DETROIT – Hunter Assenmacher had waited three years for this. 

The Ida senior defeated Flint Powers Catholic’s Sean Spidle 7-4 on Saturday in the Division 3 119-pound championship match at the MHSAA Individual Finals at Ford Field. The win avenged Assenmacher’s only Finals loss, which came against Spidle their freshmen year. 

“It was definitely weighing on my mind, but I knew I had put in the work the past three years,” Assenmacher said. “I worked so hard, I’ve been waiting for this chance to come back at him. A lot of people thought we might try to bump away from each other, but both of us have been great competitors for each other with great sportsmanship. Wrestling him was truly an honor. It was a great match, and I was really looking forward to it all year.” 

The title was the third straight for Assenmacher (48-1), and prevented Spidle (35-1) from claiming his fourth.  

Assenmacher was clinging to a one-point lead late in the match, but was able to lock up a front cradle on the edge of the mat to extend his lead to three and wrap up the match and the title. 

“I know a lot of people were thinking of him as undefeated the past two years, a four-timer possibly, but you just can’t let that get into your head,” Assenmacher said. “Everybody has to take it one match at a time. Once you get to the state finals, it’s a restart button. You’re both 0-0. It’s just whoever goes out there and wants it more.” 

103 

Champion: Braeden Davis, Dundee, Fr. (38-4) 
Technical fall, 16-1, over Dallas Stanton, Almont, Soph. (39-5) 

Before Davis could fully celebrate his Finals title, he had to do some wind sprints on field.  

With none of his matches making it to the third period, and his final match ending in the first, he may have needed the extra work.  

“I’ve done this before, I’ve been to these big tournaments, and it’s just another tournament to me,” he said. “I just went out there trying to do whatever he gave me, and he gave me a bunch of tilts. I never use a plan; whatever they give me, I use.” 

112 

Champion: Jordan Rodriguez, Chesaning, Sr. (41-1) 
Decision, 7-1, over Hunter Keller, Richmond, Jr. (37-5) 

Rodriguez and Keller were both a match away from a Finals title a year ago, but it was Rodriguez who was able to climb to the top of the podium this year. 

He used a pair of first-period takedowns to take control of the match and never looked back. 

“I wanted to score as many points as I could and not give any opportunities up,” Rodriguez said. “I kind of had a feeling he was going to keep his distance and make me come in close.

“(Last year) made me want to dominate. It sucks losing in the finals, so I just used that to say it’s not going to happen again.” 

125 

Champion: Ryker Johnecheck, Williamston, Soph. (44-2) 
Decision, 3-2 (UTB), over Aiden Davis, Dundee, Fr. (42-5) 

With five seconds on the clock in the second ultimate tiebreaker, Johnecheck found himself down one point and with few options. 

He went big and it paid off, as his last-second takedown wrapped up his first Finals title.  

“This is what I’ve been looking forward to,” he said. “I just thrive off the atmosphere, and this year I looked at it a lot differently. I wasn’t as scared of all the people.

“I really don’t know what happened. He got out and I was like, ‘He’s ahead by a point, I need to get a takedown. I need to get something.’ So I just ran at him and did what I could.” 

130 

Champion: Austin Fietz, Dundee, Jr. (41-6) 
Decision, 5-3, over Brock Holek, Durand, Jr. (45-1) 

Fietz started a run of six straight Dundee championships. 

With a pair of takedowns in the third period, he was able to overcome a small, early deficit and claim his title. 

“This one feels good,” he said. “Going from fourth (place) to fifth to now winning it, this just feels awesome. I knew he had a good dump, just off the scouting report and watching him throughout the tournament. I knew he had a good fireman’s dump, so I knew if I could stay inside and I could get to a move that I like from there, I would be good. That’s how I scored most of my points.” 

135 

Champion: Casey Swiderski, Dundee, Soph. (39-1) 
Major decision, 16-7, over Dametrius Castillo, Alma, Jr. (38-8) 

Swiderski came out on top in a matchup of former Finals champions.  

He had won at 103 pounds a year ago and had made a big jump throughout the season by wrestling at 125. He jumped up even further for the postseason.  

“I was ranked No. 1 at 125 all year, but I’ve got two good teammates that had the possibility to win it at 125 and 130, so I went to 135 weighing 130 maybe,” he said. “We had a state finalist at 125 and a state champ at 130, so I’m just proud of my teammates that they got it done. … My big goal is to get eight (titles) total – four as a team and four individual. That would mean the most to me.”  

Castillo had won his individual championship in 2018.

140 

Champion: Christian Killion, Dundee, Sr. (46-6)
Decision, 5-3, over William Bradley, Paw Paw, Soph. (49-5) 

After finishing second at each of the past two Finals, Killion was able to finish his career on top. 

He went up 5-0 in this match, and was able to hold Bradley off down the stretch. 

“It’s outstanding – to be a two-time runner-up and finally win one,” he said. “I’m thankful to even be where I am today. When I was coming into high school out of eighth grade, I didn’t know how serious I was going to be in this sport. My buddy Zach Bellaire whipped me into shape and got me to love this sport again. To think I’d even make it this far, to do this good at a tournament is just outstanding to me.” 

