Article - High School Sports Scene

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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Ben Murphy

Sports Scene

Heritage capped off what first-year head coach Kyleigh Sepulveda called a perfect season at the class A state pompon finals on Feb. 8 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

The Hawks beat out 25 other teams that day to cap off a season that saw many invitational wins.

“I think this team is so successful because it consists of 21 brilliant, classy girls that all strive for one goal only, and that is to be the best they possibly can,” Sepulveda said. “They don’t go out to beat anyone else, we simply go there to best ourselves. We have come in fourth the last couple years, so the girls just really strived to get better… No matter if they were sick or hurt, they gave 100 percent.”

Filling out the Hawk’s championship roster are seniors Marissa Alfano, Haylee Bucholz, Shania Conley, Emma Sizelove, Kasey Kalandyk, Tabitha Frakes, Maddy Rodriguez, and Alyssa Marsh.

“Alfano is a very well-organized girl and a great performer; she was voted MVP (most valuable pommer),” Sepulveda said. “Bucholz is our squad butterfly that gets along with everyone. Conley is hilarious, but not only is she funny, she is quite the powerhouse, never gives up. Sizelove is very creative and artistic, loves pompon a lot, and is always dancing at practice. Kalandyk is one of my captains and is the epitome of pompon, this girl lives and breathes pompon 24-7.

“Frakes is one of my my captains, this girl is unstoppable, she has been injured most of the season due to her knee, but she never lets that stop her,” Sepulveda added. “Rodriguez is a great listener, loves pompon so much, and is a great worker. Marsh is such a sweetheart, and if she is told a comment, she tries to fix it immediately; she is very dedicated.”

Juniors on the team are Olivia Chapa, Alyson Feldotte, Maite Hardaway, Sydney Kubiak, Megan Lee, Allyson Leipert, Alyssa Martin, and Santana Romero.

“Chapa has a great smile and really pushes herself,” Sepulveda said. “Feldotte has a great head on her shoulders and has good leadership skills. Hardaway is a very quick learner, always strives to get better. Kubiak is a very sweet girl, works very hard, and has great showmanship.

“Lee is quite the squad clown but works hard,” Sepulveda added. “Leipert has battled a leg injury but always pushes herself through it and doesn’t let the pain get in her way. Martin truly loves pompon, has a great attitude, and works her butt off. Romero has some of the best head reflections, along with some great muscle.”

Sophomores on the team are Emma Dittmar, Paige Hammis, Jensen Kalandyk, Anna Newman, and Katarina Romero.

“Dittmar is the quietest girl I have ever met [and] was voted most improved,” Sepulveda said. “Hammis is definitely a hard-working girl, doesn’t let anything phase her, and just pushes herself 100 percent. Kalandyk, for only being a sophomore, has quite the muscle and has great power in all her jumps. Newman has to have one of the best smiles I have ever seen; she just makes you happy when you look at her performing and you can tell she loves what she does. Romero has beautiful kicks and great posture.”

Winning the state title isn’t a rare occurrence for the Hawk pompon team. It was the sixth time the squad has done so in school history, joining teams from 1989, 1997, 2002, 2003, and 2005 as state champions. If the coach has anything to say about it, Heritage will add another title sooner rather than later.

“I think we have a great pompon team because of Traci Hammis who, as my coach growing up, taught me on the foundation of working hard and staying classy while doing it,” Sepulveda said. “It also helps that we get extremely hard-working girls that are mentally and physically strong. They are taught tremendous amounts of time management to handle all the activities. Overall, it has been a joy to coach these 21 hardworking girls; they are the dream team.”

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Butch Harmon

Sports Scene

Lovers of big-time high school basketball in the state of Michigan dodged a bullet in the elimination of powerhouse basketball schools when Saginaw High School was spared closure.

Talks were held this year regarding closing Saginaw High and merging it with Saginaw Arthur Hill. While the merger would have created a Saginaw `super power’ basketball school, it would have eliminated one of the most storied and successful high school basketball programs in the state.

Because of Michigan’s population losses over the last two decades, high school basketball has sustained the loss of some of the most storied programs in the state, especially in Classes A and B.

The list of teams that have fallen by the wayside in the past ten years is staggering. A prime example of the loss of great basketball programs is in Flint. Once considered the greatest high school basketball city in the nation on a per-person basis, Flint saw the loss of flagship program Flint Central in 2009 and Flint Northern just this past year. Over the years, those programs provided the state with legendary stars like Mateen Cleaves, Eric Turner, Mark Harris, Marty Embury, Terrance Greene, Robaire Smith, and many others. Together, Central and Northern combined to win 52 district titles, 20 regional titles, and seven state titles. District basketball time in Flint was the greatest time of the year for a high school basketball junkie, and showcase games played in front of standing-room only crowds were the norm five or six days a week during districts.

