Mold Remediation in Fowlerville, MI

KALAMAZOO — Now they know what’s possible.

Just as important, so do the youngsters in the stands who were among the large contingent of Fowlerville fans watching the state Division 2 championship match Saturday at Wings Event Center.

“We had a lot of younger kids here in the stands watching,” Fowlerville coach Dan Coon said. “Hopefully that lights a fire for them, understanding where we’ve got to go. We even had a lot of underclassmen. We didn’t have a lot of seniors stepping on the mat.”

When the Gladiators won earlier in the day to reach their first state final since 1994, senior Levi Baker was asked if anyone at Fowlerville believed they would be wrestling the Lowell dynasty for a state championship.

“Not a chance,” he said. “It’s crazy.”

It shouldn’t seem so crazy anymore for the Gladiators now that they’ve run the postseason gauntlet, competing in the final dual match of the season.

Like everyone else who faces Lowell in a state final, Fowlerville was overmatched, losing 52-14 after falling behind 46-0. It was the 12th straight state championship for the Red Arrows.

But the Gladiators weren’t even expected to advance from a district that included third-ranked Mason. They rallied to beat the Bulldogs with four straight pins to end the match.

They made their way to Kalamazoo as a No. 7 seed, then became the first seventh seed in any division to get all the way to the final match. The MHSAA has been seeding all eight quarterfinal teams since 2011.

The Gladiators’ only other state final appearance was in 1994 when they won the Class B championship.

“It’s just crazy, because of how long it’s taken us to get here,” Fowlerville senior Waylon Lamkin said. “It’s not the outcome we would’ve wanted, but it’s the second-best outcome we could have hoped for. I’m very proud of the entire team.”

Junior Layne O’Neil, one of only three Gladiators to win a match against Lowell, knows the expectations will be higher next season and in the future.

“It means we’re going to have harder practices, but we need to get better and hopefully come out and get the win here next year,” O’Neil said.

Lowell rolled out a lineup that included four wrestlers ranked No. 1 in their weight class in Division 2 and six others ranked in the top six. Fowlerville has only two wrestlers ranked in the top six.

The Red Arrows won the first nine matches, scoring bonus points in each with only four reaching the third period.

Brock Foster, Layne O’Neil and Liam O’Neil gave Fowlerville victories in three of the next four matches at the heaviest weights.

“Every one of them gave everything they had,” Coon said. “I cannot fault them for that at all. It’s my fault for not putting together a tougher schedule so we’re more prepared for a team like Lowell.

“Honestly, at the beginning of the year we didn’t ever dream we’d be in the state final. Just to be here is a dream come true. But these kids battled. Not one of them went out there and said, ‘I’ll let them score more points than me.’”

The team appreciated the outpouring of support from back home. Even though it’s nearly 100 miles from Fowlerville to Kalamazoo, a large group of fans packed the stands behind the Gladiators’ bench for the semifinal and championship matches.

“It’s a great, great feeling to know we have this type of support, because I see a lot of other schools here and they have a group of parents,” Coon said. “We don’t just have a group of parents; we have a community. That means a lot.”

Even in a difficult final match, the Gladiators were bolstered by the backing of their community.

“It means a lot being from a smaller town having this many people,” O’Neil said. “It’s big. It gave us a lot of momentum. Even though we were down, it kept us fighting no matter what.”

Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan

Japanese chemical company Asahi Kasei’s North American subsidiary has stopped developing, marketing, and selling its 3D printing filaments.

Asahi Kasei Plastics North America (APNA) entered the FDM materials market in October 2023 with the launch of filaments made from XYRON, its modified polyphenylene ether (mPPE) resin. The product line later expanded to include Thermylene, APNA’s line of polypropylene (PP) compounds.

However, the Michigan-based subsidiary has now exited the filament market. According to an Asahi Kasei spokesperson, this decision was made following an “internal business decision.”

While customers will no longer be able to access APNA’s line of filaments, the American business will continue to offer its Thermylene 3D printing pellet grades. These glass-reinforced materials feature high strength, stiffness, and heat resistance for automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications.

Asahi’s spokesperson assured me that APNA’s decision has not affected the company’s other operations. The Japanese multinational will continue offering its Cellulose Nano Fiber (CNF)-reinforced polyamide materials for additive manufacturing.

Additionally, Asahi Kasei is expanding its reach through a partnership with Italian materials manufacturer Aquafil S.p.A. Signed last October, the memorandum of understanding will see the two companies develop a new 3D printing filament for automotive and aeronautical applications.

