D3 Most Improved Wrestlers

This is a category that we believe to be extremely important.  Not every wrestler can be a state champion or even all state.  But every wrestler can improve.  This comes only with hard work, dedication, discipline, listening to coaches, showing up, off season work, diet and nutrition, weight training etc.  Wrestlers who make gigantic improvement do not get there by accident.  They have worked for it!  We are not looking at in-season improvement in this list. The following is Prep's most improved wrestlers from the 2023/2024 season to the 2024/2025 campaign.

106

Our most improved wrestler at 106 goes to state runner up Branlun Simon (Portland).  Branlun was 24-9 as a freshman and didn’t make it out of districts.  He had a massive jump as a sophomore making it all the way to the title match, losing a barnburner 5-3.  

Special mention goes to Danny Vaneekhoutte (Erie-Mason).  Danny had a solid freshman season going 34-6, and was out after his first two matches at the state meet.  This season he went 42-2 as a sophomore and won the state title!  Anyone who has experienced it, going from two and out to state champ is a massive improvement.  Not coincidentally, Danny’s title coincided with coach Neil Kiernan’s arrival to head the Eagle program.  Kiernan, who is assisted by his son Connor, has been a long time club coach that has produced multiple all-state wrestlers.  Congrats Branlun and Danny!  Great accomplishments and seasons this year guys!  

113

The Prep Pick for most improved 113 goes to Landon Lanz (Portland).  This is two MIP’s in a row out of Portland.  A testament to the studs coming out of that Red Raider program.  Landon was  26-13 as a freshman and was two and out at state.  This year he dominated his way to a 46-4 record and a 3rd place finish at Ford Field!  Congrats Landon!  

Special Mention goes to Izayah Scott (Napoleon).  Scott was 16-12 as a freshman and raised his win total almost 30 matches to 43-14.  He lost in the blood round at Ford Field.  Quite an impressive improvement.  

120

The Prep Pick for most improved 120 goes to Cooper Prentice (Allegan).  The Tigers had many kids make impressive jumps this year as they made it to the state semi-finals as a team.  Prentice made an incredible jump, posting a 36-18 record before losing in the blood round of regionals after a 14-25 freshman campaign a season ago.  What a remarkable jump!  Great job Cooper and everyone that went into that massive improvement!  

126

Prep Pick for 126 Most Improved goes to Gabriel Buyze-Prieto (Kalkaska).  Gabriel had 12 wins each of his freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons.  This season, he broke through with a 31-12 season reaching the blood round of regionals.  Great job, Gabriel!  That kind of perseverance \is what wrestling is all about!  

132

The Prep Pick for MIP at 132 goes to Cooper Anderson (Hopkins).  Cooper had a great year, finishing 43-8 and making it to the blood round at Ford Field.  His sophomore season he was 33-21 and lost in regionals.  Great job, Cooper!  Another jump like that and a return trip to Ford Field is likely.  

138

The Prep Pick for 138 Most Improved goes to Luke Wedge (Allegan).  Once again, a credit to the outstanding season Allegan had, as they have multiple wrestlers in this list.  Wedge had a 22-20 Junior season, but took a massive jump as a senior.  This year Luke went 47-15 and lost a tough 4-3 decision in the blood round at Ford Field in the state meet.  What a great year for Mr. Wedge.  Congratulations!  

144

The Prep Pick for MIP at 144 is Griffin Opperman (Portland).  Once again, the Red Raiders are represented on this list!  They did a phenomenal job of development this season.  Opperman was 5–1 last year as a freshman.  This year he burst onto the scene with a 40-11 record and a 5th place finish at the state meet!  Great job, Griffin!  Congrats for being the Michigan Prep 144 Most Improved wrestler.  

150

The 150 MIP Prep Pick is Tristan VanTimmeran (Howard City Tri-County).  Tristan had a 20-16 freshman campaign and then came back in a big way.  He was 44-12 this year as a sophomore and secured an all-state finish by placing 8th at Ford Field.  Great job Tristan!  There is a bright future ahead with two more years to go.  

157

The Prep Pick for MIP at 157 had an extraordinary jump.  Brody Fessenden (Shelby) had a 14-23 freshman season a year ago.  This year he took a massive jump to 41-12 and a trip to Ford Field for the state meet.  Only being a sophomore, if Brody keeps improving like that, big things are in store!  Congrats, Brody!  

165

The Prep Pick for 165 MIP is Haegan Hansen (Hart).  He had a 24-20 record as a freshman and improved as a sophomore to 43-14.  This year he made it to the blood rounds at Ford Field.  What an accomplishment!  Great job, Haegan!  

175

Conner Lambert (Ogemaw Heights) is the 175 Prep Pick for MIP.  Lambert was a solid 29-14 as a sophomore and was two and out at regionals.  As a Junior this past season, Lambert went 50-13, placing 6th in the state!  Great job, Conner!

190

The 190 Prep Pick for MIP goes to Rocco Redmon (Dundee).  Rocco was 25-17 as a sophomore and took a massive jump as a Junior.  This past year Rocco went 31-5 and finished as the state runner-up!  Not only that, he did it while giving up some weight.  Great job, Rocco!  He is part of that loaded Dundee Jr. class so he will be back for more next season.  

215

The 215 MIP goes to Donnie Bonamie (Grayling).  He was a solid 29-13 as a Junior, going two and out at regionals.  As a senior, Bonamie was 45-9 and finished 4th in the state!  Great job, Donnie!  

285

The 285 Prep Pick for MIP goes to Andrew Whitney (Hazel Park).  Whitney went a pedestrian 6-4 as a Junior.  However, as a senior he stormed onto the scene going 33-6 and finishing with all-state honors, getting a 7th place finish at Ford Field!  Fantastic job, Andrew!