By BUTCH HARMON
In 1948, Lansing Sexton won the first Michigan high school state wrestling title. Since then, hundreds of schools from across the state have won state titles, and pride in wrestling teams has grown in many large and small towns across the state. Programs have ebbed and flowed throughout the years, and High School Sports Scene decided to take a look at the premier wrestling programs since 1948.
- New Lothrop: From the early days of high school wrestling until now, few programs have been as consistently strong as New Lothrop. The little farming hamlet located in extreme northeastern Shiawassee County has won 13 state team titles. The Hornets have recently won three Division 4 titles, two Class C titles, one Class C-D title, and seven Class C titles in the individual format. The list of multiple individual champions is long and impressive, with three-time champions like Brent Serbus, Dwayne Knieper, Randy Kovicak, Tony Kovicak, Tim Ebenhoeh, and Allen Krupp. Nine other wrestlers were crowned two-time champions.
- Detroit Catholic Central: The gold standard for success among large schools in the state, the Shamrocks have won 11 Division 1 or Class A state titles. Catholic Central has been on a roll in recent years, having won four of five titles since 2010. It also enjoyed another strong run over 40 years ago, when it won three titles in a row from 1969-71. The Shamrocks have won 34 Detroit Catholic League titles since 1975. Individually, Catholic Central has produced four three-time state champions and 10 two-time state champions. It has an unmatched group of two-time heavyweight champions that includes Toby Heaton, Lee Krueger, Casey Rogowski, and Mike Martin.
- Bedford: The Kicking Mules of Temperance have captured 10 Division 1 or Class A state titles. Their glory days came under the individual format for determining state champions, when they won seven state championships from 1976 through 1986. The team, which was coached by Bill Regnier, also finished state runner-up three times during that span. The Kicking Mules have produced six two-time state champions, including Denny Brighton, Doug Harpner, Kevin Vogel, Ryan McBroom, Alex Ortman, and Mitch Rogaliner.
- Davison: With a combination of team and individual talent, Davison High School went on a run from 2000-2006 that may never be repeated. The Cardinals won six titles during those years and missed a seventh title by 12 points. Their roster was a virtual who’s who of outstanding wrestlers during that run, and it included four-time individual state champion Brent Metcalf, three-time champion Jon Reader, and two-time champions Paul Donahoe and Chase Metcalf. Joe Phillips, Adam Wilmoth, Kyle Chittick, Trevor Perry, and Zak Burns also won state titles during that run.
- Eaton Rapids: Eaton Rapids wrestling has enjoyed steady success throughout the years, first in Class B and now in Division 2. Under the old individual state format, the Greyhounds captured four Class B state titles and finished runners-up twice. Eaton Rapids also won two Class B titles and two Division 2 titles. It was state runner-up three times in Class B and once in Division 2, giving the school eight state champion titles and six runner-up titles. Paul Coats, James Richardson, and Phil Judge were two-time state champions for the Greyhounds.
- Montrose: Located just a few miles from New Lothrop in southern Saginaw County, Montrose has long rivaled its neighbor as a wrestling powerhouse. Under the old format, Montrose won five Class C state titles and was runner-up three times. It was also a runner-up in Class B. More recently, Montrose has captured four Division 3 state titles. The Rams also finished runners-up once.
- Lansing Eastern: The king of wrestling in the early days of Michigan high school wrestling, Eastern won six state titles in the open class individual format from 1948 through 1960 and placed second four times. It was coached by legendary coach Don Johnson in those years. Eastern continued its success in the 1960s and 70s, as it won a pair of Class A titles and was Class A runner-up three times. The school also produced numerous state champions, including Olympic champion Kevin Jackson, who was a two-time state champion. Other two-time state champions were George Sinadinos, Gary Crump, and Wayne Jackson. The Quakers also produced 15 more state champions from 1961 through 1991.
- Lowell: The Lowell wrestling tradition started with legendary coach Gary Rivers. The man in the red socks won 499 dual matches from 1960 through 1998 and made the Red Arrows a power in West Michigan. Recently, the team has built on that foundation and has won four Division 2 state titles and recorded six Division 2 runner-up finishes.
- Holt: The Rams have long been one of the top programs in the Lansing area. Under Rocky Shaft, who is in his 35th year as head coach, the Rams have won over 500 dual matches. Shaft has guided Holt to three Division 1 titles and one runner-up finish. The Rams also captured a Class B state title under the individual format in 1971 and were Class B runners-up in 1979.
- Dundee: Dundee has been a wrestling stronghold since long before Cabella’s turned the town into a tourist destination. Dundee has won three Division 3 state titles, four Division 4 state titles, and one Class C-D state title. The Vikings have also been four-time runners-up in Division 4.
- Mt. Pleasant: From 1974 through 1984, Mt. Pleasant wrestling was as good as it gets. Mt. Pleasant captured six Class B state titles under legendary coach Rod Rapp. Mike Mills was a big part of that success, as he won four individual state titles and was part of two state title teams, while Dave Mills and Joe Mills also added titles. John Hartupee was a big part of the beginning of that run, with three individual state titles. Mt. Pleasant also had seven other wrestlers earn state titles during that span.
- St. Johns: St. Johns has been making up for lost time as a wrestling hotbed. Since 2010, the Redwings have reached the Division 2 state finals every year, winning the title four straight seasons from 2010-2013 and finishing second in the state in 2014. The school has also been churning out state champions and college recruits at a high rate.
- Lansing Sexton: The city of Lansing was once the capital of high school wrestling in the state of Michigan. While Eastern won six open class titles from 1948 through 1960, Sexton was close behind with four championship titles and four runner-up titles. Sexton also added a Class A title and was Class A runner-up five times. David Porter and Chris Henderson were three-time state champions for the Big Reds, while Robert Flander was a two-time state champion. Sexton also had seven other state champions from 1961 through 1989.
- Richmond: The Blue Devils have proven dominant in Division 3 in recent years. Since 2000, they have won six Division 3 state titles and placed second four other times. Richmond’s rise to the top began in 1994, when it captured the first of three straight regional titles. In 2015, Devin Skatzka is bidding to become a four-time state champion. Stephen Ireland was a two-time state champion for the Blue Devils.
- Rockford: The Rams have won a pair of Division 1 state titles and were Division 1 runners-up twice. Since the team format began in 1988, they have won 12 regional titles in the rugged West Michigan regional.
- Grandville: The Bulldogs have battled Rockford many times for the regional title in West Michigan. Grandville has won one Class A state title and was a runner-up in Division 1 and in Class A. Under the old individual format, Grandville had six top-ten finishes. Since the team tournament began, the Bulldogs have 11 regional titles.
- Addison: Addison has a long history of strong wrestling, with a total of five state titles. The Panthers have three Division 4 state titles to their credit and two Class C state titles. They were runners-up three times in Class C under the individual format and have also been runners-up in Division 4, Class C, and Class C-D.
- Hudson: Just down the road from Addison, Hudson is a relative newcomer to wrestling dominance in the state, having won five straight Division 4 titles from 2009-2013. It placed second in 2014.
- Lawton: Lawton won three Class D state titles under the individual format and also claimed a Class D title under the team format. It was also a two-time Class D state runner-up in the team format.
- Mason: The Bulldogs have captured three Division 2 state titles.