Freshmen steal the show at Goodrich TOC

12/31 - In a tournament filled with returning state champions and some
of the most decorated wrestlers and teams the state of Michigan has to
offer, it was the young guns that stole the show.  Both of the Outstanding
Wrestler Awards were given to freshman and the tournament's most
anticipated finals match came at 145lbs with two freshman.

Most freshman are not strong or mature enough to compete at a weight
like 145lbs, however, Taylor Massa of St.Johns and Jordan Thomas of
Greenville are not your ordinary freshman.  The two nationally ranked
rookies went back and forth in the 145lb final of yesterday's Goodrich
Tournament of Champions, putting on a show and giving everyone what
they came to see. 

Trailing by two late in the thrid period Thomas, who was a Cadet National
All-American last summer, scored a takedown to send the match to
overtime.  Once in overtime Massa, a Cadet National Champ, struck the
final blow with a takedown to end the match. 

While Massa and Thomas are widely known as two of the best freshman grapplers in the country, it was two less renowned freshman who scored the biggest upsets of the tournament and possibly of the season to date.

Alec Mooradian, fresh off his win over last year's Division 2 103lb champ Victor Vettese two weeks ago, scored another big upset with a overtime win over 2x Division 3 state champ B.J. Suitor of Swan Valley.  The win for Mooradian solidified himself as a contender for the Division 1 state title. 

Another freshman who put on an impressive display was St. Johns' Jordan Wohlert at 135lbs.  Wohlfert, who goes un-recognized at times due to Massa, has picked up big wins all year long leading up to Goodrich as he entered the day as the 3rd ranked 135lber in Division 2.  In the semifinals Wohlfert avenged an early season loss to Hesperia all-stater and #1 ranked Malcolm Martin to advance to the finals.  In the finals Wohlfert knocked off Dundee's 3x state placer and University of Michigan bound senior Pete Rendina to throw his name in the mix as one of the best 135lbers in the state. 

Pete Rendinda's younger brother Joe was on the other side of a big upset as he knocked off Swan Valley senior and Eastern Michigan bound Jared Germaine to win the 125lb tournament title.  Joe Rendina, a sophomore, was a title contender a year ago before suffering a season ending injury and missing out on the post season.  His win over Germaine was his 2nd huge victory of the season as he downed returning Division 3 state champ Nick Smith of Ida earlier this year as well.

At the end of the day it was Greenville, the #1 team in the state across all divisions, who came out on top of the final team standings, edging D3's top team Goodrich by 9.5 points.  Greenville had three champs on the day, most notably 2x state champ Tyler Keselring who edged returning state finalist Darius Wass of Swan Valley in the 119lb finals.  Also winning titles for Greenville was Collin Fuller at 140lbs and Ike Hensen at 285lbs.

Host Goodrich won three individual titles as well en route to their runner-up team finish.  In another battle of returning state finalists D3 champ Kyler Elsworth of Goodrich beat Fowlerville's returning D2 runner-up Dillon Kern at 189lbs.  Kyle March (171) and CC Weber (103) also won for Goodrich.

Almost every finals match of the tournament featured returning state placers or finalists.  The 130lb final saw a couple of 2007 state finalists as Jake Walters of St Johns kept his strong senior campaign going with a finals win over Josh White oif Dundee.

The 152lb final featured the #1 wrestlers from Division 1 and 4 with Robert Nash of Roseville and Brandon Zeerip of Hesperia.  Zeerip came away on top, as did his teammate Dan Yates at 160lbs, who won over Earl Bryant of Springport in a battle of D4's #1 and #2 ranked wrestlers.

The 215lb final featured returning state placers as D2's #1 ranked Nick McDiarmid of Fowlerville defeated D3's #2 Mike Lasinksi of Goodrich.  \

In a day where four returning state champs won titles, it is amazing that they were overshadowed by freshmen.  Hopefully this is a sign of what's to come in the future of Michigan wrestling.

On a sidenote, Michigan Grappler.com sucessfully predicted 9 out of the 14 individual champions.

