103 pounds: 1) Caleb Teague, Goodrich; 2) Andy Ruhstorfer, Flint Kearsley; 3) Derek Giallombardo, Gaylord; 4) Cory Gamet, Parma Western; 5) Brendan Zelenka, St. Johns; 6) Chaise Mayer, Warren Woods Tower; 7) Jeff Leach, Lowell; 8) Jacob Osmolinski, Sparta.
Teague of Goodrich pinned Ruhstorfer in the regional finals and blanked Giallombardo 5-0 in the regional semis and is on a roll. Gamet and Mayer also won regional titles while Leach emerged from a tough struggle against Osmolinski in a regional final.
112 pounds: 1) Austin Franco, Stevensville-Lakeshore; 2) Elijuh Weaver, Warren Woods Tower; 3) Cameron Mahlich, Ionia; 4) Trevor Giallombardo, Gaylord; 5) Drew Hutchinson, Clio; 6) Branson Proudlock, Gibraltar Carlson; 7) Emilio Sanchez, St. Johns; 8) Emilio Campos, Owosso.
This is a loaded weight class with plenty of standouts. Mahlich defeated Giallombardo by a single point to win last year’s 103-pound title. Both will be in the hunt for this year’s 112-pound title. Franco, who finished second at 112 last year, is undefeated through the district. Franco also defeated Mahlich 7-2 at the regional finals. Weaver handed Proudlock his first defeat of the season with a 3-2 win in the regional finals.
119 pounds: 1) Dom LaJoie, Gaylord; 2) Dylan Wilkins, Sparta; 3) Michael Higley, Edwardsburg; 4) Julian Saldana, Melvindale; 5) Kyle French, Marysville; 6) Larry Beek, Bay City Glenn; 7) Hunter Lajiness, Monroe Jefferson; 8) Nick Dankowski, Allendale.
LaJoie is undefeated (54-0) as a junior and is a strong favorite to win a third straight state title. LaJoie will face plenty of competition as Wilkins (45-1), Higley (50-1) and Saldana (54-1) are all turning in solid seasons and capable of winning it all.
125 pounds: 1) Lucas Hall, Lowell; 2) Drew Marten, Tecumseh; 3) Justin Manuel, Dearborn Heights Annapolis; 4) Hunter Vargo, Edwardsburg; 5) Tony Williams, Stevensville-Lakeshore; 6) Kyle Hughes, Monroe Jefferson; 7) Austin O’Hearon, Eaton Rapids; 8) Hunter Hohman, North Branch.
A two-time state champion, Hall is aiming to cap his career with three straight state titles. Look for (49-1) to reach the finals especially after stopping Manuel 4-0 at regionals. Vargo (50-3), Hohman (45-1) and Williams also capable of making it to the title match.
130 pounds: 1) Brendan Ladd, Ortonville-Brandon; 2) Jon Martin, Gaylord; 3) Avery Mutschler, Lowell; 4) Mike Bergmooser, Carlton Airport; 5) Wasam Kasem, Hamtramck; 6) David Leija, Lansing Waverly; 7) Tyler Albarez, DeWitt; 8) Branden Hall, Niles.
Martin and Ladd are a pair of senior veterans that have been solid all season. Ladd got the upper hand against Martin with a 14-3 win at regionals. Mutschler is the talented freshman who is looking to breakthrough. Bergmooser is also a threat to make the finals.
135 pounds: 1) Nathan Ellis, Goodrich; 2) Trent Lashuay, St. Johns; 3) Mitch Findieson, Niles;
4) Luke Raczkowski, Parma Western; 5) Joey Orr, Allegan; 6) JD Greathouse, Mason; 7) Doug Ferrier, Marysville; 8) Dren Bartrum, East Grand Rapids.
Look for Ellis, Lashuay, Findieson and Raczkowski to be the favorites to make the final match at 135. Orr is a solid senior from Allegan that could also figure in the final match.
140 pounds: 1) Ian Parker, St. Johns; 2) Zeth Dean, Lowell; 3) Chase Veydt, Parma Western; 4) Bryan LaVearn, Ortonville-Brandon; 5) Alec Rees, Sparta; 6) Sam York, DeWitt; 7) Nolan Rickman, Trenton; 8) Nino Bastianelli, Marysville.
