Essexville-Garber finished second with 103 points in the Bay County Championships recently, which featured five teams. Blake Oakes won the 200 meters (23.95) and 400 meters (52.52). Ben Yagiela prevailed in the 800 meters (2;00.80) and 1,600 meters (4:39.39). Jacob Stone won the 3,200 meters (10:53.93). The 1,600 relay (3:30.29) and 3,200-meter relay (8:36.13) teams also took first. Ale Neering was first in the discus at 127-3.
Bay City Western’s boy track and field team won the recent Bay County Championships with 106 points against four other opponents. Cole Rechstener was first in the 300-meter hurdles (44.32), Kane Wendling first in the shot put (50-6) and long jump (20-5 ¼) and Alex Neering first in the discus (127-3) and high jump (5-10)
When Swan Valley softball head coach Tom Kennelly was recently asked to put reaching his 1000th career win in perspective, it took him aback.
“I’ve been at this quite awhile,” he said. “35 years… I’ve had some awfully good girls that have played for me from the beginning. A lot of the girls, I’ve coached their mothers. They like softball, and they keep playing for me, so I’m pretty fortunate.”
After playing for fast-pitch teams in his early 20s, Kennellly became the second head coach of the Viking softball program in 1980, taking over for Mike Hanley. Since that time, it’s been success after success, even winning the class B state championship in 1986.
“We’ve been to state semifinals and finals eight times, but we’ve only won it once,” Kennelly said. “Plus, one of my best teams I ever had never made it to the state finals… We were 42-0 and lost 1-0 in districts. Another year we lost to Freeland 2-1 in districts by giving up two runs in the seventh, and they went on to win it all. A lot of times it takes a little luck to get down there and win it.”
The Vikings have been rolling in recent years, having been state runners up each of the last two campaigns and making it to the semifinals three years ago.
This year’s squad is off to a 20-7-1 start, but Kennelly knows as well as anyone that another trip to state is far from certain.
“Maybe we can, but it’s a really tough district,” he said. “We play Mt. Pleasant in the pre-district, and if we win, we meet Bullock Creek in the first game of the district, and they beat us twice this year; they’ll probably win our conference this year. Four of the last five years someone from our district has ended up in the final four.”
He may have been at it for more than 30 years, but Kennelly finds it hard to think about stepping away from coaching any time soon. With the talent-laden teams he fields year after year, it’s hard to blame him.
“There’s quite a few good kids coming up in eighth and ninth grade,” he said. “There’s good fourth and fifth graders, too. I don’t know if I will stay around that long, but it seems like there’s kids that like softball [in every grade]. We work on pitching quite a bit, we have second and third graders that come in and pitch twice a week. In fast-pitch, the name of the game is pitching.”
Pitching may be the name of the game, but a good support group doesn’t hurt either.
“I’ve had good kids and really good assistant coaches,” Kennelly said. “You don’t have a great class every year, but you have enough of them to remain competitive… I’ve had 10 pitchers go on to pitch in college… The combination of those things I think has given me pretty good players with pretty good coaches, so I’ve been pretty fortunate in that regard.”
Some teams measure success in wins and losses. The Saginaw girls soccer team doesn’t quite see things that way.
“If you leave everything on the field, there should be no bad feeling after the game, because you did everything you could to help the team be successful,” head coach Omar Dasuqi said. “Our record doesn’t display or measure our success; there is so much more to life and the game than winning.”
The Trojans went 1-10 last year and have started 0-7 this season. Dasuqi, in his third year coaching the team, knew it would be a long process, but he didn’t hesitate to take the coaching job when it opened.
“I took this job for a few different reasons,” he said. “One, to be a male role model and provide a positive influence for the girls. Two, to give the ladies an opportunity to be a part of something positive at Saginaw High. Three, to teach the girls good morals and ethics through sport. Four, to be able to build a soccer program from the bottom up. Five, a way to give back to my community. Six, to provide the ladies with something to be proud of and be a part of the Trojan family. I am truly blessed to have this opportunity to have an impact on this great group of young ladies.”
That being said, coaching soccer at a school and in a community much better known for its basketball prowess has had its difficulties.
“Due to the fact that soccer isn’t a big sport in this community or culture, the skills and experience are slightly limited,” Dasuqi said. “For a lot of the girls, they have never played an organized or a pick up game of soccer. For most, this is their first time playing soccer, but they are willing to learn and dedicate the time and patience. One thing I can say is the heart and passion they play with is outstanding; they bring it every game.”
Though wins are hard to come by for the program, it was last year’s 4-3 victory that shows just what the team’s winning attitude can bring them.