Goodrich Tournament of Champions
December 30th, 2008


Team Standings
1. Greenville, 193.5
2. Goodrich 184
3. Hesperia, 143.5
4. Swan Valley 133
5. Dundee, 116.5
6. Fowlerville, 111.5
7. St. Johns 102
8. Roseville 72.5
9. Coloma, 65
10. Detroit Catholic Central, 59
11. Addison, 55
12. Petoskey, 41
13. Bronson, 33
14. Springport, 30
15. Grand Blanc, 26.5
16. Lapeer West, 19.5
17. New Boston Huron, 16
18. Warren Woods Tower, 14
19. Swartz Creek, 10.5
20. Kearsley, 0





Individual Placers
103
1. C.C. Weber (Goodrich)
2. Luke Gilmore (Greenville)
3. Dakota Carie (Lapeer West)
4. Doug Zundel (Roseville)
5. Shawn Rosencrans (Hesperia)
6. Adam Ramano (NB Huron)


112
1. Alec Mooradian (DCC)
2. BJ Suitor (Swan Valley)
3. Joey White (Dundee)
4. Cody Petit (Goodrich)
5. Andrew Scoby (Addison)
6. Josh Galarneau (Coloma)



119
1. Tyler Keselring (Greenville)
2. Darius Wass (Swan Valley)
3. Chris Rau (Dundee)
4. Collin Zeerip (Hesperia)
5. Christian Oguinn (Grand Blanc)
6. Alex Donaho (Swartz Creek)



125
1. Joe Rendina (Dundee)
2. Jared Germaine (Swan Valley)
3. Nick Bogue (Greenville)
4. Luke Faultersack (Coloma)
5. Jordan Bosma (Hesperia)
6. Charlie Joseph (DCC


130
1. Jake Walters (St Johns)
2. Josh White (Dundee)
3. John Tanner (Coloma)
4. David Garr (Goodrich)
5. Jordan Bates (Hesperia)
6. Preston Lucas (Bronson)



135
1. Jordan Wohlfert (St Johns)
2. Pete Rendina (Dundee)
3. Malcolm Martin (Hesperia)
4. Kegan Arthur (Petoskey)
5. Travis Kern (Fowlerville)
6. Josh Roberts (Roseville)



140
1. Collin Fuller (Greenville)
2. Troy Lamson (Swan Valley)
3. Matt Kiser (Coloma)
4. John Popham (Warren Woods Tower)
5. Brandon Desbrough (Dundee)
6. Avery Hasenaur (DCC)



145
1. Taylor Massa (St Johns)
2. Jordan Thomas (Greenville)
3. Joe Hopkins (Goodrich)
4. Matt Beebe (Swan  Valley)
5. Brandon Douglass (Addison)
6. Huston Harrison (Coloma)



152
1. Brandon Zeerip (Hesperia)
2. Robert Nash (Roseville)
3. Jake Jeske (Swan Valley)
4. Trevor O'Connor (DCC)
5. Adam Bonner (Greenville)
6. Jared Labelle (Goodrich)



160
1. Dan Yates (Hesperia)
2. Drew Harding (Springport)
3. Drew Weil (Goodrich)
4. Brandon Bell (Swan Valley)
5. Nick Phillips (Addison)
6. Shawn Madison (Roseville)


171
1. Kyle March (Goodrich)
2. Zach Marihugh (Petoskey)
3. Ben Asp (Fowlerville)
4. Garrett Newhouse (Greenville)
5. Phillip Cammons (Springport)
6. Austin Brown (St Johns)



189
1. Kyler Elsworth (Goodrich)
2. Dillon Kern (Fowlerville)
3. Mike Petrone (Roseville)
4. Neil Hyaska (Bronson)
5. Justin Drobish (Greenville)
6. Andrew Banas (New Boston Huron)



215
1. Nick McDiarmid (Fowlerville)
2. Mike Lasinski (Goodrich)
3. Travis Dickensen (St Johns)
4. Evan Schroeder (Addison)
5. Travis Gump (Bronson)
6. Brett Martin (Hesperia)