Another loaded weight class, Parker won the 125-pound title last season while Dean claimed the 130-pound title. Toss in Veydt who finished second at 135 and you have a trio of blue chips. LaVearn is another wrestler who could break through while Rees is a super-talented freshman and future champion.
145 pounds: 1) Austin Melton, DeWitt; 2) Dustin Gross, Dearborn Heights Annapolis; 3) Garrett Kaercher, Warren Lincoln; 4) Dawson Blank, Linden; 5) Tyler Brewer, Comstock Park; 6) Quintin Smith, Niles; 7) Kyle Roberts, Fowlerville; 8) Stahj McCoy, Hamtramck.
Melton, a senior, has reached the state finals the last two years, winning the 135-pound title as a sophomore. Gross and Kaercher will be two of his main challengers this year. Watch for Brewer to be a possible surprise.
152 pounds: 1) Joel Rees, Sparta; 2) Brandon Garcia, Riverview; 3) Ameer Munasser, Melvindale; 4) Lane McVicker, Eaton Rapids; 5) Bret Fedewa, St. Johns; 6) Beau Caster, Marquette 7) Bryce Davis, Linden; 8) Dilon Striplin, Battle Creek Harper Creek.
A solid group of seniors will battle it out this year with Rees, Garcia, Munasser and McVicker all strong candidates to top the podium. Fedewa is a talented junior who upended McVicker in the district finals while McVicker won the rematch at regional.
160 pounds: 1) Derrien Perkins, Warren Lincoln; 2) Lucas McFarland, St Johns; 3) Connor Charping, Trenton; 4) Luke Carver, Sturgis; 5) Trey Boerman, Allegan; 6) David Kruse, Lowell; 7) Austen Hutchinson, Eaton Rapids; 8) Chase Smith, Clio.
Perkins has an undefeated record heading into the regionals and will be tough to beat. That said, this is a tough weight class with plenty of depth with McFarland, Charping, Carver, Kruse and Boerman all capable of reaching the finals. Hutchinson and Smith could also surprise.
171 pounds: 1) Jelani Embree, Warren Lincoln; 2) Will Feldkamp, Dexter; 3) Drake Pauwels, New Boston Huron; 4) Maxwell Underwood, Gibraltar Carlson; 5) Dan Kruse, Lowell; 6) Sherman Dabney, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s; 7) Ryan Ringler, Cedar Springs; 8) John Penfold, Goodrich.
Embree has been on a roll this season and will be tough to stop. Plenty of challengers abound including seniors Underwood and Kruse while Feldkamp is a junior and Pauwels a sophoore that will be major threats as well. Keep an eye on exciting freshman Ringler.
189 pounds: 1) Max Dean, Lowell; 2) Ryan Vasbinder, Byron Center; 3) ) Brad Wilton, Mason; 4) Trevor Piggott, Ionia; 5) Kane Williams, Clio; 6) Jon Cox, Dearborn Heights Annapolis; 7) Nick Humphrey, Monroe Jefferson; 8) Nevin Brittain, Haslett.
After being stung by injury last year, Dean is determined to claim his second state title to cap off a tremendous high school career. Vasbinder is a rugged junior that can battle with anyone. Piggott, Wilton and Williams are a trio of outstanding juniors that can also reach the finals.
215 pounds: 1) Landon Pelham, Tecumseh; 2) Clayton Higelmire, Eaton Rapids; 3) Colin McFarland, Carlton Airport; 4) Anthony Neal, Sturgis; 5) Isaac Weir, Stevensville-Lakeshore; 6) Zack VanValkenburg, Zeeland West; 7) Connor Bruinius, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern; 8) Jimmy Gray, Holly.
Pelham is a man on a mission and will be tough to stop. Higelmire reached the finals at 215 last season and could very well be there again this year. McFarland and Neal could also make a run at the final match.
285 pounds: 1) Isaiah Espinoza, Adrian; 2) Jake Gnegy, St. Johns; 3) Sam Benson, Mason; 4) Pat DePiazza, Cedar Springs; 5) Tom Rock, Sparta; 6) Chase Bouschour, Sault Ste. Marie; 7) Evan Gast, Byron Center; 8) Owen Miller, Marshall.
Espinoza came up short in last year’s state finals and could again find himself in the title match. Gnegy and Benson put on a show in the district title match and could settled things in the state finals. DePiazza is a talented junior who can very well take the top prize this year.