Trombley Prevents History, Makes His Own
March 5, 2016
By Jeff Chaney
Special for Second Half
AUBURN HILLS – Jarrett Trombley ended a bit of history Saturday night at the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
And along the way, he kept his own bit of history going.
The Lake Fenton sophomore beat Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior Devin Schroder 6-4 in overtime, preventing Schroder from winning his fourth MHSAA championship and becoming just the 22nd wrestler to accomplish that feat.
And Trombley won his second straight Division 3 Finals title, to go with the 112-pound championship he earned last year while wrestling for Corunna High School.
"Pretty much everyone knew who won this match would be a (four-time) champion, whether it was me in two years or him today," Trombley said. "I'm just really happy to hold him back from history and make some of my own history today."
It wasn't easy, though, as the match went into an extra period, where Trombley secured the win with a takedown.
"That's why we work so hard, Trombley said. "We were both very well-conditioned athletes; it just came down to whoever had the most heart."
103
Champion: Anthony Gallagher, Perry, Jr. (42-1)
Decision, 2-0, over A.J. Geyer, Lake Fenton, Jr. (51-9)
After shaking hands with the opposing coaches, Anthony Gallagher sprinted across the mat and jumped into his coach's arms.
He first wanted to share his special moment with two people who helped realize his dream.
"This is amazing," Gallagher said. "My coaches and I put so much work into this. So much blood, sweat and tears, and to finally see what I've wanted to accomplish since the start of the year is amazing."
What's even more amazing is that Gallagher is the first wrestling MHSAA champion at Perry High School in 41 years.
112
Champion: Spencer Good, Jackson Lumen Christi, Jr. (43-4)
Decision, 6-3, over Blain Wood, Caro, Soph. (51-6)
Good was better than good; he was great this weekend in Auburn Hills. And because of that, the Jackson Lumen Christi junior is a champion.
Good said it was old-fashioned work ethic that helped him come out on top in his weight class this weekend, and it showed in the Final as he took the match to Wood from the start.
"I am so thrilled with this; this is the best feeling I have felt in my life," Good said. "There is so much work and effort put into this sport, and this is the dream behind it all. You put in so much work, to finally accomplish this, it's a big deal."
125
Champion: Aaron Kilburn, Richmond, Sr. (44-4)
Decision, 7-1, over Trevor Robinson, Shepherd, Fr. (49-6)
Kilburn is a man of few words. He let's his talking be done on the mat.
Kilburn won his second title with a workmanlike 7-1 decision.
The Richmond senior won his first title at 112 pounds at the end of his sophomore season.
"It feels a little different this time since it’s my senior year," Kilburn said "Going out with a bang, that's a bonus."
Even though it was Kilburn's day, he looked back at Richmond history to get through his last year.
"Watching him (Richmond 4-time champion Devin Skatzka) dominate this tournament for four years helped," Kilburn said of his former teammate who accomplished that feat last year. "He just dominated this tournament, and showed me."
130
Champion: Alex Martinez, Ida, Sr. (45-0)
Decision, 4-3 OT, over Kole Krauss, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Sr. (43-2)
As a freshman, Martinez advanced to the Finals, only to lose a tough match and finish runner-up.
It took two long years to get back to wrestling Saturday night at The Palace for a championship, but that's where Martinez found himself, wrestling Krauss for the title at 130 pounds.
The match went to overtime, and Martinez rode Krauss out for a hard-fought 4-3 victory.
"I got the early takedown in the first, and that's what I knew I had to do right away to win," Martinez said. "I wrestled him earlier in the season, and that's how I beat him then; I got an early takedown in the first.
"Then in the second period I rode him out," he added. "In the third period, I got a little gassed, I'm not going to lie. Triple overtime, I was stuck on bottom all match, so I went on top and that is usually my best position. I got that side headlock, and got it done."
135
Champion: Reiley Brown, Whitehall, Sr. (51-1)
Decision, 2-1 OT, over Matt Santos, Saginaw Swan Valley, Sr. (51-2)
It was a battle of returning champions at 135 pounds, and the match would not disappoint, as Brown rode out Santos in triple overtime for the win, 2-1.
