Lake Fenton Ready to Make History

No matter the outcome, wrestling is set to make history.

The Blue Devils are competing in the Team State Wrestling Finals for the first time Friday at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.

No. 3-seeded Lake Fenton (26-5) will take on No. 6-seeded Otsego (38-4) at 5:30 p.m. in Division 3 action.

“I know they have a couple of solid kids,” said Lake Fenton coach Vance Corcoran. “But we are so deep with eight or nine stars, I like our chances.”

Lake Fenton recently had six regional champions crowned, while Otsego had two wrestlers earn individual titles. The Blue Devils are sending 10 wrestlers to the individual state meet, while the Bulldogs are sending seven.

This weekend, however, it’s all about the team.

Lake Fenton senior Connor Brancheau has made it to the state meet as an individual, but he is pumped to be going with the team.

“We are all like brothers," Brancheau said. "It’s way better than just having a couple individuals.”

There could be plenty of crucial matches Friday.

The 145-pound weight class could be especially intriguing. Lake Fenton’s Justin Melick (49-5) and Christian O’Guinn (44-9) are ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, in the class by Michigangrappler.com, while Otsego senior Terner Gott (57-1) is ranked No. 2.

Another key weight class could be 171 pounds. Lake Fenton senior Drew Morris (50-3) is ranked No. 4, while Otsego senior Andrew Miller (53-8) is ranked No. 7.

No. 6-ranked Otsego junior Alberto Lopez (55-4) could also potentially match up with Lake Fenton senior and No. 2-ranked Buddy Poyner (51-2).

“We’ve been working on this all year, and it's finally coming together,” said Lake Fenton junior Todd Melick, Justin's brother.

If the Blue Devils win Friday, they will compete at 11:45 a.m. Saturday against the Dundee (30-4)/Midland Bullock Creek (26-2) winner. Dundee was the state runner-up in 2010, losing to Richmond 24-23 in the finals.

“Our first goal was to make it here,” Corcoran said. “Now we want to make some noise.”

Corcoran added that while it's Lake Fenton’s first time to participate in the finals, some of the wrestlers and parents have been there before.

The Melick transferred from Detroit Central Catholic, which won a Division 1 state title last year.

“The parents have been the biggest help in just where to go. I didn’t have a clue,” Corcoran said. “The wrestlers are going to go their hardest no matter, but having the parents to steer has helped tremendously.”

Lake Fenton senior Zach Corcoran has no doubt that his team will be ready.

“We have a lot of confidence in our guys,” he said. “We know they will step up when they need to.”