By Brad D. Bates
C & G Sports Writer

WARREN — With close to 900 wrestlers and thousands of spectators, there is very little about the Michigan High School Athletic Association individual wrestling state finals that is understated.

The crowds are bigger than any meet of the year, and the competition is at a higher level.

But for a trio of veteran wrestlers, it’s just business as usual.

“This is my last chance, so after this I’m done with high school,” Warren Woods Tower senior 140-pounder Brennan Brumley said of his feelings heading in the 2007-‘08 Division 2 finals March 6-8 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

“After this, I’ll go to college, but this is the last chance (for a state title). I’m just going to concentrate on my wrestling and everything will work out.”

Brumley joins St. Clair Shores Lakeview senior 125-pounder Steve Light and Utica Eisenhower senior heavyweight Brett Correll as a four-time state qualifiers.

Though the three have wrestled a combined 42 matches on the floor of The Palace — winning two-thirds of those matches — none has left with a state title, so all are looking for the fourth trip to be just a little different.

“I’m just going in looking at this as revenge and trying to get what I want,” Light said. “I’ve gone three years and haven’t achieved my goal, which is a state championship.”

Having fought his way through the consolation bracket of the double-elimination tourney on three different occasions, Light not only has three All-State honors on his résumé, he also has an 11-5 record on the floor.

“It’s a little different the first couple times,” Light said about The Palace. “I don’t think I was up to the challenge right away, and I think now it doesn’t really feel like that big of a deal — you’re there and battling.

Aside from the experience factor, another thing playing in Light’s favor is his style.

“If you watch him wrestle, he’s very offensive,” Lakeview coach Steve Nicholl said. “Whether he’s up one or up 10, he’s continuously wrestling.”

That style is only intensified under The Palace lights.

“Aggression is the main factor in wrestling for higher stakes and bigger levels,” Light said.

Light’s main goal in the early rounds is simple: stay out of the consolation bracket.

“I would love to get into a final or semifinal,” Light said. “I’ve always lost in a quarterfinal, and this year we’re looking at my possible quarterfinal against Josh Dormer from Eaton Rapids.

“He’s a former state champion, and it could be one of the biggest matches early on.”

In both years, Brumley won his first three matches to qualify for the championship, but lost both times to Jeff Steele from Plainwell High.

“For him, it’s just focusing on the little things,” Woods Tower coach Greg Mayer said of Brumley’s preparations.

“He gets the big picture, and it’s about staying focused. He knows what’s at stake, and he’s keeping his nose to the grindstone.”

That focus has led Brumley to a 53-0 record, and with Steele graduating a year ago, it’s now Brumley who will be the focus of every wrestler in his weight class.

“It depends on the kid,” Brumley said of what he’s expecting from his opposition as the top-ranked grappler in his weight. “Some kids will try to keep it close and do absolutely nothing, and some get after you and try to win the match.”

“I know my battle plan this year, and I’m more psychologically fit,” Correll said. “From the beginning of the year, I knew I had to go out there and make everyone wrestle up to me.”

Improving on his third-place finishes isn’t the only challenge awaiting Correll at The Palace; he will wrestle in the heavyweight class instead of at 215.

“He’s a 215-pounder wrestling as a heavyweight,” Drath said of Correll, who currently weights in at roughly 240.

“We’re 25 pounds heavier than we were, but we didn’t want to get too heavy. We want to make every match a wrestling match and not get in their pushing and pulling with the big guys.”

Among the host of new wrestlers Correll will have to face at heavyweight is Novi Detroit Catholic Central senior Mike Martin.

Signed to play football for the University of Michigan, the Shamrocks’ nose tackle is a possible semifinal match for Correll.

“I’m just going to go after him,” Correll said of Martin. “I know how strong he is and how athletic he is, but he’s going to have to wrestle.

“It’s going to be loud when that match happens, but you just have to keep your cool. I’ve been in those matches before, and you just have to do what you’ve been doing your whole life — wrestle.”

Which is the other thing these three have in common — a willingness to accept all challenges in an effort to leave The Palace for the last time as a champion.

“I’ve had pretty much every injury this year, but nothing is going to hold me back,” Light said. “I don’t care if I have a broken leg, I’m going out there to wrestle hard, and hopefully, get that title.”

You can reach Sports Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1029.