"I expected that match completely," said Brown, who will be wrestling at Central Michigan University next year. "I knew we were going to be defensive on our feet. I knew it was going to be close, and I knew it was going to come down to the mat wrestling like it did. Whitehall is known to be dominant on top, that is what we work at."
140
Champion: Jwan Britton, Whitehall, Sr. (51-2)
Decision, 5-4, over Zach Blevins, Dundee, Sr. (49-5)
Britton didn't get a chance to watch teammate Reiley Brown win his MHSAA title. He was busy in the tunnel of The Palace warming up for his match as Brown was finishing off Matt Santos.
But Britton knew something special happened for the Whitehall wrestling program, and he wanted to keep that feeling going in his match.
And that happened, as Britton beat Blevins on a late takedown.
"I didn't even get to watch his (Brown's) match, but we both had a plan to come out here and wrestle for a championship," Britton said. "My coach said I was better on my feet, so when he was up by one in the third because I cut him early, I knew I could win on my feet."
145
Champion: Kanen Storr, Leslie, Sr. (58-0)
Technical fall, 17-2, over Jaycob Sharp, Remus Chippewa Hills, Soph. (50-7)
On a night when several past champions, and a few multiple champions like Schroder and Lowell senior Lucas Hall went down to defeat, Storr, a returning two-time champ, was not about to fall by way of the upset.
"Sitting back in that tunnel, watching all these upsets go down, it's a crazy thing," Storr said. "Guys I thought would never lose, went down. But they may have let up, they might have gave those extra points up that they shouldn't have. Going into my match, I really changed my mindset to score and get a comfortable lead, to score, score and score."
152
Champion: Sean Sterling, Dundee, Jr. (47-4)
Decision, 4-2 OT, over Collin Lieber, Croswell-Lexington, Jr. (54-1)
Sterling reached into his school's past for inspiration for what he did Saturday night, earn a championship with a 4-2 overtime win over the previously undefeated Lieber.
Now he will be an inspiration for Dundee's future.
"The entrance to our building, there is a picture of every state champ, and every day I walk into school and look at every single one of them," Sterling said. "And now I am going to be one of them. Knowing that some kid will be looking up at me now, that's cool."
160
Champion: Foster Karmon, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Sr. (34-0)
Decision, 9-3, over Tyler Childs, Birch Run, Sr. (43-9)
Karmon has had a great high school career that spanned over two schools.
He started by winning an MHSAA title his sophomore year, and then carried that success over to Catholic Central his past two years.
He won his third overall title, and second at GRCC.
"I don't think it's really set in completely," Karmon said. "It's been a good career. I had a good time at Allegan, and a good time at Catholic Central. Each program had upside. A lot of history at Allegan, and a lot of good workout partners at Catholic Central. And a lot of good coaches at both."
171
Champion: Daniel Thompson, Lake Odessa Lakewood, Jr. (49-2)
Decision, 6-5 OT, over Adam McCann, Midland Bullock Creek, Sr. (53-1)
Thomson picked up a little scouting report from a friend, Lapeer senior Devon Pingel, that helped him win Saturday.
"That helped me a lot. I owe a lot to him, because my focus was to stay aggressive progressively throughout the match. That helped a lot when we got into overtime," Thompson said.
Unfortunately, Thompson's friend Pingel was losing his championship match a mat away from Thompson.
189
Champion: Brandon Whitman, Dundee, Soph. (48-1)
Decision, 2-1, over Jared Roehl, Millington, Jr. (44-2)
When two reigning champions meet on the mat, the margin of error shrinks, and the matter of victory can be as little as a little more work and effort to pull out the win.
That was the case when Whitman and Roehl met for Roehl's title Saturday night.
Whitman, who won at 171 last year, found that little bit extra in beating Roehl by the score of 2-1.
"That was tough," Whitman said. "At the beginning of the year we kind of figured we were going to face him, and we knew we were going to have a tough time with him. I knew I had to practice harder to get the job done."
215
Champion: Quintin Wilber, Montrose, Sr. (48-4)
Decision, 8-2, over Tyden Ferris, Delton Kellogg, Soph. (54-3)
Wilber not only showed his great athleticism during his 8-2 win, but also after, completing a near-perfect back flip to seal it.
