Union City's Crance, Iobe secure D4 State Titles; 5 total Chargers earn All State honors
DETROIT, MI. - Nearly 2,000 of the best wrestlers in the state of Michigan descended on the home of the Detroit Lions this past weekend, making the trip to Ford Field to compete on the biggest stage for high school wrestling in the state, the MHSAA Individual State Wrestling Finals.
An impressive total of 23 wrestlers from the Branch County coverage area earned the right to wear their school colors at the state finals, with 14 from Bronson, two from Quincy and seven from Union City making the trip. In all, seven Vikings, five Chargers and two Orioles earned All-State honors, a number that includes two state champions and one runner-up finish.
In an effort to give each school their fair amount of coverage the results from each individual school will appear in their own story. This story contains the results for the Union City Chargers, their five All State wrestlers, and for the first time in school history, their two state champions.
Union City, competing in the Division Four Tournament, saw two of their grapplers reach the highest level of wrestling, winning Division Four Individual State titles, as junior Landyn Crance brought home his second title in a row, winning the 132-pound weight class after claiming the 125-pound state title last year. Joining Crance at the top of the podium was senior teammate Grady Iobe who rolled through the 215-pound field to bring home his first state championship. Joining Crance and Iobe on the podium were Colton Russell, sixth place at 150 pounds; Garrett Halder, seventh place at 215 pounds; and Logan Mears, third place at 113 pounds.
Crance (44-3) became the first Union City Charger to win multiple state championships with his second straight championship, winning at 132 pounds this season.
“A two-time state champ is just a dream come true,” said Crance. “When I was a seventh grader, I watched Brayton Mears win a state championship (103 pounds) and that was all I wanted to do. I told my coaches that night that my goals were to set goals as baby steps and try to see if I could pull off winning one my senior year. Now winning two in a row and still have another year is really just unbelievable.”
Crance did not have any easy road by any scope of the imagination, facing off with three highly ranked wrestlers before taking on the wrestler who defeated him in regionals in the finals. To kick off his run Crance took on Dalton Birchmeier of New Lothrop (31-16) who earned runner-up honors at 130 pounds last year. Crance had little trouble with Birchmeier, winning via a 7-1 decision to advance on to the quarterfinals where he defeated Landen Pangborn of Benzie Central (48-9) via pin fall in 4:57, setting up a much anticipated matchup in the semifinals, as Crance would take on perennial favorite Cole Marry of Hudson (48-8). Last year Crance defeated another Marry, Austin Marry, in the state finals at 125 pounds and this year he had to get through another one. Crance did just that, defeating Marry via a 6-4 decision after hitting a late escape to punch his ticket to the state finals to face Haylen Buell of Martin (53-5). Buell defeated Crance in the regional final via decision so not only was returning to the top of the podium on Crance’s mind, but so was revenge. Trailing 2-1 early in the second period Crance caught a leg and quickly cinched in a cradle and moved Buell to his back. Crance held tight and earned the pin fall victory at 2:43 to take home his second straight state title.
“When I had him (Buell) in the cradle there weren’t many thoughts, I either pin him or I don’t,” said Crance. “If I didn’t pin him, it would put me up two points, I pick bottom in the third, get an escape and be up 5-2 and try and stall out and win the championship at that point. When the ref did end up slapping the mat for the pin I almost didn’t believe it. I thought about that match ever since I lost in regionals. Never once did I expect to pin him.”
With the pin Crance became the only wrestler in the storied history of Union City wrestling to win two state championships. “Being the only two timer in school history is definitely in my opinion the coolest part. That was my motivation this year, getting the win to make history in my school. I love my school and being the first ever for MY school just feels so good. “
Crance will return next year with a chance at making it three in a row as he looks to lead his Chargers for his final season on the high school mats. “The goal for next year is to set the bar even higher, to win another one and get my 150 wins!”
While Crance celebrates his second state crown his senior teammate, Grady “the Farm Truck” Iobe secured his first in his final season on the high school mats, winning the title at 215 pounds.
“It feels really good, just like any big thing that happens, it takes a few days to feel real, so I feel like it hasn’t quite hit me yet,” said Iobe. “I didn’t feel much pressure this year, I knew even if I had a bad outcome my family and friends would be proud of me. Looking back to my first year I never pictured myself in the finals or even winning it. Of course I felt a little nervous but it wasn’t the fact of nervous to lose, but the fact that I actually made it.”
Iobe (39-1) has been one of the favorites all season long at the 215-pound weight class after the state champion from last year, Caden Ferris of Delton Kellogg, moved on due to graduation while the runner-up, Grayson Orr of New Lothrop, bumped up to heavyweight.
