Tales of Teams, Trophies & Trinkets - Vol 2
By
Ron Pesch
MHSAA historian
February 9, 2017
A picture may be worth a thousand words – but often, we can learn as much from a traveling trophy, game ticket, and even an old megaphone.
Michigan’s high school sports history is more than a century old and filled with legends passed on of games, teams and athletes and the roles they played as our communities rolled forward toward present day. Following up last year’s “Tales of Teams, Trophies & Trinkets,” we present a second chapter highlighting artifacts that tell some of those stories.
|
1909 |
Saginaw vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill |
Football Trophy |
This bronzed football was the original used in the 1909 Thanksgiving Day contest played between Saginaw High and Saginaw Arthur Hill, and won by Saginaw, 5-0 at Burkart Park. In 1948, the ball was stylized into a trophy by the Letterman’s Associations of the rival schools, designed to travel between schools as the reward for winning the annual contest. When the Lumberjacks of Arthur Hill ripped off 24 straight victories beginning in 1971 (the teams played twice in 1974), ownership of the trophy was mostly forgotten. When talk of closing Saginaw High School mounted, the trophy was placed on display at Saginaw’s Castle Museum, then donated to the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame.
According to Jeffrey Cottrell, the multi-media specialist at the Historical Society of Saginaw County, when plans to close Saginaw High did not materialize, “it was decided amongst the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame and the Arthur Hill Letterwinners Association that it was time to put it back into use. This past fall, the Sports Hall of Fame awarded the trophy to Saginaw High when they beat Arthur Hill 40-0.”
Going forward, the Letterman's Trophy will continue to be presented to the winner of the football game between the Trojans and the Lumberjacks.
|
1921 |
Detroit Cass Tech vs. Flint Central |
Football Program |
A crowd of 2,500 was on hand for this contest as Detroit Cass Tech downed Flint Central, 34-20, in an aerial battle between the squads. The Detroit Free Press arraigned for a special interurban run, with special railcars earmarked for Cass Tech students interested in attending the Saturday game at Flint. Between 200 to 300 made the trip to cheer their team to victory.
Flint Central completed 14 of 34 passes for 176 yards, but was intercepted on six occasions. Cass Tech arms were accurate on only 7 of 24 attempts for 160 yards, with four interceptions, but two completions went for touchdowns of 18 yards and 50 yards. A third pass of 35 yards helped set up the visitor’s first score. Bruno Murkobred, Cass Tech’s speedy quarterback, was the star of the contest, scoring three of his team’s five touchdowns.
|
1939 |
Kalamazoo Central vs. Battle Creek Central |
Basketball Program |
This tattered memento, from a scrapbook kept by historian Dick Kishpaugh, illustrates the modest design of a high school basketball program back in 1939. Likely created by the high school print shop, this single sheet, printed specifically for distribution at the game, features autographs gathered by its owner. Wes Clark, one of the names captured on the cover, led Battle Creek Central with 10 points, including a pair of buckets in the final minute to secure a 27-26 win by the Bearcats.
Newspaper reports from the time indicate that halftime of the contest would feature “a table tennis exhibition between Helen Van Dyke of Flint, four-time state champion, and Floyd Painter, Battle Creek champion.” Miss Van Dyke was a sophomore at Olivet College at the time.
|
1940 |
Lansing Eastern vs. Lansing Central |
Football Program |
This is the program cover from the 13th annual Football Classic between the Quakers of Eastern and the Big Reds of Central. Fans were requested to “refrain from making unnecessary noise as they drive away from the stadium … due to the nearness of Sparrow Hospital.”
At the time of the 1940 contest, Lansing Central led the series with six wins against five defeats. The series featured a single tie, a 6-6 result in 1935.
Eastern’s 1940 squad, coached by Walter Graff, was able to knot the series at six wins apiece with a thrilling 7- 6 victory over the crosstown rivals, coached by Al Bovard.
The 16-page document was hand set and printed by the Eastern and Central High School Vocational Printing Classes, and included rosters, messages from the two school principals and athletic directors, as well as comments from each member of the coaching staffs, team captains, student council presidents and numerous team members from each school with their views on the game. Of course there is a photograph of each high school football team, but also photos of each band, their directors, and a list of the band members for both Eastern and Central. Finally, there are photos of the Eastern and Central Yell Leaders, nine for the Quakers and six for the Big Reds.
It is a true work of art.
|
1950 |
Central Michigan College Relays |
Track Medal |
More than 2,300 athletes from 97 high schools descended upon Mt. Pleasant for the Tenth Annual Central Michigan Relays. Ecorse in Class B and Flint School for the Deaf in Class D earned team titles on Friday, May 5th while on Saturday, the 6th, Flint Northern and Milan won Class A and Class C, respectively. Six event records fell during the two-day event, three in the broad jump.
