Prep roundup: Hartland wrestling, Howell boys basketball win titles over Christmas break
Hartland’s wrestling team ended one of the best calendar years in program history by beating two of the top teams in the state while winning the Lapeer Christmas Duals.
The Eagles, ranked No. 2 in Division 1, closed out 2023 with a 42-21 victory in the championship match over Hudson, the No. 1-ranked team in Division 4.
Along the way, Hartland beat perennial Division 1 power Davison, 35-28. The Cardinals are ranked No. 3 in Division 1 and could be a future state semifinal opponent for the Eagles Feb. 24 in Kalamazoo if the rankings hold up.
Hartland is 9-0 this season and went 32-1 in duals in 2023. The Eagles reached the Division 1 championship match on Feb. 25, losing 41-21 to Detroit Catholic Central, and put four wrestlers in state championship matches March 4 at Ford Field.
Bodie Abbey, who became the first Hartland boy to win a state championship as a freshman, beat two highly ranked opponents against Hudson and Davison.
Abbey won a 3-2 decision at 126 pounds over Hudson junior Julien Kimling, Michigan Grappler’s No. 2 wrestler at 132 in Division 4. Abbey won an 11-2 major decision against Davison sophomore Calvin Martz, who is ranked No. 4 at 126 in Division 1. Abbey is ranked No. 1 at 126 in Division 1.
Hudson led Hartland 9-0 after two matches and trailed only 17-15 through seven before Hartland won the next four to take control.
Davison led Hartland 16-14 through six matches. Each team won four matches the rest of the way, but Hartland had three pins while the Cardinals had three decisions.
Hartland beat Roseville, 78-4, and Yale, 69-12, in its first two matches.
Hartland will look to strengthen its status as one of Michigan’s top programs at 9 a.m. Saturday in one of the top tournaments of the regular season, the Detroit Catholic Central Invitational.
Boys basketball
Mason Holiday Hoops Tournament
Howell won the tournament by winning 55-53 over Holly in the semifinals and 58-51 over Mason in the championship game.
Senior Curt Dell scored 18 points against Holly and a career-high 25 against Mason. Dell and Howell senior point guard Jaylen Hicks made the all-tournament team.
Mason (6-2) beat Walled Lake Western, 73-53, in the other semifinal.
The Highlanders are 5-3 heading into a home game against Novi at 7 p.m. Friday.
Milford Skip Holiday Classic
Hartland split two games, losing 63-49 to Fenton in the semifinals before winning 55-41 over Plymouth in the consolation game.
The Eagles (6-2) will host Brighton at 7 p.m. Friday.
Airport Jets Showcase
Brighton lost 64-54 to Flat Rock.
Grant Hetherton scored 14 points and Ty Langenderfer 10 for the Bulldogs (2-5). Trevor Viau added eight points and five assists for Brighton.
Allen Park Inter-City Baptist 68, Charyl Stockwell 38
Nik Nicaj scored 12 points, Drew Goodwin had eight points and 10 rebounds, and Ed Nicaj had eight points for Stockwell.
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Girls basketball
Hartland 54, Saginaw Arthur Hill 39
Jaylen Nokovich scored 16 points and Aubree Meyer 11 for Hartland (6-0) in the Michigan Hardwood Classic.
The Eagles will travel to Brighton at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Stockbridge 40, Pinckney 39
Two players accounted for all of the scoring for Pinckney (2-4), with junior Audrey Wardlow scoring 25 points and senior Brielle Reason scoring 14. The rest of the Pirates were 0-for-8 from the floor.
Pinckney’s next game is at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Fowlerville.
Gymnastics
Howell and Brighton each beat Canton. Howell scored 140.025 points, Brighton 135.275 and Canton 132.125.
Howell’s Maria Petru swept all four events, finishing first all around with 37.70 points. She won vault (9.30), bars (9.425), beam (9.45) and floor exercise (9.525).
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Hartland beats state wrestling powers to win Lapeer Christmas Duals