285
1. Ike Hansen (Greenville)
2. Erick Helfman (Fowlerville)
3. Justin Music (Grand Blanc)
4. Nick Lovell (Goodrich)
5. Cody Wolever (Hesperia)
6. Kevin Miller (Addison)



Copyright 2007-08 Michigan Grappler LLC
May not be reproduced without expressed written consent
Contact via email: admin@michigangrappler.com






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Finals Predictions:
103 - CC Weber (Goodrich) over Todd Melick (DCC)
112 - B.J. Suitor (Swan Valley) over Alec Mooradian (DCC)
119 - Tyler Keselering (Greenville) over Darius Wass (Swan Valley)
125 - Jared Germaine (Swan Valley) over Joe Rendina (Dundee)
130 - Jake Walters (St Johns) over Chris Thiele (Swan Valley)
135 - Pete Rendina (Dundee) over Malcolm Martin (Hesperia)
140 - Matt Kiser (Coloma) over Troy Lamson (Swan Valley)
145 - Taylor Massa (St Johns) over Jordan Thomas (Greenville)
152 - Brandon Zeerip (Hesperia) over Robert Nash (Roseville)
160 - Dan Yates (Hesperia) over Brandon Bell (Swan Valley)
171 - Kyle March (Goodrich) over Yacoub Abuhanna (Kearsley)
189 - Kyler Elsworth (Goodrich) over Dillon Kern (Fowlervill)
215 - Nick McDiarmid (Fowlerville) over Ike Hensen (Greenville)
285 - Mike Lasinski (Goodrich) over Erick Helfman (Fowlerville)




Pre-Tournament Preview

103
Favorite: C.C. Weber (Goodrich)
Ranked Wrestlers: D1 - #4 Todd Melick (DCC); D2 - #10 Devin Pauwels (Carleton Airport); D3 - #4 Weber, #9 Nate Jaworski (Dundee)
Outlook: This weight is up for grabs as Weber is the lone returning state qualifier in the field.  CC is one of the most nationally acclaimed female wrestlers in the country and has been solid at 103 for Goodrich over the past few years.  Another senior to watch will be Dundee's Nate Jaworski who has been behind all-staters his entire career and will be looking to make a name for himself this weekend.  A few very talented freshman looking to breakout will be Todd Melick of DCC, who has a couple big wins this year already, Border Wars National Champ Jared Flores of Swan Valley, and Aiport's 10th ranked Devin Pauwels.  This should be a competetive weight that Weber, Melick, Jaworski, and Flores are all capable of winning.


112
Favorite: B.J. Suitor (Swan Valley)
Ranked Wrestlers: D1 - #5 Alec Mooradian (DCC); D2 - #6 Dom Simdone (Airport); D3 - #1 Suitor, #4 Joey White (Dundee), #9 Josh Galarmeau (Coloma)
Outlook: Everyone at 112 will be gunning for 2x state champ BJ Suitor of Swan Valley.  DCC's freshman phenom Alec Mooradian is no stranger to knocking off state champs as he downed D2 champ Victor Vettese a couple weeks ago in the Oakland County finals.  Mooradian is a gritty rookie who will be looking to prove himself as one of Michigan's best up and comers with a good showing against Suitor, however, do'nt forget about returning all-stater Joey White of Dundee and state qualifiers Simdone and Galarmeua.  Josh Galarmeau enters the tournament a perfect 12-0 and may be the 5th seed! 


119
Favorite: Tyler Keselring (Greenville)
Ranked Wrestlers: D2 - #1 Keselring, #10 Matt Bates (Fowlerville); D3 - #2 Darius Wass (Swan Valley), #3 Chris Rau (Dundee); D4 - #1 Collin Zeerip (Hesperia)
Outlook: This is not a typo - we have received word that 2x state champ Tyler Keselring will be down at 119 tommorow.  Keselring, who won it at 112 last year as a sophomore, is the #1 ranked wrestler at 125 right now, the weight that he has been wrestling at all year.  If Keselering is down at 119 this will be a dynamite weight class as Hesperia features a returning state champ as well in Collin Zeerip and Darius Wass of Swan Valley and Chris Rau of Dundee are both returning state finalists.  If things work out right this weight's semifinal matches will be all state finalists.  Keselring vs Wass would be a marquee matchup of elite juniors as they have been the top dogs in D2 and D3 the past couple years, but are yet to square off.  This will also be a big test for the Chris Rau and the youngest Zeerip brother as they are both making the jump from 103 to 119. 