This medal, honoring a member of the winning Class C sprint relay team, was awarded at the event. The winning team, and therefore, the name of the individual awarded the medal, remain a mystery.
|
1962 |
Saginaw Sacred Heart |
Megaphone |
As at the majority of schools across the state at the time, athletic competition against other schools was not an option for Gloria Groll and her female classmates during her days as a student at Saginaw Holy Rosary High School. So, from the fall of 1959 until her graduation with 27 other students in the spring of 1962, she was a cheerleader for the Greyhounds. This beautiful megaphone, donated by Groll to the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame, is a memento from those times.
Holy Rosary was one of nine Catholic high schools operating in the Saginaw area in the 1950s and 1960s. Population shifts from the cities to the suburbs over the coming years would impact enrollment figures at schools nationally. In Saginaw, the opening of the Buena Vista School District in 1956 directly impacted Holy Rosary. In 1970 the school closed. A year later only three schools – SS Peter and Paul, St. Mary and Saginaw St. Stephen – remained. In 1984, those schools were consolidated to form Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central.
|
1963 & 1930 |
Grosse Pointe St. Paul |
League Trophies |
On the left, we find the trophy awarded to Grosse Pointe St. Paul's after winning the 1963 city championship. Bob Martin, a 6-foot-6 junior who earned first division all-Catholic honors, scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Lakers to a 55-46 upset-victory over Detroit Pershing. The game was played at University of Detroit Memorial before 6,979 spectators. It was the first time since 1958 that the Catholic League won the annual matchup with the champions of the Public School League.
To the right is the trophy awarded to St. Paul for winning the first golf tournament of the South Michigan Catholic High School League. The school's four golfers shot 710 over 36 holes on the day, 69 fewer strokes than second-place Detroit St. Rose. Played at Clinton Valley, the event saw Bill Beaupre win individual honors with a total of 158, including 76 in the morning. His cousin and teammate, Harold Beaupre, finished second with 169, while Peter Bononis of Detroit Holy Name was third with 171 strokes.
|
1965 |
Fennville vs. Kalamazoo Hackett |
Ticket Stub |
This ticket stub from a doubleheader hosted at Western Michigan University’s Read Fieldhouse on February 18, 1965 was the first chance for many to witness lightning in a bottle. A capacity-plus crowd of 9,100 fans slid through the gate to watch a rumor.
The antics of 5-foot-7½ guard Richie Jordan had been talked about around the Kalamazoo area, but few had actually seen him play. His skills were on full display on this Thursday night, as he netted a fieldhouse scoring record with 49 points in a come-from-behind 76-72 win over a much taller team from Kalamazoo Hackett. Jordan’s output during the evening’s second game eclipsed the 45 points Manny Newsome scored for Western Michigan University against Toledo, just over a year before.
The evening hadn’t started well. According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, “Jordan hit only six of his 13 field shots in the first half and threw the ball away eight times. Trailing Hackett by 17 points, 50-33, with two minutes to play in the third quarter, the Blackhawks were able to cut the deficit to 13, 60-47 as the teams entered the final frame.
Quickly, everyone in the fieldhouse knew who was getting the ball during the comeback attempt. Jordan grabbed control; with his drives for layups and “softly-arched” jump shots against intense pressure, he hit seven of nine field goals, wowing the crowd. With 2:36 to play, Jordan nailed a pair of free throws to tie the game at 72 all. Then, with 57 seconds left, the “Fennville Flash” nailed the go-ahead basket, followed by two insurance free throws to seal the win. For many, his 24 points in the fourth quarter sealed his journey from rumor to legend and, no doubt, inspired the single-sentence first paragraph of the next morning’s coverage in the Gazette.
“Yes, there is a Richie Jordan!”
(P.S. – Kalamazoo Central upset eighth-ranked Lansing Sexton, 67-57, in the evening’s opening contest).
Ron Pesch has taken an active role in researching the history of MHSAA events since 1985 and began writing for MHSAA Finals programs in 1986, adding additional features and "flashbacks" in 1992. He inherited the title of MHSAA historian from the late Dick Kishpaugh following the 1993-94 school year, and resides in Muskegon. Contact him at [email protected] with ideas for historical articles.
PHOTO: Fennville's Richie Jordan pulls up for a jumper, showing off the form that's become iconic when recalling the high school phenom. (Photos of Letterman's Trophy and Megaphone were provided by Jeffery Cottrell, and photo of Grosse Pointe trophies was provided by Bill Roose.)
Preview: Era of Wrestling Dominance Opens Opportunities for Suspense
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 20, 2025
We’re experiencing an era of unmatched dominance in Michigan high school team wrestling.
Lowell has won a record 11 straight Division 2 Finals championships. Dundee is up to seven in a row in Division 3, Hudson has won three straight in Division 4, and Detroit Catholic Central is seeking its third consecutive in Division 1. And all four are seeded first again in their respective divisions for Team Finals weekend at Wings Event Center.
It’s something to behold – and would make any potential challenges that much more spectacular.
Competition begins Friday at noon with the first of four sets of Quarterfinals. Semifinals are Saturday morning and noon, with championship matches on four adjacent mats at 3:45 p.m. Brackets for all four divisions, links to buy tickets and watch online can be found on the Wrestling page. See below for glances at all 32 hopefuls, listed by division and seed.
