Prep Roundup: Traverse City West boys, girls win Cadillac Veterans Serving Veterans XC Invitational
Sep. 23—CADILLAC — Nearly two dozen area schools competed in a field of more than 40 at Cadillac's Veterans Serving Veterans Cross Country Invitational on Saturday.
The Traverse City West Titans and Traverse City St. Francis Gladiators finished first and second, respectively, in both the boys and girls races of the Gold Division. West won the boys race with 66 points and the girls race with 53 points. St. Francis scored 70 in the boys run and 86 in the girls run.
The host Vikings finished ninth in the boys race and fifth in the girls race. Also taking top-10 spots in the girls race were Buckley in fifth and Gaylord in sixth.
Buckley's Aiden Harrand continued her quest for another Record-Eagle Runner of the Year Award, setting a meet record in the process. The senior Bear took first individually in the girls race with a 17:51.85, besting runner-up Katie Berkshire of Gaylord by just under 23 seconds. The sophomore Blue Devil, who is also making a case for Runner of the Year, finished in 18:14.4.
Other area girls runners picking up top-10 finishes included St. Francis' Betsy Skendzel in fourth (18:47.54), West's Abby Veit in seventh (19:21.16) and Cadillac's Brooklynn Brown in eighth (19:33.28).
The Titans took 10th through 13th place with Tessa Mascari (19:53.75), Payton Lamb (20:00.22), Reese Smith (20:03.6) and Alyssa Fouchey (20:07.41).
Rounding out the top 20 were St. Francis' Molly Kate Hollandsworth in 15th (20:30.4) and Sarah Trojanowski in 17th (20:34.69) along with West's Peyton Tucker in 16th (20:33.86) and Bridget Raven in 18th (20:36.87).
West's Willem DeGood was the top area finisher on the boys side, taking second individually with a 16:04.84. Cadillac's Nolan Nixon was neck and neck with DeGood in third at 16:04.9.
Also finishing in the top 20 were St. Francis' Leo Swager in fifth (16:16.85), Josh Slocum in 11th (16:36.89), Tucker Krumm in 12th (16:45.6) and Lewis Walter in 20th (17:08.67) as well as West's Liam Wierzba in eighth (16:26.27), Sam King in 10th (16:32.51) and Ben Irwin in 13th (16:46.32).
In the Blue Division races, Elk Rapids won the girls overall title with 45 points. Grand Traverse Academy finished fourth followed by McBain in fifth, Kingsley in sixth, Benzie Central in ninth, and Lake City in 10th. Benzie was the top finisher on the boys side in third place. The Elks were fourth, Glen Lake was eighth, and Lake City was ninth.
Benzie's Mylie Kelly took the individual championship in the girls race, running an 18:56.81. Elk Rapids teammates Brynne Schulte and Anna Pray were fourth and fifth, respectively, with times of 19:55 and 20:10:28.
Other top-20 finishers included Bear Lake-Onekama's Addy Zeller in ninth (20:48), Elk Rapids' Eva Pray in 10th (20:48.93), Jaida Schulte in 14th (21:16.39) and Ella Peck in 15th (21:21.12), Lake Leelanau St. Mary's Claire Couturier in 16th (21:25.93), GT Academy's Addison Patrzik in 17th (21:27.1) and Paige Bell in 19th (21:28.87), and McBain's Haley Miller in 18th (21:27.8).
Bear Lake-Onekama's Mason Sinke was the boys top finisher, placing second in 16:29.67 followed by Glen Lake's Colebrook Sutherland in third at 16:37.14.
Also finishing in the top 20 were Manton's Robert Dykhouse in ninth (17:05.48), Elk Rapids' Qwynn Darnell in 10th (17:07.71), BL-O's Kaden Forward in 15th (17:34.03), Kingsley's Branden Stock in 18th (17:48.85) and Mesick's Kyle Redman in 19th (17:50.9).
VOLLEYBALL
Kalkaska Tournament draws big competition
KALKASKA — The Kalkaska Blazers hosted a varsity volleyball competition Saturday, bringing together some of the best teams in northern Michigan.
Kingsley went 4-1 on the day, losing to Beal City in the semifinals, 25-21 and 25-19. The Stags picked up wins in pool play against Central Lake (25-8, 25-15), Baldwin (25-15, 25-10) and McBain NMC (25-22, 25-12) before besting Lake Leelanau St. Mary (25-21, 25-22) in the quarterfinals.
Leading the Stags (19-4) were Olivia Reamer (27 kills, 5 blocks, 15 digs, 4 aces), Jenna Middleton (25 kills, 13 digs, 7 aces), Grace Lewis (19 kills, 26 digs, 11 aces), Isabelle Seitz (38 digs, 5 aces), Sarah Wooer (7 kills, 2 blocks, 69 assists, 27 digs), Ellie Moran (26 digs, 3 aces), Hanna Curtis (2 kills, 7 digs, 5 aces) and Marisa Graham (5 kills, 3 blocks).
