By Jim Bloch
On March 5 at Ford Field in Detroit, St. Clair High School wrestler Cristian Haslem outpointed Lucas Christopher of Fenton by 5-2 to win the Division 2/Class B Michigan High School state championship in 126-pound division.
Haslem is a senior.
On May 4, the St. Clair City Council presented Haslem with a “special acknowledgement.”
“This recognition is given by the city of St. Clair in the true spirit of community pride and personal achievement,” read the document, signed by Mayor Bill Cedar.
Haslem approached the council table amid applause from the audience and accepted the certificate from the mayor. He proceeded to shake hands with the five council members – member Micah Volz was absent – as well as City Clerk Annette Sturdy, City Attorney Jim Downey and City Superintendent Steve Duchene.
“Haslem won his second-consecutive championship, finding a way to edge Christopher after winning the 120-pound title a year ago,” wrote Dave Ellis for MHSAA.
“It helped me realize that I was meant to be here, and it wasn’t a mistake,’” Haslem told Ellis. “I knew people were coming for me all year and that I had to work even harder to win again.”
“A takedown in the second period put Haslem in the driver’s seat, and he added an insurance point in the third on an escape,” Ellis wrote.
Haslem finished the year 53-1. Christopher, a sophomore, wrapped up a 57-3 campaign.
The young wrestler declined to address the council.
“The accomplishment of becoming a state champ is just wonderful, amazing,” said Cedar, as heard on the recording of the meeting by CTV-Channel 6, posted on YouTube. “What I am really proud of when you get someone like this sitting out there is how they got there. The sacrifice. The work. Not eating what everybody else wants to eat. Watching your diet. It’s a lot of work and a lot of giving up what you don’t want to give up. But he did it.”
In 2025, Haslem won a 17-12 decision over Devon Garcia of Battle Creek/Harper Creek to win the state championship in the 120-pound division. Haslem became the first
wrestler in SCHS history to win a state championship. Garcia, his opponent in the 2025 finals, went onto to win the state championship at 132 pounds in 2026.
Haslem was the state runner up in at 106 pounds in 2023 as a freshman when he went 46-2. He was state runner up at 113 as a sophomore, losing to Garcia; Haslem finished the year 49-1.
He plans to attend Central Michigan University in the fall.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
