Freeze wins battle of Michigan stars in Grand Challenge Finale

Border Wars Midwest Grand Challenge
May 22 - Battle Creek

MI Grappler's Midwest Grand Challenge Video Coverage Page

5/23 - There were start studded teams from all over the Great Lakes region in Battle Creek last weekend, but when it came down to it, a pair of Michigan teams squared off for the title.  Michigan Freeze scored some upset wins to knock off top seeded Boudro Wrestling for the 2011 Midwest Grand Challenge title.

From 117 through 140lbs, Freeze won 6 in a row including D3 Runner-Up Buddy Poyner knocking off D2 State Champ Niko Leal, Alec Breckenridge (Plymouth) of Freeze knocking off D2 Runner-Up Kyle Simaz (Allegan), and Angelo Latora (Portage Central) of Freeze winning a battle of 3x All-Staters over Taylor Simaz (Allegan).  Boudro Wrestling won 5 of the last 7 bouts, however, the deficit was too much to overcome and Freeze won by a final of 27-22. 

Watch most of the finals dual on the Michigan Grappler Video Page.

It was an eventful day of wrestling with crazy action at the High School, Middle School, and Elementary levels.

The champion teams in the Middle School & Elementary Divisions hailed from out-of-state as Team Ohio TC won the MS division and the Chi City Monstars out of Illinois won the Elementary Division.

Michigan teams finished runner-up in both divisions, with Michigan Grappler sponsored squads finishing 2nd and 3rd in the Elementary division and Flat River finishing runner-up in the Middle School Division.

With so much wrestling going on, it was a lot to handle, so here is a roundup of the most impressive individual performances in each division:

HIGH SCHOOL

117lbs - Tyler Daniel (Freeze) 4-0
After coming back late this season from injury, the former State Champ showed that he is still one of the most talented lightweights in the state as he went 4-0 with all four wins coming over quality competion.  He scored a 17-0 tech fall over 2011 D3 State Champ Zach Cooper and also knocked off 2010 State Champ Mitch Rogaliner, as well as Austin Kelley of Allegan who was 3rd in the state this year.  His 12-4 win over Jaeden Slapsky, a stud 8th grader, was Slapsky's only loss of the day.
117 - Tyler Daniel (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Jaeden Slapsky (Tecumseh WC (MI)) Maj 12-4
117 - Tyler Daniel (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Zach Cooper (Chippewa Hills (MI)) TF 17-0
117 - Tyler Daniel (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Mitch Rogaliner (Team MYWA (MI)) Dec 3-2
117 - Tyler Daniel (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Austin Kelley (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) Dec 4-1

129lbs - Buddy Poyner (Freeze) 3-0
It was not a tremendously busy day for Poyner with only three matches, however, all three of his wins were over All-Staters including a 7-2 win over 2011 D2 State Champ Niko Leal of Holland, showing that while Poyner lost a close one in the D3 finals, he is a state champ caliber wrestler.
129 - Buddy Poyner (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Collin Lesko (Tecumseh WC (MI)) Maj 12-4
129 - Buddy Poyner (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Kaelen Richards (Team MYWA (MI)) Dec 5-2
129 - Buddy Poyner (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Nikolas Leal (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) Dec 7-2

140lbs - Angelo Latora (Freeze) 4-0
One of the most notable matches of the High School Finals was Latora's win over 2010 State Champ Taylor Simaz.  He and Simaz were both 3rd in the state this year and are both ranked in the Top 20 of Michigan Grappler's Recruiting Rankings.  Aside from the Simaz win, Latora defeated two other All-Staters in Dominic Trevino (Holt) and Cody Stenberg (Reeths Puffer).

140 - Angelo Latora (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Cody Stenberg (Chippewa Hills (MI)) Dec 6-4
140 - Angelo Latora (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Dominic Trevino (Team MYWA (MI)) Maj 16-2
145 - Angelo Latora (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Taylor Simaz (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) Dec 2-1

145lbs - Brian Gibbs (MYWA) 4-0
Dominant day for Gibbs who scored a quick pin over D3 state placer Sam Lyscas as well as a 8-3 win over PA State Qualifier Riley Smith, handing Smith his only loss of the day.

