BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
HARTLAND — There is the old phrase that “every dog will eventually have its day.”
For Hartland’s long-successful wrestling program, perhaps that will come sooner rather than later. This one has quite an appetite.
The Eagles, under the direction of veteran coach Todd Cheney, have consistently been in the mix of state-title contending programs for over two decades. Just about the only thing that has eluded Hartland over the years is a state title in any of the divisions – Class B, Class A, Division 2, or Division 1 – in which Hartland had competed in team state tournaments over the past quarter century.
The glory of capturing the state championship trophy has not found its way to the interchange of M-59 and M-23.
“That’s always one of our goals,” admitted Cheney of winning the elusive state title. “Everything has to go just right. Boy, have we learned that.”
Four times Hartland has finished as the Division 1 state runner-up. That’s just the half of it.
Hartland has won 16 regional titles, including 14 straight and has made at least a trip to the Elite Eight for 14 straight seasons. It has reached the Final Four 10 times overall, including the last six straight seasons. Just last year, Hartland lost to Kensington Lakes Athletic Association rival Brighton, 31-25, in the Division 1 state championship match, a match that went down to the final two weight classes.
“We have come close a few times,” reminded Cheney.
When Cheney took over the program in 1992-93, he quickly helped build it into a contender that has claimed 19 district and 16 league titles over 23 seasons.
This year, Hartland joined Brighton and Walled Lake Central as the top teams in the 24-school KLAA. The Eagles have been ranked in the top five this season along with Davison, Brighton, Detroit Catholic Central, and Oxford, which are the other squads with realistic chances of winning the title in 2016.
Few programs in the state can match Hartland’s consistency, although most of the powerhouse programs in each of the state’s four divisions have claimed at least one state title over the years.
Combining classes and divisions in the Lower Peninsula and combing the state tournaments in the Individual Format (pre-1988) and Team Format (1988-present), a 77 schools have won at least one state title.
A total of 14 schools have won five or more total team state championships — led by New Lothrup (14), Detroit Catholic Central (11), Bedford (11), Montrose (9), Dundee (8), Eaton Rapids (8), Lansing Eastern (8), Davison (8), and Richmond (7).
Hartland is not listed on that title group, even though its resume is more impressive than many schools that have won titles over the years.
Its current talented contingent, which features both experience and a talented freshman, should keep Hartland in the mix for years to come. It climbed to No. 1 in the polls in December. The Eagles’ sole loss came in January to Detroit Catholic Central, which moved into the top spot in the Division 1 rankings, while Hartland slipped to the No. 2 slot.
In the Power 15, combing all four divisions, Hartland sits at No. 3.
“We’ll be right in the mix again,” offered Cheney. “As long as we continue to work hard and stay healthy. We have good kids here at Hartland, dedicated to becoming better athletes. We have some kids with state meet experience and some good young kids coming up that are already making an impact.”
And perhaps one day, Hartland will make a huge impact with that first, elusive, state title.