Greg Tunnicliff
Sports Scene
FLINT, Michigan – While Linda Rusaw is a math teacher at Lake Fenton High School, she never adds up her won-loss record as Fenton’s volleyball coach.
Earlier this season, the Tigers’ veteran mentor joined a select group when she eclipsed 700 career victories.
After Fenton’s 2-4 performance in the Rockford Tournament in early September, the Fenton native had led her alma mater to a whopping 721-257-49 (.726) overall record in 22 seasons as coach.
“The kids are awesome,” said Rusaw, who was not aware she reached the milestone. “I have two great coaches underneath me, and I have a great seventh-grade coach. They are dedicated to the kids and the program.”
According to the Michigan High School Athletic Association, she is only the 17th volleyball coach in state history to reach the 700-win plateau, and the second Flint-area mentor. North Branch’s Jim Fish had 860 wins entering the 2012 campaign, including 188 at Sandusky (Ohio) High School.
Rusaw has gotten Fenton’s squad off to another fast start this season The Tigers have won a league-record 38 straight matches.
Reaching the century mark
Two Flint Metro League football coaches, Linden’s Dennis Hopkins and Fenton’s Jeff Setzke, reached the 100-win plateau during the first four weeks of the season. Hopkins has led Linden to a 103-43 (.705) overall record since 1998, including a 4-0 mark this fall. Setzke has fashioned a 100-64 (.610) mark at Bendle and Fenton since 1996. In his first seven seasons at Fenton, he has led the Tigers to a 37-29 (.561) overall record, including a 3-1 mark this fall.
Receiving records falling
Swartz Creek’s football team has gotten off to a 5-0 start, courtesy of a high-profile passing attack. During that stretch, the Dragons have set one Flint Metro record and tied another. Senor Max Cummings had a league-record 206 yards receiving on August 24 against Holly. It was the first 200-yard receiving game in the Metro’s 45-year history. Cummings, his teammate Jacob Littles, and Fenton’s Damon Thomas, have each caught three touchdown passes in a game this fall, tying the league record shared by a total of 19 players.
Coming out of the gate fast
Linden’s boys and Holly’s girls cross country teams got off to a fast start, taking top honors in the first Metro jamboree September 5 at Springfield Oaks Country Park in Davisburg. Led by Roger Phillips’ first-place finish, the Eagles ended with 35 points, well ahead of runner-up Clio (65). Graham Elliott came in fourth (17:16), Adrian Taylor took seventh (17:54), and Kyle Susalla came in 10th (18:04), to lead Linden. The Eagles are looking to win their sixth straight Metro championship. Holly recorded five top-10 finishes to edge second-place Linden 28-35. Charlotte Ruffini (4th; 21:24), Maggie Schneider (5th; 21:33), Courtney Kettle (8th; 22:14), Abby Brown (9th; 22:20) and Alex Matvchuck (10th; 22:30) paced the Bronchos. Holly has captured six of the previous 11 league championships.
Golf showdown looming
The Metro golf race appears to be coming down to a dual meet between neighborhood rivals Fenton and Linden. As of September 21, the Eagles and Tigers are both 4-0 in the Metro with four league duals remaining. They will play each other on October 2 at Tyrone Hills Golf Course in Fenton. Linden has won seven of the first 11 Metro titles, with its last crown coming in 2008. Fenton captured its only Metro title in 2006. Swartz Creek captured the previous two championships, but it is currently tied for fourth place with Lapeer East at 2-1.
62 and counting
Holly’s boys’ tennis team is continuing its dominance, both inside and outside the Metro, having extended its Flint-area record dual-meet unbeaten streak to 62 matches. The Bronchos have gone 74 straight Metro matches without a loss. Holly has not lost a dual dating back to a 6-2 setback to Brighton on April 20, 2004. It has not dropped a Metro dual since a 4-3 loss at Lapeer West on April 29, 1999. The Bronchos were slated to host unbeaten Fenton (4-0 Metro) on September 25.