Wrestling is one of the most successful sports in Livingston County, so it makes sense that it is also the most popular winter sport.
The average roster size at the county’s five schools is 45 wrestlers, with three schools rooming at least 50 wrestlers.
Brighton, Fullerville and Hartland start the season in the state rankings.
The wrestling season begins on Wednesday with foursome matches before the invitational season begins on Saturday. Howell will host the annual Herm Wilkinson Invitational at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the Highlanders, Fowlerville and Pinckney participating.
Here’s a look at the county’s five wrestling teams:
Brighton
► Highest returnees: Easton Hardesty, 132-138 Jr.; Zach Knapp, 165; Sabrina Naus, 190, Sr.; Sean O’Keefe, 215; Drake Pullins, 113, Sofia; Ethan Smith, 106, Soft; Vaughn Tarbet, 126, Will; Caden Tyndall, 144, Suf.
► Prospects: Six of Brighton’s seven returning boys are ranked in their weight class, and Naos is a three-time girls’ champion. Hardesty, Knapp and Smith finished fifth in the state tournament last season. Pollins was eligible for state. The Bulldogs, ranked No. 8 in Division I, are looking to return to the finals for the first time since reaching their fourth straight in 2020. Brighton will have early tests against No. 5 Clarkston and No. 9 Rockford.
► Coach Sean Scott: “The main thing this year as a team goal is to get to team states and get Brighton back on the team finals map. The other goal is to finish in the top five for everyone. That’s a good goal, especially since you have a young team. Being in the top five is a good measure of your progress over the two years.” The next two remaining are yours. Our goal is to build on last year’s success and continue moving forward as a program.
Related: Three Livingston County wrestlers are on pace to win four state titles
Fowlerville
► Highest returnees: Levi Baker, 132-138, Jr.; and Hannah Blevis, 125-145, Jr.; Magi Burma, 125-145, son; George Daniel, 285, father; Richard Davis, 190; Brooke Foster, 165, Soft; Matt Jeffrey, 106, Jr.; Jesse Johnson, 144-150, Sr.; Waylon Lamkin, 175 Jr.; Lynn O’Neill, 215, Will; Connor Stankov, 120-126, will; Gavin Stankoff, 120-126, will.
► Prospects: Fowlerville reached the state quarterfinals for the first time since 1998 last season, 26-7. This may be just the beginning for the Gladiators, who return 11 wrestlers who have won at least 20 matches. Fowlerville was ranked sixth in Division II entering the season. Fowlerville has 55 wrestlers, including enough girls to compete in the all-girls duals. The girls’ lineup is led by Burma, a two-time state champion who can score points in the boys’ meets. Baker, Belvis, Burma, Davis and O’Neill were state qualifiers last season. The status of Ben Blyveis, who plays all over the world for this season, is questionable.
► Coach Dan Cone: “We have a lot of talented kids coming out for the first time now. It really adds depth to our program. The kids are getting it now. We have a lot of sophomores competing for lineup spots. You’re happy when you get a sophomore who might have 15 or 20 College match. We have quite a few of them with over 30 matches. They get a few years of experience in one year.
Related: Nationally ranked wrestling gives Fowlerville an early boost in the state quarterfinals
Heartland
► Highest returnees: Body Abbey, 120-126, will; Vinnie Abbey, 165; James Butzier, 175, Sr.; Easton Culver, 138 Jr.; Will Darish, 190; Dane Dunbar, 113, will; Jake Gillespie, 120; Colin Jewell, 144; Dallas Corponic, 132, will; Jake Pritzl, 215, Sr.
► Prospects: After a 41-21 loss to Detroit Catholic Central in the Division I state championship game, the Eagles began their quest for their first state title since 2016. Heartland is led by Buddy Abbey, who won the state title at No. 113 as a freshman. He is one of four Eagles (Vinnie Abbey, Culver, Korbonic and the others) to finish in the top three in the individual state finals and 11th seeded to start this season. Hartland is ranked No. 2 in Division 1 by the Michigan Grappler and No. 34 nationally by MatScouts. Former Brighton player Colin Jewell (fourth on 125 in 2022) is eligible after missing the season following his transfer. Freshmen Brayden Togas and Ashton Jewell come to a high school already ranked in the state.
► Coach Kyle Summerfield: “This team has grown a lot in the last couple of years. A lot of these guys have had great leaders, so they know what the expectations are. One of the differences between this team and the teams the last couple of years is the total involvement from top to bottom. We’ve had really good groups; “And really good teams, but this group bought in every way, which is something you don’t always get. It’s something special.”
Related: Who are the top 5 wrestlers in Livingston County?
Related: Big brother and little brother win Heartland regional wrestling titles
Howl
► Highest returnees: Griffin Haig, 285 Jr.; Gavin Holbrook, 190, Soft; Zach Leventis, 138, Soft; Jake Lane, 132; Brady Metz, 157, Sr.; Riker Newstead, 126, Soft; Dylan Perkins, 190-215 Jr.; Will Stewart, 175; Connor Wallace, 113, Jr.
► Prospects: Holbrook (24-21), Newstead (25-20), Stuart (30-15) and Wallace (40-15) were regional qualifiers last season. Howell went 23-9 last season and finished sixth in the KLAA tournament. The Highlanders have been competitive, but have not won a region since 2013 because Brighton has been a constant roadblock. The Highlanders have lost in districts to Brighton nine of the past 10 seasons. Howell has the largest roster in the county with 65 wrestlers.
► Coach Quinn Guernsey: “We’re going to be a balanced team. We’re going to be solid. We may not have enough top players to hang out with the big boys, but we’re going to come to you with 14 kids who know how to wrestle. We should get a lot of success from it.”
Pink me
► Highest returnees: Drake Hurley, 157; Cooper Budola, 120; Levi Podola, 144 years old; Eli Smith, 165, Sr.
► Prospects: Pinckney has the smallest roster in the district at 18 wrestlers, but that’s a good increase for a team that finished last season with 11 wrestlers and had to forfeit four weight classes in a district loss to Chelsea. Reinforcements could be on the way, with about 40 middle school wrestlers and 100 in Pinckney’s youth program. Smith was a regional qualifier last season, going 22-19.
► Coach Kelly Rickert: “From a dual lineup perspective, filling out those weight classes will be a big help. Last year we had a .500 record where everyone had 36 points. A lot of the freshmen coming in are part of this new era with the guys in middle school. They “They definitely push the upperclassmen. The older guys have big goals, but the younger guys are hungry and know how to work hard. It makes everyone that much stronger.”
Related: Tears are shed when a wrestler with cerebral palsy wins a match
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan