Gene Freed Region
(1) Highland Milford vs. (8) Big Rapids
"Easy pick. Balawajder and Salyers have both run a top flight program. Team titles over several decades and multiple individuals are proof."
- Takashi Gould
Winner: Highland Milford
(2) Charlevoix vs. (7) Stockbridge
"Charlevoix ran in a very strong cross country area for years."
- Gary Meehan
Winner: Charlevoix
(3) Williamston vs. (6) Flint Kearsley
"Kearsley just doesn't have the numbers like Williamston does. Strong up-top, but no individual champions hurts quite a bit when it gets close. Tough first round match-up for Williamston."
- Mike Newton
Winner: Williamston
(4) Rockford vs. (5) Grosse Pointe North
"Having guys like Dathan Ritzenhein and Jason Hartmann is a nice capstone to a program's legacy that Grosse Pointe North just doesn't have."
- Takashi Gould
Winner: Rockford