Times selects All-Area wrestlers

TRI-CITY AREA — From the first bout until the last, these competitors set the standard for excellence with their respective performances out on the mat.

Here is a look at who made the 2025-26 edition of the Tri-City Times All-Area wrestling team and their accomplishments along the way.

Gabe Peters, Capac, 106/113 pounds.

Peters managed a 28-13 record, good for a success clip of 68.3 percent, while collecting 17 pins this past winter.

The senior obtained seconds competing as a 113-pounder at the Ryan Mercer Tournament in Mayville and Big Thumb Conference Tournament hosted by Capac High School; plus supplied a second participating in the 106-pound weight class at a Division 4 district in Clinton and obtained a fourth at a Division 4 regional hosted by Whitmore Lake.

“Gabe took last year off wrestling but came back this season with a goal,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “His goal was to make it to the state finals,” he noted.

“He put in the work and accomplished his goal. He will be missed from the team next year.”

This was his third year on Capac’s team.

Caleb McLain, Imlay City, 113 pounds.

McLain amassed a 22-22 mark, a success rate of 50 percent, with 14 pins during the 2025-26 campaign.

The senior provided seconds at a Division 3 district in Richmond and supplied a fifth at the Bad Axe Invitational.

“He was a great captain for us this season,” Imlay City Coach Brandon Day commented. “Caleb did a great job overcoming some early season adversity to come within one match of qualifying for the individual state finals,” he noted.

“He was a great mentor for his younger teammates and his 4.0 GPA helped make our team academic All-State for the second year in a row.”

This was his fourth season on Imlay City’s squad.

Luca Longo, Capac, 120/126 pounds.

Longo produced a 32-24 record, good for a success clip of 57.1 percent, while contributing 20 pins this winter.

The senior supplied a second at a Clinton-based Division 4 district and provided a third at the Big Thumb Conference Tournament hosted by Capac High School.

“He also took last year off for us, Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “Luca was battling multiple injuries but he did not let that stop him,” he noted.

“Luca was one of the hardest workers in the room. He stepped up whenever we needed him to help the team. Although he came up a little short from his goal, I am very proud of how he wrestled this year.”

This was his third year on Capac’s team.

Alberto Chapa, Capac, 126/132 pounds.

Chapa generated a 30-14 mark, a success rate of 68.2 percent, with 20 pins during the 2025-26 campaign.

The junior furnished a third competing in the 126-pound weight class at the Bad Axe-based Wayne Brady Invitational and was third participating in the 132-pound weight division at the Big Thumb Conference Tournament hosted by Capac High School.

“He has always been a strong wrestler in our lineup,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “Albert does what is needed of him in tough matches and will do what is needed to help the team,” he noted.

“He puts a lot of work in during the offseason. I am looking forward to seeing him succeed in his final season.”

This was his third season on Capac’s squad.

Daniel Rojas, Imlay City, 132 pounds.

Rojas provided a 42-13 record, good enough for a success clip of 76.8 percent, while accumulating 24 pins this winter.

The junior claimed a first at the New Lothrop Tournament; generated seconds at the Thumb Counties Tournament hosted by Imlay City, a Richmond-based Division 3 district and a Division 3 regional in Yale; obtained thirds at a Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament and the Division 3 state finals hosted by Detroit’s Ford Field (earning All-State accolades as a result); plus added a sixth at the Hudson Tournament.

“He was off the mat for two seasons as a result of injury,” Imlay City Coach Brandon Day commented. “Danny has great work ethic and loves to be coached hard,” he noted.

“Our tough schedule and his ability to deal with adversity allowed him to peak at the end of the season,” he noted.

“Danny has the ability to be a great leader for us next season.

This was his second year on Imlay City’s team.

Sam Schneider, Capac, 138 pounds.

Schneider wound up with a 47-12 mark, a success rate of 79.2 percent, with 27 pins during the 2025-26 campaign.

The senior claimed a first at the Big Thumb Conference Tournament where he was named the winner of the Rich Reid Award which is given to Most Dominant Wrestler Award in the league throughout the entire year.

