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Check it out: West Michigan Conference pins down 14 all-state wrestling spots

State champions Tee Ward of Fremont and Gavin Craner of Whitehall lead the way in 2023-24.

The West Michigan Conference did very well again with all-state wrestlers during the 2023-24 season.

Led by state champions Tee Ward of Fremont and Gavin Craner of Whitehall, 14 boys wrestlers from the conference earned first-team all-state accolades as top-eight finishers in their respective weight classes and divisions.

Meet the all-state wrestlers here:

Tee Ward, Fremont

Fremont senior Tee Ward decisions St.Joseph junior Landon Thomas, 3-1, in the 138-pound title bout of the MHSAA Division 3 individual wrestling finals Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit. (Photo by Evelyn Darke for CatchMark)

Division 2: First place, 138 pounds

1st Place Match: Tee Ward (Fremont HS) 53-1, Sr. over Landon Thomas (St Joseph HS) 48-1, Jr. (Dec 3-1)

3rd Place Match: Brody Orcutt (Goodrich HS) 41-1, Sr. over Trevor Boone (Lowell) 29-15, So. (Fall 1:59)

5th Place Match: Adam Polk (Pontiac HS) 30-2, Sr. over Gavin Drenten (Zeeland East HS) 45-4, Jr. (Dec 16-9)

7th Place Match:Connor Greer (John Glenn HS (Bay City)) 39-5, Jr. over Drew Corcoran (Lake Fenton HS) 57-9, Sr. (Dec 5-4)

Gavin Craner, Whitehall

Whitehall junior Gavin Craner recorded a 10-2 major decision over Clinton’s Bryce Randolph in the 175-pound title bout of the MHSAA Division 3 state finals Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit. (Photo by Evelyn Darke for CatchMark)

Division 3: First place, 175 pounds

1st Place Match: Gavin Craner (Whitehall HS) 54-0, Jr. over Bryce Randolph (Clinton HS) 54-3, So. (MD 10-2)

3rd Place Match: Mason Roth (Napoleon HS) 27-6, Sr. over Anthony Schultz (Central Montcalm HS) 40-11, Jr. (SV-1 10-5)

5th Place Match: Zac Dykes (Armada HS) 30-4, Jr. over Cole McLaughlin (Yale HS) 45-10, Jr. (Dec 7-5)

7th Place Match: Alex Hicks (Hart HS) 49-6, Jr. over Holden Hollingshead (Clare HS) 38-7, Sr. (Dec 5-2)

Darnell Mack, Whitehall

Whitehall’s Darnell Mack competes during Day 2 of the MHSAA individual wrestling state finals Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit. (Scott DeCamp | CatchMark)

Division 3: Third place, 150 pounds

1st Place Match: Trey Parker (Dundee HS) 34-13, Sr. over Donny Beaufait (Dundee HS) 40-9, So. (UTB 3-2)

3rd Place Match: Darnell Mack (Whitehall HS) 53-2, Sr. over David Clemons (Algonac HS) 59-4, Sr. (Dec 8-6)

5th Place Match: Landyn Thornburg (Montrose Hill-McCloy HS) 45-7, Sr. over Eli Roe (Beaverton HS) 39-9, Fr. (Fall 1:47)

7th Place Match: Austin Solis (Gladstone HS) 40-5, Sr. over Hawk Harding (Williamston HS) 35-14, So. (Dec 9-3)

Skyler Stalbaum, Hesperia

Hesperia wrestler Skyler Stalbaum poses for a portrait during Day 2 of the MHSAA individual wrestling state finals Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit. (Scott DeCamp | CatchMark)

Division 4: Fourth place, 144 pounds

1st Place Match: Coy Perry (Hudson Area HS) 49-6, Sr. over Blake Sloan (Manchester HS) 51-7, So. (Dec 1-0)

3rd Place Match: Turlough Bennett (Marlette HS) 55-3, Jr. over Skyler Stalbaum (Hesperia Community HS) 44-12, Jr. (Dec 5-0)

5th Place Match: Trenton Mansfield (Gobles HS) 45-4, Sr. over Trace Reay (Tawas Area HS) 44-11, Jr. (Fall 2:48)

7th Place Match: Aidan Taylor (Union City HS) 45-9, Jr. over Jack Bagwell (Martin HS) 52-13, Jr. (Dec 4-1)

Jimmy Thommen, Montague

Montague wrestler Jimmy Thommen, top, competes during a Division 3 team wrestling district on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, at Whitehall High School. (Scott DeCamp | CatchMark)

