Michigan Grappler's 2010-2011 High School Previews

Division 1 Team Preview

11/27 - Last year Division 1 saw one of the deepest, most closely

contested team state championship races in recent history as Detroit

Catholic Central won their first title in 22 years.  The title for the

Shamrocks was no easy feat as they knocked off Rockford in the finals

after barely squeaking past Oxford in the semifinals.  Rockford got past

Hartland in the semifinals, who was ranked nationally during the regular

season, and Rockford also knocked off returning champs Lowell in the

toughest Regional Final in the state.

With Lowell dropping back to Division 2 this year and many of the top

programs graduating a large chunk of their teams, this year's D1 race

looks to be a little thinner with two clear cut favorites as we head into

the start of the season - DCC and Oxford.

DCC lost a few to graduation and a few who transferred, but also bring

in a couple freshmen and a transfer of their own.  Oxford lost hardly

anyone from last year, and with a couple impact freshman many believe

that they are the team to beat in this division.  

After the big two one could argue that their is a bit of a drop off as the D1 powers Hartland, Rockford, and Holt all lost much of their firepower from last year.  This year it looks like there will be a lot of parity after the top two, which could create an opportunity for some new faces to break through and make some noise.

Read below for an inside look at this year's top Division 1 Teams

Heaviest Hitters:

1. DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL

Returning State Qualifiers: 6

Individuals ranked Preseason:  11 - TJ Fagan (112), Malik Amine (112), Ken

Bade (119), Alec Mooradian (130), Logan Marcicki (130), Riley Hanson (135),

Nick Mason (140), Drew Garcia (145), Kevin Beazley (171), Andy Erickson (171)

Miles Trealout (189)

Key losses: Matt Thompson (125), Charlie Joseph (125), Doug Eldridge (145),

Gerid Gee (125), Andrew Johnson (215), Mike Kinville (215), Todd Melick (112),

Justin Melick (135)

Impact Newcomers: Malik Amine (Freshman), Logan Marcicki (Freshman),

Drew Garcia (Freshman), Kevin Beazley (Transfer)

Outlook:  After winning his first state title as a coach last year, Mitch Hancock

will look to guide the Shamrocks to their 2nd straight Division 1 title.  DCC has

grown into an absolute juggernaut with talented kids 2 and 3 deep at some

weight classes.  With that, their motto this year appears to be "We dont re-build,

we reload", as the loss 7 state qualifiers doesn't appear to hamper their

championship ability.  The addition of returning Div 2 State Placer Kevin

Beazley, as well as big time freshman like Marcicki and Garcia, who are

already proven on the national stage, will help ease the loss of the Melick brothers who were both state finalists last year and transferred to Lake Fenton.  In addition, expect to see a few relatively unknowns step up and shine for DCC this year, including guys like Zack Colone (112) and Riley Hanson (135).  Oh, and we forgot to mention that Hancock also returns a nucleas of absolute studs led by 2x Division 1 State Champ Alec Mooradian who looks to remain alive in his hunt to be the next 4x state champ.  TJ Fagan (112), Ken Bade (119), Nick Mason (140), and Miles Trealout (189) make it 6 returning All-Staters for the Shamrocks this year, and all 6 of those guys have been active competing nationally in the off-season.  This team enters the season ranked nationally by both InterMat and the Amatuer Wrestling News and with their ever-growing schedule, they will have a chance to prove their ranking against some of the top teams in the Midwest. 

2. OXFORD

Returning State Qualifiers: 7

Individuals ranked preseason: 11 - Mike Willits (103), Keegan Cantera (112),

Jacob Peasley (119), Rocco Borg (119), Kyle Hill (125), MIke Thomas (135),

Matt Frisch (145), Dakota Peasley (152), Ben Ralston (160), Prescott Line (215),

Zach Wood (285)

Key Losses: AJ Logan (160)

Impact Newcomers: Mike Willits (Freshman), Zach Wood (Freshman)

Outlook: Oxford surprised some last year when they pushed top ranked and

eventual champions Detroit Catholic Central to the limit at the Team State

Semifinals.  Oxford had DCC on the ropes and if not for a late Shamrock run,

stringing some big pins and wins together, Oxford could very well be the

returning champs.  This year they will not be surprising anyone, they are all over

our radars and most likely the rest of Division 1 as well.  With 11 ranked

wrestlers in the preseason rankings (the same amount as DCC), there is no

doubt that Oxford can hang with the Shamrocks again this year.  This team is a

good blend of depth and power as they seem to be very good at filling every

weight with a solid wrestler, but also feature some heavy hitters led by the

senior duo of Matt Frisch and Ben Ralston.  Frisch, Ralston, as well as Prescott

Line are all legitimate contenders to win state titles this year.  Keegan Cantera

and Rocco Borg pack some punch in the Oxford ligtweights and round out thier 6 returning state placers.  Jacob Peasley and Kyle Hill are also returning state placers while Mike Thomas and Dakota Peasley were regional qualifiers last year.  Throw in two impact freshman in Zach Wood (285) and Mike Willitts (103) and your looking at a very, very well-rounded team.

