By BUTCH HARMON
Defending state champion Hudson is ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 4 this season and the Tigers are again the team to beat for the state title, but local powerhouse New Lothrop is primed to give the Tigers all they can handle.
Following is a closer look at the area regionals.
DIVISION 4
@BLANCHARD-MONTABELLA
Semifinal matchups: Sanford-Meridian vs. Leroy Pine River, Shelby vs. Traverse City St. Francis.
While the Hudson Tigers may be the top group of Tigers in the state the Shelby Tigers are close behind at No. 4 in the state. Shelby is a serious threat to be the top Tigers as the long-time Division 3 powerhouse is not competing in Division 4 and last week defeated the third-ranked Hesperia Panthers 36-26. Shelby qualified 10 wrestlers for the individual regional and crowned a pair of district champions led by Mason Courtright who improved to 48-3 for the season at 171 pounds. In the other semifinal Sanford-Meridian takes on Pine River in a battle of evenly-matched teams. Both teams qualified six wrestlers for the individual regional. Sanford-Meridian crowned one champion in sophomore Damon Walter who improved to 36-3 as he won the 112-pound title and freshman Chase Robinson who placed second at 103 pounds.
@ST. LOUIS
Semifinal matchups: Dansville vs. Kent City, Saginaw Nouvel vs. Holton.
Saginaw Nouvel will have its work cut out for it as it takes on Holton in the semifinals. Nouvel is paced by its pair of regional qualifiers in sophomore Austin Hughes (140) and senior Clay Henderson (189) who both placed second at the district tournament. Holton comes in unranked but is one of the most underrated teams in the state in Division 4. The Red Devils qualified nine wrestlers for the regional tournament and crowned three district champions. Senior Chet Atkins (215) brings in a 44-4 record to the regional. The other semifinal will be a close dual as both Dansville and Kent City qualified six wrestlers for the regional. Dansville had a trio of wrestlers earn district titles while Kent City had a pair of district champs in freshman Shane Rodenburg (160) and Tom DeVos (285).
@MARLETTE
Semifinal matchups: Marlette vs. Burton Bendle, Cass City vs. New Lothrop.
Like their neighbor Birch Run in Division 3, New Lothrop had all 14 of its wrestlers qualify for the regional at last week’s individual district tournament. The Hornets also had seven wrestlers bring home district championships. Two of New Lothrop’s champions have just one loss on their resume this season as sophomore Cody Simons (160) is 35-1 and senior Wade Erhardt (171) is 45-1 while senior Austin Severn (189) is 46-2 and junior Jacob Perrin (130) is 42-3. Look for Marlette to emerge from the other semifinal. Marlette qualified seven wrestlers for the regional and crowned a trio of district champions.