Scott Keyes
Sports Scene
The Sacred Heart Academy volleyball team’s quest for its second consecutive district championship gets underway October 31 when the Irish host Fulton in first-round action. The winner of that match will face either Ashley or Fowler for the district crown.
Last season, the Irish won a district championship and a regional title, and they made it all the way to the state quarterfinals before losing to Central Lake in five games.
So far, Sacred Heart is right on pace to reach its goal of winning another district crown. It won its third consecutive Mid-State Activities Conference title October 25 with a straight set win over Vestaburg 25-14, 25-13, 25-23.
Sara Hansen paced Sacred Heart (38-6-6, 8-0) with 49 assists, while Erica Hansen added 11 kills and 12 digs. Lauren Fillenworth put in five kills and three aces. Lexi Jarman added five kills, and Lindy Szilagyi had 13 digs.
CROSS COUNTRY
The Sacred Heart Academy boys and girls cross country teams both won Class D Cross Country Coaches Association state titles, as the boys finished with 29 points on the day while the girls landed atop the field with 75 points. In all, 24 boys’ teams and 19 girls’ teams raced for the state crown October 22 at Shepherd’s Maple Creek Golf Club.
Senior Casey Voisin won the boys’ race with a personal best time of 15:37, 21 seconds faster than his previous best time.
Ben Schilling (16:33) was fourth, while Andrew Mumford (17:01) was ninth, Cooper Terry (17:02) 10th, and Jim English (17:05) 11th. Schilling set a new personal record by 14 seconds, while Mumford cut 21 seconds off his previous best. English also cut 12 seconds off his previous best time.
On the girls’ side, the Irish were without the services of No. 3 runner Kathleen Guytingco, who was sidelined with an injury. However, all-state runner Katharine Janes returned from injury.
All five Sacred Heart girls finished in the top 32, led by freshmen Meredith Predum (20:39) and Lizzy Ervin (20:44), who landed ninth and 11th, respectively. Maggie Oblinger (21:17) finished 19th, with Janes (21:46) 25th, and Skylar Nelson (22:06) 32nd. Predum ran a personal best by 35 seconds, with Ervin cutting 45 seconds off of her previous standard. Oblinger also cut 40 seconds off her previous best time, while Nelson improved by 41 seconds.
After securing the victory, the Irish girls’ team wrapped up another MSAC title by finishing the Jamboree with 38 points. Montabella won the meet with 35 points, and Coleman placed third with 54.
Ervin was fourth (23:48) for the Irish, while Nelson came in seventh (25:01). Predum was eighth (25:01), Janes was ninth (25:02), and Kate Volguth finished 10th (25:03). Ervin and Kathleen Guytingco were named first team all-conference, while Predum was second team.
FOOTBALL
After winning the Division 8 state championship a year ago and finishing the season 13-1, the Sacred Heart Academy football team was living the dream.
However, with a tougher schedule and the graduation of key members from last year’s team, the Irish came crashing down to reality, having played the likes of Muskegon Catholic Central, Mendon, and Muskegon Heights.
Despite the tough losses this season, Sacred Heart still got into the playoffs with a 5-4 record and hope to possibly make a long playoff run once again.
The Irish opened the playoffs October 28 with Merrill, who was also 5-4. (No results before press time)