Preview: Clinton, Hudson, New Lothrop Lead Way Again in D4
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 29, 2021
From 2014-18, Hudson and New Lothrop faced each other in five consecutive Division 4 Team Finals. Then Clinton broke into the mix in 2019, and broke through for its first championship in 2020.
Those three teams are the top three seeds again Tuesday at Wings Event Center – but five others hope to become the next to join the elite of the elite among the smallest wrestling schools.
Division 4 Quarterfinals – matchups below – begin at 10 a.m. at Wings’ Arena, with Semifinals at 3 p.m. and the championship match at 6.
Division 4 - 10 am - The Arena
#1 Clinton vs. #8 Ravenna - Mat 4
#4 Whittemore-Prescott vs. #5 Leslie - Mat 2
#3 New Lothrop vs. #6 Bark River-Harris - Mat 3
#2 Hudson vs. #7 Schoolcraft - Mat 1
Spectator limits remain in effect, but all matches will be broadcast live and viewable with subscription on MHSAA.tv. Below is a look at all eight teams competing in Division 4, listed by seed.
#1 CLINTON
Record/rank: 19-1, No. 1
League finish: Second in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Co-Coaches: Jeff Rolland, eighth season (214-49); Casey Randolph, second season (83-11)
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2020, runner-up 2019.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Connor Younts (21-2) fr., 112 Connor Busz (20-4) soph., 112 Coy Perry (24-1) fr., 119 Zak Shadley (22-4) soph., 125 Nik Shadley (24-1), fr. 130 Ethan Younts (20-4) soph., 135 Landis Gillman (22-4) sr., 140 George Ames (24-0) jr., 145 Kent McCombs (23-2) jr., 152 AJ Baxter (22-2) sr., 160 Spencer Konz (21-3) sr., 171 Brayden Randolph (24-1) sr., 189 Logan Badge (25-1) jr., 285 Ryan Phillips (17-4) sr.
Outlook: Clinton’s projected starting lineup for Tuesday includes nine wrestlers who were in the lineup that defeated Hudson in last season’s championship match – and still Tuesday’s lineup includes only four seniors. Badge is a two-time Individual Finals champion, including at 189 a year ago, while McCombs (145) and Brayden Randolph (171) both were runners-up individually last season. Also among returning Finals placers are Busz (third at 103), junior Chase Packard (eighth at 112), Ames (third at 135) and Konz (third at 160). The lone team loss this season came to Division 3 top-seeded Dundee, and Clinton defeated Hudson 41-19 at the start of this month.
#2 HUDSON
Record/rank: 20-1, No. 2
League finish: Third in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Coach: Scott Marry, 33rd season (842-193)
Championship history: Eight MHSAA championships (most recent 2019), four runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Cole Marry (20-1) fr., 119 Payton Rogers (21-2) jr., 125 Austin Marry (19-7) fr., 125 Tristan Bolenbaugh (18-2) jr., 130 Bronson Marry (21-0) jr., 130 Jackson Miller (18-2) jr., 140 Aden Barrett (19-3) soph., 140 Tyler Bolenbaugh (22-3) sr., 145 Caden Natale (22-1) sr., 160 Dylan Smith (23-1) sr., 171 Logan Sallows (17-7) soph., 215 Cameron Underwood (25-2) jr.
Outlook: Hudson is expected to continue on its current run of 12 straight championship match appearances after finishing runner-up a year ago – which came after three straight Division 4 titles won from 2017-19. As noted above, the lone loss this winter came to Clinton, last season’s championship match opponent. Bronson Marry (112) and Natale (130) were champions last season after both also finished Individual Finals runners-up in 2019. Smith finished third at 152 last season. The Tigers defeated No. 10 Hanover-Horton and No. 4 Bronson at their Regional.
#3 NEW LOTHROP
Record/rank: 19-1, No. 3
League finish: No league title awarded this season.
Coach: Jeff Campbell, 20th season (501-94)
Championship history: 15 MHSAA championships (most recent 2016), six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Daven Lockwood (22-3) soph., 125 Caleb Sharp (23-2) soph., 130 Parker Noonan (16-8) soph., 140 Andrew Krupp (19-2) sr., 145 Jackson Knieper (19-5) sr., 152 Bryce Cheney (20-0) sr., 160 Harry Helmick (19-7) sr., 171 Brady Gross (15-1) soph., 189 Kody Krupp (22-3) sr., 215 Camden Orr (21-1) sr., 215 Grayson Orr (9-4) soph., 285 Isiah Pasik (21-0) jr.