Division 1
#1 DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 24-5, No. 1
League finish: First in Catholic High School League
Coach: Mitch Hancock, 18th season (407-65)
Championship history: Seventeen MHSAA championships (most recent 2024), four runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Cadon Waatti (29-12) jr., 120 Wyatt Lees (32-5) jr., 120 Ryan Totten (41-10) soph., 126 Mack Moscovic (21-8) soph., 126 Jamison Gregory (33-5) soph., 132 Nathan Walkowiak (25-10) sr., 132 Meyer Murray (27-10) fr., 144 Grayson Fuchs (36-1) soph., 150 Alexander Buskirk (33-10) jr., 157 Braxten Roche (30-12) fr., 165 Andrew White (31-10) sr., 175 Caden Krueger (28-11) soph., 190 Lee Krueger (34-8) sr., 215 Connor Bercume (41-0) sr.
Outlook: DCC has won two straight Division 1 team championships and six of the last eight with runner-up finishes the other two seasons during that time, and it’s tough to imagine the dominance ending with only four seniors among 14 Individual Finals qualifiers. Lees and Bercume will both wrestle next week for third individual championships, and Fuchs will wrestle for his second straight. White, Lee Krueger, junior Ben Eziuka (5-1), Totten, Gregory, Moscovic and Walkowiak all were Finals placers as well last season.
#2 BRIGHTON
Record/rank: 27-0, No. 2
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Coach: Shawn Scott, fifth season (109-27)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2015, runner-up 2019 and 2018.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Jameson Wood (40-2) soph., 113 Bronson Shinkonis (43-2) fr., 126 Drake Pollins (35-9) jr., 132 Beck Yurkunas (33-12) fr., 144 Xander Courneya (30-9) jr., 150 Kaden Tindall (40-5) jr., 165 Dominic Nauss (40-9) fr., 165 Mason Gardner (39-9) jr., 175 Nate Stark (41-5) sr., 190 Sullivan Haas (37-3) soph., 215 Sean O’Keefe (33-1) sr., Girls-120 Rayna Richardson (30-6) soph., Girls-125 Emme Delisle (32-9) jr.
Outlook: Brighton is making its second-straight Quarterfinals appearance under Scott and after just missing making the Semifinals last year with a one-point Friday loss. Stark, O’Keefe and Jackson Johnson (132, 16-5) are the only senior starters, making this another team that should continue to be in the mix. The Bulldogs won three of four playoff matches by shutout, with only No. 10 Grand Ledge scoring on them during this run. Junior Ethan Smith (120, 33-4) was the individual runner-up at 106 last season, and O’Keefe and Pollins also were Finals placers.
#3 DAVISON
Record/rank: 17-3, No. 3
League finish: N/A, Saginaw Valley League
Coach: Jason Mester, first season (17-3)
Championship history: Ten MHSAA championships (most recent 2022), six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Steve Vaughn (25-10) soph., 132 Dominic Perez (22-10) sr., 138 Calvin Martz (12-2) jr., 144 Tanner McDunnah (29-7) sr., 144 Tobias Pacheco (23-13) fr., 150 Julius Pacheco (29-7) soph., 157 Kyle Jelinek (26-5) sr., 165 Race Eckles (24-12) sr., 175 Brayden Bundy (13-6) jr., 190 Cameron Savage (24-9) jr., 215 Brandon Glisson (29-8) jr., Girls-105 Aubrey Bowman (18-4) fr.
Outlook: Davison is returning to Kalamazoo after posting one of the most impressive runs of the 2024 Finals weekend, when as a No. 6 seed the Cardinals upset third-seeded Brighton in the Quarterfinal and fell to second-seeded Hartland only 37-31 in the Semifinal. Seeded much higher this time, Davison will make its move with Vaughn the reigning individual champion at 106, McDunnah the returning runner-up at 144 and Julius Pacheco, Jelinek and Martz also Individual Finals placers a year ago.
#4 CLARKSTON
Record/rank: 25-2, No. 5
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Coach: Brian Gibbs, fifth season (90-20)
Championship history: Class A champion 1991, runner-up 1995.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Joseph Hahn (28-12) fr., 106 Jay Wilson (23-9) fr., 113 Gavin Culloty (34-6) soph., 126 Archer Anderson (40-2) sr., 138 Preston Lefevre (43-1) sr., 144 Ayden Mutter (30-9) jr., 150 Nathaniel Carter (36-6) jr., 165 Trey Setter (30-10) jr., 285 Camden Neumann (30-4) sr.
Outlook: Clarkston is back at Finals weekend for the first time since 2021 and another team that looks good to stick around with only four senior starters and only three among nine Individual Finals qualifiers. The Wolves defeated Hartland 42-35 to advance, ending the Eagles’ run of 23 straight Regional titles. Anderson was the individual champion at 120 last season and Lefevre the runner-up, and Carter also is a returning Finals placer.
