Markham's four-goal night sparks Cheboygan soccer; track teams have success at JoBurg
CHEBOYGAN – A first-career varsity goal wasn’t enough for Cheboygan freshman Elise Markham on Wednesday.
So, she went out and scored three more after that, finished with a game-high four goals, and lifted the Chiefs to an 8-0 girls soccer victory over Big Rapids Crossroads at home.
“As Elise’s dad, of course I’m proud of her. I was proud when she scored her first one,” Cheboygan coach Tom Markham said. “It’s the best game I’ve seen her play. As a freshman, she’s just been trying to play above her age and not let her teammates down, and I think that’s a great thing.”
Markham’s big night highlighted another dominant display by the Chiefs (4-0, 4-0 Northern Michigan Soccer League), who saw Ava Baldwin score two goals. Jaelyn Wheelock and Jillian McKinley also scored to help out in a lopsided win in some ugly weather conditions.
CHEBOYGAN SOFTBALL: Ashley smacks grand slam, Johnson homers in Cheboygan softball split at Alpena
MACKINAW CITY BASEBALL: Senior leaders, clean baseball pivotal for Mackinaw City in NLC championship pursuit
“Jillian McKinley looked solid tonight, made some good runs,” Markham said. “The Baldwin twins (Ava and Addy) served some great balls up. The last goal was off a corner kick, and Penelope Balitz won the ball and played it to Elise (Markham), who scored the final goal, so I was really happy for Penelope Balitz, and her teammates were happy for her, too.
“Everybody played great tonight.”
Leading the Chiefs with three assists was Addy Baldwin. Ava Ingelsbe, Taylor Bent and Balitz each had an assist.
Cheboygan heads to Oscoda for a 5 p.m. clash on Friday.
Chief boys first, girls second at JoBurg invite
LEWISTON – The Cheboygan boys track and field team picked up a first-place finish by scoring 119 points at the Johannesburg-Lewiston Invitational on Tuesday.
Cheboygan boys earning individual first places were Evan Benson in the pole vault (10-6) and Lucas Sidlauskas in the shot put (42-5), while the 4X200 relay team of Luke Hoskins, Hayden LaPointe, Leland Brendle and Thomas VanAntwerp also took first at 1:44.77. Second places went to Gabe Sabolsky in the pole vault (9-6) and Leland Steffen in the high jump (5-0), while Quin Hatt was third in the shot put (32-9) and Zach Rupp took fourth in the shot put (32-4).
For the Cheboygan girls (116), who placed second, they were led by Bella Ecker’s first places in the high jump (5-0) and long jump (15-10). Joyce Ormsbee finished first in the shot put (27-1.75), and the 4X200 relay team of Cheyanne Friday, Olivia Patrick, Jorja Pawlowski and Abbey Zilla recorded first at 2:06.15. Zilla took second in the long jump (13-6.5), Patrick was third in the high jump (4-2), Madison Abernathy placed fourth in the shot put (22-3.75), and Nola Ecker captured fourth in the pole vault (5-0).
Mancelona will compete at the Mancelona Invitational on Friday.
VOTE FOR AOTW: Cast your vote for the Cheboygan Daily Tribune's Athlete of the Week for April 5-13
MONDAY ROUNDUP: Inland Lakes baseball stays undefeated, Onaway captures Ski Valley Conference sweep
Onaway’s Santiago breaks school record in high jump again
BELLAIRE – Xavier Santiago knows a thing or two about breaking records.
The Onaway senior high jumper did it again at an open meet in Bellaire on Tuesday, breaking his own school record with a jump of 6-8 1/2, which gave him first place. The previous Onaway record Santiago set in the event was a 6-7 jump at regionals last spring.
Onaway boys taking first in the meet were Jadin Mix, who ran a season-best time of 43.95 in the 300 hurdles, and Lelin Splan, who won the discus (113-4). The 4X100 relay team of Mix, Brendon Brewbaker, Trenton Soik and Santiago clocked a first-place time of 48.69.
The Onaway girls were led by Trinity Splan, who placed first in the shot put (88-7).
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Markham's four goals fuel Cheboygan soccer past Big Rapids Crossroads
