Article - High School Sports Scene

By BUTCH HARMON

When it comes to dominant high school programs, few can match the success of the Grand Ledge gymnastics team.

While some teams have won two or three consecutive state titles, and a few are even aiming for a fifth this year, the Grand Ledge gymnastics team has won six straight state titles and is setting its sights on a seventh this season.

Not only do the Comets win state titles, but they also win almost every time out. Going into the Kenowa Hills Invitational on Jan. 25, Grand Ledge has won 97 straight competitions.

This year’s squad has its sights set on extending the state title streak, and with several veterans back, the Comets are on pace to make that a reality. The one fly in the ointment, however, is injuries.

“We have a really, really good team this year,” coach Duane Haring said. “We have a team capable of scoring in the high 148s. This is also the first year we’ve been plagued by injuries. We have been loaded with injuries, and I just had my number three girl go down with a shoulder injury that may be for the rest of the year.”

The Comets returned a solid core of veterans this year, led by senior Presley Allison and sophomore Rachel Hogan. Last year, Allison led the way in Division 2, as she won the all-around competition with a score of 37.875. She finished first in vault, beam, and floor and was third on the bars. Hogan, in her first year of high school gymnastics last year, finished 10th in the all-around competition at the state meet.

“Presley is just an awesome all-around gymnast,” Haring said. “Rachel is a sophomore who was a superstar last year, and she is even better this year.”

The Comets also have some talented newcomers, led by sophomore Tiana Seville. Seville, who had worked her way up to the third spot, suffered the shoulder injury in practice Jan. 23 and is in a cast from her shoulder to her finger.

“This year’s team is as good as last year’s team, but I’ve never had the injuries like this,” Haring said. “We are just going to have to take things day by day. We are not going to give up, and every other girl on the team is going to have to pick it up. When Tiana went down, the girls just said that each one is going to have to find another tenth of a point, and those tenths will add up to a point. This team does not have any quit in its blood.”

Veterans like junior Taylor Stevens and sophomores Lexi Payne and Maddie Loftus are some of the gymnasts Haring is looking at to step up and help overcome the injuries.

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By BUTCH HARMON

After suffering heavy graduation losses last spring, some re-tooling was in order for the St. Johns Redwings wrestling team this year. With the state team tournament ready to kick off, the Redwings have done a solid job of re-constructing the lineup and are ranked second in the state in Division 2, as they look to win a fifth straight state championship.

“We have a lot of new faces, but we have been making great progress,” said coach Derek Phillips. “We graduated seven seniors from last year. We’ve been getting better each and every week.”

Not only did St. Johns lose seven seniors, but it also lost some of the premier wrestlers in the state, as five state champions graduated.

Even so, the Redwings did return a solid nucleus of wrestlers, including junior Logan Massa (152 pounds), a returning state champion, and senior Zac Hall (140), a three-time state champion. The Redwings also returned Angus Arthur (189), another returning champion; sophomore Ian Parker (112), who is ranked second in the state at his weight class this year; and senior Mark Bozzo (145), who is ranked fourth.

Those wrestlers have helped the Redwings to fashion a solid regular season, which includes a No. 2-ranking in the state in Division 2 and several big wins, including an early-season win against Detroit Catholic Central.

Helping St. Johns reload this year have been several newcomers and returning wrestlers who made significant improvements during the off-season.

St. Johns has debuted a solid freshman class, led by Emilio Sanchez (103), who is ranked eighth in the state. Lucas McFarland (119) is ranked ninth in the state, while Brett Fedewa (130) is honorable-mention in his weight class. “Emilio has done a great job as a freshman,” Phillips said. “Brett is another freshman who has had some big wins.”

Derek Droste (125) and Ty Wildmo (215) have also been key additions to the starting lineup. “Derek has had a breakthrough year,” Phillips said. “He has made a lot of progress since last year. Ty is another newcomer who has had a strong season.”

With the re-tooling in place for the state tournament, the Redwings have their sights set on Battle Creek and possibly a third consecutive showdown with Lowell in the Division 2 state championship match. “That’s the way it looks, but you never know, a lot of crazy things can happen in Battle Creek,” Phillips said. “Things are progressing well, and we are trying to get to our peak performance level. We’re on track right now.”

Phillips feels that both the newcomers and the veterans know what it takes to get the job done in Battle Creek. “Everybody is hungry,” he said. “The veterans have had the taste of victory, and they want to keep it going. The younger guys have high expectations and have been practicing hard and improving all the time. They want a shot at the title.”

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Geoff Mott

Sports Scene

Major college basketball coaches and scouts have flocked to Arthur Hills’ basketball games to watch the state’s top prospect play.

