John Raffel
Sports Scene
Midland lost 6-0 to Wyandotte Roosevelt in the Division 2 state semifinals last season and hopes to be a contender this winter. The Chemics also made it to the state semifinals in 2008 and 2010, losing to Trenton both times.
“Midland High is the team to beat in our area,” said H.H. Dow coach Dick Blasy.
As for his own team, Dow will be led by senior forward Nick Kivi, senior forward Conrad Lather, and junior forward David Laursen.
“We have several new, talented players that will still need to prove themselves at the high school level,” Blasy said. “We have excellent team speed. We’re very young with four seniors, two juniors, and 12 sophomores. This team is young, fast, and talented. The future is very bright if things come together.”
David Phillips is coaching a Freeland-Carrollton team that has excellent returning players like Ty Reid at defense; Evan Gennrich at forward; Trenton Miller at goalie; junior Nathan Phillips at defense; and sophomores Austin Popur, Dominic Miller, and Zach Ashley at forward.
“We have great team chemistry and hard workers who believe in themselves, the team, and the coaches,” Phillips said. “We have a young team and short bench. After a tough season last year with no wins, our team can only get better,” he added. “We had two scrimmages so far this year with a win against LakeVille 4-1 and a tie against Royal Oak Catholic Shrine 5-3.”
Top teams expected statewide in 2011-12: Detroit Catholic Central, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Howell, Novi, De La Salle Collegiate, Wyandotte Roosevelt, Novi, Brother Rice, Marquette, Farmington, Cranbrook, Calumet, Howell, Trenton, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Farmington Hills, and East Kentwood.
“Most schools in the tri-cities area have their co-ops or gained another co-op or two,” Phillips said. “I believe that all of the teams will be tough to play against this year.”
Dewitt-St. Johns hopes to be a factor in Division 1. Tony Schott is a fourth-year player and Adam Frechen a third-year performer. Troy Wilson is a forward who has scored 30 points his freshman and sophomore seasons.
“Most of the solid D ones are in the metro Detroit area and there are a couple on the west side,” said DeWitt-St. John coach Fred Hingst.
Big Rapids hopes to be a factor in Division 3. The Cardinals most recently had a 7-0 win against Notre Dame Prep of Pontiac in the consolation game of its home tournament.
Mitchell Hawes, Sterling Brinker, Nathan Galllurakis, and Zach Cox have been among the team’s top goal scorers.
Defending state champs:
Novi, Division 1; Wyandotte Roosevelt, Division 2; Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Division 3.