A great small-town football rivalry often features three things: Passion, competitiveness and a cool trophy that goes to the winner.
Saginaw High and Saginaw Arthur Hill used to be one of the biggest rivalries in Michigan, despite both falling on hard times over the past decade. Saginaw High got the best of the Lumberjacks this season 44-22. Arthur Hill finished the season 0-9.
Midland Dow handed Midland High 49-28 in its annual final game showdown. Dow’s Mike Robb scored five touchdowns in the victory.
Meanwhile, the Ithaca and St. Louis volleyball teams play for a piece of cloth that means a tremendous amount for both teams.
The flag-pole match had even more meaning this season in two previous meetings between the two schools. The last two times the Sharks met the Yellowjackets earlier this season, when Ithaca snapped a 52-match losing streak to St. Louis and followed that up with another convincing win a couple weeks ago.
However, when the two teams met up again a few weeks back the Sharks that proved dominant in their first meeting within Tri-Valley Conference West play as it dominated the first set 25-11 Oct. 16 before taking the next two sets 25-19 and 25-19 to finish it off.
Second-year St. Louis coach Jennifer Jaeck summed up how big it is to defeat a crosstown rival after the victory. She was extremely pleased with the effort and energy her girls showed all match in making quick work of the hosts.
“I feel exhilaration after that match,” Jaeck beamed. “My girls played the way I’ve expected them to play against Ithaca. Our serving errors in the past have just killed us. Defeating a rival is always special.”
St. Louis keeps running
Mid-Michigan has become a hub for elite distance running, and St. Louis has added to the level of top-notch competition in regards to both junior Evan Goodell and freshman Brooklyn Filipiak.
As far as Goodell goes, he was the overall Tri Valley Conference West division champion and most recently hit a personal record of 15:38 while finishing third overall at the Greater Lansing Invitational hosted by Grand Ledge.
“Evan’s work ethic and consistency over the past five years sets him apart and has helped transform him into one of the elite high school runners in the area,” said St. Louis coach Jay Puffpath. “He is dedicated and driven to be the best that he can be.”
Goodell’s counterpart for the girls’ team is Filipiak, a talented freshman who has a personal record of 19:06 and finished second overall at the TVC West Invitational.
Puffpaff says he knew he had talent in Filipiak.
“Brooke has been even more impressive than expected,” Puffpath said. Coming into the year she had already ran some solid times during her middle school seasons, but her growth over this season has been impressive.”
Vestaburg squeaks in
Vestaburg made it into the Division 8 football playoffs at 5-4, but has to open up play agauinst 8-1 Beal City. The winner of the game faces the winner of the Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart / Muskegon Catholic winner.