125
Favorite: Jared Germaine (Swan Valley)
Ranked Wrestlers: D1 - #7 Justin Melick (DCC); D2 - #5 Nick Bogue (Greenville), #9 Anthony Lee (Fowlerville), #10 Zack Krueger (Swartz Creek); D3 - #1 Germaine, #3 Joe Rendina (Dundee), #10 Luke Faultersack (Coloma); D4 - #5 Jordan Bosma (Hesperia)
Outlook: With 8 wrestlers currently ranked in the state, this is one of the deeper weights in the tournament.  Germaine is definitely the man beat here, and if Keselring winds up still at 125, then a potential Germaine/Keselring matchup would be amazing as they are both technically sound and very athletic.  Joe Rendina has been on a tear this year so far and is capable of going with Germaine.  His long frame and unique style could give the quick, jittery Germaine fits.  After having his freshman season cut short due to injury this could be Rendina's big coming out party if he can knock off the top ranked man in his weight.  If Nick Bogue is eligible to compete for Greenville he will be competetive here as well.  Bogue lost a close match to Germaine in last year's D3 state tournament while wrestling for Central Montcalm, so there is no doubt he can wrestle at that level.  Two unranked returning state qualifiers, Alex Cannon of Petoskey and Andrew Clark of Carleton Airport, make this weight even deeper.


130
Favorite: Jake Walters (St Johns)
Ranked Wrestlers: D1 - #10 Ric Hogerheide (Grand Blanc); D2 - #3 Walters, #6 Travis Kern (Fowlerville); D3 - #1 Josh White (Dundee), #2 Chris Thiele (Swan Valley), #4 John Tanner (Coloma), #6 David Garr (Goodrich); D4 - #7 Preston Lucas (Bronson), #8 Jordan Bates (Hesperia)
Outlook: Walters has been on fire this year dating back to last summer where he garnered greco all-american honors in Fargo and this fall where he finished 6th at the always tough Super 32 tournament right up to this season as he already has a Lansing Eastern title under his belt.  Walters will have his work cut out for him at this tournament with the three of the top 4 wrestlers in Division 3 in his weight class.  White has been around and is no stranger to big matches, whiel Thiele is a talented sophomore looking to break through with a big win.  This weight is very deep with 9 ranked wrestlers and 4 or 5 who are capable of winning the tournament.  However - Walters gritty, hard nosed style is built for tournaments like this, which is why we are picking him to win.






135
Favorite: Pete Rendina (Dundee)
Ranked Wrestlers: D1 - #10 Doug Eldridge (DCC); D2 - #3 Jordan Wohlfert (St Johns), #6 Collin Fuller (Greenville), #8 Nick Wellman (New Boston Huron), #9 Keegan Arthur (Petoskey); D3 - #3 Rendina, #6 Kirk Britton (Goodrich); D4 - #1 Malcolm Martin (Hesperia), #4 Zac Chantrenne (Bronson)
Outlook: Another tretorous weight class with 9 ranked wrestlers.  To win this weight you are looking at a minimum of three quality wins - no cake walks here.  2007 state champ Rendina has really come into his own the past couple years and for anyone to beat him would be a pretty big upset, but he will be tested.  This weight features four other former state placers in Britton, Martin, Chantrenne and Fuller along with state qualifers Eldridge, Wellman, and Arthur.  In addition, freshman phenom Jordan Wohlfert of St Johns is capable of competing with anyone at this weight.  Wohlfert lost a last second nail biter to Martin on the opening weekend of the year - he could be a darkhorse.

