#1 Lowell – The Red Arrows stake their claim to the top spot with an epic 34-33 win over Davison at May Mayhem. Yes, they got some help with an injury default at 160 in a match they would likely have otherwise won by decision, but it came in the first match of the dual, and there were several other factors that may or may not have played out differently depending how the stage was set.
#2 Davison – The Cardinals are nipping at the Red Arrows heels, and will still have an opportunity to work their way to the top of the P15 in what is still a very young season.
#3 St. Johns – It’s been a great start for the Red Wings, and a win over DCC at the Tim Horn Memorial Duals earlier this month has them sitting at #3.
#4 Detroit CC – Injuries have plagued the Shamrocks early this season, and they have yet to put their best lineup on the mat. Their losses against Davison and St. Johns were decided by 3 points or less, respectively, and came in the absence of 1-2 key starters. When/if they are recovered the Shamrocks very well may be the best team in the state despite their current ranking, and, looking at their schedule, they will have ample chance to prove it.
#5 Hudson – This may just be the best Hudson team yet. A win over Richmond last Sunday earns them the #5 spot, and although I don’t think they have quite enough firepower to take out any of the 4 teams ranked ahead of them, Coach Scott Marry and his troops have made a habit of exceeding expectations.
#6 Richmond – As is always the case, the Blue Devils have seemingly endless lineup possibilities, and no one outside of the program will truly know just how good they are until the last weekend in February.
#7 Dundee – The defending D3 champs are neck-and-neck with Richmond, and an upcoming LCAA dual with Hudson will give them a chance to boost their rank.
#8 Hartland – Through #5-8 separation is very minimal, and there is plenty of potential for movement in weeks to come. The Eagles already have a dominant win over Allegan to their credit, and their best wrestler, Austin Eicher, has yet to take the mat this season.
#9 Allegan – To be fair Tigers were pretty banged up when they lost to Hartland. They are still getting all their pieces in place, and are very much a threat to win the D3 state championship.
#10 Grand Rapids CC – The Cougars have not been tested to heavily yet, but that will change in a hurry with the Brecksville Holiday Tournament and DCC Invite as their next competition dates. Although both are individual tournaments, it should provide a much clearer idea of just how good this team is.
#11 New Lothrop – The Hornets are still getting all their pieces in place following a deep run into the state football playoffs. I’m giving the some benefit of the doubt for now, but they are another team whose future ranking will weigh heavily on their performance over the next couple weeks.
#12 Temperance Bedford – This is where things start to get kind of sketchy. From here on out the separation is minimal, and several valid arguments could be made as to who should be ranked where. Bedford impressed me last week, and in my opinion their win over Birch Run is the best that any of the remaining teams have to their name.
#13 Niles – The Vikings were anything but a one-year wonder, and once again find themselves listed among Michigan’s elite teams despite losing a phenomenal senior class.
#14 Swan Valley – The Vikings already have some solid wins under their belt, and a likely showdown with Niles in Milford this week should be a good indicator of where they stand.
#15 Birch Run – It’s been a very active start to the season for the Panthers. Heavy graduation losses had me questioning how competitive this team would be, but they have quickly erased those doubts and worked their way into the P15 with several strong wins, most notably over Macomb Dakota.
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