“We were down 3-0 and finished a four-goal run to win,” Dasuqi said. “This win displays our heart and determination to never give up and leave everything on the field. We are 0-7 this year, but we are continuing to develop skill and awareness, so in my eyes, as long as I can see progression for the better, we are undefeated.”
Even as games get out of hand, Dasuqi knows that focusing on the little things is still important, as his team must keep growing.
“The teaching of fundamentals is the key to success at this level,” he said. “I teach and preach fundamentals, so it can become second nature to the ladies. They respect my coaching style, because they can sense that I am coaching from the heart and learning is my main concern for the ladies. I always stress the importance of education and tell them they are a student first and an athlete second… My goal is to develop a great citizen, not a great soccer player. If I develop a great soccer player in the process, great!”
The coach adds that he has a great group of seniors that helps keep the team headed in the right direction.
“A lot of success has to go out to the ladies that help build this program,” Dasuqi said. “They displayed hard work, dedication, leadership, and a high level of class. These seniors need recognition. Karrie Bell, Karen Bell, Amber Perez, Anquinett Fason, Juannina Wilkins, Kim’Nesha Nelson, and Carlisha McCary. I have two great co-captains (Shamarira Torrance and Acashia Wade). If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have had the great success we have been developing over the years.”
The Trojans haven’t won a game yet this year. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. Dasuqi is OK with it either way. “There is more to soccer than scoring goals and winning games,” he said. “Our goal is simple year in and year out – have fun. If you aren’t having fun, there’s no point in doing it.”
Sitting among friends and family at his National Football League draft party at Wingin’ It in East Tawas May 10, Jeff Janis was getting anxious. The seventh and final round was coming to a close, but his name had yet to be called.
“I was starting to get a little worried, because all of the teams calling me wanted me as [an undrafted] free agent,” Janis said. “But, still with a lot of picks left in the seventh round, I had some hope.”
Then, at the 236th pick, his phone rang again.
“Thankfully, I finally got the call, and it was the Packers,” he said. “They just said, ‘are you ready to be a Packer?’ And of course I said ‘yes!’”
The draft selection marks the end of an interesting few months for Janis, who graduated from Tawas Area High School in 2009 and from Saginaw Valley State University this past fall. Since wrapping up a stellar collegiate career, he’s attended the NFL combine and the Senior Bowl and has been fielding endless phone calls from professional scouts. All were wondering if the wide receiver would fit with their teams. Green Bay felt he would.
“It feels great to have such a great organization use one of their draft picks on me,” Janis said. “I’m really excited to show them what I can do. This definitely makes my hard work pay off, but it’s far from over. The real hard work begins now.”
Life as a Cardinal
After being redshirted his freshman year, Janis began making a name for himself by the time he was a junior. That year, he led Division II receivers with 1635 receiving yards. He had 83 catches for 1572 yards and 14 touchdowns his senior year.
“I couldn’t be more happy and proud,” SVSU head coach Jim Collins said. “What Jeff has accomplished up to this point is awesome. When you consider how many seniors played college football, and the extremely low percentage that get drafted, it really puts things into perspective. I speak for the entire SVSU community when I say how much we appreciated all that Jeff was able to accomplish on the field and in the classroom. We are extremely proud. It is a great day to be a Cardinal.”
Janis’ 4305 yards and 46 touchdowns in his SVSU career were proof that SVSU’s gamble on signing him paid off. He’s just the fourth SVSU graduate to be taken in the NFL draft.
“My time at SVSU means so much to me,” Janis said. “It is what happened there that is the reason why I’m here today. It was a great experience with great people, and I am so grateful for it.”
Life as a Brave
Prior to his SVSU days, Janis was a standout on the Tawas Area football team. After a late surge his junior year, he dazzled fans with eye-popping moves that led to 375 receiving yards, 731 rushing yards, and 16 touchdowns his senior year. Breaking his hand mid season limited his ability to catch the ball, but Janis never stopped racking up rushing yards.
“Some kids have an outstanding work ethic, but not many,” Tawas Area head football coach Tim Webb said. “Some have natural talent and an NFL body, but not many. He has an extremely rare combination of both. Most importantly, he is the most committed individual to the weight room I’ve ever seen. He’s made himself into one of the best athletes in the country. His level of dedication is so rare, I probably won’t see it again as long as I coach.”
Even though Janis has gone on to collegiate and now professional ranks, his time in Tawas is far from forgotten. Proof of that was Janis’ draft party, where family, friends, and fans crowded Wingin’ It to offer their support.
“There was probably over 100 people at my draft party,” Janis said. “It was so cool seeing so many friends and family there to show their support. It meant so much to me. I also had many people sending me texts and messages on Facebook; it was a great feeling.
