Border Wars Finale coming to Battle Creek this weekend!
11/4 - This weekend some of the Midwest's best
wrestlers of all ages will be converging on the Kellogg
Arena in Battle Creek for the annual Border Wars
Folkstyle Nationals.
The Border Wars Nationals are the conclusion of the
Border Wars season that consists of qualifying
tournaments held all over the country and lead up to
this weekend's finale. Every wrestler who has placed
in any of the Border Wars events in the past year is
eligible to compete this weekend and as of Tuesday
this week they had wrestlers entered from 10 states,
including a large regime of wrestlers from Michigan,
Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
High School Preview
Among the field of Michigan wrestlers who are in the pre-registered list are 27 High School State Qualifiers. Of those, there are 15 All-State Wrestlers, including 4 wrestlers who made an appearance in last year's State Finals.
The only Michigan high school state champion in the
pre-registered list is Tyler Daniels of Lakeshore, who won
the Division 2 103lb title last year. Daniels also medalled
at the AAU Disney Duals last summer. Returning state
runners-up Darius Wass (Swan Valley), Alex Calandrino
(Howell), and Esteban Gonzales (Holly) are also pre-
registered to compete.
Aside from the 27 returning state qualifiers, there are also
8 other wrestlers in the pre-registered list who are featured
in Michigan Grappler's Pre-Season Invididual Rankings,
which are being released this week on
MichiganGrappler.com.
Some highly touted freshman to watch this weekend
include returning Fab 50 Youth Wrestler of the Year Zack
Cooper of Big Rapids, #4 ranked freshman Anthony
Gonzales of Holly, and #8 ranked freshman Taylor
Grenawalt of Haslett.
Two returning state placers who earned all-american honors at the Preseason Nationals last week are entered. Matt Smith of Allegan, who was runner-up at 145lbs last weekend, and Matt Beebe of Swan Valley, who took 3rd at 152lbs, are both slated to compete this weekend.
In addition to the star-studded field of Michiganders whom are pre-registered for this weekend, a handful of accomplished out-of-state grapplers will be in attendance as well.
The two premiere wrestling clubs in Illinois are both bringing talented wrestlers this weekend as Overtime and Izzy Style will both be well represented. Among those wrestlers include Stephen Robertson, who won an Illinois state title last year at 125lbs and is a former Cadet Freestyle All-American. Another Illinois all-stater to watch is Alex Cizek of Overtime, who was 5th in the state at 145lbs last year.
At least two State Placers from Ohio are entered in the pre-registered list, Andrew DeHart and Nick McCall. DeHart placed 4th at 145lbs last year and McCall was 8th at 171lbs.
Skimming through the entry list I also noticed at least 4 other Illinois State Qualifiers and 2 Indiana State Qualifiers.
While the field of wrestlers listed in the pre-registered list is impressive by itself, we must keep in mind that Border Wars allows walk-up registration for any wrestler who has qualified for the National Tournament. Therefore, we can expect a good amount of other state qualifiers, placers, and champions from Michigan and other states to be added to this list come Saturday and Sunday.
Any wrestlers who are qualified for this weekend's tournament and wish to compete, it is not too late. High School weigh-ins and registration will take place Friday night at 6:30pm and more information can be found on the Border Wars Website.
Youth Preview
The youth action at the Border Wars Nationals is traditionally one of the
toughest in the country and this year should be no different. The event is the
first Platinum level event of the Michigan Grappler Fab 50, so major points are
at stake for Michigan youths seeking a Fab 50 honor or Wrestler of the Year
Award.
10 returning Michigan Grappler Youth Dream Team Members are entered,
including 2008 and 2009 Youth Wrestlers of the year Mark Hall and Zack
Cooper. Cooper, a freshman this year at Big Rapids, is entered in the High
School division.
Other All-Future Team members to watch this weekend include Lincoln Olson
(CMS), Brenden Zelenka (St Johns), Dominic Russ (CMS), Lincoln Olson
(CMS), Dalton Ballantine (Clio), Andrew Hughes (Holt), and Kane Williams
(Clio).
