Michigan Grappler's 3rd Annual
Palace Awards

2010 MHSAA Individual State Championships
Palace of Auburn Hills
March 4-6

3/7 - The 2010 season came to a close last weekend in the Palace of Auburn Hills with the Individual State Finals weekend. 

The finals weekend is a bit of a circus at times, with so much wrestling going on at the same time that is often difficult to stay up to speed with what is going on.  Therefore, we have prepared our 3rd annual Palace Awards, highlighting some of the take home points from the weekend & season, while also shedding lights on the most impressive performances, interesting quirks, and other newsworthy items from the three day extravaganza that was the 2010 State Finals.


All-Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler: Josh Houldsworth (Holly)
Division 1 - Ben Matthieson (Holt)
Division 2 - Josh Houldsworth (Holly)
Division 3 - Ryen Nieman (Bullock Creek)
Division 4 - Devin Pommerenke (Rogers City)

Houldsworth won arguably the toughest weight in the whole
tournament as returning State Runners-Up Jordan Wohlfert and Nick
Humes finished 3rd and 4th.  Houldsworth, who repeated as state
champ, was dominant throughout, outscoring his competetion 47-9
including a 7-1 win over returning all-stater Ryan Watts of Ferndale
in the finals.  Houldsworth ended his career undefeated as a 2x state
champ as he now heads into his college career at Columbia next fall.
Click here to watch Houldsworth's finals match.
The Division 1 Outstanding Wrestler could probably go to a few
different guys, however, Matthieson's performance stands out.  The
Holt senior took a hard road through a tough bracket, knocking off
Leon Shannon of Wyandottea in a tough semifinal match before
downing Rockford senior Jake Byers in what most saw as one of the biggest upsets of the Division 1 Finals.  Matthieson, who was a 112lber last year, confirmed that he is the real deal this year, bumping up two weights and winning a very tough bracket.
Division 3's most outstanding performance is the same person as last year, Ryen Nieman, however, his reason for being named OW this year is a little different than last year.  Last year, Nieman scored a thrilling win over Roger Wildmo in one of the best finals matches of the tournament.  This year there was much less suspense and drama involved as he stormed through the Division 3 135lb bracket en route to his 3rd state title.  Nieman looked like a man among boys as he scored three falls and a 2nd period tech-fall en route to the championship.
The most dominant performance of the tournament could arguably be Devin Pommerenke of Rogers City.  The 285lb junior steamrolled everyone in his path, pinning his way to a repeat state title at heavyweight.  His finals match was the only match of the tournament to make it out of the first period as D-Pomm has officially separatated himself from the pack in Division 4.



Most Impressive Team Performance - Detroit Catholic Central
Division 1 - Detroit Catholic Central (10 placers, 4 finalists, 3 champs)
Division 2 - Allegan (8 placers, 4 finalists, 3 champs)
Division 3 - Dundee (8 placers, 5 finalists, 3 champs)
Division 4 - Hudson (9 placers, 3 finalists, 3 champs)
DCC capped off their storybook season with an amazing performance
last weekend that included 10 of their 14 state qualifiers earning all-state
status.  The Shamrocks advanced 4 to the finals with 3 individuals winning
state championships.  In addition, 7 of their all-staters placed in the top 4
of their weight class.  Anytime you have half your team finishing top 4 in
the state you have something special there.  Don't expect Hancock and
company to go anywhere anytime soon, they return 7 of their all-staters
next year.  Lowell and Hartland also turned in pretty solid showings last
weekend with 7 placers each.  The Red Arrows go 5 to the finals, but only
went home with one champ in Jackson Morse. 
In Division 2 Allegan bounced back after losing to St Johns in Battle
Creek to outgun the Redwings last weekend in Auburn Hills.  The Tigers
crowned 3 champs and earned 8 all-state medals.  Dundee matched
Lowell for the most finalists with 5 as well and 3 of those won titles. 
Dundee, like DCC, returns 7 state placers next year.  Hudson narrowly
edged Hesperia in Division 4 as the Tigers placed 9 compared to
Hesperia's 8.  Each team crowned 3 champions a piece.  Hudson returns 6 placers next year.