145 - Brian Gibbs (Team MYWA (MI)) over Chase Huisman (Flat River White (MI)) Pin 3:30
145 - Brian Gibbs (Team MYWA (MI)) over Riley Smith (Fort Leboeuf (PA)) Dec 8-3
145 - Brian Gibbs (Team MYWA (MI)) over Sam Lyscas (Michigan Freeze (MI)) Pin 0:26

150lbs - Andrew Morse (Boudro), 4-0
It was relatively smooth sailing for the D2 State Champ, notably a pin over D2 All-Stater Travis Dragomer in the finals.

150 - Andrew Morse (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) over Donte Stevens (Niles WC (MI)) Maj 15-4
150 - Andrew Morse (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) over Kyle Jones (Mishawaka Maroon (IN)) Inj
150 - Andrew Morse (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) over Joe Johnson (Brighton WC (MI)) Inj
150 - Andrew Morse (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) over Travis Dragomer (Michigan Freeze (MI)) Pin 2:38

157lbs - Terner Gott (SWAT), 5-0
The Otsego senior put together a great day, including a win over Ohio State Champ Kyle Burns and wins over state qualifiers Aaron Calderon and Joe Preston.
157 - Terner Gott (S.W.A.T. (MI)) over Kyle Burns (Orange Crush (OH)) Pin 0:00
157 - Terner Gott (S.W.A.T. (MI)) over Aaron Schuette (NW Ohio All Stars (OH)) Maj 9-0
157 - Terner Gott (S.W.A.T. (MI)) over Joe Preston (Flat River Blue (MI)) Dec 1-0
157 - Terner Gott (S.W.A.T. (MI)) over Aaron Calderon (Brighton WC (MI)) Maj 14-3
157 - Terner Gott (S.W.A.T. (MI)) over Jordan Lacy (Team Impact (OH)) Maj 11-1

165lbs - Lelund Weatherspoon (MYWA) - 4-0
The D4 State Champ was absolutely dominant, including a 14-6 win over Caleb Slavik who was 3rd in the state in Division 3 and a 17-4 win over Robert Hughes who was 3rd in the state in Division 4.

165 - Lelund Weatherspoon (Team MYWA (MI)) over Caleb Slovic (Flat River White (MI)) Maj 14-6
165 - Lelund Weatherspoon (Team MYWA (MI)) over Joe Hibler (Fort Leboeuf (PA)) Dec 12-6
165 - Lelund Weatherspoon (Team MYWA (MI)) over Robert Hughes (Michigan Freeze (MI)) Maj 17-4
165 - Lelund Weatherspoon (Team MYWA (MI)) over Anthony Carome (Team Impact (OH)) Pin 1:20

176lbs - Chevez Farris (Boudro), 4-0
Ferris may have had the best showing of all the high school wrestlers last weekend with two wins over 2011 State Champs.  He avenged previous losses to D1 State Champ Matt Vandermeer and also knocked off D3 State Champ Connor Branchaue.
176 - Chevez Ferris (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) over Gage Sivyer (Niles WC (MI)) Maj 13-0
176 - Chevez Ferris (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) over Sam Abu (Mishawaka Maroon (IN)) Dec 6-2
176 - Chevez Ferris (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) over Matt Vandermeer (Brighton WC (MI)) Dec 3-2
176 - Chevez Ferris (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) over Connor Brancheau (Michigan Freeze (MI)) Dec 5-2

194lbs - Gabe Dean (Boudro), 4-0
Four wins for Dean, all four were dominant and all four were against solid competetion.  His wins came over opponents bigger and smaller as the 189lb State Champ scored a 9-3 win over D3 State Runner Up 171 Gage Hutchison and a win over D1 215lb State Runner Up Nick Gajdzik 5-3.  He also beat Kyle Fisher, who was 3rd in the state in Dean's weight, 9-3, as well as Indiana State Qualifier Joe Gallegos.