Iobe secured two quick pin falls to start out his championship run, pinning Sand Creek’s Jacob Schamburger (20-21) in the first round in 1:38, followed by a quarterfinal pin fall win over Andrew Baldwin of Pine River Area (46-11) in 2:53, setting up a semifinal bout with Kory Kambson of Sandusky (39-10). Iobe controlled the pace of the mat and had little trouble, taking the 10-3 decision to punch his ticket to the championship finals to face big man Daxton Looney of Montrose (48-11). Looney, who spent last year at the 285-pound weight class, had a noticeable size advantage over Iobe but that did little to deter the Charger grappler, who shot in for quick takedown after quick takedown. Iobe dominated the match, defeating Looney via a 7-0 decision to bring home the 215-pound state title. After the clock had run out Iobe mimicked parking a truck and putting it into the garage for the final time, something that went out to his number one fan.
“The dance was for my number one fan Dennis Mussellman, formally known as Chubbs, who last year gave me the nickname Farm Truck after a racing truck in the TV series Street Outlaws,” said Iobe. “The reason he calls me that is because while I might not be pretty or look good on the outside, on the inside I run like a beauty. So, the dance was for him and signified me putting the Farm Truck in the garage for my last high school match.”
Iobe is undecided on his future and whether that would be the final time he laces up his wrestling shoes. “I’m not really sure what’s next to be honest,” said Iobe. “It’s hard to tell if I’m ready to hang the shoes up or continue to wrestle in college. I haven’t been able to decide.”
Whether that’s the final time we see the Farm Truck in action or if he’ll pull out of the garage once again is still up for debate, what isn’t is the legacy that Iobe has left for Union City wrestling, a legacy that will forever be remembered with his name on the championship wall.
Three other Chargers fought their way on to the podium in their respective weight class this season, including one third place finish, one sixth place, and one seventh place finish.
At 113 pounds it was Logan Mears (37-8) earning his second straight All State honor, finishing in third place after taking second at 103 pounds last year. Mears took wins over Caleb Potts of Addison via a 13-0 MD followed by a pin fall win over Tyler Sheeran of Traverse City St. Francis in 3:59. Mears dropped his first match of the tournament in the semifinals, falling to Alex Rodriguez of St. Louis via pin fall in :53 seconds, sending the sophomore to the consolation round. There Mears defeated Cameron Perez of Lakeview via a 9-3 decision, setting up the third-place match with Austin Garcia of Lawton, the wrestler that beat him in the regional finals. Mears went on to blank Garcia, winning the 4-0 decision and taking the bronze medal.
At 150 pounds it was Colton Russell taking sixth place in the state after finishing 3-3 for the tournament. Russell started his run with a 6-2 decision over Dalton Geetings of Benzie Central, followed by a tough loss to Alex Gleason of Hesperia vi a 4-3 decision. Russell won his next two bouts, defeating Drew Seekman of Bronson via a 5-3 decision, followed by an 8-3 decision over Aden Barrett of Hudson. Russell advanced to the fifth-place match with a tough 5-1 loss to Jacob Pickford of Hudson where he dropped another heartbreaker, falling to Josh Frailey Jr of Hanover Horton via a 4-0 decision.
Union City’s final medalist came at 215 pounds where senior Garrett Halder took seventh place overall after going 3-2 for the tournament. Halder kicked off his tournament run with a first-round pin fall win over Tristian Clay-Radcliffe of Whitmore Lake in 2:24, giving Halder his 100th career victory. Halder dropped his next match, falling to eventual runner-up Daxton Looney of Montrose by a 7-0 decision. In the consolation bracket it was Halder defeating Brandon Pass of Ithaca with a late takedown after it appeared Pass was content to head to overtime. Halder hit the late takedown to wrap up all state honors. Halder dropped his next match, a 6-0 decision to Trevor Streeter of Charlevoix, leading to his seventh-place win over Henry Beelen of Bangor via a 3-0 decision.
Also, competing at the state finals for the Chargers were sophomore Aidan Taylor who finished 1-2 at 138 pounds and junior Hunter Gillies who finished 0-2 at 285 pounds.
“I’m so happy for the guys, for all the things that went wrong this season, it was very rewarding to have a plan and to see the boys execute it flawlessly at the state finals,” said Union City head coach Jason Counterman.
Crance will be joined by state finalists Mears, Taylor and Gillies along with a host of very skilled Chargers as they return next year looking to further the legacy of Charger wrestling.
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Union City's Crance, Iobe secure D4 State Titles; 5 total Chargers earn All State honors
