Winner of back-to-back state titles, Whitehall senior Gavin Craner will take his wrestling skills to Central Michigan University in the fall.
Does Whitehall wrestler Gavin Craner have super hero powers on the mat?
After the March 1 individual wrestling state championship at Detroit’s Ford Field, the answer is clear: Craner is just that good.
The 190-pound Craner completed his second-straight perfect season and now has back-to-back state titles with a masterful defeat of Dundee’s Rocco Redmond. Craner cruised to his crowning achievement with an 11-0 major decision.
His 2024-25 season record finishes at 58-0. When you add in his 2023-24 undefeated state championship season, Craner stands tall with 110 straight wins.
The March 1 accomplishment was everything including perfect for Craner.
In Round 1, he pinned Standish Sterling’s Ty Yorton in just 42 seconds. Round 2 went even faster as he pinned IDA’s Justin Crozier in 30 seconds.
Craner demoralized Gladstone’s Trevor Thorbahn with an 18-3 technical fall in 5:08, advancing him to the championship match.
The state championship win adds to the senior’s deep resume at Whitehall. He has two regional championships, and also the same for city titles in the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association.
He finished runner-up at state as a sophomore while wrestling for Belding High School.
This fall, Craner will be taking his wrestling skills to Central Michigan University.
