Article - High School Sports Scene

By BUTCH HARMON

Although Swan Valley sophomore KJ Suitor finished second at the Division 3 individual state finals, the future appears bright for him and his teammates.

Suitor finished second in the 112-pound weight class and ended the season with a 54-3 record.

“I was very excited to make the state finals,” Suitor said. “A lot of people don’t get that chance. I just tried to go out and execute the game plan. It was just disappointing it didn’t go like I wanted it to.”

Suitor was not the only Swan Valley wrestler to earn all-state honors. Fellow sophomore Matt Santos placed fourth at 125 pounds and ended the season with a 58-2 record. Junior Collin Dole placed third at 135 pounds and ended the year with a 53-6 record, while junior Sam McLean placed seventh at 145 pounds and ended the year with a 60-5 mark.

“We had three other guys make all-state, and I’m very proud of how they wrestled,” Suitor said. “All of the guys placed, and every one battled.”

With those wrestlers all returning next season, Swan Valley has some high expectations. “We have a bright future ahead of us,” Suitor said.

Suitor plans to use this year’s second-place finish as motivation to improve next year. “I finished seventh last year, and I used it as motivation this year,” he said. “Now I’m going to use second place this year as motivation to win a state championship next year.”

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By BUTCH HARMON

Although the Laingsburg wrestling program is only four years old, it now has a state champion it can be proud of.

Lainsgburg sophomore Kevin Koenig became the first state champion in school history when he won the 215-pound title in Division 3. Koening turned in a dominating performance as he defeated Patrick Harbin, Jr. of Detroit Loyola 14-3.

“I knew I had him after the first takedown,” Koenig said. “He couldn’t stop it. I wanted to go for a pin, but he kept stalling on the bottom.”

Winning by a pin was important to Koening, who lost in the final round of last year’s state tournament.

“I would have liked to have pinned him, but it felt pretty good beating him by a bunch of points.”

With the win, Koenig finished the season with a 48-3 record.

After losing in the final by technical fall last year, Koenig was on a mission this season, and he didn’t let up until he captured the first MHSAA title in school history.

“I wanted to be the first state champion in school history,” Koenig said. “Ever since the eighth grade, I have been working for this.”

Koening believes that winning a state title will help the Laingsburg wrestling program continue to grow. “We’ve only had a wrestling team for four years,” he said. “I feel that by winning a state title, it will help get a bunch more kids to come out and see what wrestling is all about.”

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Bay City Western girls and Ithaca boys earned runner-up finishes in the state bowling tournament Feb. 28-March 1 to highlight a successful weekend for area bowlers.

In addition, Alex Ouellette of John Glenn was state singles champion in Division 2, and Kyle Tuttle of St. Charles was champion in Division 4.

Western lost 1,267-1,120 to Kearsley in the final.

Final individual game scores for Western were Anna Kuehne 190, Claudia Gielda 173, Haley Delestowicz 137, Megan Rabideau/Taryn Butler 132, and Storm Butler/Kaylee Radwick 147.

Western defeated Tecumseh in the semifinals and Mason in the quarterfinals. Ionia and John Glenn were also in the quarterfinals.

Last season, Western finished third. “I guess we had a little improvement this year,” coach Rick Dodick said. “I knew I had a pretty good team. It’s a great group of girls this year that worked hard and practiced hard and set their goals high. I thought we could do well. We bowled in quite a few of the high school tournaments, [and] we won a couple of those. I knew we had a pretty decent team.”

At the state tournament, Western qualified in the fourth position. “We bowled pretty good that day,” Dodick said. “We bowled against Tecumseh, and we had bowled against Kearsley in a couple of tournaments early in the year. We kind of knew what we were going up against, and we were ready for them.”

Delestowicz and Storm Butler were among the top bowlers for Western this season along with Kuehne and Gielda.

In the Division 4 boys’ final, Ithaca lost to Jonesville 1,153-1,094.

“It was great, obviously one step short of our goal,” said Ithaca coach Wally Schneider. “We bowled well all day, up until the finals. We were dominant all day. We won the qualifying round by 186 pins. We beat the No.1-ranked team in the state and the defending state champions, all on our way to the finals. It was a great day overall.”

Final individual game scores for Ithaca were Blake Gulick 151, Jared Baublitz 156, Kaeden Greer 167, Donald Carl 137, and Joe Whittaker 172

“We just got to the finals and couldn’t buy a strike and didn’t get a break. In the end, it cost us a state title,” Schneider said. “All in all, it was a great day.

“Everybody on the team bowled well at different times,” he continued. “Blake Gulick, a sophomore, bowled well all day. He had several games at or around 200. I didn’t have anybody way off all day long. Blake led the team, but Joe Whittaker, Donald Carl, Kaeden Greer, and Jared Baublitz all bowled well.”

