Davison's Caden Horwath and Detroit Catholic Central's Dylan Gilcher are the only Michigan wrestlers ranked among the nation's top 20 in their weight classes

They have something else in common -- both are freshmen. In fact, Gilcher is the lone freshman from any state who appears in the current 113-pound national rankings. 

But Horwath and Gilcher are hardly the only rookies making an impact on the Michigan prep wrestling scene. Freshmen captured five state championships last season, giving themselves a chance to join the exclusive four-time state champion club.

How many will stand atop podiums this year?

Here is a closer look at five freshmen who could do just that.

1. CADEN HORWATH, DAVISON

Ranked 16th nationally at 106 pounds, Horwath is off to a 19-2 start with several noteworthy wins.

He placed second at the loaded Brecksville (Ohio) Holiday Tournament, suffering his first loss of the season in the 106-pound title match. Brecksville's Pito Castro decisioned Horwath, 4-1. 

Moving up to 112 pounds, he defeated Westland John Glenn's Josh Mars and Detroit Catholic Central's Anthony Walker by a combined 31-11 margin at the DCC Invitational. Both wrestlers placed among the top four at 103 pounds at last year's Division 1 state tournament.

Horwath suffered his only loss to a Michigan wrestler in the title match, dropping a 15-8 decision to Jacob Brya of St. Johns, last year's Division 2, 103-pound state champion. 

He remained at 112 for the DCC Duals where Horwath edged Sean Seefeldt of St. Edwards (Ohio), 3-2. Seefeldt was second at last year's Division I Ohio state tournament. Horwath also owns wins over Jude Robson (second, 2019 Virginia state tournament), and Logan Miller (fifth, 2019 Indiana State Tournament). 

He will likely remain at 112 in the Cardinals’ lineup for duals and possibly the individual state tourney with 2019 state 103 runner-up Aden Wiliams holding down the lowest weight. Davison's 112-pound starter last year -- state qualifier Owen Payne – has moved up to 119, creating a lineup vacancy. 

2. DYLAN GILCHER, DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL

Gilcher is ranked 20th in the nation at 113, but defeated four wrestlers currently ranked in the top 16 at 106 pounds at last fall's Super 32 tournament. He knocked off Pennsylvania's Mac Church (ranked seventh), Illinois' Charlie Farmer (ninth), Minnesota's Jore Volk (11th), and Horwath. 

At the Grappler Fall Classic, Gilcher bested Gavin Owens, second at last year's Division 3 Ohio state tournament, and Jesse Gehr, sixth in Florida's 2019 state tournament. Owens and Gehr were a combined 81-11 last season.

Since the high school season began, Gilcher has alternated between 112 and 119 and handled Romeo's Caleb Youngblood, fourth in Division 1 at 112 in last year's state tournament, and Lowell's Nick Korhorn, a state runner-up in 2018. He has also beaten Abe Hinrechsen, fourth at last year's Illinois state tournament. 

Gilcher's only two losses to Michigan wrestlers have come at the hands of Stoney Creek's Andrew Hampton, third in last year's Division 1 state tourney, by a combined score of 7-4. 

He will likely remain at 112 for most duals and the individual state tournament where he could face Horwath. 

Gilcher fills a spot in the lineup occupied by state qualifier Caleb White last year. He has moved up to 119. 

3. JOSH BARR, DAVISON

Barr has bolted to a 15-0 start, establishing himself as the wrestler to beat for the Division 1, 152-pound state title.

In fact, all new faces will occupy all eight places on the podium because six of last year's top eight finishers have graduated and the other two have moved up in weight.

Barr's biggest win so far came against DCC's Logan Sanom, who has placed in the top eight at 145 pounds in the last two state tourneys with a 76-18 record during that time. Barr decisioned the future Bucknell wrestler, 15-8, in the DCC Invitational title match.

He has also knocked off Lowell's James Fotis, fifth in last year's Division 2 state tournament. 

At the Grappler Fall Classic, Barr bested Victor Jacinto, who was fourth at the 2019 California state tournament.

Barr filled a vacancy in the lineup left by the graduation of Brian Case, who was fourth in the state last season. 

4. BRAEDEN DAVIS, DUNDEE

Davis has started the season 16-3 and appears in a great position to succeed teammate Casey Swiderski as Division 3, 103-pound state champion. Swiderski has been wrestling at 126/130 most of this season.

Gladstone's Michael Brazeau, seventh last year, is the only one of last year's top eight who is wrestling at that weight again this season.

In Michigan, Davis has lost only to Division 1 grapplers Quaylon Newton (Brighton) and DCC's Drew Heethius, a fellow freshman. However, Davis avenged the loss to Newton, a state qualifier last season, with a 2-1 decision at the DCC Super Duals.

5. MAX CALLAHAN, DAVISON

Against a quality slate of opponents, Callahan has put together a 9-3 record at 171 pounds. 

He has already beaten Alma's Justin VanBlaricum, who has fifth at 152 in last year's Division 3 state tourney, twice. Callahan also edged Lowell's Doak Dean, seventh in last year's Division 2 tourney at 145, 3-2.

Callahan's most memorable moment of the season thus far is moving up and winning the 189-pound championship at the DCC Invitational. He breezed past Rockford's Cole Gleason, eighth at last year's Division 1 state tourney, in the semifinals, 10-1. In the title match, Callahan outlasted Whitehall's Kayleb Venema, a Division 3 state runner-up last season, 11-9.

In Michigan, he has lost only to Dundee's Stoney Buell, a two-time Division 3 state champion, and Brighton's Dane Donabedian, who was sixth in last year's Division 1 state tournament at 160. 

Davison was in need of a new starter at 171 after Jay Nivison, third at last year's state tourney, moved up to replace graduated 189-pounder Cal Stefanko, who was second in the state last year.

Mark Spezia is a freelance writer based in Lapeer, Michigan. He has written for ESPNW, Flohockey, Flint, Michigan-based My City Magazine, the Detroit Free Press, Hour Detroit Magazine and Troy, Michigan-based Oakland Press. He previously worked for the Flint Journal, Lapeer (Michigan) County Press and Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton, Michiga