2011 MHSAA Team District/Regional Preview
---DIVISION 3---
2/9/2011
The road to Battle Creek will begin this Wednesday when the MHSAA Team Districts get underway all across the state and in just under three weeks from now the Division 1, 2, 3, and 4 Team State Champions will be crowned
Below you will find our breakdown of each Team Regional in Division 3, as well as the notable District level matchups to look for. In addition, we have predicted who to expect to see in Battle Creek in a couple weeks.
Following the Team Regionals check back for our detailed State Tournament preview!
Division 3 Outlook:
Headlining this year’s Division 3 race are last years finalists, Richmond and Dundee. Both teams have looked particularly strong late in the season and come into the postseason with state title aspirations. In addition to Richmond and Dundee, newly emerged power Lake Fenton has scored some big wins this year and has the talent to compete for a state title in Division 3. Additional strong teams including Remus Chippewa Hills and Birch Run should make for a very exciting title race in Division 3 this year.
For the most part Division 3’s top teams are pretty well spread out for districts with a few exceptions. The toughest district in Division 3 should take place at Fremont. Here #6 Shelby, #7 Whitehall and formerly ranked Fremont all should be in the mix to advance. Eighth ranked Bullock Creek should face a tough test at the Essexville-Garber district where they will take on a very solid Freeland team.
Notable District Matchups:
No. 172-3 at Essexville-Garber
#8 Midland Bullock Creek, Essexville-Garber, Freeland, Sanford-Meridian
Eighth ranked Bullock Creek should get a good test in this fairly competitive district. Freeland is pretty solid and should have a good chance to be very competitive with the Lancers. Bullock Creek’s ability to take care of business at districts will be a good indicator of if they are capable of knocking off Chippewa Hills at regionals next week.
No. 173-3 at Fremont
#6 Shelby, #7 Whitehall, Fremont, Newaygo
With no doubt this is the most competitive district in Division 3 and might be one of the only districts in the entire state that features 3 Battle Creek-worthy squads. Shelby and Whitehall have both had strong seasons and are two of Division 3’s better teams. Throw formerly ranked Fremont in the mix and this should be a very tough district. If Whitehall can get by Fremont in the first round expect them to wrestle a down to the wire final against Shelby with the winner going on to regionals.
Regional Breakdown
Following a few competitive district matchups regionals the action should intensify next week at regionals as some very strong teams will be pitted against one another in Division 3.
Of all of the regionals none appears tougher than the Carrollton region. Here Lake Fenton will wrestle Birch Run in a battle of two top five ranked teams. The Remus Chippewa Hills region should be another very competitive one. The host Warriors will look to knock off #8 Bullock Creek and earn a trip to Battle Creek. Returning state finalists Dundee and Richmond both have fairly easy regions and should advance to the state meet without too much difficulty.
Here is a breakdown of what teams will be battling out at each regional for a shot at advancing to the D3 Team State Finals in Battle Creek.
117-3 at Kalkaska
Top Contenders: Gladstone, Roscommon
Outlook: Probably one of the weaker regions in Division 3, a couple of teams should both have a chance to punch their ticket to Battle Creek here. Roscommon has put together a solid season and will look to earn a trip back to the state meet with a regional title. Standing in their way will be Gladstone who has also looked good this year and will be in the mix.
Our Pick: Roscommon
118-3 at Chippewa Hills
Top Contenders: #4 Remus Chippewa Hills, #8 Midland Bullock Creek, Freeland
Outlook: One of the better regional matchups in Division 3 will likely occur in the semifinals here. If #8 Bullock Creek can defeat Freeland at regionals they will square off with #4 Chippewa Hills in the semifinals of this region. Both teams are ranked and this should be a good battle with very high stakes. Chippewa Hills has a lot of firepower down low so matchups will be key in this duals.