And during the post-match interview, Wilber wanted to flip some of the credit to the people he said helped him realize his dream of a title.
"This feels real good," Wilber said after his win. "I went in with the mindset I could do it, and I went in and got after it. I want to thank my (workout partners) for pushing me and getting after me. And to all my teammates, thank you."
285
Champion: Trent Hillger, Lake Fenton, Jr. (63-0)
Fall, 1:27, over Maddox Maki, Williamston, Sr. (45-6)
Hillger may have had the most impressive weekend of any champion in any division at The Palace.
He pinned his way to his second championship, including a fall against reigning heavyweight champion Maki in the Final in one minute, 27 seconds.
Hillger won his first title at 215 pounds last year.
"Being a state champ last year, I wanted to come back as a returning state champ and not lose my title," Hillger said "I wanted to be aggressive and use my speed to my advantage. Coming up from a lighter weight class, a lot of these heavyweights are slower, and I wanted to go out there and wrestle my match."
The MHSAA Wrestling Finals are presented by the Michigan Army National Guard.
PHOTO: Lake Fenton’s Jarrett Trombly works against his Semifinal opponent Friday on his way to claiming a second MHSAA championship Saturday. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Preview: Trio of Contenders Aim for Highest Achievement on State's Biggest Stage
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 27, 2025
The largest MHSAA championship event – competed in the largest arena to host one – begins again today, with 1,120 wrestlers taking the mats at Ford Field for the Individual Wrestling Finals.
There are at least that many storylines swirling as first-round matches get underway. But three in particular are likely to gain statewide attention as they begin final drives to join an elite group.
Lowell's Jackson Blum, Riverview Gabriel Richard's Sebasatian Martinez and Fowlerville's Margaret Buurma could bring the total of four-time champions in Individual Finals history to 40 by Saturday night – and Buurma could become the first four-time girls champion since the MHSAA added that division in 2022.
The Grand March begins at 10 a.m. today, with wrestling through semifinals this 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 MHSAA.tv, and we’ll talk to all 14 champions in each division for our coverage published later that evening and overnight. See the MHSAA.com Wrestling page for more information and to follow results this weekend.
Following are glances at just some of the many contenders who will compete this weekend.
Division 1
120 Wyatt Lees, Detroit Catholic Central junior (34-5) – The top seed at this weight has won championships at 106 and 113 pounds over his first two seasons, respectively.
120 Steve Vaughn, Davison sophomore (28-10) – He started his high school career with a championship at 106 last season.
126 Archer Anderson, Clarkston senior (42-2) – Last season’s champ at 120 – defeating teammate Preston Lefevre in overtime – and the 113 runner-up in 2023 is the top seed in his bracket.
132 Bohdan Abbey, Hartland junior (45-1) – The top seed at this weight is a combined 102-2 over the last two seasons, coming off a runner-up finish at 126 after winning 113 as a freshman.
144 Grayson Fuchs, Detroit Catholic Central sophomore (38-2) – Last season’s champion at 126 is the top seed in his bracket as he pursues a second title.
150 Wyatt Hepner, Grosse Pointe South senior (43-1) – The reigning champion at 138 is seeded second at this weight and also was the runner-up at 126 as a sophomore.
150 Dallas Korponic, Hartland junior (46-4) – He claimed the title at 132 last season with a third-period comeback and is seeded first in his bracket this weekend.
165 Jay’Den Williams, Roseville junior (49-0) – He’s seeded first at this weight after finishing runner-up last season at 157, when he faced DCC’s eventual four-time champ Darius Marines for the title, and at 144 as a freshman.
215 Connor Bercume, Detroit Catholic Central senior (44-0) – He’s seeking his third championship at this weight and has entered as the top seed all three seasons.
285 Logan Tollison, Grand Ledge junior (41-0) – Last season’s runner-up at 215 hasn’t lost since that championship match and is the top seed in his bracket.
