DIVISION 1
Teams to watch statewide: East Kentwood, Grosse Pointe South, Saline
Top local teams: East Lansing, Rockford, Swartz Creek
Preview: Grosse Pointe South is the defending state champion.
Sprinters Leah Deboe and Alexis Williams lead Lakeview. “We had five athletes compete at the state meet last year and hope to have more this season,” said coach Becky Pryor.
Swartz Creek coach Joshua Atwood expects “that our team will compete in every meet and hopefully push towards the upper half of the Metro League standings this year.”
“East Lansing, Grand Ledge, and Okemos are very tough teams. I feel that Holt ranks right alongside of these teams,” said Holt coach Pam Stafford.
Top performers in state: Jordan McDermitt, Davison
Top local performers: Lauren Brasure, Rockford; Jordan Storer, Midland Dow; Kali Dent, Midland Dow; Renee Genovesi, Swartz Creek; Alena Benjamin, Swartz Creek; Imani Taylor, Swartz Creek
State finals prediction: Saline emerges as state champion.
DIVISION 2
Teams to watch statewide: Divine Child, Forest Hills Eastern.
Top local teams: Chippewa Hills, Dewitt, St. Johns
Preview: Divine Child is defending state champion.
Belding coach John Carlson, with 17 returning letterwinners. hopes “to come in the top three at team state, to come in the top five at individual state.”
Alma will be led by athletes like Lexi Morton in the throws and Taula Guerrero in the sprints. “We have some hard-working and talented athletes that are going to help us be successful this year,” said coach Jamie Puffpaff.
Karrigan Smith leads St. Johns in the 800-meter run and the 1,600-meter run. “We’re missing some positions keeping us from being great,” said coach Neil Feldpausch.
“Our goals are to win conference, compete for a regional title, and peak for the state meet,” said Forest Hils Eastern coach Andrew Wright. “We’d love to improve on our runner up finish from last year, but there is a lot of work to be done with the state meet fast approaching. We have a lot of talent, but we are incredibly young.”
“This will be a very strong team,” Forest Hills Northern coach John Klump said. “While we lack depth, we have very good athletes in every event. We may not take a lot of points, but we will win a lot of events.”
Top performers in state: Mary Kostielney, Forest Hills Eastern; Camron Nelson, Forest Hills Eastern; Ashlee Moran, Forest Hills Northern
Top local performers: Kenzie Weiler, Cedar Springs; Karrigan Smith, St. Johns; Meg Darmofal, Mason; Megan O’Neil, Chippewa Hills
State finals prediction: Divine Child will handily take another title.
DIVISION 3
Teams to watch statewide: Pewamo-Westphalia
Top local teams: Pewamo-Westphalia, St. Louis, Frankenmuth
Preview: Pewamo-Westphalia is the defending state champion.
Top local performers: Kaylie Rhynard, Shepherd; Jasmine Harper, Clare; Courtney Allen, Ithaca
State finals prediction: It won’t be easy, but Pewamo-Westphalia will sneak out another title
DIVISION 4
Teams to watch statewide: Traverse City St. Francis, Reading
Top local teams: Beal City, Breckenridge, Fowler
Preview: Traverse City St. Francis reigns as defending champion.
Kirsten Olling of Breckenridge will be running for her fourth straight state title in the 3,200-meter run.
Addie Schumacher of Beal City is the two-time defending champion in the high jump.
“Last year, there were four teams that had a real shot to win the title,” said New Lothrop coach Tim Krupp. “This year, I see three teams going into the season with enough talent and depth to make a run at the title, they are the defending champion Traverse City St. Francis, Beal City, and Reading. Also returning some quality athletes are Fowler and Ottawa Lake Whiteford.”
“We have been in the top three in the state in Division 4 for the past five years, and I hope our team will be in the top three once again,” said Fowler coach Jill Feldpausch.
“I have an exceptional group of girls, athletically and academically,” said Reading coach Debra Price. “They work hard at everything they do and are just a lot of fun to be around and coach. I am looking forward to more success in their season.”
Top performers in state: Holly Bullough, Traverse City St. Francis; Jenny Davis, Reading; Michelle Davis, Reading.
Top local performers: Addie Schumacher, Beal City; Hannah Steffke, Beal City; Kirsten Olling, Breckenridge; Haley Fischman, Lansing Catholic; Erin Field, Lansing Catholic; Savannah Feldpausch, Fowler; Allison Hufnagel, Fowler; Brianna Feldpausch, Fowler;; Madison Koenigsknecht, Fowler
State finals prediction: Reading emerges as state champion this season.