Week one is in the books!  What a fantastic opening week of wrestling.  We have already had exciting duals, and plenty of great individual bouts to start the season.  Let’s check out how the Prep Top 12 did this week and if there was any shift in the rankings.

 

Division 1 Team Rankings

 

Previous Ranking in parentheses 

 

1.  DCC (1) - Beat #2 Davison 40-25, beat Rochester Adams 57-18, beat Roseville 76-6, beat Fraser 73-4, beat Utica Eisenhower 81-0, beat Utica Stevenson 69-11.

 

Detroit Catholic Central proved they deserve that #1 spot with the always spectacular Davison dual to start the year.  I am sure they will meet again.  On Saturday they went to the Fraser Duals and rolled.  Including beating a very good Rochester Adams team in the process.  

 

2.  Davison (2) - Lost to #1 DCC 40-25.  Finished 4th at the Grappler Gold Invitational.  

 

Davison finished behind D3 Dundee, D2 Lowell, and D4 Hudson, but did finish ahead of Brighton and Hartland.

 

3. Brighton (4) - Beat Allen Park 63-7, beat New Boston Huron 60-3.  Finished 5th at the Grappler Gold Invitational.

 

The Bulldogs pounded two solid programs to start the season and then had a good showing at the GGI.  They finished seven points behind #2 Davison and nine points ahead of #4 Hartland.  Enough to switch the two in the rankings.

 

4. Hartland (3) - Defeated Grand Rapids Catholic Central 76-3, beat Sparta 55-20.  Finished 6th at the Grappler Gold Invitational.  

 

Hartland opened their season with two easy wins.  They also had a good showing at the  GGI, trailing #2 Davison and #3 Hartland.

 

5.  Clarkston (6) - Beat #6 Bedford 37-30, beat Lapeer 48-15.  Placed first at the Herm Wilkinson classic.

 

The Wolves and Bedford are switching places thanks to a fantastically entertaining 37-30 win to start the year.  This match could have an impact at team seeding when that time comes.  Clarkston also rolled the field at the competitive Herm Wilkinson, beating second place Grand Ledge by 60 points.  

 

6.  Temperance Bedford (5) - Lost to #5 Clarkston 37-30.  Beat #7 Macomb Dakota 52-22.  Beat Rochester Adams 50-21.  Beat Bay City John Glenn 43-20.  Beat Gaylord 60-11.  Beat Oxford 45-25.

 

The Mules definitely challenged themselves with a tough early schedule.  They are solid   up and down the lineup.  While they lost a barnburner to Clarkston, they had impressive victories over five very solid programs.  

 

7.  Macomb Dakota (7) - Beat Rochester 74-3.  Lost to #6 Temperance Bedford 52-22.  

 

Dakota has some hammers in the lineup, but kind of took it on the chin vs. Bedford.

 

8.  Oxford (8) Lost to #6 Temperance Bedford 45-25, beat Gaylord 49-26, beat Bay City John Glenn 40-32.  

 

Oxford had good wins over Gaylord and John Glenn, but couldn’t keep up with the Mules of Bedford.  Good early season tests, however, that will pay dividends down the road.

 

9.  Rockford (9) - Beat Byron Center 62-11, beat Whitehall 74-6, beat Cedar Springs 39-30.  

 

Even though it wasn’t Whitehall’s A team, Rockford started the season in a successful way.  All three teams they wrestled this week are good programs.

 

10.  Hudsonville (10) - The Eagles had a very good showing at Mona Shores with many wrestlers going unbeaten.  

 

11.  Hastings (12) - Beat Belding 54-19, beat Caledonia 66-16, beat Greenville 41-36, beat Petoskey 70-9, beat Hamilton 47-33. 

 

Hastings had a good start to the season.  Their closest dual was a good win over Greenville in a close match.  The other matches they won fairly easily as they move up a spot in the rankings.

 

12.  Westland John Glenn (NR) - Beat South Lyon 56-21, beat Rochester 71-9.  

 

John Glenn enters the rankings at #11 as Romeo drops out.  Glenn didn’t have much competition this week, but the schedule amps up later.

 

Division 2 Team Rankings

 

1.  (1) Lowell - Second place at the Grappler Gold Invitational

The Red Arrows finished only eight points behind first place Dundee.  While they were 60 points better than 3rd place Hudson.  The Arrows are definitely the cream of the crop in D2 again.

 

2.  Three Rivers (2) - 7th place at the Grappler Gold Invitational.  

 

The Wildcats had a good showing at the GGI.  Finishing behind six state powers.