Asahi Kasei Plastics North America ends filament sales

Asahi Kasei decided to enter the 3D printing filament market in 2023 to capitalize on what ANPA President and Chief Operating Officer Todd Glogovsky called a “rapidly growing field.” During the announcement, he added that the North American business possessed the “people and skillset to develop, enhance, and exceed the needs of hobbyists and OEMs alike.”

The plastics specialist initially presented a roadmap that promised customers a versatile and “long-term commitment” in the 3D printing sector. It initially sought to target sales in the North American market which would springboard a global expansion.

ANPA began by trialing its XYRON filament, which offered low warpage, high dimensional stability, heat resistance, electrical insulation, and impact strength. This was followed by a Thermylene filament boasting high tensile strength, chemical resistance, creep resistance, and elevated temperature performance.

During the official filament announcement, the North American business also outlined plans to advance resources through computer-aided engineering (CAE). This sought to build on the company’s CAE technical services for the engineering plastics market.

2023 also saw Asahi Kasei Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) invest in Israeli 3D printing software firm CASTOR Technologies Ltd. Through this move, the Japanese conglomerate is working to expand its CAE capabilities while enhancing automation and advanced simulations. There is no indication that Asahi is cutting back on its digital efforts within the additive manufacturing space.

Additionally, although ANPA is exiting the 3D printing filament market, this is not the end of Asahi Kasei’s FDM material sales. Through its new partnership with Aquafil, the firm is working to combine its CNF formulation with the Italian entity’s ECONYL Polymer chemically recycled PA6 to create a new filament.

The resulting CNF/ECONYL Polymer compound will reportedly feature high formability and strength for 3D printing applications. It has already been showcased at last year’s Fakuma plastics processing expo and the Formnext 2024 additive manufacturing trade show. According to Asahi Kasei, trial sales of the new 3D printing filament will begin in the EU, US, and Japan in Q3 2025.

Companies exit the 3D printing space

Business exits are nothing new in the global 3D printing market. Last year, global chemical production company BASF exited the 3D printing industry after its 3D printing business, BASF Forward AM, was carved out into an independent company.

Forward AM’s carve-out came after the business’s leadership, led by CEO Martin Back, purchased BASF’s full 3D printing portfolio. Having retained its IP and supply chain, the entity expressed its intent to meet future demand and fulfill its contractual obligations. However, following the news that insolvency proceedings had commenced towards the end of 2024, Forward AM ceased US operations last month. The firm has since partnered with RP America, a distributor and service provider, to ensure ongoing product availability and on-site support for customers in the country.

Elsewhere, 2023 saw Global print and digital document corporation Xerox sell its additive manufacturing business unit, Elem Additive Solutions. This was purchased by ADDiTEC, a US-based metal 3D printer developer. Xerox’s decision to exit the AM space came amid an effort to refocus strategic priorities and investments onto its core print, IT, and digital service capabilities.

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Featured image shows APNA’s headquarters in Fowlerville, MI. Photo via Asahi Kasei.

FOWLERVILLE — Fowlerville Community Schools has welcomed new building principals at Fowlerville High and H.T. Smith Elementary.

Nick Zajas has been named principal and Tammy Steffee assistant principal at FHS.

Zajas earned a bachelor's degree from Madonna University and an education specialist degree and master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Michigan-Flint. He served as dean of students at FHS in 2021 and was named assistant principal the following year. He will also serve as principal of the Fowlerville Online Learning Academy.

Steffee earned an undergraduate degree from Slippery Rock University with a double major in elementary education and special education. She has master's degrees in education/biotechnology and school administration from Clarion University. Steffee has 31 years of education experience and joined FCS in 2007. She spent six years at H.T. Smith Elementary before serving as a special education teacher at FHS.

“We are thrilled to announce Mr. Zajas and Ms. Steffee as our new leadership team at Fowlerville High School,” FCS Superintendent Matthew Stuard wrote in a release. “We are incredibly fortunate to have two dedicated and experienced leaders at the helm of our high school. Both have been with the district for several years, consistently demonstrating their commitment to our students and the community.”

Ross Richard is the new principal at H.T. Smith Elementary. He will later be principal at the new Fowlerville Elementary School that’s scheduled to open later this year, as H.T. is converted to house early childhood offerings and a community recreation department.

Richard earned a bachelor’s degree from Alma College and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Central Michigan University. He most recently served as principal at Gateway Elementary School in St. Johns. Richard also has experience as dean of students, an elementary teacher and an early childhood special education teacher.

“Fowlerville Community Schools is thankful to have someone with Ross’ experience leading H.T. Smith Elementary as we begin a new school year,” Stuard wrote. “He is known for his high energy, enthusiasm and strong athletic background, which will greatly benefit our youngest learners and athletes."

— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.