The wrestling just keeps getting tougher and tougher this time of year.  One week after participating in the toughest Observerland tournament ever, local wrestlers will compete in the first-ever KLAA individual tournament.  This tournament will feature three teams ranked in the Power 15 by MichiganGrappler.com and numerous returning regional and state qualifiers from the other 21 KLAA schools.

Each wrestler will need to have his “A-game” from the start.  If he loses his first or second round match he will continue wrestling in “pools”, but will not be eligible to place or score team points.  For wrestlers good enough to make the 8-man bracket, the caliber of wrestling will be on par with the most difficult individual regions in the state.  Here is a quick look at some of the weight classes (ranking numbers come from the January 27 listings by MichiganGrappler.com).

103:  This weight is absolutely stacked.  Four wrestlers are currently ranked; Kyle Pillars (Howell, #2), Tyler Foley (South Lyon East, #5), Jay Banks (Grand Blanc, #8), and Keshav Patel (Canton, #9).  Returning regional qualifier Ian Stirton (Northville) and talented freshmen Jordan Amine (Brighton), Alec Bain (Hartland), Kyle Gillies (John Glenn), and Dan Martinez (Livonia Franklin) indicate that the KLAA may produce more regional qualifiers the following week than medalists on Saturday.

112:  Every bit as tough as 103, this weight again will probably see more kids make it out of districts than will make the 8-man bracket.  Alex Calandrino (HO, #2), Steve Wakeford (JG, #5), Ross Kantola (HA, #8), Alec Breckenridge (Plymouth, #9), and Nick Kim (Salem, #10) are ranked, but Breckenridge is doubtful and Kim is out due to injury. Jimmy Schroeder (Milford), Gabe Martinez, (LF), Tristan Jarosicwicz (Wayne Memorial), and Jacob Meadows (Livonia Churchill) are all talented and experienced enough to place.

119:  Josh Austin (JG, #5) is a clear-cut favorite at this weight.  The only other ranked wrestler is Hartland’s Spencer Hellner (#10).  Regional qualifiers Greg Lorrain (NVL) and Steve Tuyo (LF) should do well as should.

125:  Another weight with four ranked wrestlers:  Nick Monitz (HA, #4), Devin Boria (M, #7), Christian O’Guinn (Grand Blanc, #8), and Waleed Faraj (C, #10).  Returning regional qualifier Montel Watkins (Waterford Kettering), Chad Czerneski (Howell), and Conner Caldwell (Novi) add some very tough depth to this weight.

130:  This is the thinnest of the lower weights.  Anthony Pavlich (JG, #2) and returning state qualifier Chase Snider (HA) should provide a competitive finals match.  Mitch Wolski (C) should do well, but the rest of the medals are up for grabs.

135:  Jeff Lopez (HA, #7) and Joe Johnson (SL, #9) may be the only ranked wrestlers here, but this is another tough weight.  Wayne County runner-up Mark Thompson (JG) should be ready to go.  Observerland Champ Jordan McGuire (LF), returning regional qualifier Jonny Bannoura (LC), and Zach Marsh (C) make this a very deep weight.

140:  Donnie Watkins (C, #4) will be the favorite to place first, but he will have to beat some tough competition to do so.  Returning state qualifiers at this weight are Nick Burt (M) and Travis Rife (HO), and returning regional qualifiers are John Julien (HA, #10), Jacob Smith (Brighton),  and Harry Eichholtz (NVL).  If Eichholtz is still out Northville also has Wayne County runner-up Josh Wright at this weight.  Charlie Kokenakes (Livonia Stevenson) and Mikkel Tipton (JG) are solid wrestlers as well.

145:  This is another deep, talented weight class.  Doug Baughman (HA, #4) and Jon Nelson (NVL, #6) compete with returning regional qualifiers Chad Piotrovetsky (WK) and Troy Root (HO).  John Glenn will have a tough wrestler here, either freshman Travis Mann or Observerland runner-up Mike Johnson.

152:  Drew Morris (GB, #6), Andrew Ranbarger (BR, #8), and Joe Leavens (HO, #9) head another stud-filled weight.  Matt Roos (LF) was very impressive in winning Observerland and Canton’s Sean O’Keefe just beat Leavens on Wednesday night.  Chris Arnold (LS), Devin Butler (WLW), and Billy Ritchie (HA) are coming on strong too.

160:  Brent Winekoff (C, #2) and Don Kril (WLC, #9) are the only ranked wrestlers at this weight.  Returning state qualifier Zach Redden (JG) and regional qualifier Josh Seibert (LS) have been out with injuries, but Redden is expected to wrestle Saturday.  Solid wrestlers with a good shot at placing here are Alex Engebretson (Novi), Jimmy Gross (S), Josh Mills (WM), and Kyle Regorrah (HA).

171:  This is one of the deepest weights of the tournament.  Curtis Castleberry (LC, #5), Nick Mudar (NVL, #6), and state qualifiers Keith Zech (C) and Matt Ostermiller (HA) aren’t even sure things to make the semi-finals.  Kameron Jones (JG) came close to beating Castleberry last Wednesday and could upset one of the above wrestlers.  Other really good kids at this weight are Jake Burns (LS), Ryan Erps (Pinckney), Zach Leuenberger (LF), Dan McCarthy (LS), Patrick Roeser (WLN), and Anthony Patritto (HO).

189:  Marco Smallman (WLN, #7) and Anthony Abro (C, #9) should have an exciting finals match.  Smallman beat Abro the first weekend of the season.  Abro’s only other loss on the year was to Rockford’s Jake Johnson (#2 at 160).  Wayne County champion Bobby Lahiff (NVL) and previously ranked Zach Young (GB) are tough, and returning regional qualifier Andrew Schramm (LS) should place as well.

215:  Returning state champ Nick McDiarmid (HA, #1) is the prohibitive favorite to win, but he will have to work for it.  Jesse Vance (WK, #5) and regional qualifier Kevin Tierney (M) will be tough.  Ben Poirer (C) could surprise many given his win over 10^th-ranked Forrest Sampson on Saturday.  Alan Mencer (Novi) has also wrestled some tough matches this year.

285:  Heavyweight portends to be the most unpredictable weight of the tournament.  Dustin Gajowiak (JG, #2) should win the championship, but who else makes the semi-finals is anyone’s guess.  Top candidates appear to be Blake Abbey (S), Chris Bowie (WM), Chad Cook (GB), Wally Eppler (P), Mehr (SL), Jon Meissner (HA), Jacob Range (LS), John Schekell (LC), and Jim Walsh (HO).

Team Outlook:  Only one team trophy will be handed out and Hartland is the front runner going into the tournament.  However, Canton and John Glenn have a lot of very talented wrestlers and with a few upsets here and there could bring it home to their schools.