Our Pick: Chippewa Hills
119-3 at Shelby
Top Contenders: #6 Shelby, #7 Whitehall, Fremont, Comstock Park, Allendale
Outlook: Sixth-ranked Shelby, seventh-ranked Whitehall and Fremont are all possible candidates to reach this region after battling it out at the very difficult Fremont district. In addition Comstock Park and Allendale are other solid teams who have been ranked this year and will create some very competitive semifinals and finals matchups. Parity will be high here and all five of the aforementioned teams should have an opportunity to reach the state meet.
Our Pick: Shelby
120-3 at Otsego
Top Contenders: #10 Otsego, Coloma
Outlook: Definitely one of Division 3’s thinner regionals, ninth-ranked Otsego should be the favorites to advance here. Coloma is a team that has had some success this year and could be able to compete with Otsego. After Otsego and Coloma depth is pretty weak in this region where there are few teams who have established themselves as candidates to compete for a regional title.
Our Pick: Otsego
121-3 at Portland
Top Contenders: #9 Lake Odessa Lakewood, Onsted
Outlook: After performing well at the end of the season Lake Odessa Lakewood jumped into the Divison 3 rankings and appears poised to win a regional title. This is a fairly weak regional and Lakewood should be favorites to advance to Battle Creek. Onsted is also a team who could be capable of contending in this region, however, Lakewood is a program that has a tradition of winning in February and will be tough to beat.
Our Pick: Lakewood
122-3 at Carrolton
Top Contenders: #3 Lake Fenton, #5 Birch Run, Swan Valley
Outlook: This region should provide Division 3’s best matchup prior to the state meet. Third ranked Lake Fenton appears to have the talent to compete for a title in D3, however the Blue Devils will have to defeat a very good Birch Run team. Birch Run has emerged as one of the top teams in Division 3 over the course of the season and comes into the postseason ranked fifth. This should be a top notch dual with the winner likely receiving a top four seed at the state meet. Throw in Swan Valley, a team that has some major firepower scattered throughout, and you have D3's premiere Regional.
Our Pick: Lake Fenton
123-3 at Imlay City
Top Contenders: #1 Richmond, Goodrich, Caro
Outlook: Top-ranked Richmond should have little trouble advancing from this region. The returning state champs have looked particularly strong in the latter half of the year and are likely to get the top seed at the state meet. Goodrich and Caro are both solid teams who will be in action here, however Richmond is a very talented team who knows how to win in the postseason and if they lose at any point before the state finals it will be considered a monster upset.
Our Pick: Richmond
124-3 at Dundee
Top Contenders: #2 Dundee, Ida
Outlook: Dundee ended their season with some big wins and appears to be peaking at the right time of the year. After falling to Richmond in a tight match at the DCC Super Duals, the Vikings have really stepped it up a notch with wins against several top tier programs. Dundee has a relatively easy district and region and they should be capable of dominating their way to battle Creek. Ida will likely be the only team capable of scoring significant points on Dundee, but like Richmond don't expect much of a challenge here.
Our Pick: Dundee
State Finals Outlook:
Coming into the state meet Richmond’s win over Dundee in January should solidify them as the top seed. Dundee should pretty much be a lock for the second seed, with Lake Fenton likely taking third seed if they can get past Birch Run at regionals. Remus Chippewa Hills will have a good chance of getting the four seed if they can take down Bullock Creek at regionals, however others including Shelby or Whitehall could also make an argument to be seeded fourth.
Assuming they receive the second seed, Dundee should cruise to the semifinals where they are likely to clash with Lake Fenton. Individual talent is plentiful on both these teams, and this should dual should feature a great deal of excellent matchups. Both teams maneuver their lineup a lot, so matchups will play a big factor at every weight class. Dundee’s postseason experience combined with their strong performance late in the season gives them the edge, however this should be a close one with the potential to go either way.
Richmond should receive a decent test in the semifinals, but all signs indicate that the Blue Devils should be able to advance to the finals where they will likely have another showdown with Dundee. The Vikings will be looking to avenge the loss they suffered to Richmond at last year’s state meet as well as the DCC Super Duals. Both teams have good flexibility in their lineups, particularly in the middleweights. This is a dual that has the potential to feature a lot of shifting within the lineup to get the best matchups. Assuming both teams can reach the finals, expect to see one of the postseason’s best duals as these two juggernauts clash with a state title on the line.