He also claimed a second at the Ryan  Mercer Tournament in Mayville; garnered a fourth at the Yale-based Jim Peltier Classic and a Division 4 district in Clinton; and was fifth at the Bad Axe-based Wayne Brady Invitational.

“He has again been a dominant force on the team,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “Sam has broken most of the school individual and career records,” he noted.

“He is one of the hardest working kids we have ever had. He came up short this year at regionals, but has accomplished amazing things. He definitely will be missed.

This was his third year on Capac’s squad.

Josiah Clark, Almont, 144 pounds.

Clark posted a 34-8 record, a success rate of 81 percent, while amassing 24 pins this winter.

The senior took first at the Mayville-based Ryan Mercer Tournament and Dan Lowe Invitational; plus provided a second at the Yale-based Jim Peltier Classic.

“He has grown so much both on and off the mat,” Almont Coach Chris Loomis commented. “It has been a pleasure to have a front row seat to Josiah’s career here,” he noted.

“The program will miss his unique talent in the room.”

This was his fourth season on Almont’s squad.

Brady Dahn, Imlay City, 157 pounds.

Dahn forged a 31-19 mark, good enough for a success clip of 62 percent, while contributing 14 pins.

The senior generated a first at the Thumb Counties Tournament hosted by Imlay City and a Richmond-based Division 3 district; obtained a second at the Blue Water Area Conference Tournament in Yale; supplied a third at the New Lothrop Tournament; and furnished a fourth at a Division 3 regional in Yale.

“He had a great senior year for us qualifying for the individual state finals,” Imlay City Coach Brandon Day commented. “Brady did a great job taking coaching and allowing us to clean up some fundamentals that were keeping him from reaching his potential,” he noted.

“He made those corrections and as a result he beat several individuals in the league and postseason that beat him earlier in the year. Brady is a great student and helped our team qualify for academic All-State honors once again this season.”

This was his fourth year on Imlay City’s team.

Ava Klink, Capac, 155 pounds.

Klink produced a 16-8 mark, a success rate of 66.7 percent, with 14 pins during the 2025-26 campaign.

The senior claimed a first at the Lady Falcons Invitational; obtained seconds at a Mount Morris-based individual district and the Big Thumb Conference Tournament hosted by Capac High School; furnished thirds at the Tri-County Tournament and the Mount Morris Tournament; plus provided a fourth at a regional hosted by Warren Mott.

“She is a wrestler that is always at practice working hard,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “Ava is the first girl we have had for four seasons on our team,” he noted.

“She has accomplished a lot in that time (first ever district champion and a three-time state qualifier). Ava always wants to wrestle even if it is a tough opponent she faces. I am sure she will continue to do great things.”

Scott Isaacson, Imlay City, 165 pounds.

Isaacson put together a 16-16 record, a success rate of 50 percent, while contributing nine pins this winter.

The junior contributed thirds at the Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament and at a Division 3 district in Richmond.

“He has a ton of ability and was extremely consistent with his attitude and training habits,” Imlay City Coach Brandon Day commented. “Scott peaked at the end of the season winning some big matches for us in duals and qualifying for the regional tournament individually,” he noted.

“If Scott puts in a great offseason he could have an extremely memorable senior year.”

This was his third season on Imlay City’s squad.

Zach Stroup, Capac, 165/175 pounds.

Stroup supplied a 32-21 mark, good enough for a success clip of 60.4 percent, while amassing 23 pins this past winter.

The senior contributed a third at the Ryan Mercer Tournament in Mayville.
“He has turned into a great wrestler,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “Zach won some very big matches for us.” he noted.

“He would often bump up a weight class to help out the team. He knew what the team needed and did it. We would not have had the season we did without Zach.”

This was his third year on Capac’s team.

Alex Pettke, Imlay City, 190/215 pounds.

Pettke produced a 23-25 mark, a success rate of 47.9 percent, with 16 pins during the 2025-26 campaign.

The senior contributed fourths at the Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament and at a Division 3 district in Richmond; plus supplied a fifth at the Thumb Counties Tournament hosted by Imlay City High School.

