This is the sixth in a series of six stories previewing the 2020 MHSAA team wrestling state finals.
KINGSLEY – First-year coach Corey Crew has the Kingsley wrestling program preparing for its first MHSAA state quarterfinals appearance.
As the seventh-seed, Kingsley (25-3) will take on second-seed Richmond (24-5) in a Division 3 quarterfinal at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Kalamazoo’s Wings Event Center.
A program since 2002, Kingsley had won seven district championships prior to this year but had never won a regional title.
“Once you start to get the taste of winning, it just becomes contagious,” Crew said. “I know a lot of us thought that district and regional championships weren’t out of the picture.
“One of the things we’ve been preaching the entire year is 100% effort, 100% of the time. Regardless if you’re wrestling a state champion and maybe we’re not there yet, we’re going to go out there and give our maximum effort.”
A relatively young squad with two upperclassmen, including one senior, the Stags are in the quarterfinals after recording wins over Kalkaska (58-21), Lake City (39-34), Benzie Central (42-29) and Grayling (50-25).
Kingsley will face a team rich with tradition. Richmond has eight state championships to its credit and seven runner-up finishes, including runner-up showings in 2018 and 2019.
The Blue Devils rolled to postseason wins over Almont (69-6), Armada (74-6), Madison Heights Bishop Foley (69-12) and Algonac (51-24).
In addition to the team state finals, the Stags are sending three wrestlers to the individual state finals that will take place March 6-7 at Detroit’s Ford Field.
Friday’s quarterfinal is set for 4:30 p.m. The winner will face either third-seed Alma (24-2) or six-seed Fremont (24-4) in a semifinal Saturday at noon.
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