By all standards it was quite a day at the Palace for the Lowell wrestling team.The Red Arrows sent 10 wrestlers to the Divison 2 Individual state tournament and  seven returned on Saturday night as state medalists.

Lowell garnered three firsts, one second, a fourth, a seventh and an eighth-place finish. The only Divison 2 school who could boast of better numbers was top ranked St. Johns. The Redwings placed nine wrestlers.

Winning state titles for the Red Arrows were Gabe Morse (140), Andrew Morse (145) and Gabe Dean (189).

Gabe Morse defeated Taylor Grenawalt, Haslett, Dec. 9-3. Andrew Morse dominated in his 12-0 win over Mason’s Nick Starzec. Dean needed overtime before upending Jackson Lewis, Madison Heights Lamphere, 5-3.

Senior Dan Fleet battled six minutes before falling to St. Johns’ Jordan Wohlfort, 14-6, finishing second. Garret Stehley, 189, placed fourth. He was pinned  (5:34) in overtime by Linden’s Kyle Fisher. Bailey Jack, 103, came home in seventh after a 6-4 overtime decision against Owosso’s Cody Chase. Wade Schlosser, 171, placed eighth after losing his final match of the day to Farmington Hills Harrison’s Sultan Hubbard, via a fall (1:54).

Category: Lowell, Wrestling | Comments Off on Seven Lowell wrestlers medal at state

Lowell wrestlers enter the final day of the Division 2 Individual wrestling state championship with seven of its 10 wrestlers still alive.

Four Red Arrows will wrestle for state titles. They are Gabe Morse (140), Andrew Morse (145), Dan Fleet (152) and Gabe Dean (189).

Three other Red Arrows are still wrestling with an opportunity for third. They are Wade Schlosser (171), Garret Stehley (189) and Baily Jack (103).

Kanon Dean (135), Jake Stehley (160), and Luke Stephens (285) have all been eliminated from competition.

Individual Results:

140 Gabe Morse Record: 32- 1

Won – Kyle Reinhart, Auburn Hills Avondale, M-Dec 13-3

Won – Jesse Armstrong, Gaylord, Dec 3-1

Won – Shawn Brewer, New Boston Huron, Dec 6-1

145 Andrew Morse Record: 43- 2

Won – Josh Juarez, Greenville, Fall 0:47

Won – Jamie Jakes, Dearborn Divine Child, M-Dec 12-3

Won – Travis Curley, St. Johns, Dec 7-2

152 Dan Fleet Record: 26- 4

Won – Bryan White, Carleton-Airport, Dec 4-1

Won – Mike Carnarvon, Riverview, Dec 3-1

Won – Tim Sims, Milan, Dec 5-2

189 Gabe Dean Record: 39- 0

Won – Tyler Tiefenbach, Stevensville Lakeshore, Fall 2:53

Won – Paul Dunneback, Sparta, Dec 7-3

Won – Jacob Hampton, Haslett, Dec 7-6

171 Wade Schlosser Record: 25-11

Won, Robert James, Flint Kearsley, Dec 2-1

Lost, Chevez Farris, Ferndale, Dec 4-3

Won, Nate Knauf, DeWitt, Dec 1-0

189 Garett Stehley Record: 32- 9

Won – Gavin Burstall, Tecumseh, Dec 7-5

Lost – Kyle Fisher, Linden, Dec 6-4

Won, Andrew Hissom, Spring Lake, M-Dec 12-2

103 Bailey Jack Record: 33-19

Lost – Brandon Washington, Gibraltar Carlson, Dec 4-3

Won – Joe Rodriguez, Mattawan, Dec 2-0

Won – Andrew Betke, Allegan, Dec 3-2

135 Kanon Dean Record: 30-22

Lost – Joe Johnson,  South Lyon, M-Dec 13-2

Won – Jake Collins, Melvindale, Fall 3:55

Lost – Cody Stenberg, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, Fall 0:41

160 Jake Stehley Record: 30-13

Won – Cas Guzdziol, Holly, Dec 9-5

Lost – Alex Fluegel, Fowlerville, Dec 8-3

Lost – Nico Mitchell-Garcia, Grand Rapids Creston, Dec 8-4

285 Luke Stephens Record: 17- 8

Lost – Justin Zimmer, Greenville, Fall 1:17

Lost – DeShawn Lee, Marysville, Fall 1:31

Category: Lowell, Wrestling | Comments Off on Four Red Arrows vie for state titles

Lowell’s match-up with the number one wrestling team in Division 2, and arguably in all of Michigan, was a huge challenge that required some juggling of the lineup, which the Red Arrows did. And it also required winning the close matches, there were five of them, which Lowell did not.

