Performance: Walled Lake Central's Ben Freeman
March 10, 2017
Ben Freeman
Walled Lake Central senior – Wrestling
Freeman joined one of the elite groups of individual champions in any MHSAA sport Saturday when he defeated Birmingham Groves’ Colin Takata by technical fall, 24-7, to win the Division 1 championship at 140 pounds – and become the 22nd wrestler in MHSAA history to finish his career with four Individual Finals titles. In doing so, Freeman also capped a 34-0 season and 167-0 career in earning the Michigan Army National Guard “Performance of the Week.”
His previous three championships came at 103 pounds in 2014, followed by a 125-pound title and then the win at 135 last winter. He won every event he entered over four seasons but one; as a freshman he was injured in a semifinal victory at a tournament and was unable to take the mat for the championship match. As a senior he had 28 wins by either tech fall or fall despite getting a slow start to this season after a broken ankle kept him off the mat until January. Although he had only a few close calls at the high school level, he’s taken his losses in national competition – but had plenty of success there as well, earning multiple All-America honors while winning a USA Wrestling folkstyle national title, finishing USA Wrestling freestyle and FloNationals runner-up and third at USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Nationals.
Freeman was coached during high school by his father, Al Freeman (who wrestled collegiately at University of Nebraska), and also watched closely the match right before his at The Palace of Auburn Hills last weekend as his junior brother Nick won his first title, at 135 pounds. Ben carries a 3.6 grade-point average and will continue his academic and wrestling careers at University of Michigan.
Coach (and Dad) Al Freeman said: “He works hard at it of course, like all serious athletes do. He might get an edge because he’s always been a student of the sport. His matches are live practicing for him, where he attempts to execute techniques and strategies to score as many points as possible. He has won many matches where he came off the mat very disappointed in himself because this or that technique didn’t work well enough. I think that he is one of the best. But I think there are many others whose records aren’t as stellar who are also up there with the best. Mis-timed injuries, illness, etc. can derail any of us no matter how good we are. Ben’s experienced this at some national tournaments. In fact, at this year’s state tournament he got sick the day before. Luckily being the last weight class on Thursday gave him just enough time to recover enough to perform. You need both a lot of preparation and a little luck at the top level.”
Performance Point: "During the season, I couldn't really think about all of that (four-title talk)," Ben Freeman said. "If I started thinking about that stuff, I thought I might psych myself out. So I tried to take each tournament one at a time, not look too far ahead. I definitely thought about (missing out on a fourth title). Obviously that crosses your mind. It happens to a lot of people who are dominant for three years, and the fourth year they lose to someone no one thought they would. I tried to keep that in mind and not underestimate anyone so that wouldn't happen."
No. 22: "It doesn't even seem real. I look up to all of those guys; I can't picture myself being part of that group (of four-time winners). Right after ... there were just so many emotions. I didn't even know what to think. Now that it's a week later, it's setting in. I'm sure the more time that goes by, and just realizing it, it's going to set in more."
Brotherly love: "It was super cool. I'm really proud of him. I know he deserves it. I know he could've won as a freshman, could've won last year too, but things don't always work out. I'm happy he finally got over that hump. I'm sure it's a lot of relief off his chest, and it makes it easier for him to (win again) next year."
Coach Dad: "Sometimes it was tough, especially when I was little, and obviously it's really tough for him to change hats and go between being Coach and being Dad. Obviously it's two different roles, but we've worked it out pretty good. I know at practice I have to treat him like Coach, and at home he's my dad. It's tough, but there are a lot of positives to it too. He's just around all the time. If I ever have any questions, I can ask him ... and get a lot quicker responses."
State of wrestling: "My favorite part is everyone (in Michigan) kinda knows each other. I've met a lot of great people all over the state, just practicing and going to tournaments with them. All the wrestlers I've found are really great people. I'm not sure if it's because they're like me, or just great people in general, but I've made a lot of close friendships through it, all over Michigan."
- Geoff Kimmerly, Second Half editor
Every week during the 2016-17 school year, Second Half and the Michigan National Guard will recognize a “Performance of the Week" from among the MHSAA's 750 member high schools.
The Michigan Army National Guard provides trained and ready forces in support of the National Military Strategy, and responds as needed to state, local, and regional emergencies to ensure peace, order, and public safety. The Guard adds value to our communities through continuous interaction. National Guard soldiers are part of the local community. Guardsmen typically train one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. This training maintains readiness when needed, be it either to defend our nation's freedom or protect lives and property of Michigan citizens during a local natural disaster.
