Division 4 Team Preview

NEW LOTHROP IS FAVORITE TO REPEAT, BUT THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF CONTENDERS IN D4...

• #1 NEW LOTHROP
• #2 HUDSON
• #3 LAWTON
• #4 HESPERIA
• #5 DECATUR
• #6 CARSON CITY CRYSTAL
• #7 SPRINGPORT
• #8 MANCHESTER
• #9 BRONSON
• #10 ST LOUIS
• HONORABLE MENTION

#1 New Lothrop

HEAD COACH

Jeff Campbell

KEY LOSSES

145: Aaron Bauman – 3X State Placer
160: Josh Wendling – 2X State Champ
171: Taylor Krupp – State Champ
189: Cody Symons – 3X State Placer
215: Owen Wilson – 2X State Placer
215: Dakota Clark – 3X State Qualifier

PROJECTED LINEUP

103: Tommy Malloy (9)
112: Austin Birchmeier (10)
       Brandon Kline (10)
119: #7 Connor Krupp (10) – State 5th
125: Levi Krupp (11)
130: #6 Dalton Birchmeier (12) – 2X State Qualifier
135: #5 Cole Hersch (11) – State Placer
140: #4 Gabe Bennett (12) – 2X State Placer
145: #1 Steve Garza (11) – 2X State Placer
152: Erik Birchmeier (11)
160: #10 Trevor Copes (12) – State Qualifier
171: Joe Fisher (12)
189: #10 Caleb Symons (11) – Regional Qualifier
215: Donny Quaderer (11)
285: #5 David Robertson (12) – State Qualifier

ANALYSIS

Best Case Scenario: Returning starters continue with their progression and ease the loss of a phenomenal senior class; meanwhile, new faces emerge to fill the remaining gaps. The end result is a 2nd consecutive state title.

Worst Case Scenario: The Hornets struggle to fill voids left by graduation and experience some growing pains during the regular season that hurt their seeding at team state, ultimately leading to a semifinal loss that ends their bid to repeat as champions.

#2 Hudson

HEAD COACH

Scott Marry

KEY LOSSES

119: Isaac Dusseau – 3X State Placer
135: Carlos Randall – 2X State Qualifier
140: Cole Weaver – 3X State Champ
145: JD Waters – 2X State Champ
160: Brain Sumber – State 7th
215: Jacob Morgan – 2X State Placer

PROJECTED LINEUP

103:
112: #9 Zach Lopinski (10) – State Placer
119: #1 Roddy Hamdan (12) – State Champ
125: #6 Tyler Roberts (12) – State Placer
130:
135: Michael Prock (12)
140: Malik Ray (9)
145: #3 Mason Lopinski (11) – State Placer
152:
160: #1 Kyle Johnson (11) – State Champ
171: #8 Clayton Brockway (12) – State Qualifier
189: #9 Tyler Grames (10) – State Qualifier
215: #9 Mitch Ely (12) – State Qualifier
285: Emanuel Holder (11)

ANALYSIS

Best Case Scenario: Without missing a beat, Coach Marry and company overcome tremendous graduation losses. They dominate D4's toughest region and proceed to continue their historic success by winning a 6th title in 7 years.

Worst Case Scenario: The Tigers are unable to replace the production of 5 all-state 2014 graduates, and after 6 straight appearances in the finals they are on the wrong end of a shocking upset at Regionals where they struggle to procure favorable individual matchups and narrowly lose to #7 Springport.

#3 Lawton

HEAD COACH

Troy Johnson

KEY LOSSES

140: Travis Smith – State Qualifier
285: Austin Mayfield – Regional Qualifier

KEY LOSSES

103: Carely Lott (12)
112: #8 Jacob Chapman (10) – State Qualifier
        Jared Dekoning (10)
119: #4 Julian Torres (12) – State 5th
125: Blake Parker (12) – State Qualifier
130: Austin Beach (12) – State Qualifier
        Zac Menck (9) – MYWA State Placer
135: #1 Kyle Barkovich (12) – State Runner-Up
        Nate Porter (10)
140: #2 Cole Menck (12) – 2X State Placer
145: #9 Jacob Gray (11) – Regional Qualifer
152: #1 Chris O’Donnell (12) – State 5th
        Garrett VanWyk (12)
160: Vern Walter (12)
171: Jason Craig (10)
189: #1 Brody Conner (12) – 2X State Placer
215:
285: Alex Calderon (11)

ANALYSIS

Best Case Scenario: The Blue Devils build on the experience gained in Battle Creek last season, and their senior laden-lineup comes together and delivers the program its first title since 1990.

