2009 MHSAA Team State Championships
Kellogg Center - Battle Creek, MI
Division 3 Quarterfinals Recap
By Sean Garner
for Michigan Grappler.com
I’d like to begin by saying thank you to the MHSAA for finally deciding to seed the teams in the state. It is obvious to me that the four best Division Three teams in Battle Creek, with the possible exception of Richmond are the ones that advanced.
That being said, I sincerely believe there is a lot of parity among the four remaining teams. Goodrich unquestionably is the best up top, and that is probably what gives them the slight edge.
Starting at 135, all matches except Richmond/Dundee were decided by the time the little guys came up. No real surprises, and with all due respect to Richmond, no real intrigue. Even though Richmond was ahead going into the lower weights, it was clear that their very good lightweights were no match for Dundee’s outstanding lightweights. In the end, Dundee came out on top by double digits 34-24.
No other match came within twenty points, but there was still some exciting wrestling. In my opinion, the best match was Goodrich’s CC Weber holding off Allendale’ Bryan Reatini 3-1 at 103.
Even though the competition today might have been a bit predictable and stale, we will no doubt be rewarding with a fantastic final two rounds. Swan Valley and Goodrich make for an interesting matchup since Swan Valley has arguably the best lower weights in the state, and Goodrich has arguably the best upper weights in the state.
Allegan and Dundee have a number of potentially gigantic individual showdowns including Steve Poffenberger vs. Chris Rau at 119 and Garrett Smith vs. Pete Rendina at 135.
It should be one heck of a Saturday in D3, possibly the most competitive division in Battle Creek.
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