Muskegon picked to repeat in as MCCAA Champions in coaches pre-season poll
The Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) coaches have picked the Muskegon Community College wrestling team to win their third straight title and fourth out of the five seasons since returning as a MCCAA sport. After one season of deciding the team champion at the MCCAA dual meet, it will be awarded to the team with the most points at the MCCAA Individual Championship.
The other change is the MCCAA has added a sixth school as Southwestern Michigan College has reentered MCCAA wrestling after a 26-year hiatus. The Roadrunners will nring the number of wrestling schools up to six.
Picked to win the MCCAA this season by the coaches is Muskegon Community College. The Jayhawks picked up all five first place votes they were eligible for, as team could not vote for their own team in the rankings.
MUSKEGON CC
Head Coach: Mark Brunger
Top Returners:
174: Kayleb Venema, SO, MCCAA Wrestler of the Year, National Qualifier
184: Gerrit Andrus, SO,
157: Kyler Kolk, SO
125: Jacob Blawat, SO
Top Newcomers:
184: John Shelton, FR, 4x MHSAA All-State Honors
149: Max Brown, FR, MHSAA State Champion
197: Dakota Veltman, FR, MHSAA All-State
Key Losses
174: Josh Kenny, 2022 NJCAA National Champion, Tournament Outstanding Wrestler Award
Bronsen Jewell,
157: Julian Jimenez, MCCAA Conference Champion, 2x National Qualifier
Outlook:
The Jayhawks return just 1 national qualifier in returning 2x conference champion Kayleb
Venema, but should still be very competitive in the MCCAA with a strong incoming class.
Depth will be a concern for the Jayhawks.
Coming back from a 26 year hiatus, Southwestern Michigan College is piked to tie for second place in the MCCAA. The Roadrunners garnered the outstanding first lace vote.
SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE
Head Coach: Todd Hesson
Top Returners:
None – New Program
Top Newcomers:
None listed
Key Losses:
None – new program
Outlook:
We are a new program (restarting after 26 years). We are just trying to build a foundation and
learn to be competitive at the NJCAA level.
Henry Ford College is also picked to finish second. The Hawks last won the MCCAA Championship in the 2019-20 season.
HENRY FORD COLLEGE
Head Coach: Grant MacKenzie
Top Returner
141: Jager Kwiatkowski, SO, Freshman of the Year; national qualifier
Top Newcomers:
174; Owen Sugarbaker, FR
Key Lossess
149: Elijah Kidder, Transferred to Grand Valley
Vaughn Petty, Transferred to Findlay
Outlook:
2022-2023 will be full of challenges as we prepare to compete for a conference championship
with a team full of freshmen and only 4 sophomores.
St. Clair County Community College is picked for fourth in the poll
ST. CLAIR COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Head Coach: Jason Klink
Top Returners:
174: Christian Ward, SO. National Qualifier
Top Newcomers
197: Jimmy Colley, FR. 2 times D1 State Champ, 4X All-State
184: Kevin McKiernan, FR, D3 State Champ, Multiple time All-State
125: Easton Moran, FR. D3 Runner-up, Multiple time All-State
Key Losses:
197: Mike Nykoriak. SO, 3X National Qualifier
Cody Wood, SO, 2X National Qualifier
Outlook:
Looking to compete for the MCCAA Championship and continue to build a Championship
Wrestling culture at SC4.
Mott Community College is slotted for fifth by the coaches.
MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Head Coach: Winston Ruffin
Top Returners
131/141: Will Miller, SO, National Qualifier
141: Brody Kemper, SO, National Qualifier
141/149: Nate Young, SO, National Qualifier
Top Newcomers:
125: Austin Kilburn.FR, MHSAA- All-State
197: Nicholas Meli FR, MHSAA- State Placer.
HWT: Mike Nelson, FR, All League Honors.'
Key Losses:
NONE
Outlook:
Bears are looking to compete for a MCCAA Championship and develop some Academic- All-
Americans.
Finally, picked to finish sixth is Marian University's Ancilla College.
MARIAN UNIVERSITY'S ANCILLA COLLEGE
Head Coach: Mark Line
No information submitted