#5 TEMPERANCE BEDFORD
Record/rank: 33-1, No. 6
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference
Coach: Kevin Vogel, 14th season (343-70)
Championship history: Eleven MHSAA championships (most recent 2001), seven runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Cody Duvendack (46-7) soph., 120 Griffin Tibai (43-10) soph., 126 Tristan King (49-8) jr., 138 Lucas Gerber (34-10) sr., 144 Noah Benore (53-5) sr., 165 Zach Miracle (51-3) jr., 175 Connor Hall (40-13) sr., 285 Chase Norbury (49-4) sr..
Outlook: Bedford is making its fourth-straight Finals trip and advanced with a 43-24 Regional Final win over Westland John Glenn. The lone dual loss came to Clarkston on Dec. 4. A group of six seniors and five juniors anchor the lineup, and Benore, Norbury and Duvendack all were Individual Finals placers in 2024.
#6 ROCKFORD
Record/rank: 26-6, No. 8
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Coach: Brian Richardson, 16th season (366-135)
Championship history: Two MHSAA championships (most recent 2009), three runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Layne Martin (39-3) soph., 120 Keagen Elliott (13-9) soph., 126 Logan Welmerink (28-13) fr., 138 Liam Fitzpatrick (35-9) jr., 157 Braylenn Aulbach (40-2) sr., 190 Logan Hammingh (40-6) jr.
Outlook: Make it six trips to the Finals over the last seven seasons for Rockford, which reached the Semifinals a year ago. While Aulbach is the only senior Individual Finals qualifier, he’s also one of five senior starters anchoring the upper weights. Fitzpatrick and Hammingh were Finals placers last season.
#7 MACOMB DAKOTA
Record/rank: 20-6, unranked
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Coach: Ed Skowneski, 13th season (335-72)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Landon Smith (27-18) sr., 126 Carl Nihranz (41-6) IV jr., 138 Ozia Wilson (40-6) sr., 144 Ryan Tucker (33-13) sr., 150 Lucas Harper (39-10) jr., 215 Logan Criteser (40-1) sr., 285 Brady Hamby (40-4) sr.
Outlook: Dakota is another Finals weekend regular, with this the Cougars’ second-straight trip but 11th total during Skowneski’s 13 seasons. Wilson, Criteser, Hamby and Nihranz all were Individual Finals placers a year ago.
#8 ROMEO
Record/rank: 26-13, unranked
League finish: Second in MAC Red
Coach: Jim Cali, 33rd season (754-338-7)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Nico Adamo (43-13) fr., 113 Justin Rizzo (32-20) jr., 120 Valentino Adamo (40-12) soph., 126 Bryce Holt (36-12) jr., 144 Owen Perry (19-2) jr., 157 Jake Turley (37-11) sr., 190 Thomas Jaynes (50-5) jr.
Outlook: Excitement should be brewing for Romeo. Not only did the Bulldogs earn a second Regional title over the last three seasons, but they’ve won District championships five straight years and defeated No. 7 Rochester Adams 45-26 as part of this run. There are only four senior starters, all at upper weights, and Perry, Valentino Adamo and Holt are all returning Individual Finals placers.
Division 2
#1 LOWELL
Record/rank: 27-4, No. 1
League finish: First in River Cities Alliance
Coach: R.J. Boudro, 11th season (220-34)
Championship history: Fourteen MHSAA championships (most recent 2024), six runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 John McKay (34-12) fr., 113 Jarrett Smith (36-3) jr., 113 Carson Blum (31-6) fr., 120 Cole Cichocki (23-15) soph., 126 Carter Cichocki (31-10) sr., 132 Jackson Blum (41-0) sr., 144 Logan Dawson (35-9) jr., 150 Trevor Boone (31-13) jr., 165 Owen Segorski (38-4) sr., 190 Casey Engle (35-8) sr., 215 Juan Acosta (23-13) sr., Girls-100 Veronica Tapia (28-1) jr., Girls-105 Tatianna Castillo (24-0) fr.
Outlook: Lowell’s record championship streak continues to have plenty of fuel with another crew of younger standouts joining the seven seniors including Blum, who will wrestle next weekend for a fourth Individual Finals title. Segorski won titles last year and as a freshman, and Smith and Carter Cichocki also are returning champions from 2024. Cole Cichocki was the runner-up last season to Smith at 106, and Boone, Dawson, Engle, senior Braddock King (120, 30-9) and Tapia also were Individual Finals placers.
#2 FREELAND
Record/rank: 22-3, No. 6
League finish: Second in Tri-Valley Conference
Coach: Jon Rosebush, first season (22-3)
Championship history: Division 2 runner-up 2024.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 144 Buddy Leonard (43-2) sr., 175 Fabian Facundo (37-1) sr., 215 Brigham Smith (32-4) jr.
Outlook: Freeland reached the season’s final dual last year for the first time, but there should be plenty of good times to come as Leonard and Facundo are among only four seniors on a roster with 13 underclassmen among 22 wrestlers total. Rosebush previously coached Saginaw Heritage and has a 365-176 record total over 17 seasons. Facundo was the runner-up at 150 last season, and junior Easton Rosebush (106, 37-7) was eighth at 106. Leonard was the Division 3 runner-up at 130 competing for Alma.