Other 2024 runners-up: 120 Matthew Quigley, Traverse City West sophomore (44-1, 113 last year); 138 Preston Lefevre, Clarkston senior (45-1, 120 last year); 138 Josh Vasquez, Grandville senior (37-3, 132 last year); 144 Tanner Mcdunnah, Davison senior (31-8, 144 last year); 285 Anton Barynas, Jenison senior (32-4, 285 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Cyrus Woodberry, Detroit Cass Tech freshman (47-2); 113 Layne Martin, Rockford sophomore (39-3); 138 Jace Morgan, Rochester Adams senior (43-0); 157 Braylenn Aulbach, Rockford senior (45-2); 175 Luke Johnson, Oxford senior (42-4); 190 Lee Krueger, Detroit Catholic Central senior (37-8).
Also undefeated: 144 Ian Cook, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer senior (48-0).
Division 2
113 Jarrett Smith, Lowell junior (38-3) – He defeated teammate Cole Cichocki at 106 to win his first championship last season and is the top seed in his bracket for the second straight.
120 Devan Garcia, Battle Creek Harper Creek junior (32-1) – The top seed at this weight won at 113 last season and is a combined 79-2 over the last two.
126 Carter Cichocki, Lowell senior (33-10) – He won 120 last season and finished runner-up at 113 as a sophomore.
132 Jackson Blum, Lowell senior (43-0) – He’s won titles at 112, 120 and 132 and is a combined 78-1 over the last two seasons.
144 Jaron Bensinger, Gaylord junior (43-0) – The top seed at this weight is seeking to take the next step after finishing runner-up at 126 last season.
150 Lane Button, Wayland senior (48-0) – The reigning champion at this weight, he’s seeded first again and has built a combined 96-0 record over the last two seasons.
165 Owen Segorski, Lowell senior (41-4) – He’s seeking to graduate with three championships after winning 125 as a freshman and 144 last year, and placing second at 138 as a sophomore.
165 Zane Willobee, Gaylord junior (29-1) – A bit of an unexpected champion as the sixth seed last season at 157, he’s the second seed in this weekend’s bracket.
175 Zachary Taylor, Gibraltar Carlson senior (50-1) – The top seed in this bracket in Division 2 suffered his only loss last season in the 165-pound final in Division 1.
215 James Mahon, Goodrich senior (30-3) – The champion at 285 the last two seasons, last year with a 9-8 decision after trailing 5-0, has dropped down a weight this winter.
Other 2024 runners-up: 120 Cole Cichocki, Lowell sophomore (24-15, 106 last year); 120 Cristian Haslem, St. Clair junior (37-0, 113 last year); 138 Dominic Gumtow, Warren Woods Tower senior (20-1, 120 last year); 138 Trendon Bashore, DeWitt senior (55-1, 132 last year); 144 Buddy Leonard, Freeland senior (43-2, 138 last year competing for Alma); 165 D’Marion Erlenbeck, Clio junior (41-2, 157 last year); 175 Fabian Facundo, Freeland senior (39-1, 150 last year); 215 Case Johnson, Greenville senior (54-1, 215 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Tyler Sage, Linden freshman (56-1); 126 Jeremiah Brown, Flint Kearsley senior (21-0); 138 Trenden Bashore, DeWitt senior (55-1); 157 Tyler Bashore, DeWitt sophomore (51-0); 190 Casey Engle, Lowell senior (38-8); Charles White, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s senior (20-2); 285 Adin Young, Plainwell senior (42-0).
Also undefeated: 120 Joshua Ledford, Zeeland East sophomore (46-0); 157 Jacob Chase, Hamilton senior (50-0); 157 Ayden Tatum, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s junior (32-0).
Division 3
113 Mason Katschor, Dundee sophomore (30-5) – Last season’s champion at 106 is the top seed in his bracket for the second-straight year.
120 Haydn Nutt, Dundee junior (28-6) – He’s a top seed for the third-straight season after winning 106 as a freshman and finishing runner-up last year at 113.
126 Dale Gant, Grand Rapids Catholic Central junior (36-1) – He’s seeking a third title to go with championships at 113 as a freshman and 120 last year, and also is a top seed.
132 Braden Broderick, Dundee junior (31-10) – Last season’s runner-up at 120 enters this weekend as the top seed in this bracket.