Outlook: New Lothrop just missed getting back to the championship match last season, falling by six points to Clinton in a Semifinal. The Hornets will look to take that next step again and get back to the Final for the first time since 2018 with eight starters back from the 2020 run. Camden Orr is the returning champion at 215 pounds, while Andrew Krupp (125) and Cheney (152) were individual runners-up at their weights last winter. Pasik (third at 285) and Lockwood (fifth at 103) also are returning Finals placers.
#4 WHITTEMORE-PRESCOTT
Record/rank: 25-0, unranked
League finish: First in North Star League
Coach: Russ Wilson, seventh season (119-65)
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2002).
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Adrien Fragoso (16-13) jr., 125 Devan Nader (19-1) sr., 130 Caiden Balliet (20-6) jr., 152 Kyle Fenner (27-2) sr., 160 Dakota Gagnon (26-1) sr., 171 James Morrison (12-11) jr., 189 Russell Wilson (26-0) sr., 215 Jesse Morrison (13-7) jr., 215 William Stothers (8-16) jr.
Outlook: Whittemore-Prescott will be returning to the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2006, thanks in part to a 36-31 Regional win over No. 5 LeRoy Pine River. Gagnon finished fourth last season at 160 pounds and is one of six seniors bolstering the expected starting lineup.
#5 LESLIE
Record/rank: 21-8, unranked
League finish: First in Greater Lansing Athletic Conference
Coach: Tucker Surbrook, fifth season (87-55)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 130 Lucas Mooney (25-6) sr., 140 Cannon Risner (24-6) sr., 145 Gabe Weber (32-3) sr., 152 Grant Weber (31-4) sr., 215 Ben Smieska (29-4) sr.
Outlook: Leslie won its third District title in Surbrook’s five seasons leading the program and will be returning to the Finals for the first time since 1995. The Blackhawks defeated No. 8 Manchester during their Regional on the way to Kalamazoo. Weber was third in Division 4 last season at 145, Smieska was third at 215, while Nick Carey was fourth at 189 and is 25-2 and slated to wrestle that weight Tuesday.
#6 BARK RIVER-HARRIS
Record/rank: 25-2, unranked
League finish: Does not compete in a conference.
Coach: Joe Racicot, fourth season (69-37)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Avry Corrigan (25-5) jr., 119 Daniel Dani (16-11) sr., 125 Josh Riley (16-9) soph., 135 Dillon Raab (30-0) soph., 160 Drew Allgeyer (29-2) soph., 160 Tyler Racicot (26-5) sr., 171 Wyatt Raab (30-0) jr.
Outlook: The Broncos have enjoyed major achievements the last two seasons, first winning the first District title in the program’s 10-year history last winter and now reaching the Quarterfinals for the first time. Allegeyer finished seventh at 145 pounds last season and could be part of more big things to come – Bark River-Harris has only four seniors in its expected lineup for Tuesday.
#7 SCHOOLCRAFT
Record/rank: 22-6, No. 7
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Coach: Rob Ling, 16th season (360-168)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 103 Carsten Svoboda (21-9) fr., 119 Lane DeLoof (20-8) jr., 135 Gary Cramer (23-2) sr., 189 Tagg Gott (19-3) soph., 215 Jimmy Downs (13-2) sr.
Outlook: Schoolcraft edged Lawton 36-31 in their Regional to get to the Quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons and after being eliminated by Lawton a year ago. Senior Hunter Martens (119, 13-3) finished fifth at 125 pounds last season.
#8 RAVENNA
Record/rank: 12-12, unranked
League finish: Third in West Michigan Conference
Coach: Cody Carpenter, second season (19-28)
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 112 Nick Schofield (18-9) sr., 125 Kevin Spoelman (18-6) sr., 135 Austin Brown (13-3) sr., 145 Joshua Kooiman (17-13) sr.
Outlook: Ravenna will be making its first appearance in the Quarterfinals, but Spoelman brings Individual Finals experience after finishing sixth at 119 a year ago. A starting lineup made up of half seniors helped push the Bulldogs to their historic accomplishment.