The Yellowjackets beat defending state champion Gabriel Richard Catholic in the semifinal and No. 1-ranked Bendle in the quarterfinal.

“This is the best we’ve done at the state tournament,” Schneider said. “In 2012, we were sixth, and in 2005 we were also sixth.”

DIVISION 1

The event was at Sunnybrook Lanes in Sterling Heights.

Davison was girls champion, led in the title match by Kalee Johnson with 212, Taylor Brown with 201, Sydney Brown at 224, Taylor Davis at 247, and Brooklyn Green/Myranda Livingston at 223.

Josh Kukla of Grandville was individual champion for the boys. Derrick Norman of Heritage was a quarterfinalist. Emily Dietz of John Glenn was the girls’ champion. University of Detroit Jesuit was the boys’ team champion.

DIVISION 2

Kearsley won the boys’ team event at Century Lanes in Waterford. It defeated Mount Pleasant in the semifinals. John Glenn and Owosso were both quarterfinalists.

Alex Ouellette beat Alec Nunn of Warren Fitzgerald 479-410 in the final. He had bowled a 300 game in the morning qualifying blocks.

Cody Vincent of Owosso was a semifinalist. Destiny Kennedy of John Glenn was a quarterfinalist.

DIVISION 3

Sam Brandt of Fremont won the boys’ title. Chase Badalamenti of Garber was a quarterfinalist. For the girls, Hannah Chase of Alma was a finalist, losing 428-323 to Heather Bruci of Richmond for the state title. Brianna Cords of Perry was a quarterfinalist.

Fremont won the boys’ team event. Croswell-Lexington was the girls’ champ.

DIVISION 4

Vandercook Lake was girls’ team champion. The St. Louis boys were quarterfinalists in Division 4, failing to make it to the semifinal after losing to Sandusky by one pin 1,209-1,208.

For girls, Portland St. Patrick Catholic, Ithaca, and All Saints Central were among the qualifiers.

Kyle Tuttle brought home the Division 4 title by beating Zach Fenby of St. Louis 406-324. Fenby had beaten teammate Connor Pilmore in the quarterfinals 445-373. Josh Dubay of Valley Lutheran was also a quarterfinalist.

Melissa Sleda of Sandusky won the girls’ event.

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BY BUTCH HARMON

Greenville senior Alec Ward may have come up short in his bid to win an individual state championship at the Division 2 wrestling finals, but it took one of the best wrestlers in the history of Michigan high school wrestling to knock him out.

Ward made it to the championship match at 140 pounds before falling 12-2 to four-time state champion Zac Hall of St. Johns.

“I was just happy being in the finals,” Ward said. “I just went out there and tried everything I could.”

While Ward was unable to snag a state title, he did accomplish something that few high school wrestlers have done, as he placed at state for the third time. After placing fifth as a sophomore, Ward took seventh last year and was determined to finish higher this year.

“I was pretty upset last year,” he said. “I finished seventh after placing fifth as a sophomore. I worked real hard all summer to improve and finish higher. I was happy to get here.”

Ward hopes to wrestle in college and is still deciding where to continue his wrestling career and his academic studies.

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By BUTCH HARMON

A takedown with fewer than 10 seconds remaining in the 160-pound championship match proved to be the difference for Farwell senior Tristen Zienkiewicz, who brought home the state title.

The takedown proved to be the deciding points, and Zienkiewicz defeated Jared Elliott of Birch Run 4-3 to win the title in the Division 3 individual finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

“I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, oh my God,’ ” Zienkiewicz said. “This was a dream come true. I just went out there and decided to go for it. I just decided to go for it at the end and whatever was there to take it.”

He used an inside trip to score the takedown to win the title.

Zienkiewicz finished sixth at last year’s state finals and trained all off-season to prepare for one final run at a championship.

“This is just awesome,” he said. “It has been a dream of mine to win state since I was six years old.”

Zienkiewicz finished the season with a 50-2 record and hopes to wrestle in college. “I want to wrestle Division I in college,” he said. “I don’t want to settle for anything less.”

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By BUTH HARMON

Meridian heavyweight wrestler Eric Fader responded with a big “oorah!” when asked to talk about the Division 3 state championship he had just won at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

That’s because he was not only stoked about winning a state title in overtime against an undefeated wrestler, but also because he will be leaving to become a United States Marine when school gets out this spring.

Fader, who ended his season with a 48-5 record, defeated Glenn Geurink of Allendale 7-6 in overtime in the 285-pound final. The loss was the first of the season for Geurink, who came in with a 46-0 record.

“I just wanted to go out and to do my best,” Fader said. “I had to grind it out, do some set ups, and hit my blast double.”

