Blog

Last Year

SUMMER PREVIEW
MID-SEASON
FINAL PROJECTIONS
THE RESULT

Girls

1. Traverse City St. Francis (State Champions)
2. Elk Rapids (8^th)
3. Charlevoix (22^nd)

Boys

1. Traverse City St. Francis (2^nd)
2. Clare (9^th)
3. Elk Rapids (20^th)

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

Elk Rapids (Top 5), Traverse City St. Francis (Top 5), Clare (8^th), Charlevoix (24^th)

Boys

Traverse City St. Francis (Top 5), Clare (Top 5), Elk Rapids (17^th)

(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	Elk Rapids	45
2	Traverse City St. Francis	55
3	Clare	68
4	Charlevoix	115
5	Boyne City	182
6	Kalkaska	190
7	Farwell	199
8	Standish-Sterling	204
9	Grayling	238
10	Tawas	256
11	Mancelona	266

Place	Boys Team	Score
1	Traverse City St. Francis	37
2	Clare	56
3	Elk Rapids	93
4	Kalkaska	114
5	Charlevoix	120
6	Grayling	143
7	Boyne City	189
8	Roscommon	204
9	Tawas	272
10	Harrison	315
11	Mancelona	316
12	Standish-Sterling	320
13	Charlton Heston Academy	370

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 on a top team or in the 50 Tickets 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.

Betsy Skendzel, Traverse City St. Francis

Was the regional champ last year and is a runner meant for the State Finals. She’s placed in the top-8 in each appearance, negative splitting her way high onto the podium.

Brynne Schulte, Elk Rapids

Freshman year contained wins at Taco Tuesday, Kalkaska, and Mancelona. Great finishes in many other spots, including 3^rd here and 27^th at D3 State.

Laina Sladics, Charlevoix

Two years separate her two high school seasons, but even that doesn’t explain the considerable reduction in time. Laina moved up from 35^th to 7^th over here in Region 19 and knocked almost 2.5 minutes off her time.

Brad White, Clare

Coming off a regional title and his first All-State, he’s still found room to improve. Dropped well into the 1:50’s in the 800m and ended the year ranked #6 in D3.

Josh Slocum, Traverse City St. Francis

Entered high school with many expectations and has lived up to many of them. Competed only from October 1^st on last year, but no warmup period was needed. All races in the 16’s, his 2^nd top-10 at Regionals, and first All-State were all accomplished.

Drew Moore, Grayling

Dramatic late-season rise surprised many. Race in, race out, outperformed expectations on the way to a 17^th place finish at State.

Gavin Guggemos, Kalkaska

Big track season, especially in the 3200m. Placed 2^nd in the LMC and 17^th in Division 3.

Tucker Krumm, Traverse City St. Francis

I know East Jordan is a quick track for many. For Tucker, it’s personal bests all the time. Each of the past three years, he’s run the best time of his career and placed in the top-15.

Nic Porter, Clare

Solid his first two years, running mid-17’s, then took a step forward as a junior. Sub-17 three times, with a significant personal best here in 16:26.

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

2022 Results

Meet	Division	Place
Milford		7th of 18
Holly	D2	2nd of 17
Mott Fall Classic		1st of 21
Portage	D2	1st of 43
Gabriel Richard	Medium	1st of 16
SEC White		1st of 5
Region 16		1st of 12
Division 2 State		3rd of 27

Top Returners

Evan Loughridge

Established himself as one of D2’s better runners last fall. Evan brought his personal best down from the mid-16’s to 15:20 and was a consistent sub-16 figure after spending much of his sophomore year in the 17’s. The year ended with a Region 16 crown and 10^th place (his first All-State) at Division 2 State.

Paul Moore

Established himself as one of D2’s bett.. wait am I writing the same thing? Found a similar trajectory to Evan, his late season containing many heroics. Gargantuan PR at MITCA and an 11^th place at State. More to come on these two athletes…

Ethan Sandula

Comparing year to year, Ethan underwent powerful change in a few track events. His 800m decreased from 2:19 to 2:05, his 3200m from 9:53 to 9:35.

Zach Newman

If you take a 17-flat kid and ask him how his track season went, I guarantee Zach will have one of the better answers. His 4:32 in the 1600m ranked 13^th amongst Division 2 sophomores.

Gabe Maciag

Four freaking minute jump from his freshman to sophomore year. If time isn’t enough, consider this: at the 2021 SEC Reserve race, he placed 151^st. The 2022 version? 14^th.

Wyatt Larson

In the heat at Possum Hollow, managed a 20:08 opener. Seven weeks later, in the cool conditions at the SEC Championship, completed the season with an ending effort more than 2 minutes faster.

Kyle Osborne

One sub-18 on his cross resume, but perhaps more in store with his 11:08 at the tail end of his track season?

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

2022 Results

Meet	Division	Place
Portage EB		1st of 18
Bath	Class 1	3rd of 11
Spartan	Elite	3rd of 19
Cougar Falcon	Cougar	2nd of 9
Otsego Bulldog	D2	5th of 26
Portage	D2	5th of 42
Region 12		1st of 14
Division 2 State		2nd of 27

Top Returners

Drew Muller

The ultimate low stick in Division Two. Drew’s placed in the top-5 at the state level all three of her seasons, finally winning it last year. More to be written on this genuinely good person later…

Sadey Seyferth

Before her wondrous track season, let’s take a minute to brag about her cross career thus far. Twice top-10 in her region, twice All-State, and twice racing into the 18’s near the end of the season.

Sophia Lado

In her three years running for the Pioneers, she’s been sub-20 each season, with an All-State as a sophomore.

Madelyn Baar

Freshman year ended with a significant drop of time, where she raced in the 21’s for much of the year before ending with a 20:46.

Avery Hecksel

In the final OK White Jamboree, Avery obtained a personal best that was 24 races in the making.

Kennidi Kowal

Vast difference between her fall and spring segments. Whereas in the fall, Kennidi stayed on the slow side of 22, her spring ended with sub-6, sub-13, and an 8^th place in the OK White 3200m.

Quincy Stiffler

Cross country season ended prematurely, but track did not. Ended her spring on a high note, sneaking into the 2:30’s on her second to last 800m.

Mary Jane McGovern

Found some massive personal bests on the track this spring, bringing her 800m down from 2:47 to 2:35.

Potential Newcomers

Adeline Armstrong

Placed highly at a few championship XC meets, 3^rd in the WMMSC and the West Michigan Championship, then turned around and raced in the 2:20’s/5:30’s during track.

Clare Assaf

After a cross season comprised of many mid-13 efforts, found something late in track, getting into the 12’s by the end of May.