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Congratulations to Jonesville senior wrestler Cooper Stevens for being voted the reader’s choice 2024-25 Hillsdale County Wrestler of the Year.
With 52-percent of the vote, readers crowned the heavyweight wrestler their favorite grappler of the year, an honor worthy of the achievements the senior captain was able to accomplish during his final year with the Comets.
More: Vote for the 2024-25 reader's choice Hillsdale County girls basketball player of the year
“Cooper was an asset to this year’s team for his leadership on and off the mat,” Jonesville coach Carter Ballinger said. “I know he didn’t get the final result he wanted, but to accomplish what he did in his career is pretty remarkable considering he started wrestling as a freshman. He will be missed.”
More: Vote for the 2024-25 reader's choice boys basketball player of the year
That final season saw the senior become the first Comet heavyweight wrestler to qualify for the state finals since the 1990s. He got there with an impressive regional championship victory that saw him bring home the title.
This year, he finished with a 37-11 overall record, with 24 total pins. He helped the Comet team earn a team district title on their home mat. He took second place in his conference and second at districts. Stevens medaled at every single in-season tournament. The senior was unable to reach his all-state goals at Ford Field, but he did earn a pinfall in his opening round match in front of thousands of spectators in Detroit.
With 44-percent of the vote, readers recognized Ranger girls grappler Delanie Youngs as the runner-up County Wrestler of the Year. The junior set new program and Hillsdale County highs for girls wrestling placements in the MHSAA individual state tournament this year.
“Delanie was our team's most improved wrestler this season,” Reading coach Mark Draper said. “She started preparing for this season the day last season ended. She needed to really dig down at the regional blood round, and the state blood round. She would not be denied. That was her attitude. She did a great job. She and we are looking for even better things next season.”
Youngs became the first Reading wrestler to qualify for the girls division state finals after taking second at districts and fourth at regionals in the 100-pound weight class. Youngs had two 3-1 decision victories in the state finals tournament to make it to the podium round. Youngs would end up placing eighth overall, becoming the first Hillsdale County girls grappler all-state honoree since the MHSAA sanctioned the girls division.
The junior finished her season with a 31-8 overall record, six pins, a first-place honor at the first-ever in season girls tournament and a 3-0 mark at two other invitational events.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Cooper Stevens voted 2024-25 reader's choice wrestler of the year; Youngs named runner-up
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With 52-percent of the vote, readers crowned the heavyweight wrestler their favorite grappler of the year, an honor worthy of the achievements the senior captain was able to accomplish during his final year with the Comets.
More: Vote for the 2024-25 reader's choice Hillsdale County girls basketball player of the year
“Cooper was an asset to this year’s team for his leadership on and off the mat,” Jonesville coach Carter Ballinger said. “I know he didn’t get the final result he wanted, but to accomplish what he did in his career is pretty remarkable considering he started wrestling as a freshman. He will be missed.”
More: Vote for the 2024-25 reader's choice boys basketball player of the year
That final season saw the senior become the first Comet heavyweight wrestler to qualify for the state finals since the 1990s. He got there with an impressive regional championship victory that saw him bring home the title.
This year, he finished with a 37-11 overall record, with 24 total pins. He helped the Comet team earn a team district title on their home mat. He took second place in his conference and second at districts. Stevens medaled at every single in-season tournament. The senior was unable to reach his all-state goals at Ford Field, but he did earn a pinfall in his opening round match in front of thousands of spectators in Detroit.
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Runner-Up: Delanie Youngs – Reading
With 44-percent of the vote, readers recognized Ranger girls grappler Delanie Youngs as the runner-up County Wrestler of the Year. The junior set new program and Hillsdale County highs for girls wrestling placements in the MHSAA individual state tournament this year.
“Delanie was our team's most improved wrestler this season,” Reading coach Mark Draper said. “She started preparing for this season the day last season ended. She needed to really dig down at the regional blood round, and the state blood round. She would not be denied. That was her attitude. She did a great job. She and we are looking for even better things next season.”
You must be registered for see images
Youngs became the first Reading wrestler to qualify for the girls division state finals after taking second at districts and fourth at regionals in the 100-pound weight class. Youngs had two 3-1 decision victories in the state finals tournament to make it to the podium round. Youngs would end up placing eighth overall, becoming the first Hillsdale County girls grappler all-state honoree since the MHSAA sanctioned the girls division.
The junior finished her season with a 31-8 overall record, six pins, a first-place honor at the first-ever in season girls tournament and a 3-0 mark at two other invitational events.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Cooper Stevens voted 2024-25 reader's choice wrestler of the year; Youngs named runner-up
Continue reading...