144 Mikey Wilson, Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior (42-1) – The reigning champion at 138 is the top seed at this weight and a combined 60-1 over the last two seasons.
150 Blake Cosby, Dundee junior (33-0) – He went from runner-up at 144 as a freshman to champ at that weight last year, and he’s the top seed at this weight and a combined 77-1 over the last two winters.
165 Donny Beaufait, Dundee junior (43-1) – He finished runner-up at 150 last year, losing an ultimate tie-breaker to teammate Trey Parker, and enters this weekend as another Dundee top seed.
175 Kole Katschor, Dundee senior (41-4) – He’s won at 150 and 157 the last two seasons and is the top seed in this bracket.
190 Gavin Craner, Whitehall senior (54-0) – He’s a combined 108-0 over the last two seasons, having won 175 a year ago and also finishing runner-up at 175 in 2023.
285 Wyatt Spalo, Reed City senior (47-4) – Last year’s runner-up at 285, by a 3-0 decision, is the third seed in his return.
Another 2024 runner-up: 113 Kaleb Reese, Frankenmuth senior (43-5, 106 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Brody Ashley, Coloma freshman (55-2), 138 Wyatt Burns, Dundee sophomore (34-9); 157 Jeremy Amrhein, Dundee junior (41-6); 215 Wyatt Jenkins, Whitehall senior (49-3); 285 Reid Hiltunen, Algonac senior (51-1).
Also undefeated: 190 Trevor Thorbahn, Gladstone junior (21-0).
Division 4
120 Logan Gilbert, Climax-Scotts/Martin senior (40-5) – The second seed at this weight is looking to finish with a third title to go with wins at 106 last year and 103 as a freshman, and also a runner-up finish at 106 as a sophomore.
120 Alex Rodriguez, St. Lous junior (49-4) – He’s the third seed in this bracket after winning 113 last season and finishing runner-up at that weight as a freshman.
120 Sammy Stewart, Manchester junior (47-1) – He finished runner-up at 126 a year ago but is the top seed in this strong bracket looking to add to his title at 113 from 2023.
126 Nicholas Sorrow, Hudson junior (49-1) – He’s looking to add a third title to championships won at 120 last year and 106 as a freshman, and is a top seed for the third-straight year as well.
138 Julien Kimling, Hudson senior (23-2) – The reigning champion at 126 edged Stewart in that final last year and will look to emerge from the middle of this bracket.
144 Haylen Buell, Climax-Scotts/Martin junior (50-4) – He’s a top seed and seeking a second-straight title after winning 132 last year and finishing runner-up at that weight as a freshman.
150 Blake Sloan, Manchester junior (47-3) – He finished runner-up at 144 both last year and as a freshman, and is hoping to emerge from the middle of this bracket.
157 Montana Connell, Union City senior (21-7) – He’s also seeking a second-straight title, after winning 150 last year, and positioned in the middle of his bracket this weekend.
165 Layne Knisely, Bronson junior (44-2) – He missed out on the championship last season at 157 with a 1-0 loss, and he’ll pursue again entering as the second seed in this bracket.
175 Sebastian Martinez, Riverview Gabriel Richard senior (41-2) – He’s won championships at 145, 157 and 165 and is the top seed in his final high school bracket.
Other 2024 runners-up: 106 Jordan Zambon, Riverview Gabriel Richard sophomore (35-2, 106 last year); 126 Austin Garcia, Lawton senior (49-4, 113 last year); 132 Colt Perry, Hudson junior (38-10, 120 last year); 138 Logan Mears, Union City senior (37-3, 132 last year); 157 Gabriel Erwin, Bronson junior (36-4, 150 last year); 175 CJ Copeland, Lakeview senior (45-8, 190 last year); 190 Bryce Randolph, Clinton senior (38-5, 175 in Division 3 last year); 285 Chaz Underwood, White Pigeon senior (49-3, 285 last year).
