The goal for this summer’s preview is to be a bit more thorough and coherent. Usually I’m rushed and racing to get out content before the season begins, but I swear this year will be different! I’m starting a little earlier, I already performed a ton of the dirty work over the winter, and am as motivated as ever.
Anyhow, the plan is this:
- Write a bit about teams ranked 11-27, D4 through D1
- Knock out the 50 Tickets
- Have more detailed posts about the Top 10 Teams
- Throw out the always controversial Regional Projections
- Hopefully have one all-encompassing post for each division (including the UP, which typically starts a little later than us trolls, so they’ll get their own two-week period in late August)
Why rank to 27? Well, unless there’s a 4th place team that qualifies out of a regional, there are 27 teams that compete at the Lower Peninsula State Finals.
These projections are based on a combination of last season’s ratings, projected improvements, and this past track season. They contain kids that ran XC in 2025, either for their high school or a middle school that typically feeds to that high school. Projecting D4 is always a little rough because of the smaller enrollments. My estimation is that there’s more recruiting from within the school and multi-sport athletes compared to other divisions. As a result, these likely miss out on athletes that could have a huge impact.
As always, these are for fun and a way to keep the best sport in the world on your mind through these summer months.
27-11
27. Buchanan – John Keser had a huge end to his junior cross season, closing out October and November with many races in the low-16’s, including an All-State finish here in D3
26. Plymouth Christian Academy – a young team gets a year older. The Eagles graduate only two from their 12th place squad in 2025 and will likely feature many underclassmen on this year’s squad.
25. Ann Arbor Greenhills – coming off a standout track season from their crew, especially Naveen Kulkarni, who was just on the cusp of breaking 10-flat.
24. Muskegon Western Mich. Christian – the Warriors will surely benefit from Owen Sytsema’s first track season, in which the junior was able to bust out a 4:43 in the 1600m at season’s end.
23. Hillsdale – the emergence of Bryce Youngman during track will give the Chargers a formidable 1-2, as the youngster threw down the 20th fastest 3200m time for a Michigan freshman.
22. Midland Bullock Creek – in the span of one spring to the next, Marshall Brandt dropped from 2:12/4:53 to 2:03/4:23. Who’s to know what’s next, but that’s surely inspiring for the other Lancers out there.
21. Gladwin – the Flying G’s move from D2 to D3 this fall and they could find success through their depth. Four HS returners were at 18-flat or faster and four incoming freshmen were sub-12 in MS.
20. Pigeon-Laker – an experienced team that’s hoping to make a return to MIS from their 19th place finish in 2024. Led by Evan Olson, who was runner-up in Region 25 last year.
19. Grand Rapids Covenant Christian – the Chargers consistently have some of the better numbers and more active MS programs in all of D3. This looks to pay off again in 2026, this time led by a strong top-3, all under 17:30 last fall.
18. Centreville – led by Will Hulin, but don’t lose sight of the young talent behind him. This past track season, the Bulldogs had two freshmen that were sub-11 in the 3200m.
17. Montague – will follow the footsteps of Nolan Kessler, who each year has shown a penchant for big-time racing at season’s end, dropping into the 16’s in his closing races in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.
16. Blissfield – led by one of the better top-two’s in the division with some fearsome depth behind. Michael Weidmayer was All-State both on the track and grass and Noah Sills dropped considerable time in the 3200m, 10:31 to 9:58 in one year.
15. The Potter’s House – could be one of the stronger squads through six runners of anyone in the division. The Pumas bring back five boys that were sub-18 or faster and their sixth fastest returner was a measly three seconds back at 18:03.
14. Rochester Hills Lutheran NW – Nole Lorenzen is the star of the show, but it’s kids such as Jack Songer that give the Crusaders this high of a ranking. Songer was sub-17 on three occasions last fall, including a 6th place finish in the MIAC.
13. Erie Mason – an experienced outfit that should be solid through all five scoring spots, as the Eagles bring back five runners that were either sub-18 in cross or sub-11 in the 3200m during track.
12. Traverse City St. Francis – a year away from the spotlight to rebuild, the Glads have come roaring back. TCSF brings back all seven runners from last year’s state squad that finished 15th. Filtering out seniors from that 2025 Final has the Gladiators finishing 7th.
11. Holland Black River – Jonas Ballard has established himself as one of the better pure distance runners in D3, breaking 10 and placing top-15 in the division’s 3200m each of the past two springs.
