Article - High School Sports Scene

Alma scored 71 points and finished 12 in the Division 3 state swim and dive finals Nov. 22-23 at Holland. Alma took 12th in the 200-yard medley relay in 1:54.5 with Laura Lowe, Alissa Adams, Evelyn Vandemark and Kaleigh Kovac.

Kovac was 13th in the 200-yard freestyle in 2:00.55. Vandemark was fifth in the 100-yard butterfly in 59.97 and ninth in the 500-yard freestyle in 5:16.96. The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Natalie Walsh, Kamila Tiegenova, Laura Lowe and Kovac was 10th in 1:42.95. Lowe was 11th in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:01.93. Alma was 12th in the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:45.96 with Natalie Walsh, Vandemark, Lowe and Kovac.

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Midland, Saginaw Heritage and St. John were all tied for 30th with four points apiece in the girls Division 2 swim and dive state finals at Eastern Michigan. Abbi Scheiber of Midland was 13th in 1:00.01 in the 100-yard butterfly. Rachel Ely of St. Johns was 13th in the 100-yard freestyle in 54.52. Saginaw Heritage got its points in the 200-yard medley relay with the foursome of Shelby Santos, Kyra Villalon, Caroline Collins and Michelle Smock taking 15th in 1:53.47.

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Bay City Western was 15th in the girls Division 2 swim and dive state finals at Eastern Michigan University. Krssy Harmon was third in 1:52.45. Malorie Owczarzak was 13th in 2:15.1. Krissy Harmon won the 500-yard freestyle in 4:5942. The 200-yard freestyle relay team of Malorie Owczarzak, Molly Grant, Harmon and Chelsea Harmon was 14th in 1:40.82. The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Owczarzak, Molly Grant, Chelsea Harmon and Krissy Harmon was 13th in 3:39.85.

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Okemos took 13th place on Nov. 22-23 in the Division 2 girls swim and dive state finals at Eastern Michigan University.

Okemos was led by Katie Dudley, who was second in the 200-yard intermediate in 2:06.45.

In the 100-yard butterfly, Freyja Garbaccio was 10th in 57.87. Emily Wozona was 16th in that event in 1:00.1.

Dudley also got a fourth place in the 100-yard freestyle. Grace Kao was 10th in the 100-yard backstroke in 59.15 Her teammate, Freyja Garbaccio, tied for 11th in 59.74. The 400-yard freestyle relay team was 12th in 3:39.62. It’s the foursome of Garbaccio, Dudley, Sarah Williams and Carly Seeterlin.

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Midland Dow took ninth place on Nov. 22-23 in the girls swim and dive state finals at Holland.

For Dow, Ellie Dean was seventh in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:55.04, and fifth in the 200-yard intermediate in 2:08.28.

Jasmine Purtell was 11th in the 200-yard intermediate in 2:12.08. Dean was also eighth in the 100 yard freestyle in 53.55 and sixth in the 500-yard freestyle in 5:05.43.

Purtell was ninth in the 100-yard backstroke in 59.05.

Midland Dow was sixth in the 400-yard freestyle relay with the team of Dean Purtell, Mary Noble and Ellie Dean in 3:36.38.

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DeWitt’s bid for that elusive state title fell short short at Ford Field Saturday night n a 34-27 loss to Zeeland West in Division 3.

Both teams end at 13-1. But DeWitt wanted that 14th win for the state title. Zeeland West built a 28-7 halftime lead but DeWitt fought back with a 20-6 scoring edge in the final two quarters.

DeWitt was down 22-0 when it scored in the second quarter on a 4-yard pass from Jake Johnson to Justice Shankel.

Chris Ruby had a 56-yard run and Jake Johnson threw scoring passes of 29 and 75 yards to Josh Borta. Johnson was 15-of-24 for 289 yards.

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Grand Rapids West Catholic was 0-3 at one stage of the season and 1-4. The Falcons won their last four games including a 21-20 squeaker over Forest Hills Eastern to end the regular season and sneak into the playoffs with a 5-4 record.

Five weeks later, West Catholic is the Division 5 state champs.

The Falcons ended a stunning 5-0 run in the playoffs with a 27-14 victory over previously undefeated Menominee to take the Division 5 crown with a 10-4 record.

The West Catholic defense was very impressive, led by Jason McDonough with seven solo tackles and two assists.

Travis Russell threw passes of 24 and 45 yards to David Bancuk and Drake Wooten for touchdowns while also running 25 yards for a score. Travis Hoving passed 30 yards to Bryce Witham for another TD.

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Clarkston won its first football state finals ever with a 32-14 victory over Detroit Catholic Central Saturday in the Division I finals at Ford Field,

Ian Erickson had runs of 37, 1 and 12 yards for touchdowns for Clarkston. The winners also got touchdown passes for 15 and 47 yards from D.J. Zezula to Shane Holler and Alexander Bock.

Clarkston was up 6-0 at halftime and 18-7 after the third quarter. They outscored Catholic Central 14-7 in the fourth quarter. Catholic Central has now lost in three-straight state title games.

Ericksen had a big game with 237 yards on 32 carries. Zezula passed 15 times with 10 completions for 154 yards.

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Ishpeming built a 22-0 lead and hung on against Detroit Loyola for a 22-12 victory Saturday in the Division 7 state finals at Ford Field.

Briones threw passes of 17 and 2 yards to Marcus Antilla and Mitch Laurin in the first half and had a 20-yard run in the second quarter.

Loyola had touchdown passes of 34 and 31 yards from Garrett Schaller to Keith Graves for its two touchdowns.

Ishpeming was one of two Upper Peninsula schools to qualify for the state finals.

Briones was 6-of-13 in passing for 76 yards and also rushed for 60 yards. Adam Prisk led Ishpeming in rushing with 77 yards.

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Michigan high school football history was made Friday night at Ford Field when Marine City’s junior female placekicker Olivia Viney kicked seven extra points and became the first female to score in the state finals history.

Marine City improved to 13-1 with a 49-35 Division 4 title-winning victory over Grand Rapids South Christian, which fell to 12-2.

Viney also tied the state football finals record for most extra points in a title showdown.

Alex Merchant threw three touchdown passes to Peter Patsaslis to spark the Marine City effort. Marine City scored 21 first-half points for a 21-21 tie at halftime, and outscored the Sailors 28-14 in the second half.

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Alma 12th at state swim meet

Midland, Saginaw Heritage and St. John tie for 30th

Bay City Western 15th in the state swim finals

Okemos takes 13th place in state finals swim meet

Midland Dow swim team takes ninth

DeWitt falls in Division 3 title game

Grand Rapids West Catholic takes Division 5 title

Clarkston defeats Detroit Catholic Central for state title

Ishpeming takes home Division 7 title

Marine City girl placekicker makes MHSAA history in Division 4 title game