By Dan Ward

“You don’t get here by accident.”

That’s what I told our two state qualifiers, Donovan Quinn and Olivia Pettigrew.

In Michigan high school wrestling, nothing is handed to you. The path is simple, but not easy: the top four at districts move on. Top four at regionals punch their ticket to Ford Field. Every varsity wrestler gets a shot at districts — up to 14 entries per team — and sometimes brackets thin out. But regionals? That’s different. That’s the best of the best. Sixteen wrestlers per weight. No easy draws.
No lucky breaks.
No shortcuts.

And that’s exactly how it should be.

Because when you step onto the floor at Ford Field for the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals, you didn’t stumble into it. You fought your way there.

I had the privilege of talking with Liv and Donovan after practice on Tuesday. I asked how postseason preparation differs from the regular season.
Donovan answered first. “We’re coming down a lot on time and intensity just so we can keep each other healthy.”
That’s maturity. That’s experience.

Liv added, “We’re working on the small things we need to improve on and working on mindset.”

That’s focus. That’s growth.
When I asked how they were feeling, Donovan didn’t hesitate.
“I’m amazed. I’m prepared. I’m going to take first this year.”

Confidence. Not arrogance — belief. The kind earned through years of work.

Liv smiled and said, “I feel great. I’m coming off a little illness, my body feels good, and I’m ready. I’m ready for this.”

All heart.

Donovan has been to Ford Field before. I asked him what that experience taught him.
“I can picture it in my mind. I can picture Ford Field. I can feel the mats slide under my feet — because they always slide. They put down like 15 layers of tape, and they still slide.”
That’s not just a memory. That’s visualization. Champions see it before they do it.

Liv’s journey is different — and just as powerful.
She is only the second girl in St. Johns history to qualify for the State Finals, joining Shelby Krum. But what makes Liv’s story special is this: she was here when the girls’ “program” was just her. No lineup. No depth chart. Just one wrestler showing up every day, putting in the work.

I asked her if carrying that torch weighs on her.
“I feel like me going is setting an example for not only the girls up here, but for girls in general that want to wrestle. When I think about it, it’s like ‘Wow, I’m really doing this.’ I feel like I deserve to be there just for how hard I’ve worked.”

Donovan chimed in: “You are setting your own legacy.”

He’s right.

Make no mistake — both of these athletes deserve to be there.
Wrestling is the longest grind of any high school sport. It starts before Thanksgiving and runs deep into winter. It demands discipline with weight, strength in the middle of cold and flu season, and mental toughness when your body is exhausted. There are no timeouts to hide in. No teammates to substitute in. Just you and another wrestler in the circle.

Michigan’s wrestling state tournament has been crowning champions for nearly a century, with the MHSAA first sponsoring the event in 1938. Since then, thousands have competed — but only a fraction ever stand atop the podium. Even fewer get to wrestle under the bright lights at Ford Field in Detroit, a venue that also hosts NFL games and major championships. The stage is massive. The spotlight is real. And every single wrestler there earned it the hard way.
That’s what makes this different.
That’s what makes this special.

It’s not just about winning a match. It’s about surviving the grind. It’s about heart.

Donovan extended St. Johns’ long tradition of sending wrestlers to the Finals — a testament to the program’s consistency. Liv is helping carve a new chapter in that tradition, proving that girls wrestling isn’t the future — it’s the present.

All heart.

The State Finals are Friday and Saturday. Donovan and Liv will leave St. Johns at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday for Detroit. With school letting out early, the traditional send-off might be smaller than usual.
Let’s not let that happen.

If you can, come to the high school around 1:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Show up. Clap loud. Let them hear you before they hear the roar of Ford Field.
Because they didn’t get here by accident.
They got here on heart.