Grappler Elite League Finals Recap & Video

Recap

The second annual Grappler Elite League Finals is completed, and it was another remarkable event. For the second straight year, Grand Valley State played host to the best middle schoolers in the state, with 16 state champions being crowned. Only five wrestlers repeated as champs, proving how tough this tournament is:

Brennan Hart (Donahoe)
Grayson VanValkenburg (Michigan Premier)
Gabe Ryzyi (Shamrock Select)
Jaxson Boucher (Michigan Premier)
Cael Tyler (Ragnarock)

6 wrestlers picked up bonus points all the way through the finals, proving they're among the most dominant wrestlers in the state: Chase VanPortfliet, Brody Compau, Royce Beal, Jaxson Boucher, Cael Tyler, and Tyler Blaker. Of those 6, only Cael Tyler and Tyler Blaker pinned their way through the tournament.

Zeekial DeNault (North Oakland RTC) won the biggest bracket of the tournament, which came at 130lbs. Entering as the #3 seed, DeNault received a bye before picking up a major, a 3-0 decision, and a big 8-5 overtime win over the #1 seed in the finals.

Link to Photo Gallery: Click Here

Finals Results & Video

70lbs - Xavier Ruffin (Ruffin Trained) over Kiernin Ryznar (Michigan Matcats) Dec 13-6

‍75lbs - Dominic Bowen (Michigan Premier WC) over Jaxton Coyer (Michigan West WC) Maj 12-3

‍80lbs - Brennan Hart (Team Donahoe) over Macklen Marksbury (Michigan Premier WC) Dec 8-2

‍85lbs - Grayson VanValkenburg (Michigan Premier WC) over Brody Gustin (Michigan Premier WC) Dec 7-0

‍90lbs - Chase VanPortfliet (Michigan Premier WC) over Brookson Marksbury (Michigan Premier WC) Maj 11-1

‍95lbs - Gabriel Ryzyi (Shamrock Select) over Gavin Boller (Michigan Matcats) Dec 1-0

‍100lbs - Brody Compau (Michigan Premier WC) over Jacob Holley (SWAT) Maj 15-2

‍105lbs - Aden DiGiovanni (Team Donahoe) over Jameson Onstott (Eaton Rapids) SV-1 3-0

110lbs - Royce Beal (Hudson) over Rooney Olmedo (Michigan West) TF 16-1

120lbs - Jaxson Boucher (Michigan Premier WC) over Zaiden Buell (Michigan Premier WC) Maj 13-0

130lbs - Zeekial DeNault (North Oakland RTC) over Evan Stachewicz (U.P. Elite) SV-1 8-5

145lbs - Wyatt Kimble (Hudson) over Austin Rhodes (Yale) Dec 3-0

160lbs - Christopher Green (Barbarian Bulls) over Gavin Sebastian (Eaton Rapids) Maj 9-1

175lbs - Cael Tyler (Ragnarock) over Brendan Kero (Michigan Matcats) Fall 0:59

195lbs - Travis Baker (Team NBWC) over Gage Miller (Grayling) Fall 3:51