140
Favorite: Troy Lamson (Swan Valley)
Ranked Wrestlers: D3 - #3 Lamson, #4 Matt Kiser (Coloma); D4 - #1 Adam Wiseman (Hesperia), #9 Zak Stoner (Addison)
Outlook: In comparison to the preceding weight classes, this bracket may be weak.  That is, there will only be 2 returning state placers and 4 returning state qualifiers.  Lamson placed in D2 last year and Kiser in D3, so they are the obvious ones to beat.  Lamson is a strong kid who should be improving from being in Swan Valley's room with all the talent around him.  Adam Wiseman is a state title contender in D4 and is quite capable of winning this weight as well.  Some other names to keep an eye on are Jaley McCoy of Highland Park and Kevin Nash of Roseville, who are both talented D1 grapplers capable of placing high in this weight.


145
Favorite: Taylor Massa (St Johns)
Ranked Wrestlers: D1 - #1 Shea Hasenaur (DCC), #10 Dezmond Jones (Highland Park); D2 - #1 Massa, #2 Jordan Thomas (Greenville); D3 - #1 Jake Jeske (Swan Valley), #2 Huston Harrison (Coloma), #5 Joe Hopkins (Goodrich)
Outlook: If all the above listed gentlemen are present at this weight class then this is without doubt the feature weight of the tournament.  We are looking at the top ranked wrestlers from Division 1, 2, and 3 all on the same chart, it is almost a dream matchup.  Whats even more exciting is that two returning senior state finalists are in this weight, and neither of them are the favorite to win.  Nationally acclaimed freshman Taylor Massa will look to silence the doubters and prove the hype tommorow as he may face the toughest weight in this tournament.  But wait there is more - according to our sources another 5-star freshman - Jordan Thomas of Greenville will be dropping to 145 for this tournament as wel.  Thomas, another nationally ranked frosh, has beaten Massa in the past as they have both been junior high standouts over the past few years.  It is very rare that a freshman steps in at 145lbs and is capable of beating anyone in the state - and BOTH of these guys can do it.  As if Hasenaur, Jeske, Massa, and Thomas weren't enough, Huston Harrison of Coloma was 3rd in the state last year and comes into the tournament a perfect 12-0 while Joe Hopkins is fresh off a Genesee County Title.  Now - there is a chance that Thomas stays at 152 and Jeske has been wrestling up at 152 and 160 this year as well.  In addition, Hasenauer did not compete at the Oakland County tournament last weekend, so there is a possibitiy that this fantasy weight will never become a reality, but what if it does?


152
Favorite: Brandon Zeerip (Hesperia)
Ranked Wrestlers: D1 - #1 Robert Nash (Roseville); D3 - #6 Matt Beebe (Swan Valley); D4 - #1 Zeerip, #5 Brandon Douglass (Addison), #6 Drew Harding (Springport)
Outlook: 152 is another weight that could feature two #1 ranked wrestlers from opposing divisions going at it.  Reigning D4 state champ and Michigan-bound Brandon Zeerip should get his first test of the year in Robert Nash of Roseville, the #1 wrestler in Division 1.  Nash is a big, strong kid and a good-sized 152lber.  If he is down to weight he will get his chance at not only one of the best in the state, but in the country as Zeerip is currently ranked 7th in the country by WIN Magazine.  A couple other returning all-staters who should contend are Matt Beebe of Swan Valley and Brandon Douglass of Addison.


160
Favorite: Dan Yates (Hesperia)
Ranked Wrestlers: D3 - #4 Branden Bell (Swan Valley), #8 Drew Weil (Goodrich); D4 - #1 Yates, #2 Earl Bryant (Springport)
Outlook - This is one of the few weights in the tournament where one wrestler should dominate.  After bumping up two weights earlier this year and downing state placers at 189 to win the Eastern Invite, it is hard to see 2x state champ Dan Yates having any trouble tommorow at 160.  He will see the #2 ranked wrestler in his division in Earl Bryant, who finished 3rd in the state a year ago, as well as two of the best in D3 with Bell and Weil.  Another to keep in mind is Fowlerville's former state qualifier Brett Kingsley who is back after sitting out last year.  This weight should be a battle for 2nd as Yates has seemed to distance himself from most of the state.