University of Michigan’s coach John Beilein and Michigan State University’s coach Tom Izzo have sat in packed gyms around the Saginaw Valley League to watch 6’4″ junior guard Eric Davis and the talented Arthur Hill team behind him.

While he gets texts from the top college coaches around the country, letters in the mail, and increased media coverage, it remains business as usual for Davis. “I just want to win,” he said. “I play my game no matter who is there, who is watching.”

Davis said he watches college basketball all the time when he’s at home and doesn’t expect to make a decision on where he’s headed until after this summer’s AAU season. He’ll make all his official visits in the summer and make his decision based on them. In the meantime, his mother and uncle handle the recruiting aspect.

“I’m just trying to win and focus on that,” Davis said. “It’s nice that the coaches are thinking about me. I get those letters every day, and I keep them for the history of it. There are lots of good memories [from the recruiting process].”

Freshman Brian Bowen, whose first cousin is former Arthur Hill and Michigan State player and current Philadelphia 76er Jason Richardson, is embracing the extra attention that Davis brings to the team.

“I live for this atmosphere. The crowd can really get you going,” Bowen said. “And knowing the coaches are there, you want to show them what you can do. It helps to get looked at.”

Bowen hopes to learn about the process from Davis and one day to step in his shoes. “Eric helps me a lot,” 15-year-old Bowen said. “The recruiting process seems pretty tough. He gets calls every day, and he handles it really good. I want to be in his position when I’m to that point.”

Davis has shown it’s his work ethic mixed with talent that has gotten him to this point.

“He gets up and here at 7 a.m. every morning to shoot around for 40 minutes, working on free throws and ball handling,” Arthur Hill coach Greg McMath said. “He’s been a much better vocal leader out there for us. It’s nice when your best player is your best leader.”

McMath said the biggest benefit his other players get from the recruitment of Davis is the extra exposure.

“[Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski] and coach Izzo are here for Eric, but they have a web of contacts and coaches around the country, and they will let them know when they see other good players,” McMath said. “Our guys work hard in practice, and these coaches and scouts see that.”

Davis and his teammates just want to enjoy the ride. “I like playing in front of these big crowds,” Davis said. “That’s the most fun, when these games go down to the wire and the game is on the line.”

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Jeff Chaney

Sports Scene

LOWELL, MI – Next year there will be seven Lowell High School alumni wrestling at the Division I level in college.

It’s an impressive number, one that some current Red Arrows weren’t aware of, because they are concentrating on the task at hand.

“That’s impressive, and I follow the guys that are already in college, but it’s something we don’t think of,” senior 160-pounder Kanon Dean said. “I’m just lucky to be part of this program.”

Dean will be one of those seven who will be competing in Division I next year.

Dean, who will wrestle at Harvard, will join current teammates Bailey Jack, who be competing at Duke, and Garret Stehley, who will continue his wrestling career at Lehigh. Those three will join Jackson Morse, who is at Illinois; brothers Andrew and Gabe Morse, who wrestle at Northern Illinois; and Kanon’s cousin, Gabe Dean, who is at Cornell.

“That’s awesome,” Stehley said of the number of Red Arrows who will be competing at the NCAA DI level next year. “Wrestling is tough as it is, and then to do it at the Division I level, that is amazing.”

Throw in the fact that some of these learning institutions are among the toughest in the country academically, and it takes amazing to the next level.

“We always look at what’s after college,” Stehley said. “The most important thing here is academics.”

The whole Lowell wrestling team buys into that theory, because last year the team was Academic All State, led by Kanon Dean and his 4.4 GPA.

“Academics are important at Lowell,” said Dean, who was also part of Lowell’s football team that was Academic All State, as well. “Knowledge gives you what you need to do what you want.”

But Lowell also likes to win on the mat, and this year’s team just might have what it takes to break through and beat reigning four-time Division 2 state champion St. Johns.

Lowell is currently ranked No. 1 in Division 2 with a 22-1 record. The Red Arrows have beaten some stiff competition along the way, including Davison, the top-ranked team in Division 1; Detroit Catholic Central, the two-time D1 state champions; Hartland; and Richmond.

“I think we have a shot this year if we compete as a team,” Stehley said. “We have some good wins, but we still need to keep working and getting better.”

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Being a former NCAA wrestler myself, to read about what Lowell product and current Cornell University standout Gabe Dean accomplished recently when he defeated Penn State’s two-time NCAA champion Ed Ruth is simply remarkable.

When no one gives you a chance to win, it only brings out the best in you, and that’s what Gabe brought to the mat that day. Sports Scene has watched Gabe grow into a student-athlete over the past five years, and to see him pull off an upset of this magnitude at such a young age is beyond words. Sports Scene couldn’t be happier for the Dean family.