Breakout Rookie Performance - Adam Coon (Fowlerville)
Division 1 - Mitchell Rogaliner (Bedford) - 1st @ 103
Division 2 - Adam Coon (Fowlerville) - 1st @ 215
Division 3 - Travis Sproles (Dundee) - 2nd @ 103
Division 4 - Galloway Thurston (St Ignace) - 6th @ 160
It is more than rare to see a freshman place at 215lbs, let
alone with a state title, let alone dominate en route to a state
title.  Adam Coon officially arrived this weekend as the
Fowlerville frosh blew through the 215lb bracket with his
closes match being an 8-1 semifinal decision over Sean
Domas of Milan.  Coon has been successfull on the youth
level for the past few years and this year, as a Cadet, he
should be among the favorites to win both styles in Fargo.
Rogaliner had one of the best performances of the
weekend, coming from a 4th place regional finish to win his
weight class, knocking off heavy favorite Ken Bade of DCC
along the way.  Division 2 featured two other freshmen champs
in Jacob Schmitt of St Johns at 103 and Anthony Gonzales
of Holly at 112.  While it is not extremely uncommon to see
freshmen thrive at those lower weights, both of these guys won over some very tough competetion.  Schmitt knocked off returning champ Tyler Daniel of Lakeshore and Gonzales won a weight that included fellow freshman stud Brant Schafer, as well as returning 112lb placers Tyler Frese and Tim Lambert.


Pick Em' Champions of the World!
For the 2nd straight year MichiganGrappler.com flexed our prediction abilities by picking 38 of the 56 Individual Champions correctly (67%).  Prior to the tournament, three other wrestling journalists gave their picks as well as Mychal Grenawalt of Matside Michigan picked 36 correct, Jeff Chaney of the Grand Rapids Press picked 33 of the correct champions, and Paul Costanzo of The Times Herald seleced 29 of the 56 correctly.  While all of these folks did a fine job, once again Michigan Grappler has proved why we are everything wrestling in the state of Michigan.


Fashion trends of 2010
Every year there are a few quirky things that I notice over the course of three days in the Palace in terms of wrestlers, coaches, and others' fashion sense.  Here are a few things that were unique this year:

1. Popa Schaner T-Shirts - Most people are aware of
the tragic passing of Garrett Schaner's father a few
days prior to the state tournament.  Some people,
however, may have missed the shirts that many of
Schaner's teammates and freinds, including some
of the state's top wrestlers, sported throughout the
weekend to honor Mr. Schaner.  This is a fine
example of the brotherhood that comes in the sport
of wrestling when dozens of kids, most of who did
not even attend Big Rapids, took a break from the
intensity and focus that is associated with trying to
win a state title to show some love and support for a
fellow grappler.



2. Matt Guhn Zoot Suit - Adrian assistant coach and
former UM wrestler Matt Guhn was without doubt the
flashiest dressed coach for the finals as he rocked a
crisp black suit with white shoes, white handkerchief
and a white hat to match....nice!  Rodriguez lost to
Jordan Thomas in the finals but he scored fashion
points via his coach.

3. Troy Lamson bandana/headband/sash - The
headwear of wrestlers is always unique.  Some like
to wear hats, beanies, headbands, hoods up, etc. 
However, the purple striped number that 152lb state
champ Troy Lamson of Swan Valley rocked during
pre-match warmups was new and memorable.  It
brought back memories of current MSU assistant
coach Chris Williams, who rocked a bandana during
the Fargo Introductions over a decade ago, while also
intimidating the heck out of his opponents at 152lbs.









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Houldsworth used a chicken wing in the 2nd period to extend his lead over Watts.  Photo/Jeff McGinthy
DCC senior Doug Eldridge was one of their three champs as he knocked off Andrew Morse in the 145lb Finals
Coon scored a 19-6 major decision in the finals over Nick Moore of BCJG.
Jake Dorulla, Devin Pommerenke, and Taylor Massa all sported Popa Schaner shirts prior to winning their 2nd state titles
Guhn
Lamson