DETROIT — All throughout the 2025-26 MHSAA wrestling season, Cristian Haslem knew there was a target on his back. That comes with the territory of being a defending state champion.
Of course, Haslem didn’t mind. And when it came time to protect that title, the St. Clair senior showed everyone why the state finals remain his territory.
Haslem dispatched Fenton’s Lucas Christopher to win the Division 2 individual state championship at 126 pounds at Ford Field on Saturday, March 7.
“It feels amazing,” said Haslem, who won with a 5-2 decision. “I’ve been working for it all year … knowing that if didn’t keep working, (the contenders) who were trying to come for me were going to get me. I just had to keep going to get better.”
“(This is the result of) just a tremendous amount of hard work,” St. Clair coach Jake Scillian said. “It starts at a young age. (Haslem) and his family are dedicated. Everyone is all in to get him better … it’s nice to see it all pay off.”
Haslem’s family and friends, along with the other St. Clair fans, filled the first several rows of their section, which sat a stone’s throw away from the mat. So, once victory was secured, the crowd’s roar reverberated right to Haslem.
“It means a lot to be able to put (St. Clair) on the map for wrestling,” Haslem said. “I just want to grow the (school) community more in wrestling.”
Contact Brenden Welper at bwelper@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @BrendenWelper.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: St. Clair wrestling’s Cristian Haslem repeats as MHSAA state champion