Preview: Individual Finals Headlined by Fantastic 5 Seeking to Win No. 4
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 5, 2026
For nearly 50 years, winning four championships at the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals has stood as an unbeatable standard of excellence, and an aspiration only 40 of Michigan’s best have accomplished during that time.
This weekend’s Finals at Ford Field could see the largest group inducted into the elite club.
As more than 1,100 competitors take to the mat Friday and Saturday, that historic accomplishment will be in the sights of five contenders – Westland John Glenn’s Nakayla Dawson, Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Dale Gant, Detroit Catholic Central’s Wyatt Lees, Plainwell’s Madison Neiuwenhuis and Hudson’s Nicholas Sorrow.
The Grand March begins at 10 a.m. Friday, with wrestling through semifinals that evening. Wrestling begins again at 9 a.m. Saturday, with championship matches at 3:30 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased from Ford Field. All matches will be broadcast live on the NFHS Network, and we’ll talk to all 14 champions in each division for our coverage published later that evening and overnight. See the Wrestling page for more information and to follow results this weekend.
Following are glances at just some of the many contenders who will compete:
Division 1
113 Cyrus Woodberry, Detroit Cass Tech sophomore (37-4) – After winning Cass Tech’s first individual championship last season, at 106, he returns as the top seed at this weight.
120 Layne Martin, Rockford junior (43-0) – The reigning champion at 113 pounds is top-seeded at this weight as he seeks a second-straight title.
132 Wyatt Lees, Detroit Catholic Central senior (37-3) – As noted above, he’s wrestling for his fourth individual title and seeded first in this bracket after previously clinching at 106, 113 and 120.
138 Bohdan Abbey, Hartland senior (43-1) – Another top seed in his bracket, he’s looking to finish his career as a three-time champ after winning last year at 132, as a freshman at 113 and finishing runner-up at 126 as a sophomore.
144 Liam Fitzpatrick, Rockford (44-0) – He’s the top seed at his weight after finishing seventh at 130 last year and fourth at 132 as a sophomore.
150 Grayson Fuchs, Detroit Catholic Central junior (22-1) – He’s also top-seeded and seeking a third individual title to go with wins at 144 last year and 126 as a freshman.
157 Dallas Korponic, Hartland senior (45-2) – He’s a returning top seed and also a three-time hopeful after winning 150 last season and 132 as a sophomore.
165 Jay’Den Williams, Roseville senior (37-1) – The reigning champion at 165 and top seed in this bracket again has advanced to championship matches every year of high school having also finished Finals runner-up as a freshman and sophomore.
215 Eamon Murray, Midland senior (55-1) – The top seed at this weight is making his first trip to the Finals, but as a favorite with his only loss coming at the beginning of December.
285 Logan Tollison, Grand Ledge senior (51-0) – The reigning champion at this weight, and 215 runner-up in 2024, has won 96 straight matches and is the top seed in his bracket.
Other 2025 runners-up: 120 Brice LaFleur, Saline senior (43-2, 113 last year); 126 Ryan Totten, Detroit Catholic Central junior (38-9, 120 last year); 144 Deacon Morgan, Rochester Adams junior (24-2, 126 last year); 157 Julius Pacheco, Davison junior (31-3, 150 last year); 175 Zach Miracle, Temperance Bedford senior (44-2, 165 last year); 190 Thomas Jaynes, Romeo senior (49-1, 190 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Brody Compau, Rockford freshman (43-0); 126 Gavin Lewis, Oxford senior (47-4); Logan Hammingh, Rockford senior (42-1); 190 Caden Krueger, Detroit Catholic Central junior (36-4).
Also undefeated: 113 Landon Learn, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer freshman (48-0); 120 Matthew Quigley, Traverse City West junior (48-0).
Division 2
120 Jarrett Smith, Lowell senior (42-2) – A top seed at the Finals for the third time, he’s looking to add a third title to those won last year at 113 and as a sophomore at 106.
120 Pilot Swab, Stevensville Lakeshore junior (12-2) – He’s a two-time Finals placer and the reigning champion at 106, and wrestling on the opposite side of the bracket from Smith.
126 Christian Haslem, St. Clair senior (49-1) – He’s reached championship matches all of his first three seasons and is top-seeded at this weight after winning 120 as a junior and finishing runner-up previously at 106 and 113.
132 Devan Garcia, Battle Creek Harper Creek junior (46-2) – He’s the favorite at this weight after winning 113 as a freshman and finishing runner-up at 120 a year ago.
