Michigan Grappler's 2009-10 High School Previews
Division 4 Team Preview
11/21 - The top dogs in Division 4 this year are nothing new, Hudson, Hesperia, and Addison, the last three teams to win D4 state titles. Hudson won their school's first state championship last year and they look destined for #2 this year with a strong group of returners that earned them the #1 preseaon ranking. The Tigers are led by three wrestlers who have won state individual state titles - Zeb Hilyard and the Marry brothers (Devon & Derrick).
Hesperia, meanwhile, graduated their senior duo of Dan Yates and Brandon Zeerip, who are both now true freshman at Michigan, however, they bring back a strong group of grapplers including the youngest Zeerip (Collin) who is gunning for his third state title this year.
Addison will look to get back to Battle Creek after falling to Hudson in the Regional last year. This year will mark the first time in years that Addison and Hudson will not have to meet up in the district or regional, which means that both power house schools should make a trip to Kellogg this year.
The top three seem pretty clear, but things start to become a little more cloudy after that as Iron Mountain, Manchester, Ithaca, Clinton, and Dansville all feature talented squads this year.
While there appears to be a large group of contenders, this year's Division 4 state championship battle appears that it will once again be a two horse race with #1 Hudson and #2 Hesperia.
Read below for our team-by-team capsules of this year's top contenders in Division 4.
Heaviest Hitters:
1. HUDSON
Returning State Qualifiers: 6
Individuals ranked Preseason: 9 - Tyler Mattison (112), Cameron Barnes
(119), Dakota Kelley (125), Camden McCaskey (125), Zeb Hilyard (130),
Grant Benschooter (135), Derrick Marry (140), Devon Marry (145), Matt Smith
(285)
Key losses: Kevin Vanderpool (119), Keith Walworth (152), Gabe Elliot (189),
Joe Beabiuen (285)
Impact Newcomers: Cameron Barnes (Transfer-119)
Outlook: After winning the first state championship in school history last year,
coach Scott Marry and the Tigers are primed for a repeat performance this
year as they bring back one of the strongest group of returners. Leading the
way for Marry are his two state champion sons, senior Derrick Marry and
sophomore Devon Marry. Devon won last year as a freshman at 135 while
Derrick missed most of last year due to injury. The brothers will be a force in
the middle of the lineup around 140/145, however, they are far from the only
big guns in this lineup. Returning state runner-up and 2008 state champ
Zeb Hilyard, along with state placers Dakota Kelley, Camden McCaskey, and
state qualifier Tyler Mattison, make up the most intimaditing group of light weights in Division 4. Matt Smith is a talented big man who gives them some punch at the bottom of the lineup, however, replacing their senior upperweights from last year will be a key for coach Marry this year as Smith is their only ranked wrestler above 145lbs. They will obviously have to get past Hesperia again, however, Hudson appears to be on pace for their school's 2nd state title this year.
2. HESPERIA
Returning state qualifiers: 6
Individuals ranked preseason: 6 - Collin Zeerip (130), Mike Dunbar (130), Jordan
Bosma (135), Jordan Bates (140), Malcolm Martin (152), Cody Wolever (285)
Key Losses: Brandon Zeerip (152), Dan Yates (160)
Impact Newcomers: Mike Dunbar (Transfer-130)
Outlook: After falling 8 points shy of repeating last year, coach Doug Baird and
Hesperia will look to climb back to the top of the Division 4 ladder, this time
without senior state champ duo of Brandon Zeerip and Dan Yates. Hesperia
brings back some of the most talented guys in all of Division 4. Collin Zeerip (#1
at 130), Jordan Bosma (#1 at 135), Jordan Bates (#2 at 140), and Malcolm Martin
(#1 at 152) are all viable state title contenders. In addition, state qualifier Mike
Dunbar transfered from Fremont, which should provide some additional
firepower, and their lightest and biggest guys from last year both come back in
Shawn Rosencrants (112) and Cody Wolever (285). Hudson may be the
favorites this year, however, Hesperia still has as much talent as almost anyone
in the state and they cannot be forgotten about.
