AUBURN HILLS – It was a big weekend for area wrestlers at the MHSAA Individual Finals at The Palace.

Buchanan’s Gage Hutchison won his second straight 215-pound state title in Division 3, while Niles’ Casey Burandt and Fritzel Findeisen were runners-up in division 2. Brandywine’s Chanc Ravish took third in Division 4.

Hutchison capped off his second straight undefeated season with a pin of Taylor Gohn of Allendale in 2:24. Hutchison won 113 straight matches in claiming the two state titles.

He finishes his career with a record of 218-8, which includes an area record 168 pins.

Hutchison is also the third two-time state champion for the Bucks, following in the footsteps of John Karpinski (1961-62) and Mack Baker (1965-66).

The Bucks Jeff Mucha finished third at 140 pounds. Mucha, who finishes the year at 58-2, won five consecutive matches after losing in the first round to take third place.

 

Division 2

Casey Burandt, despite missing nearly a month of the season with a broken hand, wrestled his way to the 145-pound title match Saturday afternoon.

Unfortunately for Burandt, he ran into three-time state champion Ben Whitford of St. Johns. Whitford won is fourth state title with a 22-7 technical fall against Burandt.

Burandt, who finished with a record of 33-2, was a three-time state qualifier just like his older brother Colin, who graduated two years ago. Colin finished fifth in the state his senior year.

Fritzel Findeisen also ran into a wrestler from St. Johns, who had seven wrestlers win titles Saturday.

Findeisen was pinned by Josh Pennell, who has over 200 career wins, in 1:44. It was Pennell’s first state championship. Findeisen finishes his career as the Vikings’ career leader in victories with 161.

Ryan Casey finished fifth. Casey, who holds the single season pin record at Niles, ends the season at 55-4.

Edwardsburg freshman Michael Higley had a solid weekend in his first trip to The Palace.

Higley finished seventh in Division 2 at 103 pounds.

 

Division 4

Ravish (51-3) finished third at 140 pounds.

Ravish, who holds most all of Brandywine’s individual wrestling records, was the state runner-up in 2012.

He has only lost to one wrestler the past two years at the state finals – Jacob Perrin of New Lothrop, who went on to win another state championship. Ravish finishes career at Brandywine with 194 victories.