Fader did just that in a match that went back and forth and then went to overtime.

Fader received a boost of confidence from an assistant coach who told him that he had defeated Geurink the previous summer in a tournament match. “I just found out a few days ago that I had beaten him during the summer,” Fader said.

The win was a little bittersweet for Fader. “I felt bad at the end, because I knew this was going to be the last time I wrestled,” he said. “It’s been my whole life, being out on the mat and wrestling. I’m going into the Marines now.”

A big oorah to that!

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By BUTCH HARMON

Corunna sophomore Tristan Serbus did something that has not been done by a Corunna wrestler in a while, and he avenged his only defeat in the process.

He won a state championship.

Serbus defeated Brendan Abrigo of Manchester 10-6 in the Division 3 championship match at 103 pounds. Serbus kept on the pressure from beginning to the end to claim the state title. The win avenged the only that loss Serbus suffered this season, as he finished with a 46-1 record.

“It feels awesome,” Serbus said. “I just worked hard and did what my coaches said: attack, attack, attack. I’m so glad I have my coaches and all my other teammates behind me.”

Serbus was the first Corunna wrestler to bring home a state title in over two decades. “I have been told that it’s like 23 years since we’ve had a state champion,” he said. “I hope winning this state title makes more kids want to come out for wrestling and makes other Corunna wrestlers want to go to state, also.”

Serbus put in plenty of time to make his dream come true. “I worked hard in the off-season,” he said. “I just want to work harder and harder this summer to come back and have an even better season.”

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By BUTCH HARMON

It was a family affair for the Melton brothers of DeWitt at the Division 2 state individual wrestling finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Brothers Austin and Kameron Melton both competed in the 135-pound weight class and both earned all-state honors.

Sophomore Austin Melton not only earned all-state honors but also took home the top prize, as he defeated Collin Lieber of Croswell-Lexington 13-4 in the championship match.

“It’s just a great feeling,” Austin said. “It’s the greatest feeling I’ve ever felt. I brought pressure in the match, and I just kept it up. My coaches told me to stick to what I’ve always been doing, to take it to them and score as many points as possible.”

Austin finished the season with a 48-3 overall record.

Austin’s older brother, Kameron, a senior, finished in seventh place. He finished the season with a 35-9 overall record.

The brothers were on track to meet in the semifinal round before Jordan Hall of Lowell defeated Kameron in the quarterfinals.

“I think he [Kameron] was going to let me get the win, because I let him get the win at regionals,” said Austin of his potential matchup with his brother.

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Scott Keyes

Sports Scene

Saginaw Public Schools Board of Education Superintendent Carlton Jenkins had a tough decision to make, one that was not going to be popular with the community, but it was one that needed to be made.

Either close Saginaw High School to cut money from the school district’s budget deficit or come up with a different plan that would save the beloved school from the wrath of the financial stranglehold.

When Jenkins announced his initial decision to close The High, the community came out in droves in support keeping the school open. The plan called for Saginaw High to combine with Arthur Hill and The High would close its doors forever.

The community wasn’t having it.

“I know if I was a senior next year and The High was closing, I would be going to Bridgeport,” said Saginaw High point guard Keyon Addison after the Trojans 70-64 victory over the Lumberjacks earlier this month.

“In my opinion, it’s silly to even be considering something like that.”

Arthur Hill boys’ basketball coach Greg McMath agrees with Addison’s assessment of the situation. “For someone that went to Saginaw High and now coaches at Arthur Hill, it’s hard to ever imagine having both schools combine,” he said. “Mr. Jenkins was put in rough spot, but I am extremely proud of how the community came out and supported the cause, and the board listened to their concerns.”

February was a headache for the board of education, students, administrators, and teachers.

The board met nine days during the month, as the district leaders dealt with a financial crisis.

The Michigan Department of Education required the Saginaw Public School District to turn in a deficit-elimination plan for the next two school years.

From 2011 to 2016, the district is projected to fall $32 million short. It has an $81 million annual budget. In 2011, when it first went into deficit, the state began financial oversight of the district.

Although it has not been easy, the district has submitted a plan that includes cutting $4.9 million from the 2014-2015 budget and $5.3 million from the 2015-2016 budget and keeps The High open.

Since 2005, Saginaw Public School District has lost more than 3,600 students and has cut 45 percent of its teachers and 57 percent of its administrative staff. Officials have closed 13 school buildings in the past decade.

Despite all the uncertainty about the possible closing of Saginaw High, there was still a game to be played Feb. 14, one that potentially could have been the final regular-season game between Saginaw and Arthur Hill. The High prevailed behind a triple-double from Algevon Eichelberger and 20-plus points from Addison.

