- Michigan
D4 WRESTLING: Hudson wins eighth title in 11 years, thumps top-seeded Clinton
KALAMAZOO — Time and time again Hudson proves that it belongs in the class of the state’s elite programs.
Despite obstacles and not being given the top seed entering the Division 4 state tournament, the third-seed Tigers reached the state finals for the 11th straight year. Once there, they captured their eight state title overall and third straight with a 45-19 victory over top-seeded and first-time finalist Clinton in the Division 4 state finals at Wings Arena.
It marked an all-Lenawee County state finals, a rarity at this stage of having two opponents from the same county square off in the final meet.
“This team has overcome many obstacles this year, and we won it in a year where some didn’t think we could,” said veteran Hudson coach Scott Marry, who is one of the winningest coaches in state history with a 792-187 career record. “We lost our 189 -pounder before the season and we had some other kids go down with injuries. Then my wife (Paula) came down with breast cancer and we had to deal with that. She’s OK right now. But the kids lifted me up. That’s what makes this so special. It’s the community. Everyone is part of it. I have 18 coaches in this program helping out, from fourth grade right up to the varsity. It takes a lot for a program to be so successful and we have a lot of people that have cont rebutted to our success.”
Clinton led 14-9 through six weight classes, winning three matches by decision and another by technical fall. Hudson (20-7) responded with four straight pins at 215, 285, 103 and 112 and another decision at 119 to go on a 27-0 run and build a commanding 36-14 advantage and ice the state title.
Bronson Marry (pin at 112) and Cadan Natale (decision at 119) ended the run and capped the comeback. Overall, Hudson won nine of the 14 bouts in the finals.
“We won a couple of matches where we weren’t sure we would and we had those string of pins in the middle there that made a huge difference,” Marry said.
Clinton finished its dream season with a 30-5 record, reaching the Final Four for just the second time and the final match for the first time. The Redskins have only been to the state tournament weekend four times, also losing in the quarterfinals in 2014 and 2017 and the semifinals in 2018.
Coming up one win short of its goal, Clinton co-coach Jeff Rolland said there wasn’t any shame losing to a program of Hudson’s level.
“I think with the pins they just grabbed the momentum from us and we never (recovered),” said Rolland. “I am proud of this team and everything we accomplished this season. We got to the semifinals last year and the finals this year. We just lost to one of the very best programs in the state.”
STATE FINALS BOX SCORE
HUDSON 45, CLINTON 19
140: Kent McCombs (Clinton) d. Dylan Smith 4-1; 145: Riley Jeffrey (Clinton) d. Kameron Betzer 8-7; 152: Jorge Sereno (Hudson) d. Jeffrey Konz 7-0; 160: Brayden Randolph (Clinton) d. John Betz 8-3; 171: Carson Price (Hudson) p. Cecil Rafferty 3:23; 189: Logan Badge (Clinton) tech. fall Cameron Underwood 19-4; 215: Kyle Moll (Hudson) p. Ryan Phillips 0:53; 285: Isiah Krizek (Hudson) p. Will Felts 3:30; 103: Payton Rogers (Hudson) p. Deegan Herman 0:57; 112: Bronson Marry (Hudson) p. Brandon Beach 2:49; 119: Caden Natale (Hudson) d. AJ Baxter 5-4; 125: Noah Comar (Clinton) tech. fall CJ Berro 27-12; 130: Jordan Hamdan (Hudson) p.George Ames 0:50; 135: Tucker Sholl (Hudson) d. Spencer Konz 9-8.
RECORDS — Hudson 20-7; Clinton 30-5
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STATE SEMIFINAL BOX SCORES
HUDSON 36, CARSON CITY-CRYSTAL 31
152: Jorge Sereno (Hudson) d. Caleb Collins 5-0; 160: Braxton Seida (Carson City-Crystal) tech. fall John Betz 25-9; 171: Carson Price (Hudson) d. Nash Akin 5-3; 189: Daniel Smith (Carson City-Crystal) maj. dec. Cameron Underwood 12-4; 215: Brian Yeakey (Carson City-Crystal) p. Kyle Moll 2:47; 285: Isiah Krizek (Hudson) p. Ryan Holland 1:36; 103: Bronson Marry (Hudson) p. Jared Shepler 1:09; 112: Nolan Datema (Carson City-Crystal) d. Dallas Pibbles 9-3; 119: Caden Natale (Hudson) p. Cole Stone 1:11; 125: Jaron Johnson (Carson City-Crystal) maj. dec. CJ Berro 11-3; 130: Jamison Ward (Carson City-Crystal) p. Jackson Miller 1:12; 135: Jordan Hamdan (Hudson) p. Kyle Mutschler 0:13; 140: Daryn Shepler (Carson City-Crystal) d. Tucker Sholl 4-3; 145: Dylan Smith (Hudson) p. Aiden Adkins 1:19.
RECORDS — Hudson 19-7; Carson City-Crystal 40-1
CLINTON 32, NEW LOTHROP 24
152: Austin Wolford (New Lothrop) d. Jeffrey Konz 8-6; 160: Brayden Randolph (Clinton) maj. dec. Julius Garza 23-9; 171: Cecil Rafferty (Clinton) p. Zackery Riley 3:20; 189: Logan Badge (Clinton) d. Camden Orr 6-4 (OT); 215: Allan Jamick (New Lothrop) p. Ryan Phillips 1:06; 285: Isiah Pasik d. Will Felts 2-0; 103: Deegan Herman (Clinton) by void; 112: Andrew Krupp (New Lothrop) p. Brandon Beach 4:34; 119: AJ Baxter (Clinton) d. Alex Wolford 8-2; 125: Jackson Knieper (New Lothrop) d. Christian Minard 8-7; 130: Noah Comar (Clinton) maj. dec. Logan Wolford 14-5; 135: Spencer Konz (Clinton) d. Logan Zell 4-3; 140: Kent McCombs (Clinton) d. Micah Poletti 11-6; 145: Will Taylor (New Lothrop) d. Riley Jeffrey 5-2.
RECORDS — Clinton 30-4; New Lothrop 24-8.