“We went after them and did what we had to do and they came out on top. They wrestled better today,” said Lowell wrestling coach Dave Dean. “Credit to them, they handled the adjustments.”

The result was 48-10 loss to St. Johns. The Redwings went on to defeat Greenville in the championship match, 52-18 to win their second consecutive Division 2 state title.

“Our kids wrestled well and so tough against Lowell. We got everything we needed from them,” said St. Johns coach Zane Ballard. “We knew Lowell would be tough. They line up good against us. We were able to win those swing matches. The ones you have to win to have chance.

The two most notable and significant lineup changes was Dean’s juggling of Andrew Morse and Dan Fleet. Morse was moved from 145 to 152 and Fleet wrestled at 145. Fleet lost in overtime 4-2 to Travis Curly and Morse was on the short end of a 7-6 decision to Jordan Wohlfert.

“Danny and Andrew wrestled their tails off  but just lost both matches.  We knew they would be tough matches. Those kids they were wrestling are very good,” Dean explained.

Wins at 145 and 152 started a stretch that saw St. Johns win six of seven matches against the strength of Lowell’s order. Many of the matches were just as tight. Wade Schlosser (171) lost a 4-2 decision to Mike Schafer.  Garett Stehley (215) fell in a 6-5 decision to Conrado Dominguez. That was followed by Luke Stephens 4-2 defeat at the hands of Taylor Pemberton.

“It was a huge challenge. We needed to win the close ones and just didn’t get that done today,” Dean said.

St. Johns dominated the lower weights (103-130), posting two pins, two technical falls and a decision.

Lowell’s wins were recorded by Gabe Morse (140). He major decisoned Payne Hayden 11-3. Gabe Dean (189) made quick work out of Adam Young in recording a pin in seven seconds of the first period.

” They are a very talented team. They have a lot of talented guys. They deserved to win,” Gabe Dean said.

Lowell finishes the team portion of its season at 25-7. The Red Arrows will have 10 wrestlers compete at the state individual tournament this weekend at the Palace.

“It was a heck of a season. The kids accomplished a lot and improved a lot. They gave us everything they had,” Dave Dean concluded.

#1 St. Johns (31-0) 48, #4 Lowell (25-7) 10

MATCH RESULTS

130 6 0 Josh Pennell (SJ) Fall Jake Stephens (L), 1:34

135 9 0 Rory Bender (SJ) Dec Kanon Dean (L), 7-2

140 9 4 Gabe Morse (L) Maj Dec Payne Hayden (SJ), 11-3

145 12 4 Travis Curley (SJ) Dec Dan Fleet (L), 4-2 (TB)

152 15 4 Jordan Wohlfert (SJ) Dec Andrew Morse (L), 7-6

160 20 4 Taylor Massa (SJ) Tech Fall Jake Stehley (L), 18-3 4:14

171 23 4 Mike Schafer (SJ) Dec Wade Schlosser (L), 4-2

189 23 10 Gabe Dean (L) Fall Adam Young (SJ), :07

215 26 10 Conrado Dominguez (SJ) Dec Garett Stehley (L), 6-5

285 29 10 Taylor Pemberton (SJ) Dec Luke Stephens (L), 4-2

103 34 10 Zac Hall (SJ) Tech Fall Bailey Jack (L), 24-9 5:50

112 40 10 Jacob Schmitt (SJ) Fall Scott VanOosten (L), :57

119 45 10 Brant Schafer (SJ) Tech Fall Kalvin Meyer (L), 16-1 3:59

125 48 10 Cameron Bender (SJ) Dec Zack Jeffries (L), 10-3

Category: Lowell, Wrestling | Comments Off on Lowell’s title run ends in semi final

The required amount of preparation and good energy advanced Lowell to the Division 2 wrestling semi final on Saturday.