“Tawas is where I grew up and is where my heart is,” he added. “It means everything to me. I am going to do whatever I can possibly do to make everyone from there proud. This doesn’t happen a lot from Tawas, but that doesn’t mean it can’t, and I want other kids to realize that as well.”
Life in the NFL
Janis has only known success when it comes to football. Now that he’s at the sport’s highest level, hopefully that success will continue.
“I have all the confidence in the world that, with Jeff’s talent and work ethic, he will be a great NFL player,” Collins said.
From catching passes from Jesse Siwek at Tawas Area, from Jonathan Jennings at SVSU, and now from Aaron Rodgers with the Packers, Webb called it almost too good to be true. “It’s still hard for me to grasp the fact that Jeff will be playing in the NFL,” he said. “Especially since almost every college told him he wasn’t good enough for that level… I think his potential is scary. His work ethic combined with the fact that he is going to be able to focus on developing his craft full-time, who knows what he can be? I am just so happy for him and his family; it’s a really exciting time for them right now.”
The Monday morning following the draft, Janis posted a Facebook picture of his locker in the Green Bay locker room. His last name and new number 83 already were proudly displayed. “Love it here already!” Janis posted along with the photo.
Apparently, he likes the thought of playing at Lambeau Field already. “I think I will fit in great with the Packers,” Janis said. “Scheme-wise and location-wise. It’s a lot like Michigan there, so I feel right at home.”
Countless high school track runners are fast. After all, that’s the name of the game in track and field. What sets Arthur Hill senior Anthony Debardelaben apart from the rest of the pack is how hard he brings it every day.
“He’s a hard worker, a very hard worker,” Arthur Hill track and field head coach Leonard Adams said. “He has been undefeated all season [in the 100] and won the indoor 60-meter championship this year. He’s dedicated to track and field. He plays football, too, but he knows that track is his opportunity to go to college, so I think he’ll be a great competitor at the next level.”
Debardelaben’s best event, according to Adams, is the 100-meter dash, although he excels in the 200-meter dash and 400-meter relay as well. He won regionals last year in the 100-meter dash and won the county meet in 10.4 seconds this year. All of this was good enough to earn his way onto a Division I roster, as he has committed to run at Eastern Michigan University.
“It was a family-first decision,” Debardelaben said of choosing Eastern. “My sister goes there and is on the track team, too. Also, they won the indoor championship back-to-back years, so I know I’m going into a good situation. Plus, when I went there for a visit, I liked the atmosphere. I felt like I was already on the team.”
All Debardelaben’s success came after what the runner admits was a less-than-stellar start to his career. “I was one of the worst people on the team my freshman year,” he said. “I kept working hard to get better. I quit basketball to focus on track, because I knew that this could be something big for me, so I kept putting more into it.”
It did become something big, as he’s gone from being one of the worst runners on the team to one of the best in the state. Assuming he qualifies for the state finals in the 100-meter dash, Debardelaben hopes to atone for last year’s mistake. A year ago, in one of the preliminary rounds, he was called for a false start, disqualifying him before he even got started. He also has a strong chance to make the finals in the 200-meter dash and in the 400-meter relay, according to his coach.
“We have a lot hanging on [regionals]; nothing is promised, we know that,” Adams said. “But, we are hoping he can finish in the top five in the state. He’s been complaining about leg injuries and his hamstring being a little sore, but he has been running fast enough times to win all season.”
Despite his disqualification last year, Debardelaben isn’t rattled at all at the thought of returning to the state finals. “It’s the same environment really,” he said. “Every meet is the same, regardless of how many people are there. You just have to do what you do.”
What Debardelaben does is win, and that’s something he’d like to do one last time before his high school track days are over.
“I want to go out on top,” he said.
John Raffel
Sports Scene
Rollie Carman has worn a few different high school baseball caps in his career. But now he’s coaching at St. Louis, and his goal is to turn the Sharks into contenders again.
As of mid-May, St. Louis’ record was 5-8.
“It’s going all right,” Carman said. ”We’re doing OK.”
The new St. Louis coach was head coach at Ithaca the previous eight seasons. Prior to that, he was at Carson City-Crystal four seasons, St. Louis one year, Alma three seasons, Montabella three years, plus Ithaca for two.
“I’ve been all over the country,” Carman smiled. “Never been able to settle down.”
He’s been handling the coaching duties wherever and whenever he’s been able to fit into a particular program, Carman noted.
“My goal is to build this program back to where it was not too long ago,” Carman said of St. Louis. “They were really good. There’s a lot of support from the community, and there’s a lot of people working hard to make sure the baseball is good. That’s kind of why I went there.”
Carman has been impressed with the support he’s getting from parents. “You get parents on your side, and that’s nine-tenths of the battle,” he said.