#3 NEW BOSTON HURON
Record/rank: 25-2, No. 7
League finish: First in Huron League
Coach: Logan Ritchie, fourth season (73-29)
Championship history: Class B champion 1981 and 1978.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Caleb Frazier (37-9) jr., 126 Daniel Gemmel (45-3) soph., 132 Jason Downs (47-6) jr., 138 Cayden Banko (41-9) soph., 144 Braydon Hall (53-5) soph., 157 Drew Ladach (50-3) sr., 157 Nathan Matsos (45-9) jr., 165 Garrett Marentette (30-16) fr., Girls-130 Hailey Wisler (20-1) jr.
Outlook: Huron has made a solid jump in its fourth season under Ritchie – an Individual Finals champion for the Chiefs in 2014 and 2015 – winning their first league, District and Regional titles under his leadership. Huron had to navigate a tough road to return, with three of its four postseason wins coming by six points or fewer, but did so with only two senior starters and eight underclassmen in the lineup. Ladach and Wisler were Individual Finals placers last season.
#4 THREE RIVERS
Record/rank: 25-0, No. 2
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference
Coach: Jeff Smith, ninth season (146-81)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 126 Jak Monroe (44-6) jr., 132 Gaven Babcock (38-10) soph., 138 Ethan Moreland (43-8) soph., 144 Ayden Keller (46-6) sr., 165 Braylon Faile (42-7) soph., 175 Louis Smith (41-6) jr., 215 Jaxon Smith (42-6) jr.
Outlook: Three Rivers has firmly established itself among the best in Division 2 the last two seasons, missing the Semifinals last year with a one-point Quarterfinal loss but bouncing back to bring a combined 55-1 record over the last two campaigns into this weekend. The Wildcats still have just four senior starters but six sophomores bolstering the lineup including Ethan Moreland, who finished sixth at 126 to cap his freshman season.
#5 GREENVILLE
Record/rank: 32-8, No. 8
League finish: Third in River Cities Alliance
Coach: Stephen Hilliker, first season (32-8)
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2008, runner-up 2011.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 157 Chayson Eberspeaker (24-12) soph., 215 Case Johnson (53-1) sr.
Outlook: After a decade away, Greenville has reached Finals weekend the last two seasons and this time under Hilliker, a two-time individual placer for the Yellowjackets before graduating in 2017. He’ll bring 28 wrestlers to Kalamazoo with six seniors including five who start. Johnson was the individual runner-up at 215 last season.
#6 LINDEN
Record/rank: 45-0, No. 4
League finish: First in Flint Metro League
Coach: Aaron Lawrence, second season (77-11)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Tyler Sage (55-1) fr., 113 Luciano Luna (49-8) fr., 144 Adoniah Delgado (56-2) jr., 165 Lucus Lewandowski (41-12) fr., 175 Jordan Brennan (37-12) sr., 190 Josh Ezell (49-9) sr.
Outlook: This will be Linden’s first Finals weekend appearance since 2007 – and keep an eye on this team moving forward. Lawrence took over last season after most recently assisting at Lake Fenton for nearly a decade, and he will graduate only three from an undefeated league champion – with the majority of his top reserves freshmen.
#7 FOWLERVILLE
Record/rank: 33-4, No. 3
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Red
Coach: Dan Coon, 28th season (record N/A).
Championship history: Class B champion 1994.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Matt Jeffrey (46-10) sr., 132 Connor Stankov (36-16) jr., 144 Levi Baker (17-4) sr., 150 Jacob Hodge (47-5) fr., 165 Waylon Lamkin (42-13) sr., 175 Brock Foster (24-6) jr., 190 Brayden Packer (28-8) jr., 215 Layne O’Neil (42-6) jr., 285 Liam O’Neil (39-4) fr., Girls-105 Cayden Taylor (25-17) jr., Girls-115 Anna Buurma (35-7) soph., Girls-130 Hannah Blyveis (36-4) sr., Girls-145 Margaret Buurma (34-3) sr.
Outlook: Fowlerville has won Regional titles two of the last three seasons, this time defeating formerly-ranked Mason 36-34 along the way. Layne O’Neal is a returning Individual Finals placer and Margaret Buurma is three-time individual champion in the girls division, with Blyveis and Anna Buurma also returning placers.
#8 WARREN WOODS TOWER
Record/rank: 10-7, unranked
League finish: Third in MAC Red
Co-coaches: Greg Mayer, 25th season (439-295); Russell Correll, 12th season (202-83)
Championship history: Division 2 runner-up 2017.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 138 Dominic Gumtow (19-1), 190 Amari Richardson (43-1), 215 Joshua Golding (34-10).
Outlook: Warren Woods Tower is headed back to the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2021, coming off also its 12th-straight District title and emerging from a MAC Red that also has two teams in the Division 1 bracket. Gumtow was the individual runner-up at 120 last season, and Richardson and Golding also are returning placers.