The Red Arrows won nine of 14 matches against Stevensville-Lakeshore en route to a 45-21 quarterfinal win over the Lancers. The two teams met early in the year with Lowell winning 52-15.

The reward for winning Friday night will be a Saturday afternoon match-up with the number one team in Division 2, St. John’s. The Redwings blasted past Dearborn Heights Crestwood 75-5 to advance into the semi finals.

“The match-up is a tall order,” said Lowell wrestling coach Dave Dean. “It’s one we would have liked to have done in the finals.”

Lowell lost its opening match at 135 before reeling off seven wins in eight matches to take a 33-9 lead.

The win marked the second time in three years Lowell has reached the semi finals. Two years ago it won a state championship, and last year it lost in the Division I regional final to Rockford.

Lakeshore’s frustrating season ended at 23-12.

“After defeating Penn High School (in Indiana’s state semi final) we have not been full strength,” said Lancer wrestling coach Bruce Bittenbender. “We’ve had water in the gas tank all year.”

Lowell was one of two O-K White schools to reach the semi final. Greenville also advanced. The Yellowjackets defeated Holly, 37-23.

“Holly was good down low. We were able start off well before  getting to where they were strong,” said Greenville coach Paul Johnson. “We’re glad  to be moving on and to have the opportunity to match-up against a strong Tecumseh team (31-24 winner over Allegan).”

MATCH RESULTS:

135 0 3 Travis Dragomer (SL) Dec Kanon Dean (L), 5-2

140 5 3 Gabe Morse (L) Tech Fall Dillon Burnside (SL), 25-10 4:04

145 10 3 Dan Fleet (L) Tech Fall Connor Brandt (SL), 25-10 4:41

152 16 3 Andrew Morse (L) Fall J.P. McDougall (SL), :40

160 21 3 Jake Stehley (L) Tech Fall Matt Reynolds (SL), 19-2 3:41

171 21 9 Nick Aadms (SL) Fall Wade Schlosser (L), 1:54

189 24 9 Garett Stehley (L) Dec Tyler Tiefenbach (SL), 6-1

215 30 9 Gabe Dean (L) Fall Sebastian Avello (SL), 1:32

285 33 9 Luke Stephens (L) Dec Spencer Lemley (SL), 5-3 (TB)

103 33 12 Gunner Harrison (SL) Dec Darek Krajewski (L), 4-2

112 33 15 Patrick Blommel (SL) Dec Bailey Jack (L), 5-3

119 39 15 Kalvin Meyer (L) Inj Def Tyler Daniel (SL), 3:58

125 45 15 Zack Jeffries (L) Fall Michael Fowler (SL), 1:54

130 45 21 Sam Hanau (SL) Fall Zach Graves (L), :11

Category: Lowell, Wrestling | Comments Off on Lowell powers past Lakeshore in quarterfinal

Tom Borrelli, Roy Hall, Dave Dean, Gary Rivers,  all provided Bill Stouffer inspiration to coach someday.

When it comes to wrestling, what Stouffer sets his mind to, Stouffer usually  accomplishes.

Following an All-America senior year at Central Michigan University, Stouffer found a teaching job (P.E., Health, History) and an assistant wrestling coaching position at Davison High School under Roy Hall.

Four years later, following the 2009-10 season, budget restraints forced Stouffer out of Davison. When that door closed, however, a door he was very familiar with opened, the three-time Lowell state champion was asked to assist Dave Dean and his Red Arrow wrestling staff.

“Being back in Lowell has been great. I’ve seen a lot of familiar faces that I hadn’t seen in a while,” Stouffer said. “I like coaching. It’s time consuming, if you want to do it right.”

The Lowell grad returned to where he created many wrestling memories, last year as a Davison assistant coach.

The sport has changed since Stouffer’s high school days.

“High school wrestlers are a lot better technically today than when I wrestled,” Stouffer said. “My job as coach is to drill them in practice so they can execute a connection of moves when they are out there wrestling live on the mat.”

Category: Lowell, Wrestling | Comments Off on Stouffer enjoying return to Lowell wrestling