2011 MHSAA Team State Finals Preview
---Division 4---
February 25-26
Kellogg Arena - Battle Creek
By Steve Widzinski
Michigan Grappler High School Analyst
QuarterFinals
Friday, 1:00pm
#1 Hudson vs #8 Iron Mountain
Outlook: Hudson enters the state
tournament as the top seed following
another impressive regular season. The
Tigers will come into Battle Creek this
weekend in search of their third
consecutive state championship in
Division 4. Hudson will be heavily
favored to win big in their first round
matchup against Iron Mountain.
Our Pick: Hudson +35
#4 Manchester vs #5 Decatur
Outlook: This quarterfinal matchup should
have the potential to be one of the best in
Division 4. Manchester has spent most
of the year ranked fourth and comes into
the postseason with a great opportunity
to reach the state semifinals. However,
the Dutchmen will have to get through a
very good Decatur team in order to do so. The Raiders finished their season on a strong note, climbing to the fifth spot in the Division 4 team rankings. Expect this to be a very good quarterfinals battle between two teams very capable of advancing.
Our Pick: Manchester +2
#3 Hesperia vs #6 Constantine
Outlook: Hesperia comes into Battle Creek as a legitimate contender to win it all. The Panthers have shown tremendous improvement throughout the season, and appear to be peaking at the right time of year. In the first round Hesperia will take on Constantine with a trip to the semifinals on the line. The Panthers have some of Division 4’s elite talent and will be favorites to advance.
Our Pick: Hesperia +28
#2 New Lothrop vs #7 Dansville
Outlook: No team in Michigan has exceeded expectations this year more than New Lothrop. After entering the season ranked sixth, the Hornets have scored several huge wins to climb to the second spot in the Division 4 rankings. New Lothrop enters the state tournament with the number two seed and a great opportunity to compete for a state title. Dansville has a solid team but will struggle to match up against New Lothrop’s lineup in this first round dual.
Our Pick: New Lothrop +25
Semifinals
Saturday, 9:30am
#1 Hudson vs #4 Manchester
Outlook: Assuming Manchester can get past Decatur in the quarters, they will have a daunting task ahead of them in the semifinals where they should run into top-ranked and top-seeded Hudson. Manchester has put together a great season and had a lot of dual meet success. However, that will most likely end here, as Hudson appears to have them overmatched at most weight classes. There should be a few good individual matchups, but Hudson’s overall lineup appears to be too much for the Dutchmen of Manchester.
Key Matchups
--- 145 Johnny Woolams MCH vs Joel Varney HUD: This matchup will serve as a rematch from last week’s regional final. After loosing to Varney by way of a first period fall last Saturday, Woolams will be looking to earn some redemption here.
--- 285 Michael York MCH vs Zach Rieger HUD: This will be another rematch from last Saturday’s regional finals. These guys are two of Division 4’s top big men, and Rieger will be hoping to avenge a loss and score a win for his team in the semifinals.
Prediction: Hudson appears to have a clear path to the finals. Manchester is capable of winning some matches here, but does not seem to have the depth to match Hudson. Expect the Tigers to win soundly and advance to finals where they will defend their title as state champions.
Our Pick: Hudson +21
Hesperia vs New Lothrop
Outlook: Coming into the year Hudson appeared to be a heavy favorite to dominate their way to a third consecutive state title. While Hudson still remains Division 4’s top ranked team, both Hesperia and New Lothrop have proven that they could be potential challengers for D4 supremacy. With wins over teams such as Richmond, Lowell and Lake Fenton, New Lothrop has proven that they have what it takes to win big duals.
Hesperia is a team that has been gaining momentum all year long, and has a serious shot to earn a shot in the finals and compete for a title. Both teams have their fair share of studs as well as some really good secondary guys who can contribute in big dual meets. Balance is very strong on both teams as well, with most of their ranked wrestlers and state qualifiers spread well throughout their lineups. This should be a good back and forth battle that could truly go either way.
Key Matchups
--- 103 Josh Wendling NL vs Chase Siersema HSP: One of the may great matches expected to take place in this dual will occur in the 103 pound weight class. Both Wendling and Sieresema are among the top lower weights in D4, and this has the potential to go either way. Siersema is coming off a dominant showing at regionals and will look to carry that momentum into Battle Creek and score a win for the panthers.
