Division 2 Team Preview
11/17 - Greenville enters this year as the team to beat in Division 2.
The Jackets surprised many last year by knocking off a favored Eaton
Rapids team in the finals, but this year they will not be surprising
anyone. Greenville returns most of their guys from last year and have
many new faces that will make them a daunting squad.
Among the teams who will look to knock Greenville off, West Michigan
rival Lowell may have the best shot. Lowell appears to have the strength
and depth to run with the returning champs, unfortunately, that match
will happen at regionals so one of these great teams will not be
wrestling in Battle Creek.
After the top two this division appears to be pretty wide open. Four
traditionally strong D2 teams: Fowlerville, Mason, Eaton Rapids, and
Tecumseh are all among the Top 10 in D2, however, they are all in the
same region so three of those four will be done before action begins in
Kellogg.
With at least four D2 powerhouses being knocked off before the state
finals, there should be some fresh faces qualifying to Battle Creek.
Read below to see what D2's top teams have to offer this year.
TOP CONTENDERS
#1 – Greenville
Returning state qualifiers: 4
Individuals ranked preseason: 7 - Blake Bitner (103), Tyler Keselring (125), Colin Fuller (145), Jordan Thomas (152), Tyler Fuller (171), Justin Drobish (189), Ike Hansen (215)
Key losses: Josh Hansen (103), Jordan Miller (145), Nate Gibson (171), Jeff Hendricks (285)
Impact Newcomers: Jordan Thomas (Freshman, 152), Nick Bogue (Transfer-125), Adam Bonner (Transfer, 140)
Outlook: After winning the D2 title last year, Greenville enters this season as a heavy favorite to repeat and win again. They lost a few seniors, however, they have alot of new talent coming in and are probably stronger then they were a year ago. Keselring will be gunning for his third state title and is one of the best wrestlers in all of division 2.
Freshman phenom Thomas comes in with lofty expectations and he is nationally ranked as a freshman. Two all-state transfers will bolster this team and make them very difficult to beat as Nick Bogue of Central Montcalm and Adam Bonner of Rockford are both reportedly wrestling for the Yellow Jackets this year. State placers Colin Fuller and Ike Hansen are both back also along with regional qualifiers Tyler Fuller and Justin Drobish as well. Put it all together and Greenville is looking tough to beat this year. As usual they will meet Lowell at regionals so their road to Battle Creek will be no catwalk, but if they stay healthy and keep everything together it is hard seeing anyone beating these guys.
#2 – Lowell
Returning state qualifiers: 3
Individuals ranked preseason: 5 - Gabe Morse (125), Andrew Morse (135), Jackson Morse (145), Tim Gingerich (160), Ryan Olep (171)
Key Losses: Zach Baum (130), Justin Boss (152), Nate Vaught (171)
Impact newcomers: Andrew Morse (Freshman, 135), Gabe Morse (Freshman, 125), Gabe Dean (Freshman, 152)
Outlook: Lowell seems to gain momentum and strength each year that coach Dave Dean is at the helm. This year looks to be their best since his arrival as the addition of a deep and talented freshman class gives them more to work than they've had in a while. Jackson Morse has emerged as one of the top wrestlers in the country after winning the Super 32s last month. Along with returning state finalists Gingerich and Olep, these three will be a force to reckon with in the middle of the Red Arrow lineup. Dean has brought a top notch coaching staff to Lowell and if his talented staff can develop the young guys then they may be the only team in D2 capable of knocking off Greenville. We will see early as they once again are slated to meet in the regional finals.
#3 - Fowlerville
Returning state qualifiers: 1
Individuals ranked preseason: 4 - Travis Kern (130), Dillon Kern (189), Nick McDiarmid (215), Erik Helfman (285)
Key Losses: Patrick Roberts (130)
Impact Newcomers: Nick McDiarmid (Transfer, 215)
Outlook: While they only have 1 returning state qualifier, Fowlerville returns almost everyone from the solid team they had a year ago as well as the addition of state runner up Nick McDiarmid who transferred from Mason. Dillon Kern and McDiarmid are a couple of the best upperweights in D-2 and Helfman is a solid heavyweight who beat many state qualifiers and placers a year ago. They also return 2006 state qualifier Brett Kingsley at 160/171, which would give them one of the most daunting upperweight fleets in the state . Aside from Travis Kern, they also return alot of quality starters from a year ago in the light and midweights that are capable of having breakout years such as Matt Bates (119), Anthony Lee (125), and Alex Orlando (152). If they can bring everything together this may be the best team Fowlerville has seen since they won the Class B title in 1994.
DONT FORGET ABOUT....