138 Quinten Cassiday, Cedar Springs junior (52-0) – He finished runner-up at 126 last season but hasn’t lost since and is the top seed in his bracket.
144 Luke Egan, Cedar Springs senior (42-0) – His story is similar to his teammate’s above, as Egan was the runner-up at 138 last year and is an undefeated top seed this weekend.
150 Bryce Morrison, Hamilton senior (49-0) – He finished fifth at 132 as a sophomore and third at 144 a year ago, and enters this weekend as favored to win his first title.
157 Johnathan Ford, Bay City John Glenn junior (33-0) – He’s top-seeded and seeking a second-straight title after winning last year at 157.
165 Zane Willobee, Gaylord senior (40-1) – He emerged from outside the top four seeds to win 157 as a sophomore and finished runner-up at this weight a year ago.
190 Martin Knight, North Branch senior (43-0) – Last season’s runner-up at this weight is returning as the top seed.
Other 2025 runners-up: 113 Tyler Cooper, Plainwell sophomore (30-8, 106 last season); 120 Branlun Simon, Portland junior (48-0, 106 in Division 3 last year); 126 Carson Blum, Lowell sophomore (41-9, 113 last year); 132 Rasler Warner, Richland Gull Lake senior (15-0, 132 last year); 165 Julian Walker, Algonac senior (48-2, 165 in Division 3 last year); 215 Holden Otter, Carleton Airport junior (34-1, 215 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Thomas Leahy, St. Clair Shores Lakeshore junior (50-1); 113 Dylan Nieuwenhuis, Plainwell sophomore (37-1); 175 Louis Smith, Three Rivers senior (53-0); 215 Jonathan Golec, Goodrich senior (40-1); 285 Layne O’Neil, Fowlerville senior (46-2).
Also undefeated: 144 Jeffrey Miller, Jackson Northwest senior (47-0); 190 Brad Meyers, Portland senior (48-0); 190 Don Spillers, Detroit Martin Luther King junior (44-0); 285 Ryder Balkema, Otsego junior (35-0).
Division 3
120 Mason Haines, Dundee senior (33-7) – The reigning champion at 120 is the top seed in that bracket and also finished second at 106 as a freshman and third at 113 as a sophomore.
120 Danny Vaneeckhoutte, Erie Mason junior (39-8) – He’s seeking to add a second-straight championship after winning 106 last year.
132 Mason Katschor, Dundee junior (35-7) – The top seed at this weight won 113 a year ago and 106 as a freshman.
138 Dale Gant, Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior (36-1) – A top seed again, he’s looking to add to championships at 113, 120 and 126 over his first three seasons, respectively.
144 Braden Broderick, Dundee senior (38-7) – He’s the top seed in his bracket, the reigning champion at 132, and also finished runner-up at 120 as a sophomore.
150 Stone Redmon, Dundee sophomore (16-4) – He debuted last season with a runner-up finish at 144 and returns as a top seed in this bracket.
157 Blake Cosby, Dundee senior (37-2) – He’s a top seed one more time and wrestling for championship number three after winning at 150 last year, 144 as a sophomore and finishing runner-up at 144 as a freshman.
165 Donny Beaufait, Dundee senior (33-1) – He’s seeded first in this bracket as he seeks to repeat as champion at this weight and also finished runner-up at 150 as a sophomore.
175 Fred Hammond, Otisville-LakeVille Memorial senior (51-0) – He won 165 in Division 4 last season and is seeded first at this weight in his return to Division 3, where he finished sixth at 150 as a freshman and third at 165 as a sophomore.
215 Rocco Redmon, Dundee senior (28-11) – He’s top-seeded this weekend after finishing runner-up at 190 a year ago; he also finished fifth at 130 as a freshman.
Other 2025 runners-up: 126 Mackey McClelland, Yale sophomore (52-6, 113 last year); 157 Bryson Boucher, Lake Odessa Lakewood junior (40-3, 150 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Dylan Phillips, Laingsburg freshman (48-1); 113 Braxton Shaffer, Ida sophomore (48-4); 126 Bryan Sterling, Dundee senior (33-6); 190 Logan Knisely, Bronson senior (51-3); 285 Sam Tappenden, Bronson senior (48-8).
Also undefeated: 138 Aiden Durham, Grass Lake sophomore (43-0).
Division 4
113 Jordan Zambon, Riverview Gabriel Richard junior (42-8) – He won 106 last year and finished runner-up at that weight as a freshman.
