Division changes make for interesting District/Regional matchups
10/2 - The District & Regional pairings were released
last week by the MHSAA, an event that traditionally
causes a good amount of buzz amongst the wrestling
people in this state.
In the past few years the team pairings have been pretty
much the same each year, with a few occasional
changes from year-to-year. However, this year, with an
influx of prominent schools changing divisions, the
District and Regional assisgnments could make for
some very intrigueing matchups.
I am going to break this down division-by-division and
highlight the Districts and Regionals that caught my
attention. For more information on the top teams in each
division this year, check back in the coming weeks for
our in-depth Team Previews, that will breakdown the top
squads in each division.
DIVISION 1
The big additions to Division 1 this year was the State
Champs (Lowell) and Runners-Up (Oxford) from Division
2 last year both moving up this year. Lowell returns
most of their squad from last year, and they are widely
considered as one of the favorites to win it this year.
The team that looks best suited to challenge Lowell is returning champs Rockford. Much as many may have anticipated, Lowell and Rockford were both paired into the same Regional. Therefore, we will have the returning D1 champs and D2 champs going at it February 17th at East Kentwood in their Team Regional. I, along with most others, would much rather see this match happen in Battle Creek, but that's "March Magic" for you.
Lowell has been battling Greenville in the Team Regionals for the past couple years, so this scenario with Rockford should be nothing new for the Red Arrows. Oxford's move to D1 will give them a tough road to Battle Creek as well as they drew Davison in their District. While Davison is not the same Powerhouse that they were a few years ago, they should still have some horses and cannot be overlooked.
Other than Lowell and Oxford's impact on the D1 assignments, the only thing that stood out to me was Hartland being drawn into the same regional as Lake Orion/Clarkston/Rochester Adams. The past couple years Hartland as seemed to get relatively smooth roads to the State Tournament, however, this year they will meet up with the winner of the state's toughest District.
As mentioned, Lake Orion/Clarkston/Rochester Adams will all meet in Districts again, which should be fun.
Some other things that are similiar to last year: Bedford and John Glenn appear to be favorites of the Southeast side of the state (Southgate Anderson Regional), Anchor Bay and Roseville should contend for the Regional our of the Macomb area (Roseville Regional), Holt will be the favorites in the Lansing regional (but look for Howell to make it much more interesting this year), DCC looks like the team to beat of the Metro area with a possible challenge coming from Canton, and as usual there is one Regional in Division 1 that looks much less imposing than the rest (Romeo Region).
DIVISION 2
As Lowell and Oxford moved up to D1, D3 powers Corunna and Allegan move into D2 this year.
The pairings almost look like the MHSAA seeded this division as none of the Preseason Top 7 Ranked teams are in a Regional together. Many anticipated that Allegan, being on the Westside of the state, might meet up with either Lakeshore or Greenville, however, all three of those Juggernauts managed to miss each other, so the Division 2 bracket in Battle Creek should be pretty tough this year.
Corunna's move to Division 2 should create an interesting District matchup as they meet Fowlerville.
DIVISION 3
Not really much changes in Division 3 this year. If anything it thins out with the loss of Allegan and Corunna as the only real player that moves in is Montrose from Division 4.
Top ranked Swan Valley will have a formidable opponent in #5 ranked Bullock Creek in their regional, but after that most of the top ranked teams in this division look to have open roads. #2 Dundee, #3 Richmond, and #4 Chippewa Hills all have pretty undaunting roads to Battle Creek.
Goodrich and Durand meet up again in the districts and after a huge graduation in Goodrich last year, Durand will look to end Goodrich's quest for a three-peat early. Allendale and Whitehall meet in a tough District as well, with the winner meeting Lakewood at Regionals.
DIVISION 4
The biggest news in the D4 pairings is that Hudson and Addison will not be meeting before the state tournament this year. The two powers that have traditionally always knocked each other off en route to Battle Creek are finally separated.
Hudson's road is still tough though with the winner of Manchester and Clinton coming to their Regional.
The deepest Regional is probably the Ithaca regional that has Dansville, Ithaca, New Lothrop, and Springport. Three ranked teams and always tough Springport, should be interesting.
Hesperia and Iron Mountain should make return trips to Kellogg relatively easily and the rest is tough to tell this early.
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Super sophomore Andrew Morse and the returning D2 state champs Lowell are moving up to Division 1 this year, setting up a potential clash with returning D1 champs Rockford.