Division 3
#1 DUNDEE
Record/rank: 20-0, No. 1
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Co-coaches: Nate Hall & Garrett Stevens, third seasons (34-7)
Championship history: Sixteen MHSAA championships (most recent 2024), eight runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Mason Katschor (28-5) soph., 120 Haydn Nutt (27-6) jr., 120 Mason Haines (31-5) jr., 126 Bryan Sterling (28-12) jr., 132 Braden Broderick (28-10) jr., 138 Wyatt Burns (31-9) soph., 144 Stone Redmon (38-13) fr., 144 Avery Lane (29-7) soph., 150 Blake Cosby (30-0) jr., 157 Jeremy Amrhein (38-6) jr., 165 Donny Beaufait (40-1) jr., 175 Kole Katschor (38-4) sr., 175 Owen Motylinski (22-11) jr., 190 Rocco Redmon (21-4) jr., Girls-100 McKenzie Mantei (25-2) fr.
Outlook: Dundee has an argument as the state’s best team this season thanks to a championship at the Detroit Catholic Central Invitational last month. The Vikings haven’t had a single-digit Division 3 championship match during their seven-year title run since 2019. The scariest part? Kole Katschor is the only senior starter. Cosby, Mason Katschor and Kole Katschor are reigning individual champions, and Kole Katschor actually will wrestle next weekend for a third Individual Finals title, while Nutt also won at the 2023 event. Beaufait was the runner-up at 150 last year, Nutt was the runner-up at 113, and Amrhein, Haines, Broderick and Burns all were placers.
#2 YALE
Record/rank: 30-2, No. 3
League finish: Second in Blue Water Area Conference
Co-coaches: Rob Majcher & Adam Sopha, 12th seasons (188-166)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Mackey McClelland (39-2) fr., 120 Landon Sopha (51-4) sr., 120 Logan Rhodes (26-11) soph., 132 Kersten McClelland (47-8) jr., 144 Caiden Hackett (29-11) jr., 165 Cole McLaughlin (48-7) sr., 190 William Spain (38-16) sr., 285 Shawn Coarse (33-18) soph., Girls-105 Gianna Hoskins (25-5) soph., Girls-190 Ember Marriott (20-10) sr.
Outlook: The Blue Water Area Conference continues to be one of the strongest wrestling leagues in the state, and Algonac and Yale entered the postseason ranked Nos. 2 and 3, respectively in Division 3, with Yale edging their league rival 32-31 in the Regional Final. Yale as a sixth seed missed upsetting third-seeded Clinton in the Quarterfinals last year, falling 34-27, and brings back Individual Finals placers Sopha, McLaughlin and Hoskins. Sopha and McLaughlin are among eight senior starters.
#3 WHITEHALL
Record/rank: 28-5, No. 5
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference Lakes
Coach: Justin Zeerip, seventh season (188-20)
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2024, 2023 and 2021, Class C runner-up 1984.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Cody Manzo (42-9) jr., 138 Caden Varela (29-17) sr., 157 Liam Leeke (46-7) soph., 190 Gavin Craner (53-0) sr., 215 Wyatt Jenkins (49-2) sr., 215 Billy Darke Jr. (22-13) fr., Girls-115 Kassie Sapp (12-2) fr.
Outlook: Whitehall has become an annual contender under Zeerip, and that should continue as this roster has only five seniors among 28 wrestlers total. Craner was the champion at 175 pounds last season and hasn’t lost since sophomore year. Junior Kolten Weiler (132, 32-18) also was an Individual Finals placer last winter.
#4 ALLEGAN
Record/rank: 30-2, No. 4
League finish: Tied for first in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Coach: Chase Beard, fourth season (57-42)
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2007), two runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Jacob Collier (43-13) soph., 113 Sullivan Morgan (41-14) fr., 138 Luke Wedge (46-13) sr., 144 Treydan Vander Kooi (52-6) jr., 150 Landon Coulson (46-11) sr., 157 Ryan Sparks (41-6) jr., 175 Rysten Williams (50-6) jr. Girls-135 Dawn DeGood (28-5) sr.
Outlook: Allegan won its first Regional title since 2016 and has made a jump every season under Beard, a 2017 grad. The Tigers went from just three dual wins his first season to 10, then 14 and now 30 this winter. A 33-30 Regional Semifinal win over Constantine was especially key to this run. Four seniors anchor the lineup including as well Aiden Pearce (157, 41-14) and Sylar Bush (215, 28-25).
#5 HART
Record/rank: 29-4, No. 7
League finish: First in WMC Rivers
Coach: Rocky Smith, second season (55-10)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Jordan Thies (36-9) fr., 113 Kole Thomas (42-8) soph., 113 Michael Chavira (22-9) soph., 132 Halen Boos (31-11) jr., 138 Ty Thomas (41-5) sr., 144 Logan Jorissen (38-15) jr., 165 Haegan Hansen (40-12) soph., 175 Alex Hicks (49-2) sr., 285 Adrian Lara (42-7) jr.