Division 3: Fourth place, 113 pounds

1st Place Match: Talan Parsons (Ovid-Elsie HS) 46-1, Sr. over Haydn Nutt (Dundee HS) 37-8, So. (Dec 8-4)

3rd Place Match: Mason Haines (Dundee HS) 30-13, So. over James Thommen (Montague HS) 35-14, Sr. (TF-1.5 4:24 (22-6))

5th Place Match: Malaki Mosher (Madison HS) 44-4, Jr. over Maximus Pigeon (Hopkins HS) 41-7, Sr. (Dec 10-7)

7th Place Match: Emmanuel Hernandez (Kent City HS) 42-15, Sr. over Kolten Weiler (Whitehall HS) 36-18, So. (Dec 4-0)

Stephen Priese, Hesperia

Hesperia wrestler Stephen Priese poses for a portrait during Day 2 of the MHSAA individual wrestling state finals Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit. (Scott DeCamp | CatchMark)

Division 4: Fifth place, 106 pounds

1st Place Match: Logan Gilbert (Martin HS) 52-3, Jr. over Jordan Zambon (Gabriel Richard (Riverview)) 45-7, Fr. (Dec 5-2)

3rd Place Match: Owen Fogel (St Louis HS) 53-4, So. over Blake Wendling (New Lothrop HS) 33-16, Jr. (Dec 9-4)

5th Place Match: Stephen Priese (Hesperia Community HS) 41-12, Sr. over Kolton Burns (Decatur HS) 36-9, Fr. (Fall 0:58)

7th Place Match: Jaxton Kimling (Hudson Area HS) 23-24, Fr. over Jose Boger (Gobles HS) 31-12, So. (Fall 1:33)

Chico Salgado Velazquez, Hart

Hart’s Chico Salgado Velazquez has his arm raised in victory during Day 2 of the MHSAA individual wrestling state finals Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit. (Scott DeCamp | CatchMark)

Division 3: Fifth place, 157 pounds

1st Place Match: Kole Katschor (Dundee HS) 45-6, Jr. over Jeremy Griffith (Yale HS) 46-4, Sr. (Dec 5-1)

3rd Place Match: Xander Kartes (Ogemaw Heights HS) 43-4, Sr. over Brody Jones (Constantine HS) 47-8, Jr. (SV-1 6-4)

5th Place Match: Chico Josue Salgado Velazquez (Hart HS) 46-9, Sr. over Carson Warner (Napoleon HS) 35-15, Fr. (Dec 8-4)

7th Place Match Blake Peasley (Belding) 54-5, Jr. over Jalonn Borders (Madison HS) 48-7, Jr. (Dec 5-0)

Nolan Taranko, Whitehall

Whitehall wrestler Nolan Taranko competes in the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Mich. (Scott DeCamp | CatchMark)

Division 3: Sixth place, 126 pounds

1st Place Match: Kade Kluce (Dundee HS) 30-9, Sr. over Drew Hansen (Gladstone HS) 46-2, Sr. (TB-1 2-1)

3rd Place Match: Braylon Long (Clinton HS) 46-5, Jr. over Wyatt Burns (Dundee HS) 24-11, Fr. (Dec 1-0)

5th Place Match: Quinton Everett (Chesaning HS) 40-3, Jr. over Nolan Taranko (Whitehall HS) 46-10, Sr. (M. For.)

7th Place Match: Gage Rothman (Blissfield HS) 52-7, Fr. over Chris Campbell (Algonac HS) 55-8, Jr. (Fall 2:43)

Hunter Sanford, Mason County Central

Mason County Central wrestler Hunter Sanford competes during Day 2 of the MHSAA individual wrestling state finals Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit. (Scott DeCamp | CatchMark)

Division 3: Sixth place, 120 pounds

1st Place Match: Dale Gant (Catholic Central HS (Grand Rapids)) 44-2, So. over Braden Broderick (Dundee HS) 16-2, So. (Dec 6-3)

3rd Place Match: Landon Sopha (Yale HS) 49-7, Jr. over Tyler Sheeran (St Francis HS (Traverse City)) 42-10, Sr. (Dec 7-5)

5th Place Match: Cameron Bacchus (Durand Area HS) 40-4, Sr. over Hunter Sanford (Mason County Central HS) 42-10, Jr. (Fall 3:50)

7th Place Match: Vincent Stamm (Lakewood HS) 34-11, Fr. over Logan Hartman (Napoleon HS) 37-13, Jr. (Fall 3:21)

Alex Hicks, Hart

Hart junior Alex Hicks poses for a portrait during Day 2 of the MHSAA individual wrestling state finals Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit. (Scott DeCamp | CatchMark)

