MAX SUNDQUIST

Kingsford will send three wrestlers to the MHSAA Division 3 individual wrestling finals at Ford Field in Detroit on March 6 and 7, including regional champion Max Sundquist.

Sundquist won his title at 175 pounds at Boyne City, taking victories with consecutive technical falls in last weekend’s regional meet.

“Max is locked in at the three seed at the state championship and we’re excited to see him roll next weekend,” said Kingsford coach Darren Groleau. “Max is just a sound, technical wrestler. He doesn’t make mistakes and is always in good position. For him it’s just getting mat time and being focused.”

Also qualifying for the state meet were Tyler Bray, placing second at 157 pounds, and Connor White, finishing fourth at 285 pounds.

“Tyler had a tough finals match but we learned a lot from it,” Groleau said. “Tyler will be focusing on taking it one match at a time and he looks strong since moving down to 157.”

White earned his spot by defeating an opponent he had lost to three times previously during the season.

“Connor beat him the last two times, before pinning him to punch his ticket,” Groleau said. “The conversation we’ve had with Connor was we knew he could beat him. It was just making the adjustments. We told him, ‘When does it matter more to beat him, now (during the season) or in the postseason to go state?’ He won the last three matches when it mattered most.”

Also competing was Jake Sundquist, who ended his high school career at regionals going 0-2.

“Jake wrestled really tough and had a great season,” Groleau said. “He’s such a respectful, kind and humble kid. It was a joy to coach him.”

Division 4

Iron Mountain’s Cameron Gartland placed fourth in the Division 4 regional at Charlevoix, earning a trip to the state finals at 113 pounds.

Joining Gartland will be three North Central wrestlers: Cooper Raab, who won a regional title at 138 pounds; Myles Nehring, who placed second at 215; and Praxton LaBonte, who finished third at 106.

Also at the regional, Iron Mountain’s Di’Angelo Saldana went 1-2 for the day at 144 pounds, while Connor Maynard at 215 was 0-2.

Norway’s Tyler Mierzejewski at 285, and Kellan Amundson at 126, both went 0-2. Norway’s Cameron Nevil was 1-2 at 120.

Adam Janczewski of North Central was 1-2 at 175 and Pryar LaBonte was 1-2 at 150.

North Central reached the state quarterfinals as a team in Division 4 before falling Friday to top-seeded Hudson.