126 Owen Fogel, St. Louis senior (48-3) – He’s a repeat top seed and hoping to become a repeat champion after winning 113 in 2025; he also finished sixth at 106 as a freshman and third at that weight as a sophomore.
126 Sammy Stewart, Manchester senior (42-3) – The reigning champion at 120 is the third seed in this bracket as he hopes to finish with a third title to go with his 113 championship as a freshman and runner-up finish at 126 as a sophomore.
132 Nicholas Sorrow, Hudson senior (47-2) – He’s top-seeded in his pursuit to add to championships at 106, 120 and 126 over her first three seasons, respectively.
144 Wyatt Burns, Springport junior (39-1) – After winning 138 in Division 3 last year at Dundee and finishing fourth at 126 as a freshman, he’s top-seeded at this weight as he pursues a second-straight title.
150 Beckett Campbell, Hudson sophomore (49-0) – He debuted by winning the 144 title a year ago and returns as a top seed with a combined record of 103-3 over his first two seasons.
150 Blake Sloan, Manchester senior (51-2) – The reigning champ at this weight has reached title matches every year of high school having also finished runner-up at 138 as a freshman and 144 as a sophomore.
157 Jeremy Amrhein, Manchester senior (49-0) – A top seed and returning champ, he won the Division 3 title at 157 last year for Dundee and finished third at 138 as a sophomore.
157 Eli Roe, Beaverton senior (45-1) – He’s the reigning champion at this weight and seeded second this time, and also finished sixth at 150 as a freshman.
190 Bryce Randolph, Clinton senior (46-2) – He’s the reigning champ at this weight and top seed this weekend and also finished Division 3 runner-up at 175 as a sophomore and fifth at 165 as a freshman.
2025 runners-up: 106 Jaxton Kimling, Hudson junior (38-10, 106 last year); 120 Kolton Burns, Decatur junior (47-3, 113 last year); 120 Alex Rodriguez, St. Louis senior (41-0, 120 last year); 138 Colt Perry, Hudson senior (43-7, 132 last year); 138 Luke Harrington, Riverview Gabriel Richard senior (43-6, 138 last year); 165 Haylen Buell, Martin senior (50-0, 144 last year); 190 Drew Challender, St. Louis senior (46-6, 165 last year); 190 Rowan Bradford, Decatur senior (38-1, 190 last year); 215 Isaac Westfall, Reading junior (45-1, 215 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Jaxton Kimling, Hudson junior (38-10); 113 Royce Beal, Hudson freshman (43-5); 120 Alex Rodriguez, St. Louis senior (41-0); 138 Luke Harrington, Riverview Gabriel Richard senior (43-6); 157 Wyatt Kimble, Hudson freshman (45-4); 165 Haylen Buell, Martin senior (50-0); 215 Isaac Westfall, Reading junior (45-1); 285 Noah Walker, Hesperia senior (45-3).
Also undefeated: 165 Cael Tyler, Roscommon freshman (53-0).
Girls Division
105 Madison Nieuwenhuis, Plainwell senior (24-0) – She’s the top seed and hoping to win this bracket for the first time after claiming her first three titles at 100.
110 Tatianna Castillo, Lowell sophomore (30-1) – She debuted by going undefeated and winning 105 last season, and is the top seed this time at 110.
115 Nakayla Dawson, Westland John Glenn senior (11-0) – She’s top-seeded in this bracket as she looks to add to titles won at 110 the last two seasons and 105 as a freshman.
120 Cheyenne Frank, Oxford senior (35-0) – She’s top-seeded as well as she seeks to repeat at this weight and finish a second-straight undefeated season.
130 Cecilia Williams, Mason senior (18-0) – She’ll attempt to finish her career with three Finals titles and is top-seeded after winning 125 last year and 120 in 2023.
135 – Angellaya Burden, Mio junior (24-0) – The reigning champion at 130 is seeded third at this weight and also finished fourth at 125 as a freshman.
145 Nanda Kibi, Plymouth senior (24-3) – She’s seeking to finish her career as a repeat champ after winning 140 last year and finishing eighth at 135 as a freshman.
155 Belicia Manuel, Romeo senior (46-0) – After finishing runner-up at 145 last year to four-time champ Margaret Buurma of Fowlerville, Manuel is top-seeded in this bracket and aiming to add to her title at 140 won as a sophomore.
170 Kaili Manuel, Romeo junior (44-1) – She’s seeking a third-straight championship after winning 155 a year ago and 145 as a freshman.
190 Kanata Richardson, Bloomfield Hills senior (27-2) – The reigning champion in this bracket is seeded first as she seeks to finish with a repeat.
Other 2025 runners-up: 100 Lillee Denson, St. Clair Shores Lakeview senior (18-1, 105 last year); 100 Veronica Tapia, Lowell senior (26-3, 100 last year); 130 Kassie Sapp, Whitehall sophomore (35-1, 115 last year); 145 MacKenna Webster, Three Rivers senior (38-1, 140 last year); 235 AnnMarie Green, Clare senior (24-1, 235 last year); 235 Halle Spears, Midland senior (29-0, 190 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 100 Lillee Denson, St. Clair Shores Lakeview senior (18-1); 125 Adriana Murray, Yale sophomore (35-3), 135 Paisley DeNault, Clarkston senior (19-0), 140 Alexis Lazar, Brighton senior (23-0), 170 Adelaide Holderman, Middleville Thornapple Kellogg junior (22-2), 235 Halle Spears, Midland senior (29-0).
Also undefeated: 115 Emma Baker, Stevensville Lakeshore sophomore (28-0); 130 Elyse Morales, Decatur senior (24-0); 140 Kaycie Moldenhauer, Atlanta sophomore (22-0); 235 Sydney Smith, Portage Central senior (19-0).
Team Final: The second team championship in MHSAA girls wrestling history will be awarded based on points accrued by individual qualifiers. Grand Haven won the inaugural team title a year ago.
PHOTOS (Top) Grand Rapids Catholic Central's Dale Gant, left, wrestles Comstock Park's Logan Whidden last season at Ford Field on the way to winning his third Individual Finals championship. (2) Detroit Catholic Central's Wyatt Lees, left, wrestles teammate Ryan Totten for the title at 120 pounds. (3) Westland John Glenn's Nakayla Dawson, right, locks up with Shepherd's Shai Curtiss during a 2025 Finals bout. (4) Hudson's Nicholas Sorrow, right, works toward a pin at 126 pounds against Lawton's Austin Garcia. (5) Plainwell's Madison Nieuwenhuis, left, puts a hold on Lowell's Veronica Tapia during their championship match. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)
Division 1 Makes History Adding 3 to 4-Time Champions Honor Roll
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
March 4, 2023
DETROIT – Never in the history of the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals had more than two wrestlers won their fourth title in the same year.
On Saturday, three accomplished the feat in Division 1 alone, including, for the first time ever, a pair of teammates.
Detroit Catholic Central’s Dylan Gilcher and Davison’s Josh Barr and Caden Horwath each won their fourth titles at Ford Field, joining an elite group that now numbers 35.
“I’m honored to be a part of that group,” Barr said after his 17-5 major decision victory against Hartland’s Brayden Bobo at 175 pounds. “It means that everything I did paid off, and I’m not done yet, I’m just getting started. Me and Braeden (Davis of Dundee, who won his fourth title in Division 3) are going to Penn State together. Caden and Dylan are going to Michigan together. I grew up with Dylan and Caden in the Team Donahoe wrestling room, I’ve been wrestling with Dylan and Caden for a long, long time. Caden is one of my best friends. And Braeden, we probably met when I was 8 or 9. We all push each other, for sure.”
Barr and Horwath were the fourth and fifth Davison wrestlers to win four titles, joining Brent Metcalf (2002-05), Lincoln Olson (2012-15) and Alex Facundo (2018-21).
“It’s pretty incredible just to be a part of something like that,” said Davison coach Zac Hall, who won four titles at St. Johns from 2011-14. “It’s crazy man, absolutely crazy. A couple years ago these kids were 2 feet smaller than me, and we’re playing dodgeball and kind of carefree. To see the level it’s gotten to, and these guys are obviously both in a situation to go on and do great things at the next level. It’s hard to even encapsulate in words. I’m just super proud of those two guys.”
Horwath claimed his fourth title with a 12-2 major decision against Grosse Pointe South’s Wyatt Hepner (39-7) at 126 pounds. His previous titles came at 103, 119 and 125.
“Just coming off the mat now, it feels pretty surreal,” said Horwath, who finished the season 22-1. “There’s no real feeling, I’m just happy right now. Happy me and my teammate did it, and my future teammate Dylan Gilcher, so that’s cool, too.”
Barr won his about an hour and a half earlier to finish off a 33-0 season. His previous titles came at 152, 160 and 171.
