Oakland County Preview

RETURNING STATE CHAMPS FREEMAN, ZDEBSKI, AND AMINE HIGHLIGHT DEEP FIELD

103
D1 #3 Kevin Thomas, Troy (12) – State Qualifier
D1 #4 Nolan Klapec, Lakeland (10) – State Qualifier
D1 #9 Nick Freeman, Walled Lake Central (9)
D2 #6 Daniel Manier, Farmington (11) – Regional Qualifier
Ryan Miller, Oxford (9)
Stone Moscovic, Detroit CC (9)

This is already a really solid pack of 103’s, and at this early stage of the season there’s sure to be some other tough kids who are still of the radar. Returning SQ’s Thomas and Klapec should be the top seeds assuming they are down, but look out for the talented freshmen to make some noise, especially Freeman.

Prediction: Klapec over Freeman


112
Jacob Call, Oxford (10) – Regional Qualifier
Justin Miller, Walled Lake Northern (12) – Regional Qualifier
Chase Walkowiak, Farmington (12) – Regional Qualifier
Jacob Caldwell, Holly (10) – Regional Qualifier
Bernie Barden, Walled lake Central (12)
Aaron Rehfeldt, Detroit CC (11)
Trevor Abbo, Walled Lake Western (10)
Nate Hampton, RH Stoney Creek (11)

Plenty of solid wrestlers project here, but nobody stands out as a favorite. The 4 returning RQ’s will all be in the mix, and senior Barden is off to a great start in his first year in the starting lineup. Rehfeldt had a good summer and should also fare well.

Prediction: Barden over Call


119
D2 #5 Mike Volyanyuk, FH Harrison (12) – State Runner-Up
D2 #9 Brandon Ladd, Ortonville Brandon (11) – State 3rd
Kaleb Marion, Walled Lake Central (11) – 2X State Qualifier
Mitchell Nelson, Clartkston (11) – Regional Qualifier
Corey Conrad, Waterford Kettering (11) – Regional Qualifier
Dylan Howcroft, Rochester Adams (11) – Regional Qualifier
Aaron Hoorn, South Lyon East (12) – Regional Qualifier
Lee Hewson, Royal Oak (12) – Regional Qualifier
Josh Gonzales, Holly (10) – Regional Qualifier
Sergio Borg, Oxford (9)
Joe Lyon, Detroit CC (10)
Clarence Farmer, Pontiac (11)
Dominic Fosmoen, Lake Orion (11)
Willie Jackson, Novi (11)

The title race will likely come down to Volyanyuk, Ladd, and Marion but there is also a ton of depth here including 6 returning RQ’s. Nelson in particular should place high. Looking at the rest of the group, Borg is a very talented freshman but will be undersized. On the other hand, Lyon will probably have a tough cut but should do very well here if he can make it down.

Prediction: Volyanyuk over Marion


125
D1 #1 Ben Freeman, Walled Lake Central (10) – State Champ
D1 #4 Alex Hrisopoulos, Oxford (11) – State Runner-Up
D2 #3 Bryan LaVearn, Ortonville Brandon (11) – State Runner-Up
D2 #7 Hunter Truba, Hazel Park (11) – State Qualifier
Tommy Hermann, Detroit CC (12) – Regional Qualifier
Tim Fedosseev, Troy (11) – Regional Qualifier
Kohsuke Tashior, Birmingham Seaholm (12) – Regional Qualifier
Jon Kalma, Lakeland (12)
Davis Boos, OL St Mary’s (11)

With a state champ and 2 runner-ups, this weight probably has the most top-end firepower of the tournament. Freeman is definitely the favorite but will still be in the process of transitioning to this higher weight. Hrisopoulos wrestled LaVearn in the county finals last year and won handily. Keep an eye on Hermann as well, he’s much improved and will be a key contributor for DCC this season.