Best Track Seasons
Muskegon Western Mich. Christian
800m: 4 returners sub-2:10
1600m: 4 returners sub-5:00
3200m: 3 returners sub-11:30
Centreville
800m: 3 returners sub-2:15
1600m: 3 returners sub-5:30
1600m: 3 returners sub-11:00
Blissfield
800m: 3 returners sub-2:20
1600m: 5 returners sub-5:05
3200m: 4 returners sub-11:00
2025 State Finals
7th – Holland Black River
11th – Ann Arbor Greenhills
12th – Plymouth Christian Academy
14th – Buchanan
15th – Traverse City St. Francis
16th – The Potter’s House
17th – Midland Bullock Creek
19th – Erie Mason
22nd – Blissfield
27th – Montague
DNQ – Rochester Hills Lutheran NW, Centreville, Grand Rapids Covenant Christian, Pigeon-Laker, Gladwin (D2), Hillsdale, Muskegon Western Mich. Christian
27-11
27. Harbor Beach – making the leap up from D4, where the Pirates narrowly missed a state qualifying spot in 2025. Senior Cailin Spearman had a breakthrough season and based on track, seems poised for more.
26. Pigeon-Laker – senior Pyper Braun leads the way, fresh off her third straight D3 Finals appearance in the 1600m.
25. Leslie – graduates Hailey Creisher, but the tradition of Blackhawks march on. Perhaps with a family member near the front?
24. Bronson – by last fall’s end, Alonna Goodsell had dropped a minute off her previous best. This past spring, she finished her first season running solely distance events, which will surely pay off come fall.
23. Buchanan – last season, Tala Carlin acquitted herself quite well to the high school level, placing 18th at D3 State. Buchanan now brings in three freshmen girls capable of an impact, their middle school Bucks flaunting three girls that were sub-14 in MS cross.
22. Hanover-Horton – track season featured a tremendous drop for Maizey Totoff, 12 seconds in the 800m, good enough for a state qualifier and 13th place finish. The two lapper isn’t necessarily the greatest comparison to XC, but you gotta imagine she’ll reach new levels soon.
21. Jonesville – it wasn’t just the Comet boys that experienced spring relay success. Jonesville’s girls 4×8 won Hillsdale County and placed 2nd in the Cascades Conference, with that 4×8 comprised of three XC returners.
20. Sanford-Meridian – depth could extend further than most, with six Sanford-Meridian girls in the 22’s or faster in 2025.
19. Chesaning – the Chesaning MS girls are coming off a 3rd place Zone 4 finish (against many bigger schools) and could provide a great lift for the HS program.
18. Harbor Springs – the Rams always have numbers and this year appears to be no different, with six returners that were sub-23 and three in the low-21’s or faster
17. Olivet – Tiya Feldpauch is the headliner and deservedly so, but don’t sleep on the two sophomores behind her. Lily Britton was an All-Stater in both the spring and fall, Madelynn Patterson
16. Saugatuck – three prominent returners headline the Trailblazer cause – Kamryn Sixberry (3rd in Region 3), Lyvia Curtis (31st at D3 State), and Ellyse Heyser (owner of a 11:51 in the 3200m).
15. Midland Bullock Creek – the Lancers have some freshmen who could fill in up front, but also many interchangeable depth pieces to ensure consistent finishes at the back. Four Bullock Creek returners were sub-22 at some point in 2025.
14. Grandville Calvin Christian – the Squires are gradually making a return to their past glory. 22nd in D3 in 2024, 10th this past fall, with a real chance of repeating 2025’s fortunes. Or even improving.
13. McBain – led at the front by Caelyn Torry, but also senior Madelyn Reinink, who busted through into the 19’s late in her junior season.
12. Kent City – the Eagles always find a way. This fall, it appears the path will be through a mix of depth (5 returners sub-21:45) and a low-stick (Elliana Max, the regional and CSAA White Champion).
11. Jackson Lumen Christi – the Titans will always rely on the savvy veteran Samantha Schroeder, the defending champion and contender again for the D3 crown. But the depth is intriguing, as LC seems like it could find 9 girls in the sub-22 range. If one or two break through, they’ll find themselves in the top-5 once again.
Best Track Seasons
Jonesville
800m: 6 returners sub-3:00
1600m: 4 returners sub-6:15
3200m: 3 returners sub-14:00
Sanford-Meridian
800m: 4 returners sub-3:00
1600m: 3 returners sub-6:05
3200m: 3 returners sub-13:45
Saugatuck
800m: 3 returners sub-2:40
1600m: 3 returners sub-5:40
3200m: 3 returners sub-12:05
2025 State Finals
3rd – Saugatuck
4th – Jackson Lumen Christi
7th – McBain
9th – Olivet
10th – Grandville Calvin Christian
13th – Kent City
20th – Bronson
21st – Harbor Springs
22nd – Leslie
DNQ – Midland Bullock Creek, Chesaning, Sanford-Meridian, Jonesville, Hanover-Horton, Buchanan, Pigeon-Laker, Harbor Beach (D4)
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 