McBain also finished 4-1 and lost in the semifinals. In pool play, the Ramblers beat Buckley (25-14, 25-9), Manistee (25-10, 25-17) and St. Louis (25-13, 25-16) before taking down Benzie Central (25-23, 25-13) in the quarterfinals. Lake City topped McBain in the semis, 25-17 and 25-20.
The Ramblers got contributions from Madison Ochampaugh (88 assists, 6 kills, 2 blocks, 18 digs, 90% serving), Gwyneth VerBerkmoes (51 kills, 6 blocks, 45 digs, 3 aces), Ayla Fredin (21 kills, 11 aces, 21 digs), Karsyn Meyering (34 digs, 4 assists, 94% serving, 4 aces) and Brekken Cotter (9 kills, 4 blocks, 10 digs 6 aces).
Lake Leelanau St. Mary got wins against Grayling (25-18, 25-8, 15-7), but the Eagles lost to Lake City (25-16, 25-15, 15-9) and Kingsley (25-21, 25-22).
St. Mary (14-10-2) was led by Leah Fleis (40 kills, 13 digs, 2 aces), Cathryn Mikowski (25 kills, 15 digs, 6 aces), Kyla Barnowski (4 kills, 11 digs, 6 aces), Maggie Ursu (13 digs, 6 aces) and Della Bunek (6 kills, 5 digs, 4 aces, 65 assists).
BOYS TENNIS
Glads take 3rd at Forest Hills Central quad
GRAND RAPIDS — Traverse City St. Francis took third at the Forest Hills Central quad Saturday, going 4-4 against Rockford and dropping 7-1 decisions to both Midland Dow and FHC.
Chris Bobrowksi picked up wins against all three in two-singles, defeating Rockford (6-2, 3-6, 10-6), Midland (6-1, 6-0) and FHC (7-6, 6-1). Also getting wins against Rockford were Owen Jackson at one-singles (6-1, 6-0), William Gibbons at three-singles (6-3, 6-2), and Luke Bobrowski at four-singles (2-6, 7-5, 10-5).
BOYS SOCCER
Midland 3
TC Central 0
UP NEXT: The Trojans (3-6) host Cadillac on Tuesday.
Sabres, Vikings get wins at Sunrise Side Challenge Cup
ALPENA — Traverse City Christian went 1-1-1 and Grayling went 2-1 at Saturday's Sunrise Side Challenge Cup in Alpena.
The Sabres (4-7-4) tied Marquette 2-2, lost a 3-0 decision to the host Wildcats but defeated Cheboygan by the same score. The Vikings improved to 13-3 with a 3-1 victory over Tawas and an 8-0 mercy of Cheboygan.
TC Christian welcomes Manistee on Thursday. Grayling hosts Elk Rapids on Monday.
Suttons Bay 2
Leland 1
UP NEXT: The Norsemen (7-3-2) travel to Kingsley on Monday. The Comets (8-4-1) welcome Buckley on Monday.
Kalkaska 2
McBain NMC 1
Kalkaska: Tripp Wagner 2 goals (1 PK); Kayden Dueweke-Gonzales 4 saves.
McBain Northern Michigan Christian:
UP NEXT: The Blazers (9-3-3) head to Harbor Springs on Monday. The Comets (5-7-1) travel to Shepherd on Monday.
CROSS COUNTRY
Area runners excel at Petoskey Kiwanis Invitational
PETOSKEY — Several area runners saw success at Saturday's Petoskey Kiwannis Invitational.
The host Northmen won the boys and girls team titles in the Division 1-2 races with Shane Izzard leading the Petoskey boys and Nora O'Leary leading the Petoskey girls with first-place finishes at 16:55.76 and 20:02.88, respectively.
In the Division 4 race, Charlevoix won the boys and girls overall championships while Kalkaska's Gavin Guggemos took first in the boys race at 17:07.39 and Mancelona's Emily Anger was tops in the girls race at 21:28.97.
Harbor Springs won the Division 4 boys and girls titles as the Rams took the top four spots in the boys race with Trevor Clarke leading the way at 18:07.04. Petoskey St. Michael's Jane Manthiel was first in the girls race at 20:00.35.
Trojans compete at Jackson Invitational
JACKSON — Traverse City Central took ninth in the boys race and 14th in the girls race of the Jackson Invitational on Saturday.
Zack Truszkowski was the top finisher for the Trojan boys in 18th at 16:06. Ella Kirkwood was at the head of the pack for the Central girls in 20th at 18:59.8.
8-PLAYER FOOTBALL
Brethren 54
Bear Lake 0
UP NEXT: The Bobcats (3-2) head to Baldwin on Friday. The Lakers (0-5) host Mesick on Saturday.