“He started wrestling as a junior in high school and nearly qualified for the individual state finals,” Imlay City Coach Brandon Day commented. “Alex worked extremely hard lifting in the mornings, wrestling in the afternoon and never missing practice,” he noted.

“He understood, unfortunately, what lots of high school kids tend to take for granted until its too late. Alex is an unselfish three-sport athlete who takes nothing for granted and cares greatly about his teammates.”

This was his second season on Imlay City’s squad.

Peyton Frankowiak, Capac, 190/215 pounds.

Frankowiak managed a 22-14 record, good enough for a success clip of 61.1 percent, while collecting 11 pins this winter.

The senior provided a third in the 190-pound weight class at the Big Thumb Conference Tournament hosted by Capac High School and took fourth at a Clinton-based Division 4 district; plus placed fourth in the 215-pound weight division at the Ryan Mercer Tournament in Mayville.

“Peyton has been a key wrestler for the last few years,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “This year he really turned it on and came back to kids that have beat him in the past,” he noted.

“He has grown a lot this year and I will miss having him around.”

This was his fourth year on Capac’s team.

Connor Powers, Capac, 215 pounds.

Powers amassed a 36-12 mark, a success rate of 75 percent, while accumulating 23 pins during the 2025-26 campaign.

The junior furnished seconds at the Big Thumb Conference Tournament hosted by Capac High School and Mayville-based Ryan Mercer Tournament; obtained thirds at the Wayne Brady Classic in Bad Axe and at a Clinton-based Division 4 district; plus added a fifth at the Jim Peltier Invitational in Yale.

“Every year Connor improves,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “This year he made another leap,’’ he noted.

“He was battling a sickness and just missed going to the state finals. I know he is going to put in the work during the offseason and go out with a bang next year.”

This was his third season on Capac’s squad.

Brayden Cremeans, Imlay City, 285 pounds.

Cremeans put together a 36-14 record, good enough for a success clip of 72 percent, with 24 pins this winter.

The freshman provided firsts at the Mayville-based Ryan Mercer Tournament and Bad Axe Invitational; earned a third at a Richmond-based Division 3 district; plus added a sixth at the Thumb Counties Tournament hosted by Imlay City High School.

“He has a ton of God given ability,” Imlay City Coach Brandon Day commented. “Brayden has the potential to be as good as he wants to be,” he noted.

“He was one match away from qualifying for the individual state finals. Brayden did a great job competing against our challenging schedule this season. He is a great teammate.”

This was his first year on Imlay City’s team.

Kaleb Pietrzak, Capac, 285 pounds.

Pietrzak generated a 26-12 mark, a success rate of 68.4, with 21 pins during the 2025-26 campaign.

The junior claimed seconds at the Big Thumb Conference Tournament hosted by Capac High School and a Whitmore Lake-based Division 4 regional; provided a third at a Division 4 district in Clinton plus tacked on a fifth at the Yale-based Jim Peltier Classic.

“He was another one that was not able to wrestle a year ago because of an injury,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “This year he made another leap,” he noted.

“He came back this year and got after it. Kaleb worked hard and being a state qualifier in our region is a great accomplishment. There is no doubt in my mind he will be standing high on the podium next season.”

This was his third season on Capac’s squad.

Second team- Isabella Chapa, Capac, 103/106 pounds; Tristan Wagner, Imlay City, 106 pounds; James Johnson, Imlay City, 120 pounds, Jake Barbier, Capac, 120 pounds; Jacob Capling, Imlay City, 126 pounds; Gavin Smith, Imlay City, 138 pounds; Landin Watkins, Almont, 138 pounds; and Caleb Siracki, Imlay City, 144 pounds.

Coach of the Year- For guiding his team to a 23-8 overall mark and an 11-2 Big Thumb Conference showing; a first at a Division 4 district in Capac; and a second at the Big Thumb Conference Tournament it hosted; Capac’s Jacob Nemecek receives Tri-City Times Coach of the Year accolades.