Top Tens: Division 4 Girls

SUMMER PREVIEW

11 to 27

Rank	Team	Score
11	Unionville-Sebewaing	446
12	Concord	455
13	Buckley	456
14	Leland	468
15	Royal Oak Shrine	470
16	Mason County Eastern	478
17	Grand Traverse Academy	500
18	Kalamazoo Hackett	512
19	Lansing Christian	596
20	Beal City	599
21	Holland Calvary Christian	602
22	Rogers City	662
23	Vestaburg	693
24	Harbor Beach	735
25	Frankfort	761
26	Novi Christian Academy	767
27	Livingston Christian	785

Overall Landscape

Rank	Team	2023 State Place	Scoring Returners	Varsity Returners
1	Whitmore Lake	1st	4 of 5	5 of 7
2	Hillsdale Academy	4th	5 of 5	7 of 7
3	Breckenridge	6th	4 of 5	6 of 7
4	Gobles	8th	5 of 5	5 of 7
5	Harbor Springs	5th	5 of 5	7 of 7
6	Ubly	18th	2 of 5	3 of 7
7	Bear Lake-Onekama	DNQ	4 of 4	4 of 4
8	Bridgman	24th* (D3)	4 of 5	6 of 7
9	Kingston	9th	3 of 5	5 of 7
10	Johannesburg-Lewiston	2nd	4 of 5	4 of 7

I wanted to change things up a bit regarding the Top Ten Teams. Over the past two summers, this has been a solid feature in the hype department, giving highlight to many kids on superb teams. One aspect I’ve felt that I’ve lacked is explaining how each team relates in comparison to others. I’ll attempt to do that here!

Included features are:

Strengths – characteristics making that team a contender.
Question Marks – any person or team that I write about here, I’m 100% confident you’ll shore up this “weaker” spot by year’s end. But this is a section that’ll look into why a team could be beat.
Looking Ahead – how the team might fare in their championship meets (conference, county, regional, state)

#1 Whitmore Lake

Strengths

Once again, a great top-two and top-four. Last year, the Trojans placed two in the top-10 and four on the podium en route to their win. Natalie Meadows leaves and it appears Elodie Weaver is primed to take her spot. She stepped in a huge way to clinch last year’s title, then commenced training for a track season that contained drops from 6:27 to 5:40, 13:23 to 12:08, and two 16^th place D4 finishes in each event.

Question Marks

Their fifth spot and beyond. Alexis Graham likely slides into the final scoring spot without much cross experience under her belt. But what she does have is speed on the track, racing to 2:38/5:44. And with Weaver last year, history is on their side with regard to their final scoring girl.

Looking Ahead

The Trojan band will be traveling all over – from Shepherd to Holly to Goodells to Portage. These girls can compete in anything. The MIAC has traditionally been tough, but appears to be in a rebuilding phase. Region 33 already has a writeup. At Portage and Holly, we’ll get a preview of how they match up with Hillsdale Academy.

#2 Hillsdale Academy

Strengths

Pure overall depth. Anyone on the Colts varsity squad could be a scorer for a D4 team. Currently, I’ve got Grace Brownlee as their 7^th girl (which she was at State). Grace closed her cross season with a 21:16, then closed her track season with a 5:57 in the 1600m. I wouldn’t be surprised if HA has all seven under 20:45.

Question Marks

Not really a weakness as Hillsdale is on par here with the two teams listed below them, but their 1^st through 3^rd girls. Whitmore Lake should be able to put some distance on the Colts in these spots. Of course, Ruth Brownlee could move into the upper echelon, as she was a state qualifier in both long-distance track races.

Looking Ahead

Gonna be the favorites all throughout championship season. Region 34 has already been previewed. We’ll be watching the major invites such as Jackson, Portage, and Holly to see how well that depth cuts through a field.

#3 Breckenridge

Strengths

Solid at every single position. The Huskies really don’t have a great or a weak spot. They step up when it matters most, winning the past two regionals and placing 6^th in D4.

Question Marks

If there was a weak spot, it could be that Breckenridge probably doesn’t have a top-10 finisher. Of course, Ally Schmitz could prove that wrong, as she dropped nearly 2 minutes from her 2022 State Finals to 2023. Danica Aldrich as well, improving to 5:47/12:14.

Looking Ahead

The girls have won the MSAC and Regional each of the past two years, mainly the same teams between the two. Region 30’s projections have the Huskies winning by 50 points. Class D should be a proper representation of what Breckenridge will face at State. Hillsdale Academy likely the favorites, Breckenridge a favorite to be the runner-up.

#4 Gobles

Strengths

Their low stick and top four. Libby Smith was 7^th in the division last fall and she’s coming off a track season where she ran 11:15 in the 32. She can only lose 6 possible points, but it’s one spot the Tigers need not worry about. Ava DeYoung was Gobles’ 4^th girl at State, all year she was a low-20 girl. Unfortunately, MIS was the outlier, she has all the potential to be mixing it up for a podium spot.

Question Marks

Depth beyond their front four. Senior Zoie Wood was the Tiger 5^th girl last fall. Gobles has been at the Allendale regional each of the past three years. She’s moving up from 27+ as a freshman, 24+ as a sophomore, to 22:38 last year. She continues that trend and the Tigers are challenging for that third spot. Newcomer Addison Tomsic was hitting the low-14’s at the middle school level, she may join Wood, and those 5-6 spots may be a strength.