Family is what Sports Scene was built on, and that is what the wrestling community is. It’s like a brotherhood. Once you hit that mat, regardless if they are friend or foe, you are always rooting for a positive outcome.

In this month’s issue of Sports Scene, ‘family’ is a common theme. The Juengel family of Bullock Creek has endured so much over the past three years, but a strong family preserves and survives. Mary Juengel is a true inspiration to all. What she has gone through in her fight against leukemia is a reminder that no matter how hard things are, keep smiling and keep your faith.

The Myles/Bell family includes four siblings from East Lansing and Corunna who show their love and support for one another through their love of basketball.

It’s these types of families that make Sports Scene proud of what we do on a daily basis. Remember that family is what we are, and continue to show your community support.

Let’s hope that this year is as good as the previous four years. Much love and appreciation.

Randy Miniard

Publisher

517-202-1808

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Geoff Mott

Sports Scene

The threads of family and friends of Taylor Krupp are interwoven through the New Lothrop wrestling community.

Krupp comes from a family of brothers, uncles, and cousins that has produced 10 wrestlers for the perennial state powerhouse program. His uncle Tim Ebenhoeh served as head coach for four seasons and took the Hornets to the state semifinals all four seasons, including the program’s state-record 11th and 12th team state championships in 2003 and 2004.

His cousin Tim Ebenhoeh, Jr. was a three-time state champion, while older brother Justin Krupp was a senior when Taylor Krupp cracked the starting lineup as a freshman. Now Taylor Krupp is a senior and his youngest brother Connor Krupp is a freshman in the varsity’s starting lineup.

“It’s kind of fun for me to have played with both brothers, and I can help Connor because I’ve been in his shoes,” Taylor said. “Justin comes back for practices and weekend tournaments, and that shows how tight-knit our family is.

“And not just my family but everybody. There are lots of graduates who come back and help out every day. It’s pretty special.”

Taylor Krupp is among six talented seniors who give New Lothrop quite a powerful punch in the upper weights. The Hornets are ranked No. 2 in Division 4 by michigangrappler.com.

Aaron Baumann (152 pounds), Josh Wendling (160), Krupp (171), Cody Symons (189), Dakota Clark (189), and Owen Wilson (215) are all ranked in the state and most have been competing together since grade school.

“Those guys are definitely as talented as it comes,” coach Jeff Campbell said. “All are multi-sport athletes and either valedictorians or at the top of their class academically. There’s lots of effort in this program. Those deep family ties have helped a ton over the years.”

And it’s made Campbell’s job easier, as the senior classes over the years have motivated and taught the underclassmen. They end up as family members to the coach.

“I’m pretty fortunate, and any coach would love a group like I’ve got,” Campbell said. “They are self-motivated, and you know that by working several years with them since they were little. Whether it’s the wrestling mat, the baseball or football fields, jobs and church, these are the types of kids you want your kids to be.

“And it’s special for me to spend that time with them. I’ll miss them and will stay in contact long after they graduate.”

Taylor Krupp couldn’t imagine a part of his life where he didn’t stay in contact with his teammates. “We’ve gone through the entire wrestling program together, from club until now,” he said. “We’ve known each other since we were 7 or 8 years old, and we go to all these tournaments together and become real tight-knit. We have no plans of splitting up after this season.”

Taylor is looking to qualify for a fourth trip to the individual state finals. After qualifying as a freshman, the 171-pounder finished third as a sophomore and runner-up last season. He’s ranked No. 35 overall in his senior class and is the favorite to capture his first individual title.

“He’s the favorite, and sometimes that will make it harder,” Campbell said. “He’s already had an amazing season, beating a No. 1 contender from Wisconsin and a recent win over a top-15 wrestler in the state from Farwell.

“He’s a kid we’ve always depended on for bonus points. His freshman year in a conference match, he took on a kid from Lake Fenton who was ranked second in the state, and the match came down to him and he got the pin as time expired. He’s that exciting of a wrestler, where he always comes through in the clutch.”

Josh Wendling won the state title last year at 145 pounds and is up to 160 pounds this season. That weight is a far cry from when Wendling finished third in the state as a freshman at 103 pounds. He bulked up and finished fourth in the state at 125 pounds as a sophomore.

“It’s pretty unique to see someone go from 103 to 160 pounds by his senior year,” Campbell said. “To grow that much with continual success … you have to have control of your body, coordination, and strength. It’s not easy to do.”

Baumann is a three-time state qualifier who placed sixth as a sophomore and fourth last season. He’s ranked No. 4 at 152 pounds and ranked No. 83 overall among seniors. “Baumann is a kid I really root hard for, because he does everything that’s asked of him,” Campbell said. “He cuts weight, he adds weight. He developed through hard work to become a great wrestler. He didn’t have much success when he was younger, but every year he takes that next step.”

