae Klopf qualified in the Girls Division as a freshman.
There is plenty of postseason experience on the roster, though, thanks to two years of competing at Team Finals.
That’s trickling down to the group of talented underclassmen who already had plenty of belief, having watched their program ascend to new heights.
“Personally, for me, it’s great,” Freeland freshman Wyatt Brewer said. “I get to wrestle with a lot of great wrestlers who are able to teach me a lot of things. They give us confidence and support us, so we don’t have as much pressure and can just wrestle.”
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) Freeland’s Brigham Smith, right, wrestles a Fowlerville opponent during last season’s Division 2 Quarterfinal. (Middle) Easton Rosebush, top, works to roll over his Gladiators opponent. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)