3. ADDISON
Returning State Qualifiers: 7
Individuals ranked Preseason: 6 - Andrew Scoby (112), Coty Kimble (125), Zak Stoner (135), Paul Gietek (135), Kyle Fletcher (140), Evan Schroeder (215)
Key losses: Brandon Douglass (145), Nick Phillips (160), Kevin Miller (285)
Outlook: Addison fell in the Regional finals to Hudson last year, however, they remain as one of the premiere teams in Division 4. They are only two years removed from their 3-year spree of D4 state titles and this program knows how to win duals in February. They return a strong group, with 7 state qualifiers coming back and 6 wrestlers currently ranked. Evan Schroeder is their best bet for a state title as he has developed into one of the best big men in Division, however, this Addison team may lack the big guns to run with Hudson. The good news for Addison this year is that they should be primed for a run to Battle Creek and possibly the semifinals because for the first time in years, they will not have to meet Hudson in their Regional.
4. IRON MOUNTAIN
Returning state qualifiers: 5
Individuals ranked preseason: 5 - Ryan Gauthier (103), Chase Gendron (125), Dylan Carr (135), Chuck Edwards (140), Tim Tippett (189)
Key Losses: Nick Schiavo (140), Joe Wollum (152), Dalton Gauthier (160), Bruce Romagnoli (171), Steve Opsahl (215), Adam Kent (285)
Outlook: Iron Mountain proved last year that they are more than just a good UP team, but they are legitimate contenders in Division 4. They graduated 6 state qualifiers from last year, which will be tough to replace, however, they still feature 5 ranked wrestlers and they should have no trouble getting to Battle Creek as they have begun to separate themselves from most other northern D4 schools. Ryan Gauthier is a state champion contender if he stays at 103 and he could be the Upper Penisula's first state champion since merging with the rest of the state for postseason competetion. Iron Mountain may have graduated too much firepower to hang with Hesperia and Hudson, however, they have begun to prove themselves to be a mainstay in the D4 title picture for years to come.
Top Challengers:
5. MANCHESTER
Individuals ranked preseason: Ryan Abrigo (112), Austin Deacons (125), Jimmy Hamilton (145), Cody Scroufe (189), Dylan Neff (285)
Outlook: After making the final four last year, Manchester returns three state qualifiers and they feature 5 ranked wrestlers, so expect them to remain as one of the top tier teams in D4. However, they have Clinton in their district and #1 ranked Hudson in their regional, therefore, they will need to step up in a major way if they want to make another trip to Kellogg Arena.
6. ITHACA
Individuals ranked preseason: James Carey (119), Tyler Harless (130), Caleb Walburn (160)
Key Losses: Brenan Lyon (103), Chris Lyon (112)
Outlook: After losing their state champion combo of the Lyon brothers at 103 and 112, Ithaca appears a little depleted this year. However, they still feature three wrestlers ranked in the top 4 of their weight, including top ranked James Carey who is a favorite to win a state title this year, so Ithaca should have enough man power to stay relevant this year in the division 4 race.
7. CLINTON
Individuals ranked preseason: Connor Koester (140), Jesse Sexton (160), Drew Porter (171), Rob Stamatz (189), Stephen Cooley (215)
Key Losses: Andrew Tice (189), Aaron Tice (215)
Outlook: Clinton has the ability to surprise some people this year with their strong upperweights. Returning state finalist Jesse Sexton is a legit #1 right now at 160lbs and they feature ranked wrestlers from 160 through 215, which makes them dangerous because Hudson and Hesperia's only weakness appears to be their upperweights. They have the toughest road to Battle Creek in all of D4 though, with Manchester in Districts and Hudson in Regionals.
Don't Forget About:
NEW LOTHROP
With five ranked wrestlers and a couple guys who could contend for a state title, New Lothrop should still be worth mentioning this year in Division 4. They are going to be without the elder Krupp brothers this year, and they will be difficult to replace, especially 3x state champ Allen Krupp, however, NL always has some big guns that make them capable of posting some big points on anyone in D4.
DANSVILLE
Dansville lost 5 of their 8 state qualifiers from their standout squad of a year ago that made it to Battle Creek, however, they still have a good group of kids coming back with 5 ranked wrestlers and they should be one of the best D4 teams in the mid-Michigan area.
PINE RIVER
Pine River has been one of the best northern teams in the state the past few years, but with only two wrestlers ranked in the preseason they appear to be down somewhat from years past this year. Luke Jones (160) and Gavin Knight (119) are returning state placers who make them worth keeping an eye on.
Copyright 2007-09 Michigan Grappler LLC
May not be reproduced without expressed written consent
Contact via email: admin@michigangrappler.com
Marry
Zeerip