 

3.  Mason (10) - Beat Lansing Waverly 50-25, beat St. John’s 58-21.  Finished first at J.A.W.S.

 

The Bulldogs started the season off well.  They had two solid dual meet wins and then won JAWS, finishing 7 points ahead of St. Joseph for the title.

 

4.  Bay City John Glenn (7) - Lost to D1 #6 Bedford 43-20, beat Gaylord 47-23, beat Grosse Pointe South 60-15, lost to D1 #8 Oxford 40-32, beat Warren Woods Tower 50-18.

 

Fantastic dual meet tourney early in the year for John Glenn.  They made a good showing, only losing to a good Oxford team by eight and wrestling well all day. 

 

5.  Greenville (3) - Beat Byron Center 55-12, beat Belding 63-18, lost to #11 D1 Hastings 41-36, beat Petoskey 65-9, beat Hamilton 37-31.  

 

6.  St Joseph (5) - Finished 2nd at J.A.W.S.

 

The Bears finished seven points behind Mason at JAWS.  The dual meet was snowed out on Wednesday. 

 

7.  Freeland (6) - First place at the George Hamblin Invitational.

 

The Falcons won over Hartland’s B team and a host of other schools.  Buddy Leonard, a hammer Alma transfer, will help Freeland be a tough out again.

 

8.  Gaylord (4) - Lost to D1 #6 Bedford 60-11, lost to Bay City John Glenn 47-23, lost to D1 #8 Oxford 49-26, beat Warren Woods Tower 52-25.

 

Gaylord took it on the chin in week one.  However, that type of schedule only makes you better.  Gaylord will improve as the year goes on.

 

 

9.  BH Brother Rice (8) Beat Grand Blanc 53-30, Lost to Romeo 59-15.  First place at the Toys for Tots Tournament.

 

Brother Rice had a solid week.  The Toys for Tots did not have any perennial powers at it, but it is always good to finish first.  They did get hammered by Romeo, which is a good program.

 

10.  Monroe Jefferson (9) - Beat Woodhaven 42-38. Placed third at the Blissfield tournament.

 

The Bears finished behind Saline and a split Manchester squad.  Finishing also just in front of Blissfield.  They lost a lot of firepower off their unbeaten squad a season ago, but Woodhaven is a good win.

 

11.  St. Clair (NR) - Lost to Algonac 42-25, beat Marysville 61-18, beat Southgate Anderson 52-28, beat Airport 38-33.

 

12.  Cedar Springs (12) - Beat Byron Center 83-0, beat Kent City 58-18, beat Fremont 78-6, lost to D1 #9 Rockford 39-30.

 

Impressive showing for Cedar Springs.  They blew out three of their opponents and lost a close dual to D1 power, Rockford.  

 

 

Division 3 Team Rankings

 

1.  Dundee (1) - First place at the Grappler Gold Invitational.

 

Incredibly impressive showing for the Vikings, winning the GGI over some of the state’s best teams.  Dundee is loaded this year and it is Prep’s prediction that everyone will be wrestling for second place in D3 this season.  

 

2.  Whitehall (2) - Won the Grandville challenge

 

Whitehall finished 18 points above the second place hosts from Grandville.  The Vikings had five champions on the day.

 

3.  Yale (3) - Beat Lake Orion 54-21, beat Rochester 66-12, beat Fenton 46-21, beat Holly 71-9, beat Lakeville 41-27, beat Sand Creek 83-0. 

 

Very impressive start to the season from Yale.  They will have a battle with Algonac again for who represents the area at the state meet.

 

4.  Algonac (4) - Beat Port Huron 60-11, beat D2 #11 St. Clair 42-25, beat Corunna 56-18, beat Gladstone 70-11, beat Leslie 73-3, beat Portland 41-27.

Really impressive day for Algonac.  They have a really solid team up and down the lineup.  D3 seems like it is on three tiers.  Dundee, the next three, then everyone else.

 

5.  Adrian Madison (7) - Had a split squad go to Blissfield and the Grappler Gold.  Finished 6th at Blissfield and 14th at Grappler Gold with four wrestlers.  

 

6.  Allegan (NR) - Finished third at the Southwest Michigan Classic.

 

Good day for the Tigers, finishing only 11 points behind champion Plainwell. 

 

7.  Hart (9) - Beat Wayland 36-35, beat Zeeland East 45-33, beat Watervliet 74-6, beat Hopkins 63-16.

 

Good start for the year for Hart.  Pulling out a close one over Wayland and cruising by everyone else.