Worst Case Scenario: The weights get jammed up and as a result the coaching staff struggles to get their best 14 on the mat for duals. It ends up costing the squad a return trip to team state when they are upset by #5 Decatur at Districts.

#4 Hesperia

HEAD COACH

John Dingledine

KEY LOSSES

103: Corey Agens – State Runner-Up
125: Zack Yates – 2X State Champ
130: Damon Gowens
140: Chase Siersema – 3X State Runner-Up
145: David Jacobs – State Placer

PROJECTED LINEUP

103:
112: Kanin Witte (9) – MYWA Runner-Up
119: #2 Davian Gowens (11) – State Champ
125: Cameron Roesley (10)
130: #3 Logan Eaves (11) – State Runner-Up
       Zach Young (9) – MYWA Placer
135: #2 Gerritt Yates (9) – MYWA Champ
140: #1 Trent Roesley (12) – State Runner-Up
145:
152: Kade Witte (10)
160: Nate Smith (11) – Regional Qualifier
171: #3 Mark Workman (11) – State Runner-Up
189: Freddy Vanderstelt (11) – Regional Qualifier
215: Brandon Goins (10)
285: Josh Ehrke (11)

ANALYSIS

Best Case Scenario: The team receives a major spark thanks to a talented freshmen class, and their young upperweights from last season collectively take a big step forward. Ultimately, it earns them first title since 2008 and 6th finals appearance of the past decade.

Worst Case Scenario: Struggling to the fill lineup gaps left by graduation, the Panthers take some lumps during the season and make it to Battle Creek with a #4 or #5 seed where they fall just a bit short of a return to the semifinals.

#5 Decatur

HEAD COACH

Brian Southworth

KEY LOSSES

152: Dale Mann – Regional Qualifier
171: Jason Nash – State 6th
215: Austin Glynn – State Qualifier

PROJECTED LINEUP

103:
112: Owen Flowers (10) – Regional Qualifier
119: #9 David Helmuth (10) – State Qualifier
125: #9 Ethan May (10) – State Qualifier
130: Alex Gerhold (10)
135: #4 Lucian Parish (11) – 2X State Qualifier
140: #9 Elijah Luth (11) – Regional Qualifier
145: #2 Hunter Bell (12) – 3X State Placer
152: Vaughn Copeland (12)
160: Kyle Nye (12)
171: Zac Checkley (10)
189: #3 Cole Southworth (12) – State 7th
215: #8 Austin Kennedy (12) – State Qualifier
285: #2 Logan Kennedy (10) – State 7th

ANALYSIS

Best Case Scenario: The Raider's sophomore class proves to be among the state's best, building on the promise they showed as freshmen last season. The remainder of the team follows suit, and at districts they knockoff #3 Lawton to begin an impressive run to the state semifinals.

Worst Case Scenario: The talented but young lineup experiences some growing pains, and the team struggles at Districts where they are eliminated by a more seasoned Lawton squad.

#6 Carson City Crystal

HEAD COACH

Kacy Datema

KEY LOSSES

135: Brenten DeYoung
140: Garner Cusack – State 8th
285: Brad Osterman

PROJECTED LINEUP

103:
112: Ryan Argesinger (10)
119: Taylor Barkley (11) – 2X State Qualifier
125: #10 Alex Baker (12) – 2X State Qualifier
       Jeremy Bigford (12)
130: #2 Dallas O’Green (11) – 2X State Placer
135: Shane Wiggins (11)
140:
145:
152: Lincoln Burnham (12) – State Qualifier
160: #2 Dillen Decker (12) – 2X State Placer
       #5 Darren Decker (12) – 2X State Placer
171: Ryan Bidwell (12)
189: Frank Smith (12) – Regional Qualifier
        Dakota O’Green (12) – Regional Qualifier
215: Austin Hopkins (12) – 2X Regional Qualifier
285:

ANALYSIS

Best Case Scenario: The crowded areas in the Eagle's lineup work themselves out organically, but they maintain a high degree of matchup flexibility and spend nearly the entire season with a top-5 ranking. After beating #10 St Louis at Districts they nearly shock the state at Regionals, coming up just a couple of points short of upsetting defending champion #1 New Lothrop.