Prediction: Freeman over Hrisopoulos


130
#1 Trevor Zdebski, Detroit CC (12) – State Champ
D2 #9 Gordy Dwyer, Ortonville Brandon (12) – State Qualifier
Colton Cleaver, Holly (11) – State Qualifier
Dom Pattera, Walled Lake Central (12) – Regional Qualifier
Jake Anderson, Rochester Adams (11) – Regional Qualifier
Tim Nelson, Milford (12) – Regional Qualifier
Kyle Gray, Avondale (11) – Regional Qualifier
Vinny Vackaro, Oxford (10)
Michael Mulrooney, Walled Lake Northern (11)

Zdebski missed this event last year, but in the 2 previous years he won county titles in dominant fashion. Expect a similar level of dominance this weekend. Looking at the rest of the field, Dwyer has the best odds to reach the finals, but others such as Cleaver and Pattera will definitely be in the mix as well.

Prediction: Zdebski over Dwyer


135
D1 #2 (130) Dan Shear, Walled Lake Central (12) – State 3rd
D1 #7 Kajaun Caldwell, Bloomfield Hills (11) – Regional Qualifier
D1 #9 Aidan Pierobon, RH Stoney Creek (11) – State Qualifier
D2 #7 Ethan Douglas, Ortonville Brandon (11) – State Qualifier
Colin Campbell, Oxford (12) – Regional Qualifier
Ben Weddle, Walled Lake Northern (12) – Regional Qualifier
Jake Race, South Lyon (11)

There’s a chance he could be at 130, but given WLC’s talent down low it’s likely Shear moves up to 135. He’ll be the favorite here, but there are several others who are legit contenders. Caldwell is extremely talented and has the potential to be one of this season’s breakout stars. SQ’s Pierobon and Douglas are also very solid and are very capable of reaching the finals. RQ’s Campbell and Weddle will be right there as well.

Prediction: Shear over Caldwell


140
D1 #2 Matt Gudenau, West Bloomfield (12) – State 6th
Dan Allor, FH Harrison (12) – State Qualifier
Jesse Jones, Farmington (12) – Regional Qualifier
Robby Keyes, Troy Athens (11)
Trevor Bageris, Milford (12)
Nick Costanzo, Walled Lake Central (11)
Tyron Logan, Pontiac (11)

After a 3rd place finish at last year’s county tournament Gudenau is the guy to beat in his senior year. The top threat is Allor, but juniors Keyes and Costanzo are both primed for big years and should be competitive as well.

Prediction: Gudenau over Allor


145
D1 #8 Andrew Ellicott, Troy (12) – Regional Qualifier
Kyle Masters, Clarkston (11) – Regional Qualifier
Haydn Kinjorski, Walled Lake Central (11) – Regional Qualifier
Dillon Maier, Rochester (12)
Gary Brown, Berkeley (11)

This looks to be one of the weaker weights with no returning SQ’s. The favorite is Ellicott who finished 7th at county’s a year ago. Masters is also a returning placer, finishing 8th at this weight last season. Kinjorski had a good offseason and also figures to be in the mix.

Prediction: Ellicott over Masters


152
D1 #7 Jacob Stitely, Walled Lake Central (12) – Regional Qualifier
D1 #9 Corbin Moorer, Waterford Mott (11) – State Qualifier
David Joyner, Milford (12) – State Qualifier
Nate Vandermeer, Clarkston (11) – Regional Qualifier
Patrick Liess, Walled Lake Northern (11) – Regional Qualifier
Jalen Adams, Hazel Park (10) – Regional Qualifier
Kyle Benkarski, Novi (12)
Kyle McCormick, OL St Mary’s (12)

There’s tons of depth at this weight without a ton of separation. Stitely enters a mild favorite following a strong offseason, but returning SQ’s Moorer and Joyner are also legit contenders. Moorer is the highest returning placer, finishing 4th in Oakland County at 145 last season