194 - Gabe Dean (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) over Gage Hutchinson (Niles WC (MI)) Dec 9-4
220 - Gabe Dean (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) over Joe Gallegos (Mishawaka Maroon (IN)) Dec 3-2
220 - Gabe Dean (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) over Nick Gajdzik (Brighton WC (MI)) Dec 5-3
194 - Gabe Dean (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) over Kyle Fisher (Michigan Freeze (MI)) Dec 9-3

220lbs - Art Bunce (Freeze), 4-0
The Division 4 State Champ looked very good with wins over very quality opponents.  All four of his wins were over all-state wrestlers including two state champions in Austin Severn (D4-171) and Justin Dozier (D1-285).

220 - Arthur Bunce (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Gavin Burstall (Tecumseh WC (MI)) Dec 12-6
220 - Arthur Bunce (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Brett Martin (Chippewa Hills (MI)) Dec 9-4
220 - Arthur Bunce (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Justin Dozier (Team MYWA (MI)) Dec 3-1
220 - Arthur Bunce (Michigan Freeze (MI)) over Austin Severn (Boudro Wrestling (MI)) Dec 7-0

290 - Adam Robinson (Tecumseh WC), 6-0
Robinson, who was 3rd in the state this year in Division 2, scored some impressive wins, most notably a 5-1 win over Garrett Gray of Ohio, who placed 6th in the Ohio D1 State Tournament.  He also knocked off D3 all-stater John Marogen and scored an 8-0 win over freshman to be Ryan Prescott.

290 - Adam Robinson (Tecumseh WC (MI)) over Ryan Prescott (Flat River White (MI)) Maj 8-0
290 - Adam Robinson (Tecumseh WC (MI)) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
290 - Adam Robinson (Tecumseh WC (MI)) over Ian McNulty (Oakland Training Center (MI)) Dec 3-0
290 - Adam Robinson (Tecumseh WC (MI)) over John Marogen (Michigan Freeze (MI)) Dec 4-2
290 - Adam Robinson (Tecumseh WC (MI)) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
290 - Adam Robinson (Tecumseh WC (MI)) over Garrett Gray (Mat Sharks (OH)) Dec 5-1


MIDDLE SCHOOL
85lbs - Alex Hrispopolis (Rampage WC) - 4-1
90lbs - Mason Smith (Rampage) - 4-1
90lbs - Lucas Hall (Flat River) - 4-1
105lbs - Devin Schroder (Flat River) - 5-1
140lbs - Jake Cooper (Flat River) - 5-1
160lbs - Seth Decent (Great Lakes) - 4-1
160lbs - Boyd Hubbard (Flat River), 4-1


ELEMENTARY
50lbs - Tyler Daniel (Warren Woods Tower), 4-1
55lbs - Brock Prater (MYWAY), 4-1
60lbs - Kellen Patton (MI Grappler), 4-1
65lbs - Jordan Hamdan (MI Grappler Select), 5-0
70lbs - Chaise Mayer (Warren Woods Tower), 4-1
75lbs - Noah Teague (MI Grappler Select), 4-1
80lbs - Hunter Grasso (MI Grappler Select), 4-1
80lbs - Chris Fauson (MI Grappler), 4-1
85lbs - Ben Freeman (MI Grappler Select), 5-0
90lbs - Donte Garcia (MI Grappler Select), 4-1
90lbs - Trent Henkel (MYWAY), 4-1
95lbs - Justin Hubbard (MI Grappler Select), 5-0
105lbs - Jarod Botts (Warren Woods Tower), 5-0
105lbs - Brenden McRill (MI Grappler), 4-0
110lbs - Tyler Teague (MI Grappler), 4-1
125lbs - Kane Williams (MI Grappler Select), 5-0


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