2009 MHSAA Team State Preview - Division 3
The road to Battle Creek will begin this Wednesday when the MHSAA Team Districts get underway all across the state and under three weeks from now the Division 1, 2, 3, and 4. Read below to see our in depth preview of every team regional in Division 3, as well as the notable district matchups to watch. In addition, we have taken a stab at predicting the 8 teams we think will qualify for the Team State Finals and stamp a ticket to Battle Creek.
Division 3 Outlook:
Arguably the deepest and most intensive team race in Michigan this year will be in Division 3. There are a handful of teams with realistic shots at winning the state championship. The district and regional outlook is condusive for a great state finals weekend as the top 4 teams all go without meeting until Battle Creek. 7 of the top 8 ranked teams in this division have great opportunities to make it through, so the D3 field in Battle Creek should be strong from top to bottom. The only real weak region is the northern regional and the only extremely tough pairing is the Flint area region, which pits #1 Goodrich, #5 Corunna, and #9 Durand all against each other.
Notable District Matchups:
--- Chippewa Hills vs Big Rapids @ Reed City District---
Chipp Hills is the favorite here, however, Big Rapids has put together a good looking team. The Schaner and Renas brothers lead this talented team and they will be looking to knock off Chippewa Hills. If Big Rapids can pull off the upset then they should feel confident about their chances to get through their regional as well, so this district should have the intensity of a regional matchup.
Regional Breakdown
Here is a breakdown of what teams will be battling out at each regional for a shot at advancing to the D1 Team State Finals in Battle Creek.
117-3 at Gladstone
Top contenders: Gladstone, Kingsley, Roscommon
Outlook: Although this is without doubt the thinnest regional, there are some tough teams from up north that will battle it out for a spot in Battle Creek. Gladstone has been there before and they have some individual firepower, which gives them the best ability amongst the northern teams to score points against D3's top squads. Gladstone is the favorite, but they could receive a stiff challenge from Kingsley or Roscommon.
Our Pick: Gladstone
118-3 at Midland Bullock Creek
Top Contenders: #3 Swan Valley, Alma, Shepherd, Bullock Creek
Outlook: Swan Valley's lightweights make them one of the most dangerous teams in the state. If they can get clicking on all cylinders then they can wrestle with anyone in the state, and nobody in this regional should offer them much of a challenge.
Our Pick: Swan Valley
119-3 at Big Rapids
Top Contenders: #6 Chippewa Hills, Big Rapids, Fremont, Shelby
Outlook: Chippewa Hills is the only ranked team in this regional, however, they will have their hands full here. Big Rapids is probably their toughest competetion, so if Chipp Hills gets past them at Districts then they should not be too worried about their regional, however, Shelby is a good looking team that has beaten some quality opponents this year. Chippewa Hills has developed into one of the powerhouses in this division and they have been a household name at Kellogg over the past few years, but they will have to show up this year if they want to get out of this district/regional.
Our Pick: Chippewa Hills
120-3 at Comstock Park
Top Contenders: #8 Allendale, #10 Lakewood, Hamilton
Outlook: This regional lacks the top tier teams, however, Allendale, Lakewood, and Hamilton are all very tough teams. Lakewood and Allendale are both very strong up top and 189-285 could be the difference in this dual as they both feature highly ranked wrestlers in those weights. Lakewood/Allendale will meet in the first round of the regional, and the winner will then have to regroup quickly to face a tough Hamilton team.
Our Pick: Lakewood
121-3 at Allegan
Top Contenders: #2 Allegan, Coloma
Outlook: Allegan's move to Division 3 has been very smooth to this point as the 2007 D2 champs have made an immediate impact on the D3 state title picture. They are very balanced throughout their lineup, with as much talent as any team in D3. Coloma may be the next best team in their region, however, Allegan should cruise to victory.
Our Pick: Allegan
122-3 at Dundee
Top Contenders: #4 Dundee, Brooklyn Columbia Central
Outlook: Yet another powerful Dundee squad this year as they close in on another Battle Creek trip. Brooklyn CC is always solid, but they (or anyone else in this regional) should not have the firepower to run with Dundee.
Our Pick: Dundee
123-3 at Richmond
Top contenders: #7 Richmond, Yale
Outlook: Richmond has quietly been one of the most sucessfull programs in the state over the past decade. They reload every year and are always strong. They should advance here relatively easily, however, Yale is a team to watch with alot of talent.
Our Pick: Richmond
124-3 at Durand
Top Contenders: #1 Goodrich, #5 Corunna, #9 Durand, Caro
Outlook: This is hands down the highlight regional of this division. Returning champs Goodrich are the obvious favorites to win here, but they will not have the luxury of an easy regional like the other top teams in D3. The Martians will have to show up ready to roll and not get caught sleeping. Corunna made a splash this year with their big win over Swan Valley and Durand has some big guns like Wildmo and Telford that highlight their strong lineup. Goodrich and Corunna will meet in the first round and the winner will take on Durand or Caro in the finals. If Goodrich is healthy and everything goes the way it should, then don't expect them to be in much trouble, however, if they leave the door open Corunna will be ready to put up another big upset.