Prediction: Amine over Wardell


160
D1 #1 Myles Amine, Detroit CC (12) – State Champ
Thor Wardell, Ortonville Brandon (12) – 2X Regional Qualifier
Nolan Ericksen, Clarkston (11) – Regional Qualifier
Gaven Collom, Waterford Kettering (12)
Will Jacobs, Lakeland (12)
Chris Saadatjoo, Birmingham Seaholm (12)
Ben Wright, Novi (12)
Dominic Shepherd, FH Harrison (11)
Miles Filippis, Royal Oak (10)

There’s some pretty good depth here, but don’t expect anyone to stop top-ranked Amine. The defending state champ is one of the country’s top wrestlers should put on a show at his final county tournament. The rest of the field is extremely wide open, but as of now Wardell and Ericksen look like the top contenders for the 2nd finals spot.

Prediction: Amine over Wardell


171
D1 #2 Andrew Price, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (12) – State 4th
Nicholas Reid, Pontiac (12) – Regional Qualifier
Adam Davenport, Rochester Adams (12)
Kas Waitkus, Clarkston (12)
Connor Cox, Detroit CC (11)
Michael Saadatjoo, Birmingham Seaholm (12)
Christian Daniels, Southfield (12)

With DCC’s Tyler Morland not expected back form injury yet, Price is an extremely heavy favorite here. He’s been great at this tournament in the past, winning back-to-back titles against graduated Oxford stud Wes Maskill. Just about anyone could end up making the finals opposite Price, but I like Cox who put in a ton of time this offseason.

Prediction: Price over Cox


189
D1 #1 Nick Giese, Detroit CC (12) – 2X State 3rd
D1 #2 Alex Sovel, Walled Lake Central (12) – State 7th
D1 #8 Andy Bovay, Lakeland (12) – Regional Qualifier
D1 #9 Tyler Lovelace, Milford (12) – Regional Qualifier
James Donahue, South Lyon (12) – Regional Qualifier
Dakota Tuomi, Birmingham Seaholm (11)
Devon Bazile, OL St Mary’s (11)

After 130, this weight features the most firepower of the tournament. We could potentially see a state finals preview between Giese and Sovel who are both former runner-ups gunning for their first county title. In addition, Bovay and Lovelace are both top guys in D1 and Donahue should be in the mix in D2, so there’s a chance this bracket could feature 5 2015 state placers!

Prediction: Giese over Sovel


215
D1 #3 Wyatt Harden, Oxford (11) – State Qualifier
Noah Troutvine, Clarkston (11) – Regional Qualifier
Blake Peterson, Milford (11) – Regional Qualifier
Prince Onwenu, Walled Lake Central (12)
Blake Beuter, Detroit CC (10)

Harden is the guy to beat, but there’s a ton of additional contenders here. Troutvine was 4th in the county at this weight last season as just a sophomore and will have a great shot at the finals as a junior. Meanwhile, Onewu missed nearly all of last season but is off to a great start and will definitely be in the mix as well. Peterson hasn’t been down to 215 yet but was an RQ at this weight last season. Additionally, Beuter has looked pretty impressive so far in his debut season in the Shamrocks lineup.

Prediction: Harden over Troutvine


285
D1 #4 Justin Hollins, West Bloomfield (12) – State 7th
D1 #5 Jake Sokoll, Lakeland (12) – State 8th
D1 #10 Brandon Krol, Milford (11) – State Qualifier
D2 #7 Josh Dabney, OL St Mary’s (12) – Regional Qualifier
Jamie Demers, Walled Lake Central (12) – Regional Qualifier
Makene Culpepper, Southfield (12) – Regional Qualifier
Jon Dixon, South Lyon (12)
David Murray, Troy (12)
Adam Schlickenmeyer, Oxford (12)
Nick Jenkins, Detroit CC (10)

Generally there’s an extremely high annual turnover at heavyweight and there aren’t many established guys at this early juncture of the season. However, that is far from the case in this extremely deep bracket. Half of last year’s placers return, and that’s quite a statement considering eventual state placer Sokoll didn’t even place at this tournament last season.

Prediction: Hollins over Sokoll

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