St. Louis will continue to have an active summer program with Carman on board. “That’s the way it is,” he said. “If you’re going to have a program, you have to have kids playing baseball from January until September, and then they can take the rest of the time off. But they have to be playing January to September. That’s pretty much how you generate good ballplayers. You can’t just go from March to June.”
St. Louis has 18-and-under and 16-and-under baseball programs that were started last season.
“You look at what they’re offering St. Louis kids for baseball, and it was pretty easy to decide to go there,” Carman said. “We’ll play Shepherd, we’ll play Chip Hills, we’ll play Beal City, we’ll play Harrison, Gladwin, teams over that way. We play Mount Pleasant teams, too.”
When high school season ends, Carman and his players will get right into the summer campaign.
At St. Louis, “we’re basically teaching kids from the ground up,” he said. “It’s certainly going to be a process this year. You have a new coach. My program is pretty extensive and the kids have a lot of learning to do.”
Between varsity and junior varsity, Carman has 26 total kids on the teams this spring.
“It’s really hard to go with more than that,” Carman said. “You can’t have 15 kids on your team because the ones that aren’t playing won’t play. It makes it hard on coaches. If you don’t play them, they quit. Our numbers are where they need to be. We just have to get the right group of kids there.”
St. Louis plays in the TVC West. Building the program into a conference contender is a high priority for Carman. “Your whole season is based on league play,” he said.
A native of the area, he lives in Sumner, between Carson City and Ithaca, and is a teacher at the St. Louis correctional facility.
The poor spring weather seems to emphasize Carman’s point of having players take advantage of the warm summer months to play baseball.
“I want kids that are going to play baseball when baseball is available and not just in the spring,” Carman said. “The youth program in St. Louis is really strong. We can keep kids interested in baseball. It’s just a matter of time.”
Big Rapids coach Mark Posey has a younger boys’ golf team this year. In the past, the program has produced all-state golfers and state titles, and this year, he has a sophomore prospect who figures on making quite a lot of noise before the 2014 season comes to an end.
Carter Bechaz has been leading the way, not only for Big Rapids, but also for the entire Central State Activities Association. He shot a 74 for medalist honors in the final CSAA jamboree in mid May.
Bechaz’s freshman season was an indication to Posey that Bechaz had a chance to be a special golfer. “He was learning how to play the game,” Posey said. “He averaged like a 90. He was still learning how to play golf.”
But in the matter of just one season, Bechaz went from the team’s No. 4 or 5 golfer to No. 1 in the CSAA.
“He’s about eight strokes better than he was last year at this point,” Posey said.
The improvement in Bechaz’s short game has made him a better golfer, Posey noted. “Last year, he missed a lot of greens, would make a chip, but wouldn’t make the putt,” Posey said. “He wouldn’t get close enough. Last year, he’d get up and down maybe once or twice in a round. This year at one of the tournaments, he was like 80 percent.”
“I’m getting it closer to hole,” Bechaz said. “I’m definitely a lot more focused. Last year, I was probably more nervous, too, coming in as a freshman and being on the varsity. I was more comfortable in the environment and playing with better people.”
The time that Bechaz put in during the summer has paid off, Posey pointed out. “He was out playing a lot of summer tournaments. He knew from last year when we sat down with his stats at the end of the year and said, ‘Hey, this where you’re losing your strokes.’ He took it from there and worked on his short game. This year, he’s a whole lot better.
“One thing I like about Carter is he has a good head on his shoulders. He really does a nice job of keeping his emotions in check. A really good golfer has a good head on his shoulders. Carter has that. He doesn’t get down or get really excited. He just goes out and plays with the game he has that day. He goes and grinds it out.”
Bechaz, like other golfers, has had to battle the weather to get his game where he wants it to be. “I’ve been on the range with my varsity players just once this year,” Posey said. “That’s how bad it is. So we’ve spent a lot of time on the putting greens.”
Bechaz said he’s been focusing on his drives. “I’ve been slicing them a lot and just need to keep focused at practice, which is tough with all the rain,” he said. “I played a lot, three to four times a week, during the summer. I have a membership at Katke (Ferris State’s course), and I also play up at Traverse City in a junior golf league.”
Posey hopes to see Bechaz stay in the low to mid 70s for the rest of the season. “We have some tough courses coming up, so he’ll have to work hard to do that,” Posey said. “He’s certainly capable of it. That would be a goal for him. Considering what he was averaging last year, it’s just phenomenal.”
Bechaz has been reaching his expectations. “I can definitely shoot a lot better than I have been,” he said. “There’s been some silly mistakes in there.”
Bechaz also plays football and basketball, but he said that golf is his favorite sport from the individual aspect.
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