Scott Keyes
Sports Scene
Nouvel Catholic Central is a close knit family. Families help others in need, and familes pull for each on the field of play.
Family comes first.
So for Taylor Hengesbach, a freshman on the Michigan State University women’s basketball team and a member of the Nouvel team that lost to Manchester in the Class C final a year ago, watching her former team and sister Charley bring home a state championship this season was extra special. Taylor was a four-year varsity player for the Panthers.
“Being here supporting Charley and my former team was exciting,” said Taylor after Nouvel’s victory over St. Ignace in the final. “It’s kind of nice just being able to walk over here from my apartment and celebrate with the girls and the entire Nouvel community. I am so glad I was able to experience this with them.”
Tyler Jacqmain, a two-time Class C first team all-state selection for football and a member of the Nouvel’s 2012 Division 7 state championship team, watched from the stands as his younger sister Laurel score a game-high 23 points in the final.
Tyler will join older brother Mitchell at Michigan Technological University as a member of the Huskies football team. But in the meantime, cheering Laurel and the Panthers to victory made him extremely proud.
“Laurel is competitive, and she doesn’t backdown,” Tyler said. “That might be because she was brought up with two older brothers, but she is pretty tenacious out there. To see those girls put in the hard work and win a state championship was fun to watch.”
Laurel Jacqmain said her older brothers wouldn’t back down growing up. They made her tough. “I love my brothers to death, and we are all so extra competitive,” she said. “We are all pretty close, but we are also so competitive against once another. I’m so proud to be a state champion just like they are. That’s pretty cool.”