Outlook: Hart has reached the Quarterfinals both seasons under Smith, both times as the fifth seed but this time with nearly twice as many Individual Finals qualifiers. Of nine who will wrestle next weekend at Ford Field, only two are seniors, and four more seniors help fill out the starting lineup. Hicks is a returning individual placer from a year ago.
#6 LAKE ODESSA LAKEWOOD
Record/rank: 39-7, No. 6
League finish: First in CAAC White
Coach: Anthony Harmer, fifth season (123-37)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 126 Vincent Stamm (30-3) fr., 150 Bryson Boucher (41-7) soph., 285 Joel Simon (44-4) sr.
Outlook: Lakewood also is making a return trip to Kalamazoo, but seeded two spots higher than a year ago. The Vikings also moved up one spot to win their league and have their most wins of Harmer’s five seasons. Simon and Stamm were Individual Finals placers last year.
#7 ADRIAN MADISON
Record/rank: 25-8, No. 10
League finish: Fourth in LCAA
Coach: Scott Hall, 17th season (240-167)
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 1979)
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Jacob Byrd (37-9) sr., 126 Malaki Mosher (38-9) sr., 132 Paul McClure (33-10) jr., 150 Landon Mohr (33-13) sr., 165 Jalonn Borders (46-5) sr., 285 Logan Russell (41-13) sr.
Outlook: One of the most senior-heavy lineups at Wings this weekend has Madison making the trip to the Quarterfinals for the first time since the present-day MHSAA Team Tournament was created in 1988 (although Madison’s first three championships came via an abbreviated dual format from 1974-76). The five seniors who advanced to the Individual Finals are part of a group of 10 senior starters total. Mosher, Borders and senior Lukas Leonard (144, 33-16) were individual placers in 2024.
#8 OGEMAW HEIGHTS
Record/rank: 23-8, unranked
League finish: Fourth in Jack Pine Conference
Coach: Dominic Goulette, 12th season (229-115)
Championship history: Division 2 champion 1998.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Roman Goulette (30-9) soph., 120 Charles Bruder (28-22) jr., 138 Jackson Ziegler (41-11) soph., 175 Conner Lambert (44-9) jr., 215 Calvin Marshall (29-1) jr.
Outlook: Ogemaw Heights is celebrating a historic accomplishment as well as this trip to the Quarterfinals will be the team’s first since its championship season of 1998. The Falcons have won District titles five straight seasons and seven of the last nine, but they’ve achieved this run with only one senior starter – which should mean more good things to come.
Division 4
#1 HUDSON
Record/rank: 26-5, No. 1
League finish: Second in LCAA
Coach: Scott Marry, 37th season (943-210)
Championship history: 11 MHSAA championships (most recent 2024), four runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Jaxton Kimling (33-15) soph., 126 Nicholas Sorrow (46-1) jr., 132 Colt Perry (35-10) jr., 138 Julien Kimling (17-2) sr., 144 Beckett Campbell (45-3) fr., 144 Owen Loop (28-17) soph., 157 Jacob Pickford (39-10) sr., 165 Devon Brigman (29-19) jr., 190 Barron Mansfield (29-16) sr., 215 Kenny Sledge (23-12) jr., 285 Malachi Marshall (31-20) jr.
Outlook: Hudson has won at least three team championships in a row three times and this weekend can add a second streak of at least four. The Tigers have defeated five teams competing at Wings this time, including Dakota and Romeo from Division 1, and their losses were to Dundee, Clarkston, Davison and two Ohio teams. Sorrow defeated Perry in the 120-pound individual championship match last season, and Julian Kimling was the champ at 126. Pickford, Jaxton Kimling and sophomore Chase Clark (120, 35-10) also are returning placers.
#2 ST. LOUIS
Record/rank: 28-0, No. 2
League finish: First in Jack Pine Conference
Coach: Kevin Kuhn, 18th season (375-108)
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2024, Class C-D runner-up 1995.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Rudy Clapp (35-12) fr., 113 Owen Fogel (42-2) jr., 120 Alex Rodriguez (48-3) jr., 120 Cole Grollimund (30-11) fr., 132 Colin Kuhn (49-3) sr., 138 Laythan Haworth (10-0) jr., 150 Maddox Cline (34-7) sr., 165 Drew Challender (46-7) jr., 175 Justin Rodriguez (29-16) sr., 215 Ray Frye (31-16) sr.
Outlook: St. Louis will be seeking to return to the championship match for the second-straight season and defeated No. 7 Lakeview to advance to Finals weekend for the fourth year in a row. All but three starters are seniors or juniors. Alex Rodriguez is the reigning champion at 113 pounds, and Challender, Fogel and Colin Kuhn were all Individual Finals placers as well last winter.
