Meet the history-making Muskrats
The Algonac Muskrats are going where no other team in the wrestling program’s history has ever gone before: the MHSAA Team State Finals.
Algonac (No. 2) will compete against Portland (No. 7) at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo for the quarterfinal this afternoon at 4:30 p.m.
The team punched its ticket to the Finals on Wednesday, Feb. 15, after edging Richmond 34-31 in the Division 3, Region 121 championship. But that wasn’t the only milestone for the program.
On Feb. 4, the Muskrats sealed their first-ever conference title after winning the BWAC team tournament. Less than a week later, they swept Macomb Lutheran North 75-0 for a district title.
Along the way, juniors David Clemons (144-lbs) and Josh Kasner (175-lbs) each earned their 100th career wins and head coach Brian Ranger earned the 250th victory of his 12-year tenure.
Meet the region-championship lineup below, and for a full look at the Algonac team and community, click here for former Muskrat Jake Kasner's deep dive.
Sophomore Sky Langewicz (106-lbs)
Season record as of Feb. 16: 38-5
When did you start wrestling? Third grade
What is your favorite part about wrestling? Going through the sport with my team, whether it’s in a positive way or a negative way.
Do you have a favorite memory from this season? Pinning Joey Jarvis at team regionals to help my team make it to team state.
What do you think makes your team special? We all grew up wrestling together and we all have such a close and strong bond that when we go out there and wrestle, we know the whole team is there supporting. We have gone through rough cuts together and seen the worst of it and yet still overcame everything together and that creates a connection you will never lose, even if things don’t work out in our favor.
Sophomore Chris Campbell (113-lbs)
Season record as of Feb. 16: 45-3
When did you start wrestling? Third grade
What is your favorite part about wrestling? I like how it challenges me both mentally and physically instead of one or the other.
Do you have a favorite memory from this season? Winning team regionals and making it to team states for the first time in school history.
What do you think makes your team special? What makes Algonac so special is how close of a team we are. I feel like we are all brothers and sisters and we go through everything together from celebrating the big moments to working hard in the wrestling room, getting better each and every day.
Sophomore Lucky Gartin (120-lbs)
Season record as of Feb. 16: 43-5
When did you start wrestling? Fourth grade
What is your favorite part about wrestling? I like that you determine if you win or lose, unlike most other team sports.
Do you have a favorite memory from this season? Either winning Macomb or beating Richmond for the regional title.
What do you think makes your team special? I think we are so special because we are all good friends and we all get along so we are able to easily pick each other up when we are down.
Junior Gavin Bennett (126-lbs)
Season record as of Feb. 16: 13-12
When did you start wrestling? Seventh grade
What is your favorite part about wrestling? The bond with teammates and the work ethic it takes.
Do you have a favorite memory from this season? Winning regionals as a team.
What do you think makes your team special? Everyone is to each other and we all work hard.
Sophomore Steven Shannon (132-lbs)
Season record as of Feb. 16: 40-9
When did you start wrestling? Third grade
What is your favorite part about wrestling? Grinding all season then it paying off at the end of the year.
Do you have a favorite memory from this season? Winning team regionals and the bus ride home from that.
What do you think makes your team special? How young we are and how we wrestle for the team and not for ourselves.
Sophomore Alex Bright (138-lbs)
Season record as of Feb. 16: 43-9
When did you start wrestling? 9 years old
What is your favorite part about wrestling? It’s one on one, every mistake is made by me.
Do you have a favorite memory from this season? My favorite memory is beating Richmond to go to states,
What do you think makes your team special? The effort we put into the sport.
Junior David Clemons (144-lbs)
Season record as of Feb. 16: 40-2
When did you start wrestling? Fourth grade
What is your favorite part about wrestling? Being competitive and being a part of a team you have grown up with.
Do you have a favorite memory from this season? Beating Richmond to go to states as a team.
What do you think makes your team special? We have chemistry. Most of us have been together as a team for about 9-10 years.
Mark Romanowski (157-lbs)
Season record as of Feb. 16: N/A
When did you start wrestling? Fourth grade
What is your favorite part about wrestling? My team.
Do you have a favorite memory from this season? Making it to team and individual states.
What do you think makes your team special? I it’s think our hard work and constant training.
Sophomore Connor Hadden (165-lbs)
Season record as of Feb. 16: 31-6
When did you start wrestling? Second grade
What is your favorite part about wrestling? My favorite part is going through the grind as a team. Everything we go through we go through together. All the good and the bad.
Do you have a favorite memory from this season? My favorite memory is by far winning team regionals.
What do you think makes your team special? We all grew up together since elementary school. We as a team have a very special bond. We aren’t like other teams who have a bunch of transfers from other schools.
Junior Josh Kasner (175-lbs)
Season record as of Feb. 16: 43-0
When did you start wrestling? First grade
What is your favorite part about wrestling? Being able to make someone do what they don’t want to do.
Do you have a favorite memory from this season? Winning team regionals against Richmond at Richmond.
What do you think makes your team special? Everyone wants to get better but wants to have fun doing it.
Senior Dan Ladd (190-lbs)
Season record as of Feb. 16: 20-15
When did you start wrestling? I started in second grade, took a break during middle school, and started my high school season in 11th grade.
What is your favorite part about wrestling? The mental strength as well as the camaraderie.
Do you have a favorite memory from this season? My favorite milestone was being able to cut down to 190 as well as improving off of my mistakes.
What do you think makes your team special? We practice hard and we push through all the hardships and challenges that are thrown out way.
215-lbs: Sophomore Reid Hiltunen
Season record as of Feb. 16: 38-2
When did you start wrestling? Kindergarten, but I was in the room even before that.
What is your favorite part about wrestling? It’s physical but there are a lot of technical parts to it.
Do you have a favorite memory from this season? Locking up the Richmond dual to go to team states for the first time.
What do you think makes your team special? We have all known each other for so long, we have great team chemistry.
285-lbs: Senior Derik Maciag
Season record as of Feb. 16: 15-6
When did you start wrestling? Seventh grade
What is your favorite part about wrestling? Making memories with my teammates.
Do you have a favorite memory from this season? Winning team regionals.
What do you think makes your team special? We’re weird and are a big family.
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For in-game updates and other news, follow Calli on Twitter @ newberry_calli
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