Additional No. 1 seeds: 106 Jordan Zambon, Riverview Gabriel Richard sophomore (35-2); 113 Owen Fogel, St. Louis junior (44-2); 132 Braylon Long, Clinton senior (34-3); 138 Luke Harrington, Riverview Gabriel Richard junior (40-4); 150 Dalton Birchmeier, New Lothrop senior (47-2); 157 Jericho Holmes, LeRoy Pine River junior (42-2); 165 Fred Hammond, Otisville LakeVille Memorial junior (50-1); 190 Bryce Randolph, Clinton senior (38-5); 215 Landen Johnson, Lakeview senior (51-1); 285 Mitchell Swift, Delton Kellogg junior (37-6).
Also undefeated: 113 Kolton Burns, Decatur sophomore (30-0); 190 Rowan Bradford, Decatur junior (49-0).
Girls Division
100 Madison Nieuwenhuis, Plainwell junior (22-0) – She’s the top seed again as she wrestles for her third-straight championship in this bracket and to finish a second-straight undefeated season.
105 Natalie Gibson, Remus Chippewa Hills senior (16-2) – The reigning champion at this weight will need to emerge from the middle of the bracket to repeat.
110 Nakayla Dawson, Westland John Glenn junior (8-0) – She’s a top seed again as well pursuing her second-straight title at this weight and third overall after winning 105 as a freshman.
125 Lola Barkby, Sturgis junior (19-1) – She’s seeded second in this bracket after winning at 120 a year ago.
145 Margaret Buurma, Fowlerville senior (34-3) – She could become the first four-time champion since the MHSAA Finals added a girls division, as she won 135 last year, 125 as a sophomore and 115 as a freshman.
145 Belicia Manuel, Romeo junior (27-2) – Last season’s champion at 140 is the top seed in this bracket and a combined 50-2 over the last two seasons.
155 Kaili Manuel, Romeo sophomore (38-0) – The reigning champion at 145 also is top-seeded in this bracket and a combined 64-1 over the last two seasons.
155 Maddison Ward, Niles senior (27-0) – The reigning champion at 170 is a combined 64-1 over the last two seasons and seeded second in this bracket.
170 Maddie Hayden, Caledonia junior (18-1) – Last season’s champion at 155 is the top seed at this weight and is wrestling for her third title after also winning 155 as a freshman.
190 Madasyn Frisbie, Belding senior (20-1) – She won titles at 235 the last two seasons after finishing runner-up as a freshman, and she’s seeded third in this bracket as she goes for a third championship.
Other 2024 runners-up: 115 Gracey Barry, Grand Haven senior (30-1, 115 last year); 120 Cheyenne Frank, Oxford junior (22-0, 110 last year); 125 Jamie Cook, DeWitt senior (39-3, 125 last year); 130 Faith Burgess, Grand Blanc senior (31-1, 120 last year); 135 Isabella Cepak, South Lyon East senior (14-0, 130 last year); 145 Rihanna Venegas, Riverview Gabriel Richard senior (19-1, 145 last year); 190 Heaven Cole, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (18-0, 170 last year); 235 Braelyn Flemming, Spring Lake senior (6-2, 235 last year).
Additional top seeds: 105 Tatianna Castillo, Lowell freshman (24-0); 115 Kennedy Perez, Livonia Franklin senior (13-0); 125 Cecilia Williams, Mason junior (6-0); 130 Faith Burgess, Grand Blanc senior (31-1); 135 Isabella Cepak, South Lyon East senior (14-0); 140 Mackenna Webster, Bronson junior (30-0); 190 Heaven Cole, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (18-0); 235 Annmarie Green, Clare junior (23-8).
Also undefeated: 115 Zionah Gardner, Homer senior (9-0), 115 Harmony Gonzales, Oxford freshman (13-0); 130 Elyse Morales, Mattawan junior (30-0); 235 Isabel Anaya, Holland West Ottawa senior (29-0); 235 Mya Brandenburg, Allen Park junior (22-0).
PHOTOS (Top) Lowell's Jackson Blum, left, wrestles Fowlerville's Caleb Cyman during last Saturday's Division 2 Team Final. (Middle) Riverview Gabriel Richard's Sebastian Martinez, right, holds up three fingers on both hands after winning his third Finals championship last season. (Below) Fowlerville's Margaret Buurma, left, wrestles Clarkston's Paisley Denault last season on the way to winning her third championship. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)