Montrose's wrestling squad embraced the significance of the moment as it marched on to the arena floor for the second day of Michigan's 2020 team state tournament. The Rams' held their heads and team flag high.

They had made the state semifinals for the first time since 2005 when Montrose won the last of four state championships under former coach Dave Beazley, currently a member of national power Detroit Catholic Central's staff.

The Rams, now coached by Steve Barnette, were steamrolled by eventual champion Dundee, 65-9, but finished the season with a 33-4 record and plenty of optimism.

The day before, Fremont made its first-ever team quarterfinal appearance while Hart wrestled in the quarterfinals for the first time in 30 years.

A week later, Hart's Mason Cantu and Paw Paw's William Bradley, both sophomores, reached individual state championship matches after not even making the state tournament the year before. 

If Montrose, Fremont, Hart, Cantu, and Bradley want to match or exceed that success next season, it will have to be done in different divisions. The Michigan High School Athletic Association recently released its division changes, based on enrollment, for next season. 

Montrose is moving from Division 3 to Division 4 while Fremont and Paw Paw are going from Division 3 to Division 2 and Hart from Division 4 to Division 3. 

In all, 23 schools are switching divisions next season, impacting 15 wrestlers who reached at least the top seven at this season's state tournament. 

Barnette, who wrestled for Montrose in the 1980s, took over the program in 2013. A year ago, the Rams reached the quarterfinals for the first time since the 2005 championship before going a step further this year. 

Montrose returns all five of its state qualifiers next season, including medalists Aiden Bernard (third place, 125 pounds), Levi Harber (third, 215), and Robert Skinner (seventh, 152). The Rams will retain 12 of 14 starters and only one of the returning starters finished below .500 this season. 

Despite dropping down a division, however, Montrose's path to a third straight quarterfinal appearance could be more difficult depending on how the state-tournament draw shakes out.

The Rams could run into nearby powerhouse New Lothrop, which has won three state titles in the past seven seasons and boasts 20 straight quarterfinal berths. 

Fremont returns to Division 2 after a year in Division 3. The Packers finished 24-5 under sixth-year coach Craig Zeerip, a former Ohio State wrestler. 

Fremont will return four of five state qualifiers, including medalists R.J. Thome (sixth, 103) and Trey Breuker (eighth, 152). All but four starters will be back.

Zeerip made 14 quarterfinal appearances during a long tenure (1990-2014) on Hesperia's coaching staff, including as head coach the first 14 seasons. Hesperia won the 2008 Division 4 state championship and made the state title match five other times. 

Craig Zeerip took over Fremont in 2014 and began building his alma mater up from nearly nothing. There were six wrestlers in his first season, a number that grew to 27 this year.

The Packers may have to get past Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, which also made the quarterfinals for the first time this season, in next year's district or regional round. 

Leading his alma mater to the quarterfinals was especially sweet for Hart coach Brad Altland after 23 seasons on the staff, the last nine as head coach. 

The Pirates are retaining enough talent to give themselves a chance to repeat their feats next season, even moving up a division.

In all, eight of 10 state qualifiers will be back, including medalists Cantu (second, 135), Trayce Tate (fourth, 112), Chance Alvesteffer (fifth, 130) and Thomas Tanner (eighth, 152). Hart keeps nine of 14 starters and only one finished below .500 this season.

Whitehall, which moves back to Division 3 from Division 2, could pose Hart's biggest obstacle to reaching the quarterfinals again. The Vikings made the quarterfinals six times between 2012-19, but did not advance from the district round this season.

Cantu improved from 30-16 as a freshman to 53-3 this season. He dropped a 5-1 decision to unbeaten senior Jamison Ward (Carson City-Crystal) in the state championship match. 

Getting as far next season in Division 3 could be challenging for Cantu if he remains at 135. Defending champion Casey Swiderski of Dundee (39-1) and runnerup Dametrius Castillo of Alma (38-8) will both be back. 

If Cantu moves up to 140, he would not have to face either of this year's top two finishers. Champion Christian Killion (Dundee) graduates and the runnerup was Bradley.

For his part, Bradley finished 49-5 after not even winning a regional match last season and his chances of also wrestling for a state title in Division 2 next season appear good.

That's especially if he remains at 140 where the top two finishers graduated. Third-place finisher Jackson Hoover (Edwardsburg) will return, but Bradley pinned him this season.

Here is a complete breakdown of team division changes for next season:

• Division 1 to Division 2: Battle Creek Central, Flint Carman Ainsworth
• Division 2 to Division 1: East Lansing, Fenton, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, Hamtramck, Mattawan
• Division 2 to Division 3: Benton Harbor, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Whitehall
• Division 3 to Division 2: Dearborn Heights Annapolis, Fremont, Madison Heights Bishop Foley, Paw Paw, Godwin Heights
• Division 3 to Division 4: Lake City, Montrose, Mt. Morris, Perry
• Division 4 to Division 3: Hart, Kent City, Lutheran Westland, Quincy

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, Michigan.