#3 CLIMAX-SCOTTS/MARTIN
Record/rank: 24-1, No. 5
League finish: Tied for first in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Co-coaches: Logan Curry & Mike Reitz, third seasons (79-11)
Championship history: Martin was Class D champion in 1998, with three runner-up finishes.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Urijah Joostberns (29-11) fr., 120 Logan Gilbert (37-5) sr., 132 Cole Reitz (31-12) sr., 138 Jayce Ritchie (38-13) sr., 144 Haylen Buell (47-4) jr., 157 Jack Bagwell (34-16) sr., 165 Jakub Tomyslak (38-17) sr., 215 Sam Bleeker (36-14) sr.
Outlook: CSM has jumped up four seeds from a year ago, with its only loss this season to Division 3 quarterfinalist Allegan – and CSM then shared the SAC title by winning the league tournament. All six seniors in the starting lineup also will compete next weekend at Ford Field. Gilbert (106) and Buell (132) are reigning individual champions, and Bagwell, Reitz and Ritchie are returning placers as well.
#4 OTISVILLE LAKEVILLE MEMORIAL
Record/rank: 35-1, No. 4
League finish: First in Mid-Michigan Activities Conference
Coach: Dan Huggler, 12th season (273-133)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 120 Izayah Richards (25-19) sr., 126 Tommy Heatwole (45-8) sr., 132 Adam Hoch (46-6) soph., 138 Adrian Wing (35-18) sr., 144 Andrew Tucker (32-15) soph., 157 Gavin Bodnar (29-11) jr., 165 Fred Hammond (49-1) jr., 165 Randy Loewen (21-7) jr., 190 Aiden Tucker (47-2) sr., 215 Jake Hascall (39-9) jr., 285 Doug Hoyt (43-10) sr.
Outlook: Otisville LakeVille has reached the Quarterfinals for the first time since 1993, with its only loss to Division 3 second seed Yale and four commanding postseason wins by a combined score of 297-21. Hammond was a Finals placer last year and is one of five Falcons with at least 40 wins this season.
#5 CLINTON
Record/rank: 26-10, No. 6
League finish: Third in LCAA
Coach: Casey Randolph, 11th season (318-71)
Championship history: Two MHSAA championships (most recent 2021), one runner-up finish.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 113 Zach Taylor (41-9) soph., 126 Brock Worden (33-22) fr., 132 Braylon Long (33-2) sr., 157 Cliff Jones (31-3) jr., 190 Bryce Randolph (37-4) jr., 215 Owen Wright (24-18) soph.
Outlook: Tough competition pays off as Clinton is making its ninth-straight trip to Finals weekend, emerging as one of four teams from the LCAA. The Redwolves reached the Semifinals in Division 3 a year ago, as Bryce Randolph finished individual runner-up in that division at 175 pounds and Long also placed.
#6 UNION CITY
Record/rank: 26-4, No. 9
League finish: Second in Big 8 Conference
Coach: Jason Counterman, seventh season (141-37)
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 1997, Class C-D runner-up 1972.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Blayne Crance (34-15) soph., 120 Kaden Russell (34-14) fr., 126 Mitchell Graham (35-9) soph., 132 Mason Hawthorne (37-8) sr., 138 Logan Mears (36-3) sr., 144 Aidan Taylor (42-5) sr., 150 Alex Boyer (40-3) sr., 157 Montana Connell (20-7) sr.
Outlook: Often a factor in the Big 8 and a District winner for the fourth time in six seasons, Union City broke through for its first Regional title since 2000 in part thanks to a District Semifinal win over rival Bronson. The Chargers load five straight seniors through the middle weights, and all five are Individual Finals qualifiers as well. Connell is the reigning champion at 150, Mears was runner-up at 132 last year, and Taylor and Boyer also were placers.
#7 CHARLEVOIX
Record/rank: 15-8, unranked
League finish: First in Northern Shores Conference
Coach: Mike Hinkle, 12th season (record N/A)
Championship history: Has never advanced to an MHSAA Final.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 150 Collin Jess (44-12) fr., 157 Logan Wilks (32-10) sr., 175 Brady Warchol (37-17) sr., 190 Ryan Glass (26-14) soph., 215 Sawyer Blaszczyk (48-5) jr., 285 Connor Ortiz (35-15) sr.
Outlook: Charlevoix is making its first trip to Finals weekend coming off a dominating run to its first Regional title. The Rayders will have to take a void at 113, but have a foundation that could see them back in the hunt the next few seasons with six freshman starters and only three seniors in the lineup.
#8 ROSCOMMON
Record/rank: 17-9, unranked
League finish: Second in the Highland Conference
Coach: Drake Lewandowski, first season (17-9)
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2006.
Individual Finals qualifiers: 106 Kasen Spencer (34-15) fr., 120 Mason Hodnett (29-10) soph., 165 Crew Tyler (41-3) jr., 175 Toby Bigford (37-10) jr.
Outlook: Roscommon has reached the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2012, Lewandowki’s junior season on the team. He was an assistant the last two years as the Bucks won two straight District titles – an incredible rise as the program had only six wrestlers four seasons ago. The starting lineup will graduate only one senior but could have six returning senior starters next winter.
PHOTO Hudson accepts its Division 4 championship trophy last season at Wings Event Center. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)