Alex Schram: Embracing the Discomfort of Success

SAGINAW, MI – Alex Schram has learned to thrive in discomfort, finding energy in exhaustion. His success on the wrestling mat is a testament to his ability to push through challenges and come out stronger.

At the 53rd annual Saginaw County Wrestling Meet at Heritage, Schram, a senior from Swan Valley, was named Most Valuable Wrestler in the Upper Weight (150-285) category. He secured the 190-pound championship with a pin in 3:59 over Freeland’s Colton Winchell, improving his record to 16-1 with 12 pins this season.

“He’s 190 pounds and runs cross country … he’s got an extra gas tank,” said Swan Valley coach Justin Brandel. “He’s a sub 20-minute runner, so he can move for a 190-pounder. He’s extremely strong, and he uses that pace and that strength to drag people deep.”

Schram, who is ranked eighth in the state at 190 pounds in Division 3, has a personal best of 18:54.3 in cross country (5,000 meters).

“It helps with cardio, which is kind of why I do it,” Schram said. “I’m able to use more energy while the opponent gets gassed. I have another gas tank I can use. I still get tired, just not as tired as my opponent. Running cross country, you get used to getting tired. You learn to fight through it and exert yourself.”

Schram had an impressive day at the meet, going 3-0 with three pins. He defeated Freeland’s Raymond Fox in the quarterfinals with a pin at 1:00 and Birch Run’s Tyler West in the semifinals with a pin at 1:01.

“Running is a lot like wrestling in that a lot of it is mental,” Brandel said. “How long can I stay uncomfortable? We’ve got a bunch of guys who are comfortable being uncomfortable. You need that in cross country and wrestling.”

Freeland Dominates Team Competition

Freeland claimed the team trophy for the second consecutive season, finishing with 284.5 points. Birch Run came in second with 256 points, followed by Frankenmuth in third with 212 points and Swan Valley in fourth with 168 points.

“We felt that if we wrestled the way we were supposed to, we had a good chance of winning,” said Freeland coach Jonathan Rosebush. “We knew we had to because Birch Run has a super tough team with good kids up and down the lineup. Birch Run wrestled great, but we had six champions. We wrestled up to our expectations, so it was a great day.”

Nolan Cunningham led the Falcons, earning the Most Valuable Wrestler in the Lower Weight (106-144) category with a championship at 144 pounds. He rallied late to claim a 9-7 decision over Frankenmuth’s Bradyn Curtis, who was ranked second in the state in Division 2 at 144 pounds.

“Those two have wrestled each other a bunch, and it’s always been a close, tough match,” Rosebush said. “It’s just great having a rival that’s near to us where we can get that kind of competition and make each other better. Nolan really picked up the pace and really deserved that win.”

Cunningham, a junior, improved to 19-6. He is not ranked.

“That was a huge win … we’re always trying to chase after the best guys,” Rosebush said. “He has faith in the work in the practice room, faith in the coaches and faith in himself. He knows that putting in all the hard work allows him to compete with those guys. He knows that if he wrestles his best, he can beat the best.”

Other Freeland champions included Easton Rosebush (113), Michael Wilson (126), Preston Witherell (138), Zack Clark (215) and Brigham Smith (285).

Birch Run claimed two titles behind Alex Golden (106) and Ethan White (165), while Frankenmuth got championships from Colton Whittaker (132), EJ Bernthal (150), Cade Olgine (175) and Griffin Clontz (157).

Swan Valley netted first places from Logan Selasky (120) and Schram.

Individual Awards and Standings

Other County individual awards went to Merrill’s Phillip Kamm (Coach of the Year), Swan Valley’s Shaun Whitney (Assistant Coach of the Year), Chesaning’s Hayden Salazar (Coaches Award), Swan Valley’s Logan Selasky (Live Like Ryley Lotz Award) and Michigan Lutheran Seminary’s Noah Adams (Paul Sipiala Award).