Worst Case Scenario: Despite plenty of individual firepower, the team struggles to fill out the lineup and is unable to match the depth and balance of St Louis who beats them at Districts in a mild upset.

#7 Springport

HEAD COACH

Dave Pratt

KEY LOSSES

119: Walter Betz – State Qualifier
130: Cass Cortright – Regional Qualifier
140: Brandon Tanner – State Qualifier
152: Andrew Grady – State Qualifier

PROJECTED LINEUP

103:
112:
119: Tyler Adams (12)
       Noah Teague (9)
125: Sean O’Hearon (10)
130:
135: #10 Tyler Teague (10) – Regional Qualifier
140: Taylor Whitmore (11) – Regional Qualifier
145:
152: #4 Zeth Caudill (11) – 2X State Qualifier
160: #8 Nick Cooper (10) – State Qualifier
        Tyler Tanner (11)
171: Daniel Brown (12) – Regional Qualifier
189:
215: #1 Jacob Cooper (12) – 2X State Champ
       #7 Adam Lammers (12) – State 8th
285: Brenden Hunter (11) – Regional Qualifier

ANALYSIS

Best Case Scenario: Cooper eventually returns to 189lbs, making the Spartans as formidable as any team in D4 from 152-285. Meanwhile, their talented young lowerweights build on last season, and the collective result is a shocking upset over Hudson at Regionals, which they then followup with a run to the state semifinals.

Worst Case Scenario: Unable to fill all of the gaps in their lineup, the team is eliminated at Regionals by a #9 Bronson squad that proves itself to be deeper and more balanced.

#8 Manchester

HEAD COACH

Steve Vlcek

KEY LOSSES

135: Matt Munson – Regional Qualifier
152: Eric Coval – State Runner-Up
160: Austin Martin – Regional Qualifier
160: Austin Rathburn
171: Michael Golding – 2X State Qualifier
189: Henry Arbogast – 2X Regional Qualifier
215: Iain Neff – 2X Regional Qualifier

PROJECTED LINEUP

103:
112: #3 Brendan Abrigo (12) – State Runner-Up
119: #5 Ethan Woods (10) – State 6th
125: Miquel Grammatico (11)
130: Nick Dettling (12) – 2X Regional Qualifier
        Charlie Steffens (12) – State Qualifier
135: #3 Brock Vlcek (12) – 2X State Qualifier
140:
145: Matt Cuevas (12) – Regional Qualifier
152: Corey Johnson (12) – Regional Qualifier
160: Garrick Ockerman (12)
171:
189:
215:
285: Steve Suliman (11)

ANALYSIS

Best Case Scenario: The Dutch's new upperweights prove to be serviceable while their lowerweights are among D4's elite. They take care of business against a very solid Sand Creek team at Regionals, and then proceed to win a close dual between the #4/#5 seeds in BC before bowing out in the semis.  

Worst Case Scenario: Their talented lowerweights are unable to counteract major holes in the upperweights, and Sand Creek takes advantage to upset them at Regionals.

#9 Bronson

HEAD COACH

Chad Butters

KEY LOSSES

215: Skylar Riker – State Qualifier

PROJECTED LINEUP

103:
112: Nick Haviland (12)
119: Jacob Butters (10) – Regional Qualifier
125: Thomas Littlefield (11)
130: Wesley Disbro (12) – Regional Qualifier
135: Isaac Robertson (10)
140: #5 Kahle Scheenks (12) – 2X State Placer
        Ben Byler (12)
145: Mykal Kline (11)
152: #7 David Erwin (10) – State Qualifier
160: #4 Jukoada Sexton (12) – State 7th
171: Tim Erwin
189: #2 Brett Burtrum (12) -2X State Placer
215: Nathan Caudell (10)
285: Joey Losinski (11)

ANALYSIS

Best Case Scenario: With nearly the entire lineup returning, the Vikings regain their 2013 form when the team reached the semifinals. They spend the entire year ranked in the top-8 and manage to knock off #7 Springport or Addison at Regionals, but their bid for Battle Creek is ended by #2 Hudson in a competitive dual.

