Division 2
103 pounds
1. Joe Garcia, Adrian
2. Ian Parker, St. Johns
3. Foster Karmon, Allegan
4. Lucas Hall, Lowell
Prediction: Nice, deep weight class. To win this one, the champion is going to have to earn it. Saying that, I say Parker earns it, with tight wins along the way.
112 pounds
1. Andrew Gorman, Lamphere
2. Mike Schmidt, Greenville
3. Zeth Dean, Lowell
4. Zeke Breuninger, Dexter
Prediction: Another deep weight class. I’m going to take Schmidt, only because he had a big win over Mason Smith of Clio in the regional final, and I think he has momentum going. But this is a tough one to call.
119 pounds
1. Dean Somers, Lapeer West
2. Bailey Jack, Lowell
3. Nicholas Zimmerman, Niles
Prediction: Jack has been wrestling well of late, but Somers, who was second at 112 last year, is too tough to bet against.
125 pounds
1. Zac Hall, St. Johns
I don’t need to list another wrestler in this weight class. This is Hall’s to lose.
130 pounds
1. Jacob Schmitt, St. Johns
2. Austin Kelley, Allegan
Prediction: You are going to see a St. Johns trend in this division. Like Hall, this is Schmitt’s to lose, but Kelley could give the talented Schmitt a battle.
135 pounds
1. Logan Massa, St. Johns
2. Anthony Gonzales, Holly
3. Mason Cleaver, Holly
4. Steve Bleise, Chelsea
5. Jordan Hall, Lowell
6. Joel Rees, Sparta
Prediction: This could be my favorite weight class, all divisions, in the tournament. It’s deep, with experience and some real up-and-coming young wrestlers. What Massa has done the last two weeks in districts and regionals, beating Gonzales and Cleaver, how can you pick against him? The Massa name continues to win at The Palace.
140 pounds
1. Kyle Simaz, Allegan
Prediction: Eric Simaz, Cam Simaz, Taylor Simaz, and now Kyle. I always tell Allegan assistant coach Joe Simaz, father to the four Simaz boys, that his wife must have been a heck of a wrestler in her day. I will take Kyle to win this weight class.
145 pounds
1. Ben Whitford, St. Johns
Prediction: Even though there are some very good wrestlers in this weight class, like Niles’ Casey Burandt and Haslett’s Taylor Grenawalt, sorry, Whitford will not lose.
152 pounds
1. Josh Pennell, St. Johns
2. Kenny Cross, Hastings
3. Ben Clinkscale, Northview
Prediction: First off, it’s a shame that St. Johns’ Brant Schafer didn’t stay healthy this year; that could have made this weight class even deeper. As it is, I still think a Redwing comes out on top, as Pennell wins it.
160 pounds
1. Logan Ritchie, Huron
2. Thomas Houston, Waverly
3. Devon Pingel, North Branch
4. Nathan Wynkoop, Ogemaw Heights
5. Jordan Sullivan, Coopersville
Prediction: I can’t ignore what talented freshman Pingel did at regionals, upsetting Wynkoop. That being said, Ritchie is too tough, even in this deep weight class.
171 pounds
1. Angus Arthur, St. Johns
2. Brett Dempsey, Mattawan
Prediction: Arthur has been too strong all season to bet against, but Dempsey has the toughness to beat him and win this weight class.
189 pounds
1. Payne Hayden, St. Johns
2. Garett Stehley, Lowell
3. Mason Hovater, Chelsea
Prediction: I am picking the dark horse here. Look for Hovater to turn heads, just like he did at regionals.
215 pounds
1. Brian Moran, Fowlerville
2. Taylor Kornoely, Lowell
Prediction: Another weight class that was made more shallow by injury. Lowell’s Josh Colegrove injured his knee in football and missed most of the wrestling season. The Red Arrows are still good here with Kornoely, but not good enough to beat Moran – he wins.
285 pounds
1. Adam Coon, Fowlerville
Prediction: Only an injury will stop this future Michigan Wolverine.