Previous 2016-17 honorees:
March 2: Joey Mangner, Chelsea swimming & diving – Read
Feb. 23: Isabelle Nguyen, Grosse Pointe North gymnastics – Read
Feb. 16: Dakota Hurbis, Saline swimming & diving – Read
Feb. 2: Foster Loyer, Clarkston basketball – Read
Jan. 26: Nick Jenkins, Detroit Catholic Central wrestling – Read
Jan. 19: Eileene Naniseni, Mancelona basketball – Read
Jan. 12: Rory Anderson, Calumet hockey – Read
Dec. 15: Demetri Martin, Big Rapids basketball – Read
Dec. 1: Rodney Hall, Detroit Cass Tech football – Read
Nov. 24: Ally Cummings, Novi volleyball – Read
Nov. 17: Chloe Idoni, Fenton volleyball – Read
Nov. 10: Adelyn Ackley, Hart cross country – Read
Nov. 3: Casey Kirkbride, Mattawan soccer – Read
Oct. 27: Colton Yesney, Negaunee cross country – Read
Oct. 20: Varun Shanker, Midland Dow tennis – Read
Oct. 13: Anne Forsyth, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country – Read
Oct. 6: Shuaib Aljabaly, Coldwater cross country – Read
Sept. 29: Taylor Seaman, Brighton swimming & diving – Read
Sept. 22: Maggie Farrell, Battle Creek Lakeview cross country – Read
Sept. 15: Franki Strefling, Buchanan volleyball – Read
Sept. 8: Noah Jacobs, Corunna cross country – Read
PHOTOS: (Top) Walled Lake Central's Ben Freeman on Saturday has his arm raised for the fourth time at an MHSAA Individual Finals. (Middle) Freeman attempts to pin Groves' Colin Takata during their championship match. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Newberry Finalists Relish Title Opportunity
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
February 22, 2018
MUNISING — In 1988, the MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals were reunified with both peninsulas competing for the same championships.
But before 2008, Upper and Lower Peninsula wrestlers still competed for separate individual titles – making for far less matchups between the U.P.’s best and their counterparts from downstate, unless a U.P. team made a championship run.
For the last decade, the Upper Peninsula’s best have embraced the opportunity to represent their schools and extend their seasons by taking part in the unified MHSAA Individual Finals tournament after their teams had been eliminated in earlier rounds.
Four Newberry wrestlers were fortunate enough to advance to the Division 4 Individual Regional tournament at Charlevoix on Feb. 17 after the Indians were eliminated by St. Ignace 54-21 in the Team District on Feb. 7.
“It was hard, especially being a senior,” Newberry’s Alex Henry said after taking a 4-3 decision from Munising senior Christian Cole in the 160-pound Individual District Final on Feb. 10 at Munising. “It would have been nice to get through as a team, although I thought our team did pretty well this year.”
This was the first District title for Henry, who plans to wrestle at Alma College next season.
“I will definitely look forward to that, but now I’ve got to focus on the next step,” he added.
He did just that, placing third in the Regional. He will now move on to the MHSAA Individual Finals, March 2-3 at Ford Field in Detroit.
Senior teammate Cameron Symonds also is heading to Detroit after placing second in the Regional.
“There was a feeling of disappointment when our team got eliminated, but having a chance to wrestle in the individual tournament takes a little bit of the sting off it,” Symonds said after pinning Onaway junior Coty Inonetz with 1.1 seconds left in the 152-pound District Final for his third straight District title. “We just didn’t show up to wrestle that day.
“You’ve got to come prepared. Last year I went to the Regional (at Rogers City) as a top seed and didn’t make it to the state tournament. You have to take it one match at a time.”
Nathan Magnusson, the team’s third senior, reached the 135-pound final and earned a trip to Detroit despite dropping a 4-0 Regional championship decision to Onaway sophomore Matt Grant.
“Wrestling is bit of an individual sport, yet you’re also trying to help your team,” said Magnusson, who will enroll at Central Michigan University this fall. “It’s nice to have a second chance. Although, I wish we also could have gone to a Regional as a team.”
Junior Devin Racicot was among four Bark River-Harris grapplers to advance to the Individual Regional. None, however, qualified for next weekend’s Finals.
BR-H edged Munising 36-33 in its District opener Feb. 8 at Manistique. The Broncos were then eliminated on the 11th tie-breaker (43-42) by the host Emeralds.
“It was depressing at first, coming so close and not be going on as a team,” said Racicot, who was pinned 3:39 into the 215-pound District Final by Charlevoix junior Maximus Hinkle. “There was about a 15 to 20-minute wait to find out if we were going. It would have been nice, but we’re proud we accomplished that much. (Manistique) basically had four kids at the beginning of the season, then their numbers moved up to about 10. They came a long way this year.”
With none of their wrestlers graduating this spring, it appears the Broncos have much to look forward to next season.
“With this being my first year of high school wrestling, I was pleased to be moving on to the (individual) Regional,” said Racicot. “We just hope to come back with the same kids. If we do, I think we can do well next year.”
PHOTOS: Newberry's Cameron Symonds (left) wrestles under the spotlight at the Upper Peninsula championship tournament at Marquette High School. (Middle) Finals qualifier Alex Henry locks up an opponent during a home meet. (Below) Newberry's Nate Magnusson (top) works to keep position during a match earlier this season. (Photos by Tammy Henry.)