 

8.  Lakewood (5) - Beat Battle Creek Central 54-25, beat Ionia 73-6, beat Berrien Springs 77-0, beat Buchanan 75-6, beat Coloma 46-29, beat Vicksburg 60-19.

 

No competition for Lakewood this week, but they did what you are supposed to do with inferior teams.  

 

9.  Constantine (8) - Finished 5th at the Southwest Michigan Classic.  

 

The Falcons finished 50 points behind Allegan. 

 

10.  Napoleon (10) - Lost to Clinton 58-22, lost to Allen Park 39-33, lost to Melvindale 52-26, beat Warren Michigan Collegiate 51-24, beat Woodhaven 47-35.

 

The Pirates went out of their way to open the season with good competition.  They were competitive for the most part.  

 

11.  Kingsford (6) - Beat Gwinn 59-6, beat Powers North Central 55-12.  First place at the St. Ignace Lions Club Invitational.

 

The Flivvers rolled to an unbeaten week, winning the Lions Club invite by five points over Grayling. 

 

12.  Frankenmuth (NR) - Beat Bay City Western (B) 48-36, beat Port Huron Northern 32-25, beat Flint Carmen-Ainsworth 52-29, lost to North Branch 54-21.  

 

Frankenmuth moves into the rankings with a solid week.  We will see if they can hold it this coming week.

 

Division 4 Team Rankings

 

1.  Hudson (1) - Third at the Grappler Gold Invitational

 

Extremely impressive showing for the Tigers at the GGI.  Placing ahead of many powerhouse teams including Davison, Brighton, and Hartland. 

 

2.  St. Louis (2) - Beat Chippewa Hills 45-23, beat Fowlerville 35-34.  Placed 6th at the Herm Wilkinson Classic. 

 

Great week for St. Louis with two really good dual wins and then having a strong showing against a really tough Herm Wilkinson field.

 

3.  Clinton (6) - Beat Napoleon 58-22, beat Novi 60-15.

 

Clinton had a good week, beating a couple teams easily.  The Red Wolves will have something to say about the D4 race.

 

4.  Manchester (3) - Split squad for the Dutchman taking second at Blissfield, while their best five wrestlers were at JAWS. 

 

Manchester has a loaded senior class and will make some noise this season.

 

5.  Decatur (NR) - Beat Coldwater 49-28, beat Niles 72-12.  First place at the Galesburg-Augusta Tournament. 

 

The Raiders are looking strong.  Beat two D2 schools and then ran away with the GA tournament.  They finished 30 points higher than second place Charlotte. 

 

6.  LakeVille (9) - Beat Fenton 45-32, beat Lake Orion 49-25, beat Romeo 42-40, beat Sand Creek 78-6, Lost to D3 #3 Yale 41-27.  

 

Great showing for Lakeville.  They looked really good and beat some quality teams.  Then they have D3 #3 Yale all they wanted.

 

7.  Union City (8) - Beat Pennfield 66-18, beat White Pigeon 55-13.  First place at the Grover Invitational.

 

8.  Martin-Climax-Scotts (5) - 9th at the Southwest Michigan Classic

 

A solid showing for Martin at the tough Southwest Michigan Classic.  They were the highest scoring D4 club in attendance.

 

9.  Bronson (7) - Beat Harper Creek 39-34, beat Sand Creek 59-8.  Placed 4th at J.A.W.S.

 

Good week for the Vikings.  Harper Creek is always solid.  Also, a strong showing at JAWS.

 

Good week for the Chargers with comfortable wins every time out.  They are solid up and down the lineup.

 

10.  Lakeview (10) - Beat Fulton 72-0, beat Ithaca 63-6, beat GR Kenowa Hills 71-9, beat East Kentwood 40-30, beat Montague 57-19, beat Reed City 60-24, beat Traverse City West 67-12.  

 

Huge wins for Lakeview this week.  They look every bit the dominant team.

 

11.  Michigan Lutheran Seminary (11) - Beat Mt. Morris 57-23, beat Pinconning 54-26, beat Clare 53-27, beat Freeland B 63-15, beat Meridian Early College 52-26, beat Millington 44-31, lost to Montrose 52-24.

 

Really good week for Seminary.  They had a lot of comfortable wins with their only hiccup being a loss to a good Montrose squad.

 

12.  Iron Mountain (12) - Yet to wrestle.