#4 – Eaton Rapids
Returning state qualifiers: 4
Individuals ranked preseason: 4 - Chris Dormer (119), Justin Garza (125), Trevor Schnepp (140), Tully Chapman (160)
Key losses: Josh Dormer (125), Justin Slapsky (125), Sean McCoy (140), Martin Bell (145), Devin Milheim (152), Matt Bell (160), Jared Grant (189), Josh Hendrickson (285)
Outlook: The Greyhounds fell just short of winning the 5th state title in coach Scott Warriner's career last year, and after graduating over half of their starters, they will have many new faces in their lineup this year. They return 4 state qualifiers, including all-stater Chris Dormer who had an impressive freshman campaign a year ago. The thing that makes ER dangerous is their depth and ability to reload. Warriner has made a career of filling in the gaps and holes and always putting a solid lineup on the mat, so you can't count these guys out.
#5 – St. Johns
Returning state qualifiers: 2
Individuals ranked preseason: 5 - Jake Walters (125), Dan Osterman (130), Jordan Wohlfert (135), Taylor Massa (140), Travis Dickenson (285)
Key Losses: None
Impact Newcomers: Jordan Wohlfert (Freshman, 135), Taylor Massa (Freshman, 140), Dan Osterman (Transfer, 130)
Outlook: St. Johns will be one of the interesting storylines of Division 2 as they have a few guys with state championship capablities, including freshman phenom Taylor Massa. Another freshman, Jordan Wohlfert, should make an immediate impact and compete with the top guys in the state as well. Senior Jake Walters has been on the cusp of a state title the past two seasons and should be primed to get to the top of the podium as well. Throw in 2x D4 state champ Dan Osterman, who transferred from Carson City, and your looking at some real firepower. If the state champ was determined base on individual scoring then these guys would be legit threats to win it all, however, they will need to fill in around their big guns if they want to hang with the top teams in this division.
#6 – Mason
Returning state qualifiers: 3
Individual ranked preseason: 3 - Conor Youtsey (119), Tony Burge (125), Craig Eifert (135)
Key Losses: Garrett Rozeboom (140), Dan Anderson (160), Jacob Burge (171), LJ Helbig (189)
Impact Newcomers: Tim Hammond (Transfer, 140)
Outlook: After losing three state champions to graduation and having another state finalist transfer out, Mason will not have near the star power that they have seen in year's past. Senior Craig Eifert is back for a shot at his 3rd state title and is one of the best individuals in D2. Tony Burge and Conor Youtsey finished 2nd and 3rd in the state a year ago and should be in the hunt for state titles this year as well. Owosso transfer Tim Hammond was a state qualifier last year and should help bolster the Bulldog lineup some, however, they will need some people to step up if they want to compete with the top teams.
#7 - Tecumseh
Returing state qualifiers: 2
Individuals ranked preseason:
Key Losses: Sean Bagby (135), Rob Weirich (145)
Outlook: All eyes will be on new Tecumseh coach Casey Randolph as he steps in after departing Canton, whom he had built into a D1 contender. Randolph inherits a solid squad, however, with only 1 wrestler ranked in the preseason he will have to make a quick impact if they want to be serious contenders this year.
#8 - Gaylord
Returning state qualifiers: 2
Individuals ranked preseason: 4 - Jacob Armstrong (112), Danny Sharrard (130), Andrew Olds (140), Brian Bliss (285)
Key Losses: Shane Gapinski (140), Laith Samarah (152)
Outlook: Gaylord has been consistently one of the top northern teams year in and year out. This year should be no different as Armstrong and Sharrard are both studs who should place high in division 2 and they usually put solid guys on the mat at every weight.
#9 -Stevensville Lakeshore
Returning State Qualifiers: 3
Individuals ranked preseason: 4 - Tyler Daniel (103), Nick Humes (135), Tyler Humes (140), Tim Newman (171)
Key Losses: Joe Spear (215)
Impact Newcomer: Tyler Daniel (Freshman, 103); Tyler Frese (Transfer, 112)
Outlook: Lakeshore could be a sleeper this year in D2 as they return some firepower in the Humes brothers and Time Newman, who all qualified for the state meet a year ago. In addition, freshman 103lber Tyler Daniel is a touted newcomer coming in who may be one of the better 103lbers in D2.
#10 - Oxford
Returning State Qualifiers: 3
Individuals Ranked Preseason: 4 - Matt Frisch (112), Mike Myer (152), Bo Cantara (152), Dylan Smith (285)
Key Losses: Kyle Brammer (135), Zach Line (215)
Outlook: After advancing to Battle Creek last year excitement is starting to build in Oxford as they are looking to be contenders in Division 2 this year. The fact that we have them at 10th in the preseason shows the depth in this division because Oxford should be very strong this year. Frisch had a great freshman campaign last year and should be a state title conteder at 112 this year.
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