Team Scores

• Freeland: 284.5
• Birch Run: 256
• Frankenmuth: 212
• Swan Valley: 168
• Heritage: 139.5
• Chesaning: 108
• Michigan Lutheran Seminary: 106.5
• Hemlock: 67.5
• Saginaw United: 48.5
• Valley Lutheran: 46.5
• Carrollton: 30
• Bridgeport: 12.5
• (tie) Merrill, St. Charles: 0

All-County Results

106

Alex Golden (Birch Run) d. Cadyn Lotz (Swan Valley), 16-0; 3. Collin Earls (Freeland); 4. Jensen Antilla (Frankenmuth); 5. Evangline Lisik (Heritage); 6. Jasmine Sayan (Birch Run).

113

Easton Rosebush (Freeland) p. Jackson Newton (Birch Run), 0:50; 3. Ayden Wright (Swan Valley); 4. Garrett Southerland (Swan Valley); Jesus Castillo (Bridgeport); Elijah Hibbs (Frankenmuth).

120

Logan Selasky (Swan Valley) p. Samuel Klopf (Freeland), 1:17; 3. Jacob Kerosen (Birch Run); 4. Andrew Reid (Hemlock); 5. Cullan Burke (Michigan Lutheran Seminary); 6. Marcus Letterman (Birch Run).

126

Michael Wilson (Freeland) d. Elijah Kneuss (Birch Run), 15-0; 3. Colton Hatch (Frankenmuth); 4. Braxton Darland (Swan Valley); 5. Kellen Potis (Heritage); 6. Cooper Ward (Hemlock).

132

Colton Whittaker (Frankenmuth) d. Sean Cox (Birch Run), 15-3; 3. Ridley Wakefield (Michigan Lutheran Seminary); 4. Gage Stam (Chesaning); 5. Owen Hare (Swan Valley); 6. Liem Rodriguez (Heritage).

138

Preston Witherell (Freeland) p. Jeremiah Counts (Heritage), 5:26; 3. Javen Gomez (Swan Valley); 4. Chance Wilson (Freeland); 5. Cayden Cunningham (Birch Run); 6. Vincent Morse (Swan Valley).

144

Nolan Cunningham (Freeland) d. Bradyn Curtis (Frankenmuth), 9-7; 3. Richard Ochoa (Michigan Lutheran Seminary); 4. Cameron Lavere (Heritage); 5. Damion Obuchowski (Chesaning); 6. Wyatt Retberg (Michigan Lutheran Seminary).

150

EJ Bernthal (Frankenmuth) d. Kaelen Harrington (Birch Run), 6-2; 3. Wyatt Brewer (Birch Run); 4. Cash Ardouin (Swan Valley); 5. Steven Katzenberger (Hemlock); 6. Logan Peavey (Carrollton).

157

Griffin Clontz (Frankenmuth) p. Donte Hart (Birch Run), 1:57; 3. Hayden Salazar (Chesaning); 4. Colton Cunningham (Freeland); 5. Ethan McDonald (Carrollton); 6. Gus Kato (Heritage).

165

Ethan White (Birch Run) p. Noah Adams (Michigan Lutheran Seminary), 3:41; 3. Kayden Smith (Freeland); 4. Lucas Norton (Valley Lutheran); 5. Jorge de Reina Sastre (Freeland); 6. Aamir Calloway (Saginaw United).

175

Cade Olgine (Frankenmuth) d. Elliott Wakefield, Michigan Lutheran Seminary (11-4); 3. Peyton Heise (Chesaning); 4. Holden Hawley (Birch Run); 5. Gavin Martin (Frankenmuth); 6. Zac Sharon (Valley Lutheran).

190

Alex Schram (Swan Valley) p. Colton Winchell (Freeland), 3:59; 3. Justin Midcalf (Heritage); 4. Andrew Reiber (Chesaning); 5. Tyler West (Birch Run); 6. Tristen Williams (Heritage).

215

Zack Clark (Freeland) d. Eric Potis III (Heritage), 7-0; 3. Brody Curnutt (Hemlock); 4. Michael Smith (Valley Lutheran); 5. Luke Robinson (Michigan Lutheran Seminary); 6. Clayton Watson (Chesaning).

285

Brigham Smith (Freeland) d. Michael Carter (Frankenmuth), 4-2; 3. Jacob Raymond (Birch Run); 4. Ryan Kennedy (Saginaw United); 5. Christopher Rodriguiz (Heritage); 6. Pierrie McCall (Saginaw United).