C.C. Thomas
Sports Scene
It was a banner day for the OK Gold Conference at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 girls golf state finals October 14 and 15 at Forest Akers West Golf Course on the campus of Michigan State University.
Not only did the conference have a player win medalist honors, but it had three teams finish in the top four.
Hastings senior Gabrielle Shipley was the medalist, with rounds of 81 and 82 for a two-day total of 163. She also helped lead her team to a thrd-place finish with a score of 774.
Perennial conference and state power South Christian finished runner-up with a score of 770, while fellow OK Gold foe Forest Hills Eastern, last year’s state champion, was fourth with a score of 781.
Grosse Ile won the state championship with 760.
Leading the way for South Christian was senior Morgan Leep, who finished with 183. She was followed in scoring by teammates Alexa Hoekwater (192), Haley Ellenbaas (197), and Megan Wierenga (199).
This year’s runner-up finish adds to the Sailors’ impressive haul of trophies from the state finals. South Christian won the state title in 2007 (spring season) and 2009, and were runners-up in 2007 (fall season) and 2008.
FOREST HILLS BOYS TENNIS TEAMS BOTH PLAY WELL AT STATE FINALS
The Forest Hills Central boys tennis team was second at the Division 2 state finals played in Kalamazoo, while Forest Hills Northern was third in Division 3 in Holly.
Forest Hills Central completed the two-day tournament with 19 points, 12 points behind an impressive H.H. Dow team. Forest Hills Northern finished with 24 points, 10 points behind champion Detroit Country Day.
Forest Hills Central was led to its runner-up trophy by the No. 3 doubles team of Joey McClure and Greg Andrews, who won a state title in their flight.
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS DEFEATED
It’s been a great fall season for boys sports at Forest Hills Central. Aside from the Rangers’ strong showing at the tennis finals, and their football team qualifying for the playoffs, the boys soccer team pulled off a shocker on October 22.
Thanks to goals from Sean Conerty and Jason Stacy, Forest Hills Central beat defending Division 1 state champion East Kentwood at Caledonia High School. This happened after Forest Hills Central was bounced out of the districts three straight years.
It was the second time the Rangers beat East Kentwood this year, winning 3-0 to open the season. Those were the only two times all year the Falcons lost in 21 total games.
FAST RUNNING IN THE OK BLUE
The MHSAA cross country state finals are just around the corner, taking place earlier next month at Michigan International Speedway.
Last year boys team from the OK Blue made a mark on the Division 2 finals, as Forest Hills Northern won the boys championship with 108 points, while Cedar Springs junior Connor Mora took fifth individually with a time of 15 minutes, 39 seconds.
Forest Hills Northern looks to be a strong bet to repeat as champions, returning five juniors off last year’s team.
But not so fast, on Oct. 22 at the OK Blue Conference meet, Mora led Cedar Springs to a close win over Forest Hills Northern, 37-43. And Mora led the way by winning the meet with a time of 15:45.30.
The Huskies of Forest Hills Northern were led by senior Grant Cook, who was third with a time of 16:22.80. Cook was the Huskies No. 5 runner at last year’s state finals.
Sparta’s Brandon George was second with a time of 16:19.10. Last year the Spartans finished in sixth place in the final team standings at state.
In the girls meet, Cedar Springs edged Forest Hills Northern 36-37. Kenzie Weiler led the Red Hawks to the win by winning the race with a time of 17:34.40.
WEST MICHIGAN CONNECTION
As the high school football playoffs begin, a West Michigan shout out has to go to former Holland Christian quarterback Kirk Cousins and Lowell quarterback Keith Nichol.
Both of those players thrilled their respective schools and fans when they led their teams to deep playoff runs. Now they are thrilling the Michigan State fan base, as evident to the 44-yard Hail Mary pass that Cousins hit Nichol, who was moved to wide receiver in East Lansing, with during the Spartans’ exciting 37-31 win over Wisconsin.