Top Challengers:

3. HOLT

Individuals ranked Preseason:  6 - Shayne Wireman (103), Dominic Trevino (125), Drew Dyer (135), Chris Seyka (152), Caleb Haddad (160), Seth Hanton (171)

Key losses: Freddie Rodriguez (112), Ben Matthieson (125), Mike Andring (171)

Outlook:  The loss of the Rodriguez brothers likely drops Holt from a top contender to a middle of the pack Top 10 team.  They still have a ton of firepower coming back led by all-staters Haddad and Hanton, however, they will likely lack the firepower and depth throughout to compete with Oxford and DCC.  Don't get confused, Holt is still Holt and they will be a very solid, well-coached team.  An appearance in the state semifinals is not out of the question, however, I see them at least 15 points away from beating the Top 2.

4. HARTLAND

Individuals ranked preseason: 6 - Alec Bain (103), Ross Kantola (119), Keith Boldt (125), Chase Snider (135), John Julien (145), Matt Ostermiller (171)

Key Losses: Nick Monitz (125), Jeff Lopez (135), Doug Baughman (145), Sean Wright (215), Nick McDiarmid (215), Jon Meissner (285)

Outlook:   Hartland should remain as one of the top squads in Division 1 this year, although the loss of their two biggest names, McDiarmid and Lopez, as well as four other state qualifiers who graduated will be tough to replace.  With six ranked wrestlers they have a good amount of talent throughout and depth is usually never an issue for Hartland, however, they will struggle running with the Oxford and DCC when it comes to the big-time firepower, big time scoring capabilities of the top two teams.  Expect to see them at Battle Creek again and I wouldnt be surprised if they manage to work their way back to the Semifinals again.

5. ROCKFORD

Individuals ranked preseason:  2 - Tyler VanRooyen (112), Austin Scogg (145),

Key Losses: Jacob Scholten (119), Jake Byers (125), Jake Johnson (160), Jake Dorulla (171), Joe Stefanski (215)

Outlook: After graduating a ton two years ago, Rockford was a pleasant surprise last year as they peaked for the postseason run and knocked off top ranked Lowell at Regionals beforing falling to DCC in a great finale last March.  This year they will have some more graduates to replace, including five state finalists and a pair of state champs.  They do have some firepower coming back with returning placer VanRooyen and qualifier Scogg.  This year will be Jared Johnson's first opportunity to compete for an entire season as the highly touted freshman missed almost all of last year with an injury, coming back just before the team's regional and state push.  He could be a difference maker for Rockford this year and Regional Qualifier Bruce Carlstrom gives Rockford some punch in the 152-160 range, however, replacing their five stud seniors will be extremely difficult.

6. TEMPERANCE BEDFORD

Individuals ranked preseason: 4 - Mitch Rogaliner (103), Brian Gibbs (140),

Nate Stevens (145), Brian Smith (215)

Outlook: Bedford should remain one of the elite Division 1 squads this year

and with two wrestlers ranked #1 in the state entering the season (Rogaliner

and Gibbs), they pack some punch.  They have a good amount of seasoned

talent around Gibbs and Rogaliner as well led by Stevens, who was a match

from placing in the state last year.  In addition, Smith and Mason Allison are

both returning Regional Qualifiers.  There is a lot of parity in this division after

the top 2, so Bedford is definitely capable of making a deep run this year.

Don't Forget About:

DAVISON

The Cardinals are back.....or at least on their way back. While they may not be the juggernaut Davison of the late 90's and early 2000's, this year's Davison squad will be one to watch out for led by preseason #1 Terry Turner at 125lbs.  Turner who was lights out at the Grappler Fall Classic    There should be some freshmen making immediate impacts for Davison as well led by Justin Oliver whocomes in with high expectations as many think he can conted for a state title this year at 103 or 112.  In addition, returning D3 state placer Jarrad Labelle has transferred in from Goodrich, giving coach Roy Hall some pop in the upperweights.  Whether or not they compete with the top 4 or 5 teams in the state is still to be seen, but there is no doubt that Davison will be very relevant this year and watch out next year as Mark Hall and Lincoln Olson lead another strong freshman class.

ROMEO

Led by 4 returning state qualifiers including the #1 ranked heavyweight going into the season, Romeo could be a team to keep an eye on this year.  Tayron Womble and Kyle Witgen just missed all-state status last year, falling a match short, and Zach Schaefer has been to the Palace before as well.  If they can fill in the gaps around those four, watch out.

ROSEVILLE

Roseville has built a reputation as one of the top teams in Division 1 for the past decade and that should continue this year.  They have two wrestlers ranked top 2 in the state, led by returning runner-up Chris Nash who is the preseason #1.  Kirk Wawrzyniak earned his first all-state honor last year and has a shot at a state title this year, entering the season ranked #2 at 125lbs.  2009 state qualifier Doug Zundel is another name to watch for Roseville this year.

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2x state champ Mooradian

Returning State Finalist Matt Frisch

Returning State Champ Mitch Rogaliner