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HILLSDALE — Congratulations to Hillsdale senior John Petersen. The senior wrestler is our Daily News Choice 2024-25 Wrestler of the Year after he competed for a state title in the Division 3, 215-pound weight class.
More: Cooper Stevens voted 2024-25 reader's choice wrestler of the year; Youngs named runner-up
John Petersen followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Stephen, who also wrestled in a state championship match last winter. John Petersen wrestled his way to this year's state title bout in the 215-pound weight class after earning wins via pinfall, an 8-2 decision and an 11-4 decision during the state finals tournament.
The senior Hornet and UIndy commit battled Wyatt Jenkins of Whitehall in the title match at Ford Field. The back-and-forth battle came down to the final seconds and point. Petersen came up just short of a state championship in a 4-3 final decision, but his runner-up finish was his highest all-state honor of his career after taking all-state - fifth overall - in his previous two trips to the state finals.
His impressive season saw him finish the year with a 50-4 overall record, five gold medals and one silver medal. He scored 274-5 team points in duals. He helped the Hornets win a team district championship. Individually he earned his second straight conference, district and regional titles. The three-time all-state honoree also earned his 100th win before ending his high school career.
"You will be hard pressed to find a more dedicated, hardworking, and disciplined wrestler than John," Hillsdale coach Nate Spieth said. "He means a lot to me as a coach, and he means a lot to this team and program. We are all going to miss having him around but are looking forward to seeing him compete at the next level."
There was only one other wrestler in Hillsdale County who had the distinct honor of wrestling in a state title match this winter, and that was Reading sophomore Isaac Westfall. The sophomore was trying to be his older brother, Eathan's, run at a state title. His older brother won a heavyweight D4 title in 2023, and this year, as a sophomore, Isaac had a shot at his own title after earning conference, district and regional titles.
Westfall would end up finishing runner-up and all-state after a hard-fought state title match. He earned two pinfalls and an 11-5 decision win on his way to the title match. In addition to his postseason achievements, he ended the year with a 50-5 overall record, earned the team MVP honor and had five undefeated invitational tournaments in-season.
Cooper Stevens - Jonesville
The senior athlete became the first Comet heavyweight wrestler to qualify for the state finals since the 1990's. He also earned a regional championship and helped his team win a district title. He was voted the reader's choice wrestler of the year. This year, he finished with a 37-11 overall record, with 24 total pins.
Ben Colbart - Jonesville
The Adrian College commit put together his best season as a Comet wrestler, qualifying for the state finals after medaling at every single tournament this season, including third at regionals. The wrestler was just one win away from an all-state finish, losing the blood round finale to another honorable mention grappler. He also helped the Comets win a team district championship. He had 37 wins this season.
Lukas Strine - Reading
The senior grappler made his third trip to the state finals and was able to earn sixth place in the Division 4, 175-pound weight class, taking home his first all-state honor. The senior had to beat fellow honorable mention grappler Colbart in the blood round to get there. The 2024 football player of the year earned a 41-12 record this year, earning two runner-up finishes at regionals and the conference tournament. He earned a district title in his weight class.
Delanie Youngs - Reading
The junior girls wrestler set a new standard for Hillsdale County girls wrestling after becoming the first County and Ranger grappler to qualify and earn all-state honors after 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. She also earned second at districts and third at regionals in the 100-pound weight class. She was voted the runner-up reader's choice wrestler of the year.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: John Petersen named Hillsdale Daily News Choice 2024-25 Wrestler of the Year
Continue reading...
More: Cooper Stevens voted 2024-25 reader's choice wrestler of the year; Youngs named runner-up
John Petersen followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Stephen, who also wrestled in a state championship match last winter. John Petersen wrestled his way to this year's state title bout in the 215-pound weight class after earning wins via pinfall, an 8-2 decision and an 11-4 decision during the state finals tournament.
The senior Hornet and UIndy commit battled Wyatt Jenkins of Whitehall in the title match at Ford Field. The back-and-forth battle came down to the final seconds and point. Petersen came up just short of a state championship in a 4-3 final decision, but his runner-up finish was his highest all-state honor of his career after taking all-state - fifth overall - in his previous two trips to the state finals.
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His impressive season saw him finish the year with a 50-4 overall record, five gold medals and one silver medal. He scored 274-5 team points in duals. He helped the Hornets win a team district championship. Individually he earned his second straight conference, district and regional titles. The three-time all-state honoree also earned his 100th win before ending his high school career.
"You will be hard pressed to find a more dedicated, hardworking, and disciplined wrestler than John," Hillsdale coach Nate Spieth said. "He means a lot to me as a coach, and he means a lot to this team and program. We are all going to miss having him around but are looking forward to seeing him compete at the next level."
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Runner-Up: Isaac Westfall - Reading
There was only one other wrestler in Hillsdale County who had the distinct honor of wrestling in a state title match this winter, and that was Reading sophomore Isaac Westfall. The sophomore was trying to be his older brother, Eathan's, run at a state title. His older brother won a heavyweight D4 title in 2023, and this year, as a sophomore, Isaac had a shot at his own title after earning conference, district and regional titles.
Westfall would end up finishing runner-up and all-state after a hard-fought state title match. He earned two pinfalls and an 11-5 decision win on his way to the title match. In addition to his postseason achievements, he ended the year with a 50-5 overall record, earned the team MVP honor and had five undefeated invitational tournaments in-season.
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Honorable Mentions
Cooper Stevens - Jonesville
The senior athlete became the first Comet heavyweight wrestler to qualify for the state finals since the 1990's. He also earned a regional championship and helped his team win a district title. He was voted the reader's choice wrestler of the year. This year, he finished with a 37-11 overall record, with 24 total pins.
Ben Colbart - Jonesville
The Adrian College commit put together his best season as a Comet wrestler, qualifying for the state finals after medaling at every single tournament this season, including third at regionals. The wrestler was just one win away from an all-state finish, losing the blood round finale to another honorable mention grappler. He also helped the Comets win a team district championship. He had 37 wins this season.
Lukas Strine - Reading
The senior grappler made his third trip to the state finals and was able to earn sixth place in the Division 4, 175-pound weight class, taking home his first all-state honor. The senior had to beat fellow honorable mention grappler Colbart in the blood round to get there. The 2024 football player of the year earned a 41-12 record this year, earning two runner-up finishes at regionals and the conference tournament. He earned a district title in his weight class.
Delanie Youngs - Reading
The junior girls wrestler set a new standard for Hillsdale County girls wrestling after becoming the first County and Ranger grappler to qualify and earn all-state honors after 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. She also earned second at districts and third at regionals in the 100-pound weight class. She was voted the runner-up reader's choice wrestler of the year.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: John Petersen named Hillsdale Daily News Choice 2024-25 Wrestler of the Year
Continue reading...