The two teams hooked up again during the first round of districts March 3. The raw emotion of a Saginaw High vs. Arthur Hill game is intense, but it’s what drives the student-athlete.

And now, with a new district plan that does not include closing Saginaw High, the rivalry between the two crosstown schools lives to see another day.

“”Regardless if this year was the last year for Saginaw High or not, I’m a Trojan for life,” Addison said. “Now that we know Saginaw High will stay open, it’s exciting what the future holds for the next graduating class that comes through those doors of The High.”

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Ben Murphy

Sports Scene

Nouvel Catholic Central could have a dynasty brewing in pompon. The Panthers claimed their second class C/D state title at the Breslin Center in East Lansing on Feb. 8.

“The reason why I believe this team was successful at state competition this year is because they persevere,” second-year head coach Madeline Gorney said.

The future of the Panthers could be promising, too, as the squad featured four seniors, one junior, and seven sophomores.

“Our team was very young this year,” Gorney said. “This team had to concentrate and work hard at mastering the basics this year. [Assistant coach] Ashly Ginderske and I did not expect them to go out there and win another state championship, we expected them to go out there and give us their personal best performance, and we expected them to have fun.”

It turns out, though, that was enough for Nouvel to win another state title.

“We told them the night before the competition that we wanted them to go out there and show the audience how much they loved this sport by having fun while performing,” Gorney said.

On this year’s championship team were seniors Liberty Solek, Julie Feinauer, Maria Buko, and Justine Schultz.

“Solek has done pom for all four years in high school, and she has excelled to achieve great things through the sport of pom,” Gorney said. “She has been a joy to watch perform and transform into a strong leader the last two years. Feinauer has a dedication for pom that goes deep within her heart. She is a natural leader, and the younger kids look up to her for guidance and advice, not just about pom but about life.

“Buko is the mother hen of our group,” Gorney added. “She is a caring and hardworking leader on this team. She has shown the girls how to be dedicated to pom and how to balance social life and school. Schultz has overcome numerous injuries this season and can crack a joke just at the right moment. Her heart of gold is what helps this team run as a well-oiled machine. She never gives up and is a natural leader.”

The lone junior on the team was Kaylee Pilz.

“I have never met a teenage girl more hard-working than Pilz,” Gorney said. “Her demand for perfection is infectious and sets a great example for the younger girls.”

Sophomores on the team were Sarah Ehlman, Brianna Bivins, Sadie Benjamin, Alexa Wright, Morgan Velez, Elizabeth McConnell, Savannah Teneyuque, and Brittany Jurgens.

“These sophomores are our babies,” Gorney said. “Ginderske and I started coaching most of them as freshmen, and we are so excited to see them grow into talented, strong young women as the time passes.”

The coach is clearly excited about what her sophomores have to offer.

“Ehlman is big talent wrapped in a little package; she may be the smallest member of the team, but her drive and goofy personality have allowed her to shine on the floor,” Gorney said. “Bivins is 100 percent pom 100 percent of the time; her love and dedication for this sport is what allowed us to incorporate some of the newer quirkier elements of our routine this year. Benjamin is our shorty who got stuck in the back of formation this year, behind the tallest girl on the team, but when she gets her time to shine in the front there’s no doubt that her performance will amaze you.

“Wright, the tallest girl on the team, has shown tremendous growth during her second year on the team; she takes constructive criticism home and uses it to make herself better,” Gorney added. “Velez is new to pom this year but has a very strong dance background; she joined us in camp this past summer and has shown so much progress since then. McConnell is another one of our newbies this year… her heart quickly got attached to pom, and I can tell that it’s not letting go any time soon. Teneyuque is the epitome of perseverance; she had no dance background when she joined our team this summer… she has worked hard continually throughout the season, and with the help of her teammates, has overcome her fear of performing in front of thousands of people. Jurgens has worked hard to fix all her bad pom habits. The smile on her face when she performs comes from how much she loves this sport.”

The coach hopes that with a strong group coming back next year, Nouvel pom can stay high amongst the state ranks.

“We [coaches] love this sport and genuinely care about these girls, not just how they perform during a pom competition, but we care if they are good people,” Gorney said. “These girls also genuinely care about working together as a team to accomplish a team goal… These girls want to leave a good impression for their school, their peers, their families, and the future pom girls of Nouvel.”

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Swan Valley’s KJ Suitor places second at individual state meet

Koenig wins first state title in young history of Laingsburg wrestling program

Area bowlers have success at state finals

Greenville’s Ward reaches championship match

Farwell wrestler wins state title

Sanford Meridian wrestlers brings home state title before going off to Marines

Corunna sophomore wins state wrestling title

Melton brothers earn medals in same weight class

Community Speaks

Saginaw Nouvel wins back-to-back championships