--- 112 Jacob Perrin NL vs Zack Yates HSP: Following a great matchup at 103, fans will be treated to another great lower weight battle in the 112 pound weight class. Perrin has been impressive all year long and should have a great shot to win an individual state title. He will have a big test here against the talented freshman Yates. Yates had impressive showing at regionals and could have an opportunity to pull an upset here. If either team can find a way to win at 103 and 112 they should be in good shape.
--- 130 Allen Krupp NL vs Jordan Bosma HSP: If Krupp meets Bosma it should be another dynamic match between two state title contenders. Bosma is a returning state champion and Krupp was a state finalist last year so both of these guys are definitely familiar with wrestling on a big stage. With so many swing matches in the lower weights, both teams will have an opportunity to gain some momentum and build a lead.
Prediction: After looking at all of the matchups, few teams across the state appear to be as evenly matched as New Lothrop and Hesperia. New Lothrop seems to have a slight edge in the lower weights, while Hesperia has the advantage in the upperweights. This is a dual that will come down to which ever team can pull out the most close matches and avoid giving up bonus points. New Lothrop has shown an impressive ability to win close dual meets all year, making them a slim favorite to advance to the finals.
Our Pick: New Lothrop +1
State Finals
Saturday, 4:00pm
#1 Hudson vs #2 New Lothrop
Over the past three seasons Hudson has emerged as the elite wrestling
team in Division 4. The Tigers have earned state championships in the
past two consecutive seasons, and have a great shot to win a third ring
this weekend. However, it will not be an easy title defense for the Tigers
who will see either Hesperia or New Lothrop in the finals. If New Lothrop
can win their semifinal matchup against Hesperia, they should be very
capable of competing with Hudson for a title. New Lothrop has been an
excellent dual meet team all year, and should be able to match up well
against Hudson.
The lower weights are a big strength for New Lothrop, but they will have
their work cut out for them against an equally talented group from
Hudson. At 103 Wendling is very good for New Lothrop, but will
probably have a hard time getting bonus points against Dussea.
Perrin is a stud for New Lothrop at 112, and will have a key matchup
here. If Hudson chooses to wrestle Weaver at 112, he will meet with
Perrin in a huge swing match between two of D4’s top lower weights.
119 should be close as well, where both Mattison and Krupp should both have a chance to win.
Nemeth, and Krupp are both big point scorers for New Lothrop at 125 and 130, and should help them to score some points in the lower weights. This will probably be New Lothrop’s best opportunity to get some bonus points in the lower half of the lineup. Hudson should able to counter with a likely win from McCaskey at 135 or 140.
In the upper half of the lineup Hudson definitely has more firepower, but New Lothrop has a deep group who will be competitive and limit bonus points. The Tigers best chance to score big will come from their studs Varney and Marry. These two are among the best wrestlers in Division 4, and Hudson will need strong efforts from them. New Lothrop should be able to come back with a big win of their own at 171, where they have top-ranked and undefeated Austin Severn.
Hudson will have an opportunity to rack up some more points in the upperweights when Matt Smith is up at 189. Smith is a returning state champion and will have a chance to earn a tech or a fall for the Tigers. Rieger is heavy favorite to win as well, and Hudson should have a chance to win all three matches from 189-285.
Swing matches will be plentiful in this dual which figures to go down to the wire. Both teams have some serious studs, and all signs indicate that this should be an absolute barn burner. Hudson is the returning state champions, and has a veteran team who is well versed on how to win in Kellogg Arena. New Lothrop should prevent a big challenge for the Tigers, and this matchup could be one of the best D4 finals in recent memory.
Our Pick: Hudson 31 New Lothrop 24
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103
112
119
125
130
135
140
145
152
160
171
189
215
285
New Lothrop
Wendling
Perrin
T Krupp
Nemeth
J Krupp
Simons
Bauman
Erhardt
Symons
Dice
Severn
Gross
Sibley
Hudson
Dusseau
Weaver
Mattison
Waters
Kelley
McCaskey
Sparapani
Varney
Marry
Benschooter
Smith
Walden
Rieger
Projected lineups based on District wt classes