Saginaw, too, has been hit by the closure of a school. The closure of long-time Class B and C powerhouse Buena Vista brought to an end one of the greatest Flint-Saginaw rivalries, as Beecher and Buena Vista will play no more. Buena Vista had a basketball tradition second to none, with the likes of Mark Macon, Terrance Roberson, Anthony `Peeper’ Roberson, and Torey Jackson. Buena Vista closed its doors with a trophy case that held 31 district titles, 17 regional titles, and six state titles.

Nowhere has the decimation of great basketball schools been as prolific as in the Motor City. At one time, Detroit was the premier hotbed in the nation for big time high school basketball. The elimination of Detroit high schools has hit both public and private schools. It began in earnest in 2005, when both Detroit East Catholic and Detroit DePorres closed. Those two Catholic schools had combined for 48 district, 34 regional, and 16 state championships. The Detroit Public School League (PSL) has also been ravaged. Gone are legendary programs like Southwestern, Northern, Cooley, Redford, Mackenzie, Murray-Wright ,and Chadsey. Few schools had a tradition like Southwestern. The Prospectors produced superstars like Jalen Rose and Antoine `the Judge’ Joubert and legendary coach Perry Watson. Southwestern won 28 district, 15 regional, and three state titles. Northern, led by the great Derrick Coleman, won 19 district, 11 regional, and two state titles. The Cooley Cardinals, home to Larry Fogle and Michael Talley, won 14 district titles, nine regional, and three state titles.

Other areas of the state have been hit as well. Pontiac is without Pontiac Central High School. Willow Run High School, winner of 33 district, nine regional, and two state titles has closed its doors, as has Albion High School in southern Michigan.

School closings and mergers have gone on for years. Ask people in small towns across mid Michigan who have seen the Barryton Bulldogs, Blanchard Trojans, Crystal Hawks, Dimondale Bearcats, Edmore Panthers, Howard City Bulldogs, Lyons-Muir Lions, Ovid Romans, Stanton Rams, Sheridan Redskins, and Weidman Wildcats pass on into the dusty record books of time.

Time marches on, but the memories last forever, however faded and old they get. And now, new schools have a chance to come to the forefront and establish their own winning histories.

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Jeff Chaney

Sports Scene

AUBURN HILLS, MI – To say that New Lothrop senior Cody Symons has a busy schedule would be a bit of an understatement.

Not only does Symons work on his family’s 1,000-acre farm, waking early to do chores, but he also is a two-sport athlete, participating in football and wrestling.

Besides that, he is his class valedictorian, carrying a GPA of 4.0.

He fits chores, practices, games, and meets into his busy schedule, and he also studies, which makes him a true student/athlete.

How does he do it?

“One thing I always do is pay attention,” Symons said. “I am constantly paying attention. Listening to teachers, listening to coaches, doing everything they tell you to do. Doing all the little things, study, do the homework, get everything done. Do things right, and make sure you know what you are doing, or ask questions. Sometimes you don’t get the best response out of your teacher or coach, but you learn.”

He learned those attributes at home. “I’m really busy, but I have a good work ethic,” Symons said. “I got that from my parents.”

According to New Lothrop wrestling coach Jeff Campbell, that is why New Lothrop High School has produced great student/athletes over the years – family.

“This says a lot about his family,” Campbell said of Symons. “He has a family that is involved in all levels of our youth sports and varsity sports. He has a younger brother on the team, and two more younger brothers coming up, and his parents have done a good job with those four boys.”

But Campbell sees this all over New Lothrop, starting with his team.

“Our team GPA is 3.89, so we have a lot of kids like Cody,” Campbell said. “That is a testament to our community as much as anything. Our test scores are high in our town, and grades and test scores are important. Community, church, and family is very important in New Lothrop.”

All of the hard work is paying off for Symons.

Last fall, playing offensive tackle and defensive end, he helped his football team to the state semifinals.

In wrestling, he helped lead the Hornets to the Division 4 state championship, knocking off five-time champion Hudson in the process. He also finished his individual career with his third medal and all-state performance, taking third for the second straight year.

“After last week I was pretty proud,” Symons said. “My senior year has been awesome. In football we made it to the semifinals there. And then going to wrestling and winning a team title there. It’s been a great senior year.”

But now, he is thinking of his future and deciding where to continue his studies.

“Right now I am thinking about the University of Michigan,” Symons said. “I just got accepted a couple of weeks ago, and I’m really proud of that. Right now I’m thinking I want to study engineering, but I’m not 100 percent sure.”

Another successful Hornet in the making. “The kid has his priorities in order,” Campbell said. “Sports are a privilege, and he has the right to do them if he does it the right way and can manage his time and keep his grades high. And he’s done that.”

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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

Saginaw Heritage tops in class ‘A’

It’s a shame what’s happening to inner city hoops programs

New Lothrop’s Cody Symons has huge wrestling IQ