Our Pick: Goodrich
State Finals Outlook:
As previously stated, this should be the most exciting team state tournament to watch from the quarterfinals on. #1 Goodrich, #2 Allegan, #3 Swan Valley, #4 Dundee, #6 Chipp Hills, #7 Richmond, #10 Lakewood and Gladstone are the predicted teams to advance to the quartefinals. Gladstone is really the only team in that bunch that is not capable of advancing. Goodrich has already beaten or placed above all the top teams at some point this year, but Allegan, Swan Valley, and Dundee all appear capable of winning this thing.
The seeding commitee in this division will have some work to do. Goodrich at #1 should be easy, however, it gets sticky after that. Allegan beat Dundee and Swan Valley outscored Dundee at Goodrich, however, I don't know how much weight will be placed on Individual Tournaments. Allegan, Dundee, and Swan Valley are all close on paper, and whoever gets bumped down to #4 will have to deal with a semifinal matchup with Goodrich, therefore, the release of seeds will be highly anticipated for these teams.
If something happens and Goodrich gets knocked off then this division becomes chaos in terms of seeding (and predicting). Once the regionals conclude and the pairings are released we will delve deeper in to the state tournament preview and predictions.
District/Regional Pairings
Districts - Feb 18, 2009
Regionals - Feb 25, 2009
No. 165-3 Negaunee
Kingsford
Ishpeming-Westwood
Negaunee
No. 166-3 Menominee
Cheboygan
Gladstone
Menominee
No. 167-3 Grayling
Elk Rapids
Grayling
Oscoda
No. 168-3 Roscommon
Benzonia-Benzie Central
Houghton Lake
Kingsley Area
Roscommon
No. 169-3 Pinconning Area
Gladwin
Harrison Community
Pinconning Area
Standish-Sterling
No. 170-3 Frankenmuth
Bridgeport
Essexville-Garber
Frankenmuth
No. 171-3 Freeland
Freeland
Midland-Bullock Creek
Sanford-Meridian
No. 172-3 Alma
Alma
Hemlock
#3 Saginaw-Swan Valley
Shepherd
No. 173-3 Scottville-Mason County Central
Ludington
Scottville-Mason County Central
Shelby
No. 174-3 Fremont
Fremont
Muskegon-Orchard View
Whitehall
No. 175-3 Grant
Grant
Howard City-Tri County Area
Lakeview
Newaygo
No. 176-3 Reed City
Big Rapids
Morley Stanwood
Reed City
#6 Remus-Chippewa Hills
No. 177-3 Zeeland West
Hamilton
Hopkins
Hudsonville-Unity Christian
Zeeland West
No. 178-3 Wyoming-Godwin Heights
#8 Allendale
Grand Rapids-West Catholic
Wyoming-Godwin Heights
Wyoming-Kelloggsville
No. 179-3 Belding Area
Belding Area
Comstock Park
Stanton-Central Montcalm
No. 180-3 Vermontville-Maple Valley
#10 Lake Odessa-Lakewood
Portland
Vermontville-Maple Valley
No. 181-3 Edwardsburg
Berrien Springs
Buchanan
Dowagiac Union
Edwardsburg
No. 182-3 South Haven
#2 Allegan
Coloma
Otsego
South Haven
No. 183-3 Parchment
Kalamazoo-Comstock
Parchment
Paw Paw
No. 184-3 Delton Kellogg
Battle Creek-Pennfield
Delton Kellogg
Marshall
No. 185-3 Onsted
Brooklyn-Columbia Central
Hillsdale
Onsted
No. 186-3 Napoleon
East Jackson
Jackson-Lumen Christi
Napoleon
Stockbridge
No. 187-3 Flat Rock
Flat Rock
Grosse Ile
South Lyon East
Ypsilanti-Willow Run
No. 188-3 Monroe-Jefferson
#4 Dundee
Erie-Mason
Ida
Monroe-Jefferson
No. 189-3 Madison Heights-Lamphere
Clawson
Livonia-Clarenceville
Madison Heights-Lamphere
Madison Heights-Madison
No. 190-3 Algonac
Algonac
Macomb-Lutheran North
Mt Clemens
Pontiac-Notre Dame Preparatory School
No. 191-3 Almont
Almont
Armada
#7 Richmond
No. 192-3 Capac
Capac
Croswell-Lexington
Imlay City
Yale
No. 193-3 Millington
Caro
Millington
Otisville-LakeVille Memorial
Vassar
No. 194-3 Birch Run
Birch Run
Flint-Luke M Powers Catholic
#1 Goodrich
Linden-Lake Fenton
No. 195-3 Williamston
Bath-Laingsburg
#9 Durand Area
Perry
Williamston
No. 196-3 Corunna
Chesaning
#5 Corunna
Ovid-Elsie
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