Division 3: Seventh place, 175 pounds

1st Place Match: Gavin Craner (Whitehall HS) 54-0, Jr. over Bryce Randolph (Clinton HS) 54-3, So. (MD 10-2)

3rd Place Match: Mason Roth (Napoleon HS) 27-6, Sr. over Anthony Schultz (Central Montcalm HS) 40-11, Jr. (SV-1 10-5)

5th Place Match: Zac Dykes (Armada HS) 30-4, Jr. over Cole McLaughlin (Yale HS) 45-10, Jr. (Dec 7-5)

7th Place Match: Alex Hicks (Hart HS) 49-6, Jr. over Holden Hollingshead (Clare HS) 38-7, Sr. (Dec 5-2)

Blake Sayer, Hesperia

Hesperia’s Blake Sayer poses for a portrait during Day 2 of the MHSAA individual wrestling state finals Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit. (Scott DeCamp | CatchMark)

Division 4: Seventh place, 132 pounds

1st Place Match: Haylen Buell (Martin HS) 45-4, So. over Logan Mears (Union City HS) 35-3, Jr. (Fall 2:24)

3rd Place Match: Luke Harrington (Gabriel Richard (Riverview)) 41-8, So. over Alex Boyer (Union City HS) 42-12, Jr. (Dec 5-2)

:5th Place Match: Gauge Stampfler (Delton Kellogg HS) 53-7, Jr. over Cameron Perez (Lakeview HS) 51-7, Jr. (Dec 7-3)

7th Place Match: Blake Sayer (Hesperia Community HS) 42-14, Jr. over Nathan Higgins (Benzie Central HS) 20-13, Jr. (MD 12-2)

JoseLuis Andaverde, Hart

Hart’s JoseLuis Andaverde competes during Day 2 of the MHSAA individual wrestling state finals Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit. (Scott DeCamp | CatchMark)

Division 3: Eighth place, 144 pounds

1st Place Match: Blake Cosby (Dundee HS) 44-1, So. over Jonathan Krebs (Lakewood HS) 39-3, Sr. (Dec 7-0)

3rd Place Match: Jon Huggler (LakeVille Memorial HS) 51-10, Sr. over Tyler Geer (Chippewa Hills HS) 38-5, Sr. (Dec 7-3)

5th Place Match: Israel Villegas (Dowagiac Union HS) 49-7, Sr. over Daniel Rosales (Alma HS) 42-12, Jr. (Dec 8-2)

7th Place Match: Matthew Adams (Swan Valley HS) 29-17, Sr. over JoseLuis Andaverde (Hart HS) 44-16, Sr. (Dec 9-7)

Jason Smith, Whitehall

Whitehall’s Jason Smith is shown competing during a Division 3 individual wrestling district tournament on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, in Whitehall, Mich. (Photo by Evelyn Darke for CatchMark)

Division 3: Eighth place, 285 pounds

1st Place Match: Bennett VandenBerg (Constantine HS) 54-0, Sr. over Wyatt Spalo (Reed City) 46-5, Jr. (Dec 3-0)

3rd Place Match: Logan Malonen (Grayling HS) 51-3, Sr. over Matthew Misch (Richmond HS) 39-6, Sr. (Fall 2:41)

5th Place Match: Cal Chapman (Dowagiac Union HS) 48-10, Jr. over Isaac Casey (Belding) 43-7, Sr. (Fall 2:20)

7th Place Match: Waylon Lingeman (Central Montcalm HS) 44-4, Jr. over Jason Smith (Whitehall HS) 28-13, Sr. (Fall 2:43)

Kolten Weiler, Whitehall

Whitehall’s Kolten Weiler is shown competing during a Division 3 team regional wrestling regional Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Belding, Mich. (Scott DeCamp | CatchMark)

Division 3: Eighth place, 113 pounds

1st Place Match: Talan Parsons (Ovid-Elsie HS) 46-1, Sr. over Haydn Nutt (Dundee HS) 37-8, So. (Dec 8-4)

3rd Place Match: Mason Haines (Dundee HS) 30-13, So. over James Thommen (Montague HS) 35-14, Sr. (TF-1.5 4:24 (22-6))

5th Place Match: Malaki Mosher (Madison HS) 44-4, Jr. over Maximus Pigeon (Hopkins HS) 41-7, Sr. (Dec 10-7)

7th Place Match: Emmanuel Hernandez (Kent City HS) 42-15, Sr. over Kolten Weiler (Whitehall HS) 36-18, So. (Dec 4-0)

Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark and courtesy of Kate Sanford

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