By BUTCH HARMON
*If you are going to get the St. Johns wrestling team, you better get them early.
The nationally-ranked Redwings, winners of the last three Division 2 state titles, suffered some early defeats this season. They’ve been trying to get everyone healthy and at the correct weights while also working some new wrestlers into the lineup after suffering heavy graduation losses last year.
St. Johns dropped a pair of matches to Brighton and Fowlerville early in the season and also fell to Division 1 powerhouse Detroit Catholic Central at the Tim Horn Invitational in Holland.
“We’re getting better day by day,” St. Johns coach Derek Phillips said. “I felt our kids wrestled tough at Holland. We just need to find a way to win the close matches.”
Led by two-time state champions Zach Hall and Jacob Schmitt, the Redwings picked up impressive wins against Greenville and Clarkston at the Holland invitational. St. Johns also returns state champions Brant Schafer and Ben Whitford and state runners-up Logan Massa and Payne Hayden along with three-time state placer Josh Pennell.
*To get to Battle Creek, Fowlerville will have to get past Mason and Lansing Eastern at the regional level. Mason is led by two-time state-qualifier Rylen Droscha and state qualifier Austin Droscha.
Lansing Eastern has been making steady progress in wrestling the past few seasons. This year the Quakers are led by Aaron David, who is a two-time state qualifier, and Eli Dennis, who also qualified for the state meet a year ago.
*In Division 1, both Grand Ledge and Holt have their sights set on the CAC Blue title and a trip to Battle Creek. Shayne Wireman, a returning state champion, leads the way for Holt along with Dom Trevino, who is a two-time state placer, and Benny Gomez, who was a state placer last season.
Grand Ledge has a deep squad this season, and that depth has the Comets set up for a big season. Jay Jay Brickley, a returning state placer, heads a list of eight Grand Ledge wrestlers who were regional qualifiers last year.
*The DeWitt girls basketball team is off to a fast start this season. The Panthers won six of their first seven games heading into the Christmas break. A big highlight for them was a 72-67 overtime win against league foe Haslett. The Panthers also defeated Eaton Rapids 45-30 in a key non-league game.
Balance has been the key for the Panthers. Junior Hannah Stoll leads the team, averaging 9.7 points per game, while senior Kaylee Schmitt is averaging 9.6 points per game and leading the team in rebounding with eight per game. Sophomore Claudia Reid is adding 8.7 points per game and dishing out 4.5 assists. The Panthers also have plenty of young players making an impact. Sophomore Abby Nakfoor is averaging 7.6 points per game and junior Lexi Banaszak seven points per game at the power forward spot. Junior point guard Natalie Knauf is adding 4.7 points and 3.3 assists.
*The Corunna girls basketball team started the season strong with four wins in its first six games. Veteran leadership has been a key for the Cavaliers in their start.
“The starting five bring varsity experience from last year,” Corunna coach Ron Birchmeier said. “This has helped in bringing along our other players. We only have nine players, and this includes a freshman and a sophomore. We have good team chemistry and two junior starters who have been playing varsity since their freshman year.”
Juniors Payton Birchmeier and Lauren Ruess have been leading the way for the Cavaliers this season.
*Playing in a conference with powerhouse girls’ basketball teams like Portland and DeWitt, along with other strong teams like Ionia and St. Johns, it’s difficult for a young team to make its way. That is the case this season with the Owosso girls, who have nonetheless shown improvement this season.
“We started 2-4, which doesn’t seem like a good start, but we are more competitive than we have been in the past,” Owosso coach Devon Burzynski said. “We are scrappy, fast, and we don’t give up.”
Seniors Amanda Leftwich, Chelsea Michalec, and Erica Tejkl have been leading the way for Owosso along with juniors Jordan Bannan and Kendall Mallory.
“The league is very competitive with the top three of Dewitt, Haslett, and St. Johns, and then the rest of us are getting better every year. In girls’ basketball it is a tough league.”