Coach T

Season Finale

Brett had amazing prep career winning State his senior year for the Mason Bulldogs. He spent the next five years at Central Michigan University under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Tom Borrelli where was a MAC Champ and two time national qualifier. He is currently the Michigan USA Wrestling Open Division Coordinator.

Coach T talks about the State of Youth Wrestling

Sam Amine is a championship Coach leading Warren Lincoln to a State Title in 1994. He has Coached at multiple schools with each one having great success. A Multi-Time All American at the University of Michigan he takes through his illustrious career in Wrestling.

Coach Thomas talks about that magical run to Kellogg Arena with the 2014 Bay City Warriors! The team was led by Bay County Hall of Famers Head Coach Steve Goss with assistants Mark Niernberg, and Joe Laframboise. That team produced seven state qualifiers and three state placers.

Jacob Wyatt was standout wrestler for Hall of Fame Coach Ron Becker of Lansing Sexton. He was a three time all state selection and played division football at Eastern Michigan.

Coach T Recaps the MWA Coaches Clinic

Gaylord Blue Devil Head Coach Jerry LaJoie has amassed over 800 career dual victories. His Blue Devils have made seven semifinal appearances including a State Final appearances in 2018 and 2020.

CMU Hall of Famer, Four Time All American and Three Time State Champion Ben Bennett has had an amazing career representing the Mitten State. He is currently the Associate Head Coach at CMU.

State Champion and CMU All American Greg Mayer has led the Warren Woods Tower Titans for twenty plus seasons. In that time his teams have won over 400 duals, and have multiple appearances to the Team State Finals including finishing runner up in 2017.

Coach Guiles is 2X All Stater from perennial Powerhouse Mason High School coached by the legendary Jeff Pittman. He has coached numerous All State, State Champs, App Americans and National Champions out of the Simmons Academy of Wrestling.

Former Bay City Western Athletic Director and Saginaw Valley League President Mike Thayer has spent over thirty years in Education. He brings a unique perspective from all his years of service.

Arthur Hill Lumberjack All Stater Lionel Baldwin has accomplished a great deal in his high school career.

Kyle Woodruff was two time state placer at Pinconning High School. His Senior year he finished undefeated on his way to becoming the 7th State Champ in school history.

Season 3 Finale

Coach Weber won the 2022 MWA Assistant Coach of the Year Award for the Bobcats of Bay City John Glenn. He wrestled for Bay County Hall of Famer Brian Bishop at Bay City Central, and also competed for Defiance College.

Raider Alum Andy Pulling has been the Head Coach for the past four years. This year his team won the CAAC White, District and Regional Titles on their way to Team State.

All State Wrestler and Jayhawk Alum Coach VanDokelaar is amazing young coach. His team Benzie Central made the trip to Team States this past weekend.

Recapping the MHSAA State Finals, NCAAs, MYWAY Girls State, and Parent Behavior.

State Finals Thoughts

Words of wisdom from your boy Coach T 👍🏾

Coach Lashuay was a 4 Time All State, and 2 Time Finalist at Gaylord and St. Johns. He competed for Alma College where he was an All American.

Coach T Midseason Finale

Coach Waters was a three time State Placer for the Flint Northern Vikings capping his prep career with a State Title. He went on to compete for the University of Michigan where he was a three time National Qualifier. He returned to his Alma Mater as an Assistant Coach. During that four year the Vikings won four district titles, one regional title and a Team State Title in 1995. He took over the Bridgeport Bearcat program and was able to lead them to success winning three Team District Titles, and crowning the school’s first State champion in Charlie Sageman.

Coach Brunger coached for 11 years at the high school level at Muskegon Orchard View, Williamston, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer and Muskegon Catholic Central.
At MCC his team has finished top twenty in the nation four times as a team. They also had a6th place finish at the National Duals in 2014. During his tenure he mentored 52 national qualifiers with 10 All-Americans, and a National Champion.

As a competitor he was an all state grappler for the Williamston High School under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Coach Jim Mooney. At MCC he was voted most improved wrestler and was JUCO Academic All American for Hall of Famer Coach Ron Gaffner.

Going into his 17th year on the sidelines Coach Palazzolo teams have won 11 District Titles, and 3 Regional titles making the Semifinals in 2016. He has coached 27 placers, 9 finalists and 7 state champions. He has 181 career dual victories. He is also founder of the Dark Horse Wrestling Club that promotes youth thru high school wrestling in the Ann Arbor area.

Tyler Dotson was a State Qualifier at South Haven High School. After his competitive career was over he went into Officiating from the youth all the way to the high school level. He’s officiated in six MHSAA State Finals.

Coach McGraw competed for the Cougars of Grand Rapids Catholic Central where he was a four year starter. After competing he coached several years for GRCC before joining the Bay City Western Staff. He has mentored one state champ and three all state athletes.

National Wrestling Hall of Famer Scott Strickler has been involved in the sport of wrestling for over fifty years. His seven year run at Clarkston High School his teams won 121 Duals including the 1991 Class A State Title. As an official he officiated numerous State Final Events in both team and individual.

Coach Waldo was a Four State Champion and Junior National All American during his prep career. He competed for Nebraska and Central Michigan before injuries cut his career short. As a Coach over the past decade he has mentored multiple athletes to State Titles and State Placement. Currently he is the Head Coach at Grand Rapids Catholic Central.

Coach T recaps the 2021-2022 season, and gives advice to athletes and coaches for preparation for the offseason.

