TOP JUNIOR CLASSES: #1-5
#1 St Johns
152 – #1 Logan Massa (2nd-1st-1st)
160 – HM1 Drew Wixson (X-RQ-4th)
189 – #2 Angus Arthur (5th-1st-1st)
215 – #10 Ty Wildmo (RQ-3rd-4th)
285 – Nic Sturgis (X-X-RQ)
Their streak of 4 consecutive titles may have come to an end last season, but this upcoming senior class ensures the Red Wings will once again be among the country’s top teams in 14-15. Massa is hands down the best returning high school wrestler in the entire country, and Arthur is also among the nation’s truly elite. With Massa and Wixson likely to move up, there won’t be a team in the state capable of matching up with the Red Wings from 160-285
#2 Detroit CC
112 – Tommy Hermann (X-X-RQ)
119 – #8 Trevor Zdebski (3rd-3rd-1st)
140 – #6 Myles Amine (SQ-3rd-1st)
189 – #23 Nick Giese (X-3rd-3rd)
Other classes may be deeper, but DCC has three heavy hitters in the class of 2015 that will make up the core of next year’s lineup. Amine and Zdebski continue to progress and prove themselves against top national competition, and despite wrestling through a significant injury Giese managed to match his 3rd place state finish from a year ago. Additionally, Hermann picked it up near the end of last year and should be a significant contributor to next year’s hunt for a 4th consecutive title, and 5th in 6 years.
#3 Lawton
112 – SM Julian Torres (X-5th-SQ)
119 – Blake Parker (X-SQ-X)
130 – #33 Kyle Barkovich (6th-4th-2nd)
130 – Austin Beach (X-SQ-X)
135 – HM1 Cole Menck (SQ-6th-3rd)
145 – SM Chris O’Donnell (X-RQ-5th)
171 – HM1 Brody Conner (RQ-5th-3rd)
The Blue Devils can’t match the big names of DCC or St Johns, but this is an absolutely phenomenal class that will make them serious contenders for a D4 state title next season. They are locked and loaded with 5 of the state’s top 150 juniors, but also are likely to get much more from 2013 SQ’s Parker and Beach after both missed large portions of last season. Assuming that’s the case, the Blue Devils could very well have 7 all-state seniors with multiple state champs next March.
#4 Richmond
103 – Connor Behem (X-X-7th)
125 – XJ Knuckles (X-X-X)
135 – HM2 Austin VanAtter (SQ-SQ-6th)
152 – #5 Devin Skatzka (1st-1st-1st)
160 – Austin Pawlak (X-X-SQ)
189 – Brady LaFore (X-X-RQ)
215 – Anthony Hinojosa (X-X-X)
285 – SM Adam Boyd (X-SQ-SQ)
Richmond has one of the country’s premier returning wrestlers in Skatzka, but it’s the depth of this group that makes it great. Historically the Blue Devil’s lineups have been dominated by upperclassmen, and as a result many of these guys are still relatively new faces. However, Behem and Pawlak emerged as studs at the end of last season, and I expect guys like Knuckles, LaFore and Hinojosa to do the same in 14-15.
#5 Niles
112 – SM Brendan Meek (SQ-SQ-5th)
119 – SM Josh Dayhuff (X-X-8th)
135 – Noah Hall (X-RQ-RQ)
140 – SM Warren Smith (X-RQ-8th)
171 – Sean Craig (X-X-RQ)
189 – Cody Thornton (X-X-X)
215 – Ted Jackowiak (X-X-RQ)
215 – Wyatt Thornton (X-X-RQ)
285 – Alex Bata (X-RQ-RQ)
This is a definitive class for Niles, a program rapidly emerging as one of Michigan’s deepest and most balanced programs. Next year the Vikings will be among D2’s top teams with a lineup that consists of over 50% seniors, virtually all of whom should be state qualifiers and beyond.
HONORABLE MENTION (alphabetized)
HM Allendale
125 – HM2 Jackson Lambdin (4th-SQ-7th)
145 – SM Jesse Groenveld (RQ-RQ-8th)
160 – HM1 Brandon Dyke (X-4th-7th)
189 – SM Jon Nielson (X-RQ-6th)
HM Brighton
125 – Kyle Bohnsack (X-RQ-SQ)
135 – Jose Ramos (X-RQ-RQ)
145 – Ryan Salmon (X-X-RQ)
160 – SM Beau Mourer (X-X-SQ)
171 – #35 Nick Brish (SQ-SQ-6th)
HM Carson City Crystal
112 – Alex Baker (SQ-RQ-SQ)
145 – HM2 Darren Decker (X-8th-5th)
152 – HM1 Dillen Decker (X-8th-4th)
160 – Lincoln Burnham (X-SQ-X)
189 – Frank Smith (X-X-RQ)
215 – Austin Hopkins (X-RQ-RQ)
HM Davison
125 – Keegan McQueen (X-X-X)
125 – #4 Lincoln Olson (1st-1st-1st)
135 – Hunter Fifield (X-X-X)
215 – SM Jake Ellis (X-X-SQ)
285 – Dakota Powers (X-X-RQ)
HM Dundee
112 – HM1 Ken Reinhart (X-5th-5th)
160 – HM1 Donny Mandell (X-X-4th)
171 – #28 Tye Thompson (X-4th-2nd)
189 – Ryan Heiserman (X-RQ-RQ)
HM Eaton Rapids
119 – Austin Eldred (X-RQ-RQ)
130 – #19 Jaedin Sklapsky (7th-3rd-2nd)
140 – Andrew Paul (X-X-RQ)
145 – SM Blake Millheim (X-RQ-SQ)
152 – Caleb Norris (X-X-SQ)
HM Grand Haven
119 – #18 Cam Bertucci (2nd-3rd-SQ)
130 – Antonio Reyes (X-SQ-RQ)
152 – Aaron Cummings (X-RQ-SQ)
285 – HM1 Chase VanHoef (X-RQ-6th)
HM Grand Rapids CC
135 – #3 Nate Limmex (4th-1st-1st)
152 – Jared Tennihill (X-X-SQ)
189 – #22 Grant Tennihill (X-SQ-3rd)
HM Lowell
135 – #20 Jordan Hall (6th-7th-3rd)
215 - #7 Josh Colegrove (3rd-X-1st)
285 – Logan Wilcox, 285 (X-RQ-RQ)
HM New Boston Huron
112 – SM Judah Caballero (8th-SQ-6th)
125 – HM1 Jon Wellman (SQ-SQ-3rd)
160 – #14 Logan Ritchie (6th-4th-1st)
171 – Riley Griffin (X-X-X)
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