Symons is ranked fourth in Division 4 at 189 pounds after finishing sixth as a sophomore and third last season. A three-time state qualifier, Symons is ranked 93rd overall among seniors. “He’s a 4.0 student, a valedictorian, and a standout on the football field,” Campbell said of Symons. “He has a great family and a perfect example of why New Lothrop is what it is. He had some tough kids in his way last year, and he didn’t shy away from the competition.”

Owen Wilson is ranked No. 3 at 215 pounds in Division 4 and didn’t compete as long as the others in club wrestling in junior high. He was a backup heavyweight who placed at the state meet as a sophomore and was knocked out in the blood round at 215 pounds last season.

“He started wrestling late in junior high,” Campbell said. “He’s just a warrior and through effort has really transformed his body. Where Wendling went up in weight, Owen has gone down, converting that fat to muscle. That’s huge.”

Clark is different from the rest of his senior brethren. A two-time state qualifier, Clark was born in Alaska and lived in Germany with a father in the military. They returned to the family’s roots in New Lothrop, where he is ranked No. 10 at 189 pounds – six spots behind Symons in the rankings.

“He’s a real nice kid with a 3.8 grade-point average,” Campbell said. “On the mat he is physical and tough. He just needs to needs to piece it together, win some big matches, and make it happen. He would start for 90 percent of the teams in the state.”

The transition for Clark into the New Lothrop fraternity of wrestlers was a seamless one. “We’re a tight group, but we’re pretty easy to get along with,” Taylor Krupp said. “Dakota came in and was open and friendly. He fit right in.”

Senior Pat Carnahan is the gritty member of the group. A part-time starter at 119 pounds, Carnahan has missed a lot of time because of medical reasons. “He was one of the best wrestlers as a kid, but he never was fully able to get on the mat for us,” Campbell said. “He’s just a great kid. Not a great record but someone who gives us everything he’s got.”

The Hornets’ seniors have reached the Division 4 state semifinals all three years of high school, and each time they were turned away by five points or fewer. Hesperia beat New Lothrop 35-30 in 2011 and 29-26 last season, while Shelby beat the Hornets 29-28 on criteria in the 2012 state semifinal match.

“We just want to keep improving; keep pushing to do better,” Taylor Krupp said. “All I want to do is go out on top. An individual state title is a huge goal of mine, and this is the best year to win both [individual and team titles].

“This is one big family, and we’ve known each other all of our life, through thick and thin. And anyone on this team would give up an individual state title for that team state title. We’ve got the talent on this team to do it.”

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Morley Stanwood’s girls basketball team is 10-1 overall and 8-1 in the CSAA following Wednesday’s 60-38 league victory over White Cloud.

Marissa Frye and Mallory Raven had 13 points apiece. Lindsey Veersma had 11 points and four assists with Kayla Rosman adding five rebounds.

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Big Rapids Crossroads lost 53-39 to Manistee in non-league boys basketball action on Wednesday.

The Cougars were up 17-15 after the first quarter, but trailed 40-34 at halftime and was outscored 13-6 in the fourth quarter.

Aron Garland scored 17 points, Justin Thorne had eight points and Zach Rardin added five points for the Cougars.

Crossroads is 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the West Michigan D League.

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Nate Ethridge of Chippewa Hills has set a milestone as a wrestling coach at his school in dual victories.

When Chippewa Hills beat Reed City 53-12, Ethridge notched his 400thcareer coaching dual victory.

Chippewa Hills is 10-4 this season and 7-1 in the Central State Activities association.

“I was happy with our upperweights,” Ethridge said. “I was happy with 160 through 189. We knew Reed City usually puts out some big, strong athletic kids. We were able to sweep those weights. I was really happy with that.”

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Kevin Briscoe has reached the 100-win mark for the Chippewa Hills wrestling team.

The Warrior 152-pounder got win No. 100 Wednesday night in Chippewa Hills’ 53-12 win over Reed City.

Briscoe pinned Troy Giese in 2:33 to give his team a 41-12 lead.

“I was real proud of my 152-pounder getting his 100thwin,” said Chippewa Hills coach Nate Ethridge.

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Grand Ledge gymnastics team looking to overcome injuries and extend winning streak

St. Johns wrestling looking for fifth straight state title

Davis, Bowen bring attention to AH program

Knowledge is everything for Lowell wrestlers

Publishers Note

Krupp continues family tradition at New Lothrop

Morley Stanwood girls beat White Cloud

Big Rapids Crossroads falls to Manistee

Nate Ethridge gains 400th career dual coaching win for Chippewa Hills wrestling

Kevin Briscoe at 100 wins for Chippewa Hills