Coach Bourdro was State Finalist for Armada High School. He started his collegian career at the University of Michigan before transferring to Michigan State. At MSU he was a Two Time NCAA Qualifier for Michigan State. He has been a part of the Lowell program for over fifteen years with the last eight as the Head Coach. During that time the Red Arrows have nine straight team State Titles.

Three Time State Champion for the Grandville Bulldogs. He went on to Central Michigan where he was two time All American. He came back to his Alma Mater leading them to multiple OK Red, District and Regional Titles. He has coached a slew of All Staters and a State Champion. Recently he was inducted to the Grandville High School and Central Michigan University’s Hall of Fame.

Coach Johnson was four time state placer, three time finalist and State Champion for the Rockford Rams coached by Hall of Famer Don Rhinehart. He was a letter winner at Eastern Michigan University. He was assistant coach on the Brighton Bulldog staff. Now he is the Director of Content for Michigan Grappler.

Coach Wood was a Two Time State Placer for the Clarkston Wolves, and a Fargo All American for Team Michigan. He competed for Eastern Michigan and Northern Michigan in College. He was assistant at Rochester, Waterford Kettering and Oxford. He got his first Head Coaching at Troy. He came back to Clarkston and won three Regional Coach of the Year Awards, and his team made the Team States multiple times during his tenure. Now he is leading the Lapeer Lightning.

Hook and Catch Club founder Corey Ottgen has been involved the sport wrestling, and Mix Martial Arts for over twenty years. His club has produced 17 youth state qualifiers, 10 state medalists, 6 national qualifiers
and 5 All Americans in the past three seasons.

Hutch was Three Time All American and Two Time Academic All America at Ferris State. He coached at Howell High School from 1997-2004 where they won multiple District titles and a Regional Championship. He is currently the Assistant Director for the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

Hesperia Head Coach Mark Arbogast has been a part of the Panther program since youth. As an Assistant he has contributed to multiple District and Regional Titles culminating with the State Title in 2008. This fall he took the reins from longtime Coach Doug Baird.

Former Dundee Head Coach Tim Roberts led his Vikings teams to an remarkable 23 straight District Titles, 22 Regionals Titles and 10 Team State Titles. In 2020 he was selected as the National Boys Wrestling Coach of the Year.

Max was a Three Time State Placer and State Champ for the Davison Cardinals led by Hall of Fame Coach Roy Hall. Now he is volunteer assistant coach at Flint Kearsley High School.

A Hazel Park product Coach Ethridge coach the Warriors of Chip Hills for 18 years. In that time the wrestling program won 11 conference titles, 14 district titles, 11 regional crowns. His teams won over 500 duals during his tenure.

Coach Bode has been a staple in the Saginaw area as he has spent 35 years as the Head Coach at MLS, and amassed over 400 Dual Meet victories.

Matt has been a Official for nearly two decades. He’s officiated multiple sports for the MHSAA including Football and Baseball. He is also State Finals official for wrestling. On this episode he talks about his background, what makes a good official, and why you should join the official ranks.

Coach Cheney amassed a 810-113-2 record in 29 seasons leading his alma mater Hartland Eagles. His teams won 25 District, and 22 Regional Titles. Six times they got to the State Championship match culminated in the State Title in 2016.

Coach Prescott was a Four Time Finalist and Three Time State Champion for Whittenmore-Prescott. During his prep career he was member of the Junior National Team, and Flonationals Finalist. He is currently the Assistant Coach at Tawas.

Coach Mac has been leading the Western Warriors Baseball program for thirty plus years. His teams have won 11 Saginaw Valley League, 4 Regional, and 2 State Titles. His 775 career victories put him 12th All Time in MHSAA History.

Coach Rodriguez was a four year varsity letter winner for the Lumberjacks. He went into the Marine Core and wrestled briefly for them. He returned to his Alma Mater. Going into his ninth season as the Head Coach he has the Lumberjacks headed in direction.

Coach Hancock was a two time all Stater for the Catholic Central Shamrocks winning a State Title his Senior year. At CMU he garnered All American Honors his Senior year. He returned to his Alma Mater and has turn them into a National Powerhouse winning 8 Team State Titles in 12 years. Coach Hancock talks about the pillars are building a successful program.

John Cox was an amazing wrestler for the Grand Haven Buccaneers. During his High School career he was 4 Time All State Finisher culminating with a State Title his Senior year. After high school he placed at the prestigious NHSCA Senior Nationals. He was also a Cadet All American in Greco, and was member of the Junior National Team.

In College he represented United States Naval Academy. He was Four Year Varsity Starter, Four time EIWA Placewinner, and was three time NCAA Qualifier.

Post college he was two time Greco All American, and a 2012 Olympic Trials Qualifier. Currently he volunteers at Coxsackie-Athens High School in New York.

Coach Tietema was State Champ at Holland West Ottawa. In College he was multiple time All-American at Muskegon CC and the University of Findlay.

After completing his competitive career he went into High School coaching in the State of Florida. In his 10 years his team finished top four state three times including winning a pair of State Titles. His individuals found great success with
11 Individual State Champs, 1 FILA Junior Greco-Roman Champ, 1 FILA Junior Freestyle Runner-up, and 2 NHCSA All-Americans.

He returned to his Alma Mater Muskegon CC and spent seven years there (5 years as Head, 2 as assistant). During his tenure the team had 16 All Americans including one finalist. They placed in the top 15 four times with their best finish being 6th, which garnered them a Team Trophy. That group also tied the school record for most All Americans in a season with Five.

Coach Tietema has a wealth knowledge due to his many experiences at different levels coaching wrestling!