Butch Harmon
Sports Scene
It was a season to remember for the Okemos girls soccer team, as it captured its first state championship since 2006. Okemos parlayed a stingy defense and a potent offense into the Division 1 state title and was the lone mid-Michigan team to bring home a state soccer title this spring.
Sophomore sensation Ashton Miller highlighted a talented corps of field players that included Sara Kovan and Vanessa Lacosse, while senior Molly O’Connor was stellar in goal for the Chieftains, who allowed just six goals all season.
Okemos capped the season with a pair of impressive shutouts in the final week of the tournament. In the semifinal, the Chieftains went into overtime before defeating Rochester Adams 1-0. They then captured the state title with a 2-0 win against Troy.
Elsewhere in mid-Michigan, Midland Dow and Grand Blanc turned in strong seasons in Division 1. Led by first-team, all-state defender Lindsey Lee, Dow captured a district title and advanced to the regional final before falling to Rochester Adams. Rachel Marble, Shauna Stadelmaier, and Hannah Piper also earned all-state honors for Dow.
Grand Blanc, which also won a district title, was paced by sophomore midfielder Alex Lowes, who earned all-state honors.
Rockford turned in one of its most successful soccer seasons in school history. The Rams were paced by senior Jordan Ryfiak who earned first-team, all-state honors and is headed to Valparaiso University. Erika Bradfield and Katie Harnett also earned all-state honors for the Rams.
Two other area goalkeepers earned all-state honors, as Grand Ledge’s Kaitlyn Collin and Midland’s Maura McAfee were named honorable-mention, all-state.
Marian High School of Bloomfield Hills captured the Division 2 state title with a 3-1 win over Plainwell in the final.
DeWitt turned in another big season, as it reached the state semifinal for a third straight season led by senior Erica Goodenough, who was named to the all-state Dream Team.
Mason turned in a solid season, as it won a district title. The Bulldogs were led by senior midfielder Abby Meirnforf, who was named second-team, all-state. Freshman defender Erica Bartlett and junior midfielder Jordan Young were named honorable-mention, all-state.
Other mid-Michigan area players who earned all-state honors included Lowell’s Caitlin Fitzpatrick and Michelle Foote, Haslett’s Caity Colonnese and Lydia Roberts, Ashley Montgomery of Mt. Pleasant, Kendra Myers of Cedar Springs, Zoe Klem of Owosso, Megan Feldpausch of St. Johns, and Nicole Jewell of Swartz Creek.
In Division 3, Unity Christian of Hudsonville regained the state title by defeating Powers Catholic Central 2-1. Powers had snapped Unity’s string of state titles last season.
A total of four mid-Michigan teams won district titles this season. In addition to Powers, Williamston, Freeland, and Frankenmuth captured district titles. Williamston reached the regional final before falling to Powers.
Williamston was paced by first-team, all-state honoree Gabby Garza. Caitlyn Clem, Adrienne Watts, and Ally Milam also earned all-state honors for the Hornets.
Desirae Duvernois earned first-team, all-state honors for Frankenmuth. Melanie Dohrmann and Kristen Kueffner also earned all-state honors for Frankenmuth.
Freeland was led by all-state honorees Darby McCracken, Victoria Jankoska, Tara Padgett, and Sarah Yancer.
Also earning all-state honors from mid-Michigan were Erin Thompson from Big Rapids, Jyllian Coggins from Birch Run, Abagail Halm from Ovid-Elsie, Ally Reed from Lakeview, and Kelley McKeon from Lansing Catholic.
In Division 4, Calvin Christian defeated Our Lady of the Lakes for the state title.
Lansing Christian and Nouvel Catholic Central both won district titles.
Sophomore standout Kirsty Gomez led the Pilgrims as she earned first-team, all-state honors. Kayleigh Bytwerk and Mikayla Terry also earned all-state mention.
Nouvel had a sophomore-dominated team led by Breanna Pawelkowski, who earned first-team, all-state honors. Fellow sophomores Rachel Berry, Allie Kendall, and Lindsay Stroebel and junior Brie Burkart also earned all-state honors.
Valley Lutheran was paced by senior Faith Palmreuter, who earned first-team, all-state honors. Kaelin Martlock, Hannah Palmreuter, and Ariana Worthing also were named all state. Garnering all-state honors from the area were Sarah Drury and Erica Halick from Laingsburg, Kathryne Atkinson from Byron, and Louise Vanderploeg from Ithaca.