Dual Synopsis
This Warren Lincoln team is one resilient bunch. After commencing the season with a #3 ranking and serious state title aspirations, the Abe’s lineup was quickly depleted by injuries, ailments and off the mat issues. Nonetheless, they rallied around each other, and for a second straight season they will be competing in BC. Individually there will be some very solid matchups, but Lincoln simply has too many holes to compete against a top-20 team in the country such as Lowell. For me, the most anticipated bout will be at 125lbs where #2 Garrett Kaercher will likely meet #5 Derek Krajewski in a battle of state title contenders. The pair met twice at the DCC Invite in January with Krajewski winning the first match, and Kaercher taking second.
Dual Synopsis
This has the potential to be Friday’s most exciting dual. Neither team has much in the way of household names, but both are extremely deep and versatile, especially in the lower and middleweights. The upperweights are pretty clear-cut, and more or less negate each other. I think Byron Center takes 160, 171 and 189 with bonus points sprinkled in, but Niles counterpunches with pins at 215 and 285. That leaves 103-152 to decide the dual. Bonus points will be slim to none in this stretch, and with the seemingly infinite matchup possibilities I honestly think each of these weights is up for grabs depending how the respective coaches choose to lineup their wrestlers. On paper this definitely has the makings of a true tossup, but I’m inclined to lean towards Niles based on their stellar performance in BC a year ago.
Dual Synopsis
After knocking off the #5 ranked team in D2 to advance through their region, I think it’s safe to say WWT is hitting their peak at the right time. They are still slight underdogs here, but this is definitely a winnable dual for them. In the middleweights WWT may not be exceptional, but I think they are solid enough to take capitalize on the weakest point of Tecumseh’s lineup by sweeping from 135-160 with a few bonus points sprinkled in. Should that be the case, I think the dual will come down to a pair of swing matches down low; both of which WWT will probably need to win. At 103 #6 Joey Schindler will need to come up big against all-state senior and #2-ranked Rick Azelton. Overall Azelton has had the better results this season, but Schindler out placed him with a common opponent victory at the CC Invite, so he’s definitely capable. The other key swing match will pit HM’s Robert Comar and Al Haque against each other at 119 in what feels like a true tossup.
Dual Synopsis
An absolutely brutal draw for BCW. They performed inconsistently during the season, but now that #3 Chris Schoenherr is finally back and healthy I think they have a semi-final caliber lineup. However, even with their lineup complete they are significantly overmatched against the 4X defending champs. If they get the matchups they want and win all the swings BCW can probably win 6 or even 7 weight classes, bet even in the case of a 7/7 split St. Johns should score enough bonus points to win by a significant margin.
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I agree with everyone, Steve does a great job w/ this site and I have been checking it daily since it began. I have nothing against any of you guys I was just voicing my opinion, which I feel I have every right to do. It was bothersome to me that BCW was labeled inconsistent when they lost early in the season with a defending runner up out of the lineup, I feel if that happened to Davion, TB, DCC, Oxford, etc., they would not have been labeled as inconsistent but rather "not fully healthy" or … Read More
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Bill, yes that is the Davison I am talking about... I have wrestled in that room hundreds of times...
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Steve - great job providing us with your insights on the Quarters. I've only been watching wrestling for a couple of years, but have had a blast seeing the progress that Coach Hesson has brought to the Niles program. The Junior class is huge and watching the B team, the JV team and knowing what is already in the middle school coming up, I think he will continue to have a competitive program in the future.
Just curious, not trying to steal your thunder for another article but do you have a … Read More
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mike, I dont comment on these rants by fans or parents often, but just want the rest of the wrestling community not to get a false sence of the fans from BCW. I have watched this program come a long ways in the last 4yrs. The BCW fans that i have seen are great fans, they stay positive and are respectfull. which explains why there wrestlers act the same way,on and off the mat. The coaching staff has done a great job and they earned their wat to Battle Creek. Lets not disect every word that is … Read More
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Steve, when Davison lost to Dundee by 1 without full lineup was that inconsistency? BCW lost by one early in the season w/out state runner up in lineup who just lit up a d1 runner up in the SVL finals, if that doesn't make up 1 point you are delusional...you call bcw inconsistent but you call DCC freshman one of the top in the country when he fails to make it to states in a state w/ 4 divisions which dilutes the competition as 64 per weight class are state qualies.. That is inconsistent...
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Now you're just sounding dumb Mike. Just stop it. How old are you guys that are trolling this site. Leave the guy alone, he's done pretty well building this website over the years by himself for the ENTIRE state.
Mike, are you referring to the same Davison team that upset then #11 Montini, lost to Dundee, and later crushed D1 #6 and Power 15 #15 Temperance Bedford 58-9 at DCC Super Duals? BTW, Dundee was without State Champ & Power 15 #3 (189) Teddy Warren that day.
Mr. Baker, I don't have a horse in the race but to call a team inconsistent that is 20-1 is about as logical as the belief in god. Check the definition of inconsistent in the dictionary and check back if that applies to a 20-1 record. And the wrestling out of state comments make sense but you must not realize that BCW has not been as good the last decade as they were in their heyday between 10-15 years ago, I would bet most top teams go out their way to not schedule weak teams or teams full of … Read More
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Mike -
They beat Gaylord and Greenville, but lost to John Glenn. Based on how those three teams fared over the season, their "performance" in those 2 wins was "inconsistent" with that of their 1 loss.
JAY FAMILY AND MICHELLE-
Clearly you are parents of wrestlers for BCW. Without a doubt they have had a great season. Any time a team makes it to BC it should be celebrated. Steve has made a perfect point, they have wrestled inconsistently. It's true! Yes thy are 20-1, but records aren't everything, or maybe you both are so ignorant that you think BCW deserves a #2 seed above St. Johns because you have the better record? In order to get a good seed you need to have a good record and...... … … Read More
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"Performed inconsistent" - really? With a 20-1 record this season and the only loss was early season to a D1 Westland John Glenn by 1 point (with 3 starters out). Western definitely got the brutal draw!
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Well, considering the flip hasn't even occurred yet, I would say it's virtually impossible for you know what lineup they will use. I'll go ahead and wager a guess that coaches probably have not discussed their strategy with you, and will be making some moves to create the most advantageous matchups.
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