The Regional Previews: Division 4, Region 31

Last Year

Summer Preview

Mid-Season

Regional Projections

The Result (okay, why did athletic.net change the formatting here? Like I need my work to be more difficult…)

Girls

1. The Potter’s House (20^th)
2. Libertas Christian (12^th)
3. St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake (19^th)

Boys

1. The Potter’s House (Champion)
2. Three Oaks River Valley (5^th)
3. Holland Calvary Christian (14^th)

A lot of shuffling here, shuffling of significant teams. The Potter’s House is taking their talents up to Division 3, where their boys could find themselves a title favorite. River Valley is heading to Portage, a less arduous trip for that talented bunch. But when you think the region got much easier, perennial power Saugatuck slides its way in.

Top 27 Teams

Previous years had top-25 teams, but there’s 27 (and sometimes more) team qualifiers and what does it hurt to add another two?

Girls

Muskegon Western Michigan Christian (Top 8), Gobles (Top 8), Saugatuck (13^th), St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake (18^th), Holland Calvary Christian (21^st)

Boys

Saugatuck (Top 8), Holland Calvary Christian (Top 8), Muskegon Western Michigan Christian (12^th), Muskegon Catholic Central (17^th)

THIS IS A VERY STRONG REGION AND SOME VERY GOOD TEAMS WILL MISS OUT ON QUALIFYING FOR STATE.

(If your team isn’t listed in the images above or the scores below, you probably don’t have five returners, at least on ol’ athletic.net. I’m sure many of these teams will fill out their rosters by late October)

Projected Scores

Place	Girls Team	Score
1	Muskegon Western Michigan Christian	50
2	Gobles	51
3	Saugatuck	82
4	St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake	101
5	Holland Calvary Christian	108
6	Libertas Christian	140
7	Muskegon Catholic Central	199
8	Vermontville Maple Valley	205

Place	Boys Team	Score
1	Saugatuck	38
2	Holland Calvary Christian	49
3	Muskegon Western Michigan Christian	74
4	Muskegon Catholic Central	89
5	St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake	120
6	Martin	171

Top Runners

Thought I’d give a review of some of the top returners in each region. Returners means no incoming freshman (you’ll get your days in the sun). If you’re gonna be in the 50 Tickets, you’ll get a full writeup there. If you’re on a top team (Gobles, WMC, Saugatuck, Calvary Christian) and you’re projected highly here, you hit the jackpot! Yes, I’m writing a bit less than previous years, but I think I’ve learned my lesson in that I need to conserve energy and brainpower for all divisions and regions. Typically by August, I’m rushing to get these done. This time around, hopefully all regions get the same amount of coverage.

Grace VanderKooi, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian

Bouncing around divisions has had no impact on this resilient girl. Her freshman self trailed her older sister en route to a top-10 finish at MIS. Her sophomore self took on a front running role with the Warrior girls, leading them back to State in Division 3, then placing 16^th herself. This past track season, she doubled at the State Finals, placing 2^nd in the 3200m and 3^rd in the 1600m, nearly setting a personal best in the 16 (on that hot day, WHO DOES THAT?).

Allison Glendening, St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake

Allison must’ve gotten sick of those mid-40 placings in Brooklyn. Cause 16^th is a massive improvement. And then bolstered by that first All-State finish, she used the Shepherd magic to go under 20:00 at MITCA.

Sadie Schout, Libertas Christian

Allendale must be her course. The flat fields and school grounds were home to Sadie’s first massive personal best of the season, a 19:44 in early October. And they were home to one of her greater accomplishments, a regional victory. That regional victory preceded a 6^th place finish in the State Finals, 60 whole places lower than what she placed the previous year.

Tyler Laansma, Tri-Unity Christian

Just one season in the game and Tyler proved his clutch gene. Why do I say that? His 17:10 here was almost half a minute better than his previous record, his 8^th place securing a State Finals berth.

Riley Weed, Holland Calvary Christian

Riley gets to be another rule breaker here in the regional previews. Aside from an outstanding middle school season where he won a number of races, such as Zone 6, Otsego Bulldog, Under the Lights, he competed in a few races with the big dogs. Did he hold his own? You bet. 7^th here, 46^th in the D4 Finals, and the top 8^th grader in each.

Matthias Morse, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian

On a pristine morning here in Allendale, busted out a 10+ second PB, an end to a four week stretch where he reduced his best time from 18:04 to 17:16.

Graeson Lawrence, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian

What will a senior year be like for a guy who’s dropped a minute each successive season? From mid-19’s as a 9^th grader to mid-17’s as a junior, Graeson has been all about that development.