District/Regional Pairings
Districts - Feb 9-10, 2011
Regionals - Feb 16, 2011
No. 165-3 Ishpeming
Kingsford
Ishpeming
Negaunee
No. 166-3 Manistique
Gladstone
Menominee
Manistique
No. 167-3 Grayling
Elk Rapids
Kalkaska
Cheboygan
Grayling
No. 168-3 Houghton Lake
Roscommon
Kingsley
Houghton Lake
Benzonia
No. 169-3 Ludington
Ludington
Manistee
Mason County Central
No. 170-3 Big Rapids
Reed City
Big Rapids
#4 Remus Chippewa Hills
No. 171-3 Gladwin
Gladwin
Tawas
Standish-Sterling
Pinconning
No. 172-3 Essexville-Garber
#8 Midland Bullock Creek
Essexville-Garber
Freeland
Sanford-Meridian
No. 173-3 Fremont
Fremont
#7 Whitehall
#6 Shelby
Newaygo
No. 174-3 Grant
Muskegon Orchard View
Allendale
Grant
No. 175-3 Wyoming Park
Belding Area
Comstock Park
Grand Rapids West Catholic
Wyoming Park
No. 176-3 Lakeview
Stanton Central Montcalm
Lakeview
Morley-Stanwood
Howard City Tri-County
No. 177-3 Hudsonville-Unity Christian
Zeeland West
Wyoming Godwin Heights
Hudsonville Unity Christian
Wyoming Kelloggsville
No. 178-3 Hopkins
#10 Otsego
Hopkins
Fennville
No. 179-3 Kalamazoo-Comstock
Parchment
South Haven
Comstock
Paw Paw
No. 180-3 Berrien Springs
Dowagiac
Coloma
Berrien Springs
Buchanan
No. 181-3 Olivet
#9 Lake Odessa Lakewood
Olivet
Battle Creek Pennfield
Delton Kellogg
No. 182-3 Stockbridge
Williamston
Stockbridge
Portland
Lansing Sexton
No. 183-3 Jackson-Lumen Christi
Jackson Lumen Christi
Brooklyn Columbia Central
Onsted
Hillsdale
No. 184-3 Durand Area
Perry
Durand
Ovid-Elsie
No. 185-3 Alma
Hemlock
Alma
Shepherd
No. 186-3 Saginaw-Swan Valley
Carrollton
Bridgeport
Saginaw Swan Valley
Frankenmuth
No. 187-3 Birch Run
#5 Birch Run
Mt Morris
Chesaning
Montrose
No. 188-3 Linden-Lake Fenton
Flint Southwestern Academy
Flint Powers Catholic
#3 Lake Fenton
No. 189-3 Caro
Millington
Caro
Vassar
Otisville-LakeVille
No. 190-3 Yale
Croswell-Lexington
Yale
Capac
No. 191-3 Goodrich
Imlay City
Goodrich
Almont -
No. 192-3 Armada
Macomb Lutheran North
Algonac
#1 Richmond
Armada
No. 193-3 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
Clawson
Mt Clemens
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
No. 194-3 Livonia Clarenceville
Detroit Cesar Chavez
Harper Woods
Livonia Clarenceville
Madison Heights Madison
No. 195-3 Flat Rock
Dearborn Heights Robichaud
Romulus Summit Academy
Grosse Ile
Flat Rock
No. 196-3 Dundee
Ida
#2 Dundee
Erie-Mason
Ypsilanti Willow Run
Copyright 2007-2011 Michigan Grappler, LLC
May not be reproduced with expressed written consent
Contact via email: admin@michigangrpapler.com
-------------------------KALKASKA REGIONAL
------------------------CHIPPEWA HILLS REGIONAL
-------------------------SHELBY REGIONAL
---------------------------OTSEGO REGIONAL
-------------------------PORTLAND REGIONAL
-------------------------CARROLTON REGIONAL
-------------------------IMLAY CITY LAMPHERE REGIONAL
-------------------------DUNDEE REGIONAL