Anthony Gonzales (Holly) and Taylor Grenawalt (Haslett) are returning Youth Dream Teamers competing in the high school division this year as freshman.
Fab 50 Presentations
The Michigan Grappler All-Future Team and Fab 50 Youth Wrestler of the Year will be recognized prior to the start of competetion on Sunday morning. We will NOT be doing an All-Future presentation on Saturday, therefore, any 13-14 or 15-18 wrestlers who made the All-Future Team are welcome to come back Sunday morning for the presentation. Please e-mail admin@michigangrappler.com to confirm your attendance for the presentation. Dream Teamers will be called to the head table early Sunday morning prior to the start of the session.
Tournament Coverage
Michigan Grappler will be on site all weekend live providing updates, results, as well as video coverage of this weekend's event. Check back throughout the weekend and following the weekend for results, analysis, videos, and more!
2009 Border Wars Nationals Field Breakdown
according to pre-registered list released this week
States Represented
Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri, Pennsylvania
Notable High School Entries
Listed in order of last year's High School weight class or Middle School weight
Zack Cooper (Big Rapids, MI) - 90lbs, MI Youth Wrestler of the Year
Anthony Gonzales (Holly, MI) - 105lbs, MI All-Future Youth Dream Team
Tyler Daniel (Lakeshore, MI) - 103lb State Champion
Alex Calandrino (Howell, MI) - 103lb State Runner-Up
Esteben Gonzales (Holly, MI) - 103lb State Runner-Up
Connor Hughes (Portage, MI) - 103lb State Placer
Nick Kim (Salem, MI) - 103lb State Qualifier
Jacob Peasley (Oxford, MI) - 103lb State Qualifier
Nick Monitz (Hartland, MI) - 112lb State Placer
Noel Guevara (Annapolis, MI) - 112lb State Qualifier
Jimmy Schroeder (Milford, MI) - 112lb State Qualifier
Garth Simpson (IN) - 112lb State Qualfier
Kevin Moylan (IL) - 112lb State Qualifier
Brandon Rubino (IL) - 112lb State Qualifier
Darius Wass (Swan Valley) - 119lb State Runner-Up
Leon Shannon (Wyandotte Roosevelt, MI) - 119lb State Placer
Brandon Treharne (Dundee, MI) - 119lb State Placer
Stephen Robertson (IL) - 125lb State Champion
Anthony Pavlich (Westland, MI) - 125lbs State Placer
Taylor Grenawalt (Haslett, MI) - 125lbs, MI All-Future Youth Dream Team
Jeffrey Lopez (Hartland, MI) - 130lb State Placer
Tanner Zych (Caledonia, MI) - 135lb State Qualifier
Jordan Sherman (IL) - 135lb State Qualifier
Nick Bohn (East Kentwood, MI) - 140lb State Placer
Matt Smith (Allegan, MI) - 140lb State Placer
David Tucker (Caledonia, MI) - 140lb State Qualifier
Donovan Scott (Middleville, MI) - 140lb State Qualifier
Justin Beck (Indiana) - 140lb State Qualifier
Chase Baxter (Springport, MI) - 145lb State Placer
Alex Cizek (IL) - 145lb State Placer
Andrew DeHart (OH) - 145lb State Placer
Paul Carbone (Hudsonville, MI) - 145lb State Qualifier
Trevor Cortez (Corunna, MI) - 152lb State Qualifier
Colin Smythe (Allegan, MI) - 152lb State Qualifier
Matt Ostermiller (Hartland, MI) - 152lb State Qualifier
Nick McCall (OH) - 171lb State Placer
Jameson Zabrin (IL) - 171lb State Qualifier
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Contact via email: admin@michigangrappler.com
Tyler Daniel of Lakeshore, who won a Division 2 State Title last year as a freshman, is one of the big names listed on the Pre-Registration list
2008 MI Youth Wrestler of the Year Mark Hall will be one of the main attractions in the youth division