“I expected it of myself, so it feels like the right thing,” Barr said. “It hasn’t really hit me yet, all these people here, it’s awesome.”
It was also a record-tying day for Catholic Central, which had seven individual champions. The Shamrocks had seven champions in 2019, as well, a Division 1 record. Dundee holds the state record with eight in 2021.
Gilcher started it all off with a 20-4 technical fall in the second period against Travis Richards of Brighton (29-7) at 150 pounds.
His previous titles came at 112, 135 and 140. He finished his senior season at 32-0, and became the second DCC wrestler to win a fourth title, joining Kevon Davenport (2016-19).
“It feels real great,” Gilcher said. “Kevon texted me today and said, ‘Make history.’ I said I didn’t want to be No. 2, but I’m glad I am. I’m really glad I was first (on the team to wrestle Saturday), because I was stressing out about my match. But now all the stress is gone and I can watch happy, just cheer on my team, don’t have to worry about getting tired yelling.”
106
Champion: Wyatt Lees, Detroit Catholic Central, Fr. (42-10)
Decision, 3-2, over Brice LaFleur, Saline, Fr. (43-4)
Lees earned his third victory over LaFleur in four weeks, as the two had met in the District and Regional, as well.
“I felt good, I felt confident throughout the match,” Lees said. “I knew I put in the work and was ready for whatever was thrown at me. It was fun and a great opportunity.”
LaFleur was in the down position late in the match, and nearly was able to score a reversal in the final seconds, but Lees fought it off.
“I had an idea (of how much time was left),” Lees said. “But I was just going to wrestle through no matter what.”
113
Champion: Bohdan Abbey, Hartland, Fr. (44-3)
Major Decision, 13-5, over Archer Anderson, Clarkston, Soph. (27-9)
Abbey came into the match already owning a victory against Anderson this season, but he knew a second wouldn’t come easy.
“I had him earlier in the year, so I had some confidence going in, but anybody can be beat,” Abbey said. “It worked out my way. I wrestled smart, wrestled hard. It was a good match. It’s great, cause I’m only a freshman. I’ve been on other stages like this, but nothing is like the state tournament.”
Abbey held a 4-0 lead heading into the third period, and managed nine more points to put his first title away. For Anderson, it was a second-straight year placing, as he was fifth at 103 in 2022.
120
Champion: Caleb Weiand, Macomb Dakota, Sr. (47-0)
Decision, 5-3 (OT), over Josh Vasquez, Grandville, Soph. (41-3)
Weiand finished off an unbeaten season with his second-straight Finals title. The Michigan State-bound senior won at 112 pounds as a junior. He was runner-up at 103 as a sophomore.
“Two years ago, when I was a sophomore, I let the nerves get to me,” Weiand said. “Last year, I kicked that out, tried to get all the nerves away. This year, there were no nerves. I think it helps me perform way better.”
Vasquez forced overtime in the match with a takedown in the final seconds. But Weiand hit a beautiful duck under seconds into the extra frame to claim the victory.
132
Champion: Drew Heethuis, Detroit Catholic Central, Sr. (53-1)
Decision, 4-3, over Elijah Bunn, Rockford, Jr. (52-3)
Heethuis finished his career with a third Finals championship, as he had won at 112 and 119 the past two years.
He had a 3-0 lead heading into the third period, but had to hold off Bunn, a runner-up at 130 in 2022, in the final seconds.
“It feels awesome,” Heethuis said. “It wasn’t as dominant as I would have liked. But it’s awesome to go out on a third champ. It feels nice.”
Heethuis will wrestle next year at Princeton.
138
Champion: Justin Gates, Davison, Jr. (34-2)
Decision, 2-1, over Mason Stewart, Detroit Catholic Central, Jr. (47-6)
Gates found himself back on top of the podium after finishing runner-up in 2022 to Heethuis. He had won a title in 2021, defeating Weiand at 103 pounds.
“It means a lot more to me,” Gates said. “I feel like I’ve grown a lot more as a wrestler. After taking second, I had a chip on my shoulder.”
He pulled out the victory by scoring a reversal early in the third period and riding Stewart out for the final 1:36.
“I thought I was going to score some more points, but I’ll give credit where credit’s due. DCC always has a good gameplan for us,” Gates said. “I had to overcome and adapt to that. If it’s a close match, you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.”
144
Champion: Clayton Jones, Detroit Catholic Central, Sr. (49-3)
Technical Fall, 17-2, over Jay’Den Williams, Roseville, Fr. (47-2)
Jones won his second-straight Finals title, and did so in dominant fashion.
He led 7-1 after the first period, and 15-2 after the second. His takedown 28 seconds into the third ended the match.
“It felt great,” Jones said. “I just put in all the work that needed to be done. I was confident. I’ve been here before, and I was ready to go get my second one.”
Jones, a Michigan State commit, was DCC’s seventh champion on the night.
“This team was great,” he said. “We put in the work. (Coach Mitch) Hancock gave us a gameplan at the beginning of the season, and we stuck to that gameplan and got it done.”
157
Champion: Darius Marines, Detroit Catholic Central, Jr. (36-3)
Major Decision, 11-2, over Vinnie Abbey, Hartland, Jr. (46-3)
Marines set himself up to be the Shamrocks’ next four-time champion, claiming his third title in as many tries.
“It means a lot to me,” Marines said. “I want to make my family proud, make my teammates proud. That’s what I came to CC to do.”
Marines, who won at 145 and 152 the previous two years, scored a takedown nine seconds into the match and rolled from there.
“It’s just business,” Marines said. “Come here and get it done. I’m at the point where this is routine for me. I’m not being cocky, but that’s what we come here to do. It’s business. It’s just work.”
165
Champion: Cameron Adams, Detroit Catholic Central, Sr. (35-4)
Fall, 1:03, over Nick Rochowiak, Hartland, Sr. (39-4)
Adams had Rochowiak scouted, as they had run into each other several times over the years. So when he saw an opportunity, he was quick to take it.
“We used to wrestle all the time, so I know he’s got that headlock,” Adams said. “He got up to that pinch-like headlock position and I was like, ‘Oh shoot.’ I started backing away, backing away and I reached down for the leg, brought up the leg, grabbed the head when I had the single and put him away.”
Adams had finished seventh at 160 pounds in 2022.
“Honestly, it doesn’t feel real yet,” he said. “But it feels really good. It feels amazing.”
190
Champion: Brayden Mirjavadi, Romeo, Sr. (52-4)
Decision, 3-2, over Ryan Ahern, Rockford, Jr. (51-3)
Before Mirjavadi stepped onto the mat, his coaches told him to put everything he had into his match. He took that to heart, and after that match ended, struggled to get back to his feet, as exhaustion and emotion pinned his shoulders to the mat.
Eventually he made it to his feet, however, and the celebration could begin as he erased the regret of losing in the 2022 Final at 160 pounds.
“Coaches told me that, ‘At the end of the match, if you can get up to raise your hand, you did something wrong,’” Mirjavadi said. “I definitely did that last year at the state finals. But man, I did it this time.”
215
Champion: Connor Bercume, Detroit Catholic Central, Soph. (49-4)
Decision, 8-3 UTB, over Matthew Bollman, Lapeer, Sr. (40-4)
Bercume nearly won the match in regulation, but his takedown at the buzzer didn’t beat the clock.
He regrouped in the second overtime, however, scoring five points in the final 30-second period to win his first Finals title.
“I just had to keep wrestling,” Bercume said. “It was hard going to overtime. I thought I won. But I remember last year, I lost my blood round match in ultimate tiebreaker, and I remembered how that felt. And I just found a way to win.”
Bollman, who was Lapeer’s first finalist since 2015, forced overtime with a stalling call on Bercume seconds before the takedown that wasn’t.
285
Champion: Owen Hawley, Livonia Franklin, Sr. (55-0)
Decision, 4-2, over Judah Kinne, Lake Orion, Sr. (31-2)
Hawley won this match twice. Kind of.
He appeared to have claimed a 7-2 victory, but a clock malfunction forced officials to put 22 seconds back on the clock and reset the score to 4-2. Unfazed, Hawley was able to ride out Kinne and claim the victory for real.
“I wasted a little bit of energy on that celebration at first,” Hawley said with a laugh. “But looking at my crowd, my parents, my friends, my teammates, my coaches, their faces looked terrible. There was zero belief at that point. All I had to do was give them a thumb’s up, they started cheering, they got excited, and it made me excited.
“I love to wrestle – what’s 22 more seconds?”
PHOTOS (Top) Davison's Caden Horwath, top, works for control against Grosse Pointe South's Wyatt Hepner in their championship match Saturday at Ford Field. (Middle) Detroit Catholic Central's Dylan Gilcher and Brighton's Travis Richards wrestle at 150 pounds. (Below) Davison's Josh Barr readies for the next moment during his 175-pound title match. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)