Looking Ahead

The Tigers will be savoring a chance to go back-to-back in the SAC. Saugatuck will be there and they’re adding more girls. Region 31 well, I have them putting four in the top seven.

#5 Harbor Springs

Strengths

A very strong top-2 and some of the faster depth in D4. Juni Rodham and Stefi Reskevics were both All-State last year (Rodham earning it too in 2022). Occupying the 6^th spot, I have McKenzie Bowman, who was the 4^th fastest #6 girl at D4 State.

Question Marks

Comparative to the four teams ranked higher, the Rams 3^rd-5^th girls. These three ran as a pack at State, all coming in between 21:20 and 21:30. They’re all sophomores and juniors, thus much opportunity for growth.

Looking Ahead

In this new Northern Shores Conference, it appears as if two holdovers from the LMC will duke it out. Elk Rapids got the upper hand last year, but Harbor Springs returns everyone. Johannesburg-Lewiston will be there in Region 28. Though the Rams depth should overwhelm most D4 teams in the area.

#6 Ubly

Strengths

Their top-3. Abbygail Plester ran in the high-12’s late in her 8^th grade season, Myah Peruski was slightly behind her. Typically, freshmen girls tend to run that same pace for the 5k distance. Katie Sweeney, an All-Stater last fall, will be reliably running with the two.

Question Marks

Youth. Ubly has a history of success, winning their region 6 of the past 10 years, no doubt their coaches can develop young runners. Four of their five projected scorers are freshmen, and while the statement in the above paragraph is true, it comes with a bit more variance.

Looking Ahead

Look for the Bearcats to be favorites to win their third straight GTC East crown and attain their first regional victory in four years. The later mentioned Kingston is right there, as is cross-thumb rival, USA. As with the boys, the Thumb Area favorites are a D4 outfit, which you love to see.

#7 Bear Lake-Onekama

Strengths

A low stick up front and quality racing through four. Callie Sinke already has a few 5k’s under her belt, running 18:49 at MITCA and a 18:39 just recently on the roads. Jennifer Kmiecik Is probably their 4^th girl, she just dropped some outstanding track times, 2:26 and 5:42.

Question Marks

Depth and experience. The Lakers only competed with four girls last year, and while everyone is returning, that means many freshmen will be taking up varsity spots. If Natalie Brown can continue her late season form, that’ll vault Bear Lake into top-5 contention.

Looking Ahead

At last year’s WMD Championship, only two squads had full scoring outfits: Pentwater and Mason County Eastern. MCE is ranked #16 in D4, although we’ll see how the Manistee Catholic closing situation affects their roster. Region 29 is STACKED, with 5 teams in the top-17. The Lakers are clearly the favorites and will have the added insurance of hopefully putting four girls in the top-20. I’d expect a win, but you never know with that competition.

#8 Bridgman

Strengths

Quality depth, extending deep into their varsity squad. A benefit of moving from D3 is that the Bees are at the top of the enrollment list, thus have more kids to draw from. Still, I have Bridgman’s 5^th girl right now as Emily Howell, a girl who’s been in the low-22/high-21’s her whole career.

Question Marks

Low figures at the front. Shouldn’t be a huge negative in local meets, but might deny them the opportunity for small amounts of points in larger meets. On the other hand, Clara Fast, who should be their frontrunner, has loads of experience. Her 20:32 at State would’ve been around 40^th in D4. She’s coming off a track season where she was on the cusp of breaking 12. An All-State bid is definitely a possibility.

Looking Ahead

Last year, the Bees finished 4^th in the tough SAC. Gobles and Saugatuck will still be present with many of the same girls. Fennville loses quite a bit, Hackett could slide into the 3^rd spot. Hackett will be their regional competition. The projections have the Bees putting all their scorers in the top-10, which will be tough for their fellow Region 32 compadres.

#9 Kingston

Strengths

No bad spots. Relative to the teams listed here, they’re slower at many spots. But the Cardinal runners that are out there shouldn’t fall too far back in the D4 pack. For instance, I have Haley McGuire as their 6^th girl. She broke 22 last fall and her 135^th place finish was the 5^th best 6^th girl in D4.

Question Marks

Single digit scorers. Probably won’t be an issue in Thumb area meets, but on a state stage will quickly add points. I do think a girl such as Lilah Kiley can move up. Those low-60 quarters in track were evidence that she has the fitness.

Looking Ahead

The Cardinals are likely one of the only full teams in the NCTL, the girls should cruise to a victory there. Unfortunately, Ubly lurks in both the Thumb Area and in Region 35. Kingston has the experienced depth, Ubly has the youthful depth. Expect Kingston to be in contention for top-3 at Thumb Area. If they’re not careful, USA could slip ahead both there and at regionals. And regionals is no easy ticket, Harbor Beach is a quality squad projected 4^th.

#10 Johannesburg-Lewiston

Strengths

Their top four. Nowak’s been featured in the top-50. Fox, Agren, and Gascho all have championship experience and a few All-States between them.

Question Marks

Depth. Coach Marcum has always done an excellent job of bringing kids into the fold. But beyond those four is a huge question mark.

Looking Ahead

J-L is always very selective with their scheduling, so we probably won’t know much until Shepherd/Portage. The Ski Valley (great name for a conference) has added East Jordan, but I still see this as Joburg’s to lose. Region 28 will be tough with a Petoskey St. Michael that always finds bodies and Harbor Springs.