145 

Champion: Tyler Swiderski, Dundee, Jr. (47-3) 
Decision, 6-2, over Kael Bunce, Stockbridge, Sr. (33-2) 

Like his teammate, Killion, Swiderski finished the past two seasons one step short of the top of the podium. 

He used a strong performance on his feet to make sure that wouldn’t happen again, earning a takedown in each period to claim his first Finals title.  

“It’s a lot better than sitting on the ground crying – a lot better,” Swiderski said. “I was like, ‘I can’t be a three-time runner-up. That can’t happen.’ So, I was just more free and let my mind take care of things and wrestle.” 

152 

Champion: Dominic Lomazzo, Dundee, Jr. (24-4) 
Decision, 8-5, over Peyton Brooks, Midland Bullock Creek, Soph. (48-6) 

A year ago, Lomazzo watched his teammates from the Ford Field stands. 

This year, he was able to join in on the fun and claim a Finals title of his own. 

“I saw all my friends win last year, and I was so proud of them,” Lomazzo said. “But it just burned that I couldn’t compete. It feels great to win it this year. It feels amazing. It’s dominance – we set that in the beginning of the year, that we’re working for dominance. We have great talent on this team and I’m proud of all these guys, everyone. Even the kids that weren’t in the finals, they did their part this year.” 

160 

Champion: Stony Buell, Dundee, Jr. (45-3)
Major decision, 12-4, over Randy Pyrzewski, Gladwin, Soph. (47-6) 

Buell’s title was the sixth straight for Dundee, and seventh on the night, tying an MHSAA record (set by Detroit Catholic Central in 2019 and St. Johns in 2013).  

It also gave Buell his third title in as many tries, putting him on track to become a four-timer next season. 

“Ever since I was a child, it’s been one of my biggest goals to be a four-time state champ,” Buell said. “So, really I’m just going to reset the board next year and still be hungry for that next title.” 

171 

Champion: Dillon Kroening, Gladwin, Sr. (52-1)
Decision, 7-5, over Jaxon Guinn, Dundee, Sr. (36-10) 

A year ago, Kroening was a match away from bringing a title back to Gladwin for the first time since 1989. This time, he accomplished the feat. 

Kroening came back from an early deficit with a nearfall in the second period, and a reversal and a takedown in the third to wrap up the victory. 

“Adversity, I’ve learned to fight through adversity my whole life,” Kroening said. “I started out with my coach from the Pittbulls (club); he’s pushed me hard and never let me quit, and that’s what I showed right there. It just means so much to me. This is for Gladwin.” 

189 

Champion: Jonathan Clack, Lake Odessa Lakewood, Sr. (52-0) 
Decision, 6-4, over Noah Montanari, Richmond, Sr. (35-4) 

Clack finished his unbeaten season with his 200th career victory. 

He took a 6-1 lead into the third period and held off a late charge from Montanari. 

“It feels awesome; I trained my whole life for this,” Clack said. “Every day. I trained harder than anyone in the room, I trained as hard as I could, pushed myself to the limit, did extra practices, extra work and it all paid off. I trained my whole life for this. It’s awesome.” 

215 

Champion: Luke Davis, Richmond, Sr. (42-2) 
Decision, 11-9, over Boe Eckman, Constantine, Jr. (38-4) 

Davis spent the year atop the rankings in this weight class, and was dominant on the weekend. 

But Eckman put a scare into him, putting him to his back late in the second period. The Richmond senior was able to regroup, however, and grab his first Finals title. 

“It’s a big stress relief,” Davis said. “Being a senior and everything, it feels like there’s a giant load off my shoulders. You’re carrying that weight the whole year of being ranked first, to have a close match like that and have some quick scares – I got rolled over to my back there and I was like, ‘No. I could cower up and be a coward and let myself get pinned, make excuses for myself. Or I can fight my way out of it.’ Not to toot my horn, but that’s why I’ve been ranked No. 1 all year. Everyone believes that I can do it, but I believe that I can do it.” 

285 

Champion: Grant Clarkson, Lake Odessa Lakewood, Sr. (40-0) 
Decision, 5-2, over Terrance Watson, Birch Run, Sr. (44-2) 

Clarkson was the only heavyweight in the state to finish the season unbeaten, as he capped off his perfect year with a Finals title. 

He led 3-2 late in the match, and sealed the victory with a late takedown. 

“I’m on cloud nine. I’m ecstatic,” Clarkson said. “I’ve worked at it for four years. After my freshman year watching the state finals, I said I wanted to win a state title. Here we are, four years later. (Going unbeaten) was a goal I set, and I like to achieve my goals. I had to push myself every day to get better, and that’s what I did all year.” 

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PHOTO: Ida’s Hunter Assenmacher (left) and Flint Powers Catholic’s Sean Spidle face off in the Division 3 119-pound championship match Saturday at Ford Field. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)