2008 TEAM STATE FINALS PREVIEW
Division 4
Quarterfinal Matchups:
New Lothrop vs. Bronson
#2 Hudson vs #1 Hesperia
Springport vs. Rogers City
Leroy Pine River vs. Manchester
Im gonna go right out and say it, who ever wins the Hudson/Hesperia dual will win the Division 4 state title. By Friday afternoon we will know the D4 state champs. It is hard to say that and your not supposed to, but it is very difficult to see anyone besides Hudson challenging Hesperia. They are much deeper and more star studded than any Division 4 team of recent memory and this looks to be there year to finally win it all. Lets look at Hudson/Hesperia:
#1 Hesperia vs #2 Hudson
103 - #1 Collin Zeerip (Hesperia) vs #2 Dakota Kelly (Hudson)
112 - #1 Jordan Bosma (Hesperia) vs #3 Zeb Hilyard (Hudson)
119 - #6 Jon Hren (Hesperia) vs #10 Kevin Vanderpool (Hudson)
125 - #7 Jordan Bates (Hesperia) vs #3 Taylor Smith (Hudson)
130 - ?? (Hesperia) vs #2 Derrick Marry (Hudson)
135 - #4 Malcom Martin (Hesperia) vs Eric Wolf (Hudson) 31-18
140 - #4 Adam Wiseman (Hesperia) vs ??? (Hudson)
145 - #1 Brandon Zeerip (Hesperia) vs Keith Walworth (Hudson)
152 - #1 Dan Yates (Hesperia) vs Caleb Ely (Hudson)
160 - ?? (Hesperia) vs Kyle Benschooter (Hudson)
171 - Jake Whelena (Hesperia) vs #4 Kyle Hillard (Hudson)
189 - Andy Murphy/Lee Maynard (Hesperia) vs #5 Gabe Elliot (Hudson)
215 - Andy Murphy/Lee Maynard (Hespiera) vs ?? (Hudson)
285 - #1 Rudy Spalding (Hesperia) vs Joe Beubein (Hudson)
Even with all their guns, Hesperia only has 5 weights that are sure wins (135, 140, 145, 152, 285) and Hudson should be able to win at least 4 (130, 160, 171, 189). That leaves about 5 matches that will be very close, which should make this the best dual of the quarterfinals. Here are the close ones:
103 - Zeerip/Kelly - The top 2 kids in Division 4 right now. Zeerip appears to be a little ahead of the rest of the pack in division 4, but if anyone can challenge him it is Kelly. You have to give the sophomore Zeerip the edge.
112 - Bosma vs Hilyard - Freshman Bosma has really come on strong this year with a lot of big wins including a win over Blake Birchmeir of New Lothrop. Hilyard is a slick young kid who has beaten some studs this year as well.
119 - Hren vs Vanderpool - Both these guys are tested on the big stage. Hren is a regional champ and was a state qualifier two years ago and Vanderpool was a state placer last year. With their expierence they will both go into this match ready to rock.
125 - Bates vs Smith - Taylor Smith has been very inconsistent this year after finishing runner up at 103 last year. For example, Smith has majored Mykel Sumner and been majored by him weeks later. Jordan Bates has come on strong this year for Hesperia with some good wins against quality competetion. If Smith shows up then he should win, but if he is off on friday then Bates will be in the hunt.
215 - Hudson apperas has nobody here so you have to give Hesperia the edge, however, Hesperia does not really have a stud here so if Hudson can make a move to bump or has some 215lber tucked away for a rainy day this match is not a sure thing.
Things are looking good for Hesperia here, if they win their 5 for sures and then they win at 103, 112, and 119 (which they are favored at all three), then that would give them 8 wins and they should have alot of bonus points which should be enough to seal the deal. Hudson is going to need their lightweights to pull off some March, I mean February Magic.
PREDICTIONS
Quarterfinals - New Lothrop over Bronson , Hesperia over Hudson, Springport over Rogers City, Manchester over Pine River
Semifinals - Hesperia over New Lothrop, Manchester over Springport
Finals - Hesperia over Manchester
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