Zac Hall was named Outstanding Wrestler at the 2012 Grappler Fall Classic (Photo/MichiganGrappler.com)BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -- Chalk ruled the day in the high school division of the Grappler Fall Classic held in Battle Creek, Mich., on Saturday. Of the 15 weight classes contested, 11 were won by the top seed, and 11 of the championship matches featured the top two seeds facing off. Additionally, the two most powerful high school programs in the host state of Michigan dominated the proceedings.
In the tournament's best match, it was a battle of two-time state champions as Zac Hall (St. Johns, Mich.) defeated Ken Bade (Detroit Catholic Central, Mich.) 9-8 for the 130 pound weight class championship. Hall, also a Junior National freestyle runner-up, is ranked No. 25 overall in the junior class; while Bade is positioned No. 77 overall in the senior class. Joining Hall as champions from St. Johns were Jacob Schmitt (135), Logan Massa (140), and Payne Hayden (189).
Ranked No. 74 overall in the senior class, Schmitt dominated his way to a championship with four falls in five matches. This included one at the 2:11 mark in the championship match against fellow two-time state champion Justin Oliver (Davison, Mich.). The nation's No. 14 ranked sophomore Massa won six matches comfortably to take home the 140 pound weight class title, including a 7-3 championship match victory over multi-time state champion Jayce Carr (Union County, Ky.). Hayden made it a quartet of Redwings champions with an 8-6 finals victory over Garrett Stehley (Lowell, Mich.).
Bade was one of four Detroit Catholic Central wrestlers to appear in the finals of the Grappler Fall Classic. Joining Bade as a runner-up was Robert Coe at 285 pounds, who fell to a 4-3 defeat against Gage Hutchison (Buchanan, Mich.). Champions for the Shamrocks were a pair of juniors in Logan Marcicki (160) and Andrew Garcia (171).
Marcicki earned his title with a 6-1 victory of Dean Vettese (Rochester, Mich.) in the final, while Garcia beat Robert Steveson (Merrillville, Ind.) 2-1 in an overtime match featuring excellent underclass wrestlers. Two-time state finalist Garcia was a Cadet double All-American in 2011, and a FILA Cadet freestyle third place finisher this spring, while Steveson is ranked No. 20 nationally in the sophomore class after a third place finish in Cadet freestyle.
Mark HallA pair of second seeded wrestlers came home with championships -- Trae Blackwell (Union County, Ky.) at 125 pounds and Max Rohskopf (West Holmes, Ohio) at 145. Each emerged with their championship by beating a number one seed. Blackwell pinned Robert Lee (Kaukauna, Wis.) at the 1:05 mark in a battle of state champions, while two-time state placer Rohskopf outlasted state champion Jake Spengler (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.) by a 3-2 score.
Rounding out the weight class champions were Lucas Hall (Lowell, Mich.) at 98 pounds and Caleb Smith (Stoughton, Wis.) at 105.
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