PHOTO: Two-time individual champion Logan Badge will try to help Clinton deliver a second-straight Division 2 team championship Tuesday. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
2-Sport All-Stater Ringler Eyes Repeat
January 23, 2019
By Dean Holzwarth
Special for Second Half
CEDAR SPRINGS – Ryan Ringler’s wrestling journey has spanned nearly 14 years and included countless miles on the road traveling to tournaments, practices and college recruiting visits.
These experiences came with costs, both social and monetary, and the Cedar Springs senior standout has done what he could to help fund his dream.
Mowing lawns, roofing, painting and installing sprinklers are some of the odd jobs Ringler picked up to earn money.
“I do whatever jobs I can get to raise money because these trips are very expensive,” Ringler said.
All of Ringler’s hard work on and off the mat was rewarded as he recently committed to wrestle at Central Michigan University.
A dream was finally realized, and it took the help of a small town community to make it a reality.
“I’m really happy for him and his whole family because it’s been a goal he’s had for a long time,” Cedar Springs wrestling coach Nick Emery said. “The goal was to get Ryan to a Division I school to see what he could do and to prove that all the hard work and time and money and his parents driving all over the country was worth it.
“Just everyone coming together, and going out of their way to raise money. A lot of people were involved, and it was a community project at times.”
Ringler’s passion for wrestling started at age 3 when he would go to practices with his older brother, Jordan.
He started competing himself shortly after and quickly developed into a young talent.
For Ringler, traveling to various tournaments is fun.
“I like to travel around, and just getting to know the different guys from different schools and getting to see different styles and techniques of wrestling intrigued me,” Ringler said. “That’s what made me fall in love with the sport.”
Ringler competed in MYWAY wrestling and earned five state championships on the circuit. He garnered attention the summer before his freshman year – he took part in several national tournaments, and went unbeaten at the prestigious Virginia Beach duals.
Ringler’s success continued at the high school level.
As a freshman making his first trip to the MHSAA Individual Finals, Ringler lost his first match but rallied to win the next five en route to a third-place finish.
He also placed third as a sophomore, but broke through last season and won a Division 2 crown at 171 pounds with a 9-4 decision over Holly’s Cade Dallwitz to finish the winter a stellar 53-1.
“I was really expecting to be at the top my sophomore year, but that loss really motivated me and I wanted to be at least a two-time state champion,” Ringler said.
As a senior, Ringler is eyeing a repeat performance at the Finals. He’s currently 31-0 and nearing 200 career wins.
“Right now it’s more about getting ready for college wrestling,” Ringler said. “As a senior it would be cool to win another state title to end my career.”
Ringler has another talented teammate beside him this season. Sage Serbenta, a junior, finished fifth at the Finals last season competing for Grand Rapids Christian and wrestles at 189 pounds.
“He’s gotten bigger and he’s pushing me with his speed and strength,” Ringler said. “It makes us both better with conditioning, and we push each other mentally and physically.”
Emery has high hopes for both wrestlers.
“Sage has pushed Ryan in practices, and I think both of those guys could win state titles at either 171 or 189 pounds,” Emery said. “They have as good a chance as anybody else.”
Ringler’s wrestling prowess matches his elite skills on the football field.
A four-year varsity football player, he helped lead the Red Hawks to a 10-2 record in the fall. As a fierce linebacker, he racked up 110 tackles while rushing for nearly 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns. He received all-state honors to go along with his all-state accolades in wrestling.
“Ryan has been a very successful multi-sport athlete, and his success on the field and on the mat is not by accident,” Cedar Springs athletic director John Norton said. “He’s a tireless worker, always doing extra to gain the competitive edge. The most exciting thing is that he is showing a generation of athletes that it is possible to be a standout in multiple sports at the highest level and earn a college scholarship without specialization.”
Achieving all-state status in multiple sports is another level of accomplishment, and Ringler is humbled by the honors.
“It’s very unique, and a lot of people don’t get all-state in both wrestling and football,” he said. “It’s a tough thing to do in two very difficult sports. It’s a nice accomplishment, and something I can put on my wall when I’m older.”
Dean Holzwarth covered primarily high school sports for the Grand Rapids Press and MLive for 16 years and more recently served as sports editor of the Ionia Sentinel and as a sports photojournalist for WZZM. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Cedar Springs’ Ryan Ringler prepares to make his first move during last season’s Division 2 championship match at 171 pounds at Ford Field. (Middle) Ringler (24) pushes ahead this fall against Saginaw Swan Valley. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)