Worst Case Scenario: Matched up against either Springport or Addison, the team's season ends in disappointing fashion when they lose handily in the Regional semifinals.

#10 St Louis

HEAD COACH

Kevin Kuhn

KEY LOSSES

135: Jed Abbot – State Qualifier
145: Zack Ross – Regional Qualifier
160: Jackson Miller – 2X Regional Qualifier

PROJECTED LINEUP

103:
112: Austin Rios (10)
119: Adam Zimmerman (11)
125: Marcus Beeson (10) – Regional Qualifier
130: #10 Konnor Holton (10) – State 7th
       Martin Lopez (11) – Regional Qualifier
135: Cameron Rios (11)
       Logan Seeley (11)
140: Jayce Kuehnlein (9) – MYWA Placer
       Jake Davis (9) – MYWA Placer
145: Jordan Crook (12)
152: Joe Eager (12) – Regional Qualifier
160: Emilio Bailey (12) – Regional Qualifier
171:
189: #4 Clayton Howd (11) – State 8th
       Ernie Diaz (9) – MYWA Placer
215:
285: #6 Mykhaylo Hetmanskyy (11) – State Qualifier

ANALYSIS

Best Case Scenario: The Sharks continue to progress and establish themselves as a top program in D4. At Districts they avenge last year's Regional final loss, knocking off #6 Carson City Crystal before falling to #1 New Lothrop in a competitive dual at Regionals the following week.

Worst Case Scenario:The team struggles to build on last year's success, and once again they fall victim to Carson City Crystal in the postseason.

Honorable Mention

THE BEST OF THE REST...

In Region 25-4, Norway appears to be the team to beat. The Knights have won 2 consecutive Regional titles, and this year's team has the potential to better than either of its aforementioned predecessors. They currently have 4 wrestlers in the rankings and return a couple of regional qualifiers as well.

They were hit pretty hard by graduation, but Leroy Pine River has plenty of returning talent and appears poised to make a trip to team state. With 5 ranked wrestlers and 2 additional state qualifiers they are the clear-cut favorite to emerge from Region 26-4.

It remains to be seen how well they can fill their holes, but Dansville has a great deal of top end talent. They begin the season with 3 guys in the rankings, most notably #1 Dresden Simon. However, their odds of emerging from Region 27-4 are pretty slim with #1 New Lothrop as the resounding favorite. Montrose is another team to keep an eye on here. Like Dansville they'll be overmatched against New Lothrop, but they begin the year with 4 ranked including #1 Arthur Payne.

Without a doubt, Region 28-4 is the most open for the taking. At this point it's still a total crapshoot, but 2014 District Champions, Marlette, Memphis, Bad Axe, and Vassar all figure to be in the mix.

With #4 Hesperia alongside them in Region 29-4, Kent City appears to be on the outside looking in as far as team state goes, but they have the talent to break the top-10 at some point this season. #1 Shane Rodenburg is their only ranked wrestler to begin the season, but they have a number of productive starters coming back including 4 regional qualifiers.

Graduation losses were pretty significant for Schoolcraft, but they were a top-10 team all last season and should be in store for another solid campaign. They begin the season with a pair of ranked wrestlers and 4 additional regional qualifiers. However, the odds are stacked against them with #3 Lawton and #5 Decatur joining them in Region 30-4. Watervliet also looks pretty tough, but like Schoolcraft it appears they'll be overmatched here.

Of the teams not to crack the top 10, no one has more firepower than Addison. The Panthers have 5 ranked, but the rest of the lineup is full of question marks. They also have the misfortune of being Region 31-4, the toughest in D4 with #2 Hudson, #7 Springport, and #9 Bronson all in the fray.

Over the past several years Sand Creek has proven themselves to be among D4's top programs. They start the year with a pair of wrestlers in the top-10, and also return 2 state qualifiers and 2 regional qualifiers. As of now they're mild underdogs in Region 32-4, but will definitely make a run at knocking off #8 Manchester. Also present is defending Region champion Clinton who brings back 8 regional qualifiers.

COMMENTS

Please login to comment.

Let’s get the conversation started! Post your comment.

‍