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

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