171
Favorite: Kyle March (Goodrich)
Ranked Wrestlers: D2 - #7 Yacoub Abuhanna (Kearsley), #9 Tyler Fuller (Greenville); D3 - #1 March; D4 - #6 Travis Gump (Bronson)
Outlook - Much like 160 - this weight appears to be clear cut.  D3 state finalist Kyle March enters as a heavy favorite and he should see his stiffest competetion from state qualifiers Abuhanna, Fuller, and Gump.  If Yates were to stay up at 171 this could be a good matchup with him and March, but according to our informants Yates will at 160.  Another possiblity is Fowlerville's Dillon Kern making the drop to 171, where he was a state runner up a year ago.  Kern is #1 at 189 right now, but he is eligible to go 171 and may do it for this tournament.  March vs Kern would be a great matchup of the returning 171lb state runners-up from D2 and D3. 


189
Favorite: Kyler Elsworth (Goodrich)
Ranked Wrestlers: D1 - #5 Mike Kinville (DCC), #9 Luke Domanski (Grand Blanc), #10 Mike Petrone (Roseville); D2 - #1 Dillon Kern (Fowlerville), #4 Justin Drobish (Greenville), #5 Andrew Banas (New Boston Huron); D3 - #1 Elsworth, #3 Justin Heiserman (Dundee); D4 - #7Nate Hyaska/#8Dave Severn (Bronson)
Outlook: The 189lb bracket will be Elsworth vs the field here.  Elsworth is considered to be the best upperweight in the state as he is ranked nationally at 189lbs and enters this tournamen as the man to beat.  The field tommorow will be deep, however, led by top ranked Dillon Kern of Fowlerville who is good from all positions and fully capable of pushing Elsworth.  Drobish and Banas are returning state qualifiers looking for a crack at Kern, the #1 wrestler in their division, and top D1 grapplers Kinville, Domanski, and Petrone make this a deep weight.


215
Favorite: Nick McDiarmid (Fowlerville)
Ranked Wrestlers: D1 - #8 Quean Smith (Highland Park); D2 - #1 McDiarmid, #2 Ike Hensen (Greenville), #3 Travis Dickensen (St Johns), #4 Sam Coniglio (Warren Woods Tower); D3 - #2 Mike Lasinkski/#7 Nick Lovell (Goodrich); D4 - #8 Evan Schroeder (Addison)
Outlook - Goodrich HS will be the host of a 215lb D2 state preview tommorow as this bracket features number 1 through 4 in the current rankings.  McDiarmid was a state finalist last year and defeated Hensen in a close semifinal match at the Palace.  He has also beaten Dickensen numerous times, including a sound win this year at the Lansing Eastern Invite.  If Mike Lasinski is down at 215 he could be capable of giving McDiarmid a run for his money.  Lasinksi made his Goodrich debut at 285 last week at the Genessee County Tournament, however, he was at 189 last year where he finished 3rd in the state and handed Elsworth his only loss of the year.  Quean Smith of Highland Park has a build reminiscent of former HP star Marcel Dubose and is capable of giving the top dogs here trouble. 


285
Favorite: Mike Lasinski (Goodrich)
Ranked Wrestlers: D2 - #7 Erick Helfman (Fowlerville); D3 - #2 Lasinski; D4 - #7 Nate Miller (Springport)
Outlook - If Lasinski goes heavyweight then he would be the favorite at this weight, but Helfman is no pushover.  He did not qualify for the state meet last year but he had some big wins during the season and is a big, strong heavyweight who could give Lasinski troubles with his size and strength.  If Lasinski goes 215 then this weight is wide open and Helfman is the man to beat.  Springport's Nate Miller is ranked in D4 and could challenge Helfman, but other that that we have little info on this weight class.













St. Johns freshman Jordan Wohlfert was one of three freshmen to win Goodrich tournament titles.