Local Sports: Erie-Ida continues home streak; Carlson, Flat Rock volley for charity

ERIE – The Erie Mason-Ida co-op girls swimming team has enjoyed some home cooking this season.

Contracting issues kept the Eagles out of their pool for the early part of this season. Their first home meet was not until mid-October. They won that one and then another two days later.

Thursday made it three in a row as Erie-Ida defeated Dearborn Edsel Ford 91-79.

"If you look at it on paper, we were pretty neck-and-neck with Edsel Ford. We're a pretty good match-up as far as our times," Eagles' coach Sacha Moore said. "Our depth was huge. We have 19 girls. Only 16 of them could swim today, but our depth was key."

All 16 girls earned points for Erie-Ida, led by Sophia Sorg and Alexis Etue with 10 points apiece. Sorg hit a personal-best time in winning the butterfly and also was part of the two second-place relays. Etue won the 200 free with a personal best, placed second in the butterfly, and set another personal best on her leg of the 200 free relay.

Jessica Lay also was first in the 100 free and was part of the winning 200 free relay with Riley Jacobs, Mia Balcerzak, and Summer Smith.

Balcerzak, Smith, Taylor Collyer, and Alli Ellis also set personal records.

"It's been great to be back in our home pool," Moore said. "A lot of our girls had never swam there before. We have seven new swimmers on the team. And I'm glad our seniors – we have seven seniors too – I'm glad that they get to finish out their season in their home pool."

Seniors Jacobs, Smith, Balcerzak, Sorg, Lay, Gracie Dean, and Shelby Potter were honored during a meet at Bedford Wednesday.

PREP VOLLEYBALL

Rams, Marauders play for charity

GIBRALTAR – Gibraltar Carlson and Flat Rock played for a good cause Thursday.

The visiting Rams swept Carlson 25-14, 25-23, 25-21 but it was hard for the Marauders to see it as a loss. Carlson raised $1,265 for the Shades of Pink Foundation.

"They've donated $3.2 million in the last several years and it all stays local," Carlson coach Bill Henneman said. "They donate to people who are actively having cancer treatments and can't pay their mortgage, car payments, groceries, whatever. It's a really great organization."

The event also meant a lot to Flat Rock.

"We have one of our freshman girls parents who had a procedure yesterday for breast cancer, so it was a good night to have her in the gym and be able to support that," Rams' coach Mackenzie Kaiser said.

Sarah Giroux led Flat Rock in the match with 12 kills and 11 digs, Reagan Higdon had 7 kills, 5 digs and 4 aces, Lily Klein recorded 9 kills, and Hannah Hesse added 28 assists, 6 digs and 2 kills.

Flat Rock improved to 14-19-1.

"We're starting to play some of the better volleyball we've played all season," Kaiser said. "We're finding the right connections. It was a struggle before putting the pieces together with how young we are."

Setter Addy Skinner and libero Emma Ferguson played well for Carlson. The Marauders fell to 7-17 overall.

"Our kids are better than they were a month ago," Henneman said. "There are things we're doing well. Our out-of-system is getting better, our serving is getting better.

"A lot of credit goes to Flat Rock. ... You can tell they put in the work to get where they are. They're a fun team to watch."

Summerfield teams split

PETERSBURG – Sand Creek swept Summerfield 25-15, 25-15, 25-21 in Thursday's varsity match, but the Bulldogs took control of the junior varsity contest 25-17, 25-19, 15-11.

Skyler Johnson had 11 points, 14 digs and 3 aces for Summerfield, and Bridget Salenbien finished with 9 points and 13 digs.

Seven lucky for Mason

BRITTON – Elizabeth Sweeney logged 7 aces and 7 kills and Jada Sipert added 7 kills as Erie Mason overpowered Britton Deerfield 25-8, 25-20. 25-12 Thursday.

Brooklyn Langenderfer set up the offense with 30 assists, Audrey Trainor added 6 kills and Rylee Grodi, Jayanna Willets and Zoie Stubleski led the defense.

PREP FOOTBALL

Layton, Wertenberger unanimous

BLISSFIELD – Dundee’s Ethan Layton and Jackson Wertenberger of Ida were two of the three players to make the All-Lenawee County Athletic Association football team by unanimous vote of the coaches.

Wertenberger made it as an offensive lineman and Layton as a defensive back.

Blissfield lineman Julius Brown received unanimous recognition on both offense and defense.

Other Dundee players to make the first team were Braiden Whitaker (offensive end), Trey Parker (defensive end) and Cooper Buhl (linebacker). Ida’s other first teamers were Chris Galloway and (offensive line), Dean Thomas (at large offense).

Wertenberger also was second-team on defense and teammates Alex Giarmo, Tyler Konieczny, Jak Kocinsky and Max Buschmann received honorable mentions.

Dundee’s second teamers were Parker, Layton, Buhl, Ryan Zanger and Quinton Lephew. The Vikings put Lephew, Whitaker and Trent Vajcner on the honorable mention list.

PREP GOLF

Huron League team picked

CARLETON – Brooklyn Burke, Addison Bozynski and Adriana Skene of New Boston Huron all made the All-Huron League first team along with Ana Cuccia of St. Mary Catholic Central, Airport’s Sophie Bucki and Elyse Rogier of Flat Rock.

Second-team selections on the squad chosen by league coaches were Nora Kinsey, Tori Busen and Lauren Tolliver of SMCC, Reese Dale and Chrissy Cumbo of Flat Rock and Hannah Roof of Airport.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Local Sports: Erie-Ida continues streak; Carlson, Flat Rock play for charity