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The Top Tens: Division 3 Boys #6

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

2022 Results

MeetDivisionPlace
UTL v2Midnight4th of 13
SaranacD3/42nd of 8
Delton Kellogg4th of 11
Christian Schools4th of 7
Ottawa HillsSession 213th of 15
Autumn SunriseD3/42nd of 7
BluejayElite26th of 30
PortageD34th of 35
Kent OttawaKent4th of 8
Christian Comet2nd of 16
Region 211st of 12
Division 3 State4th of 28

Top Returners

Levi Kamps

Turned over a new leaf during the last three races of his sophomore season. A fourth place at Christian Comet was 10 spots and nearly a minute better than his promising freshman year. His state performance was an even greater improvement, nearly 80 seconds faster.

Nick Lubbers

Had similar drops to Levi, only one year later. As a sophomore, he didn’t even compete in the MHSAA portion of the season. Come his 11th grade year, he was the #2 man, nearly busting through 17:00 at Allendale.

Luke Dykstra

Each of the past two years, Luke has found his way into the 17’s. As a freshman, it was at Portage and as a sophomore, he set a personal best at Portage. Dude wasn’t satisfied with merely a 17:44, instead he knocked nearly 20 seconds off that time to place 16th at Region 21 and help his Chargers win the regional championship.

Grant Koole

Amber ain’t the only Koole runnin’ in these parts. Grant slipped under 18:00 late in the year, then hit 10:38 in the 3200m, showing lower times are ready to be unleashed.

Tyler N. Kooienga

After suffering in the heat of Saranac, Tyler turned his season around by the end, consistently hitting mid-18 efforts during October.

Potential Newcomers

Graeson Decker

Portage is probably the biggest middle school meet of the season, placing highly there is a great indicator of high school impact. Graeson was 6th. Also, if you compare his 8:36 to runners from the previous year, you’ll find that those 8th graders in 2021 were mid-17 freshmen in 2022.

Austin Griffoen

That Shepherd course may be flat, it may be fast, but we know it’s a legit two miles. So when Austin runs 11:33 there, thoughts start forming as to what he can do in high school.

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The Top Tens: Division 3 Girls #6

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

2022 Results

MeetDivisionPlace
LamplighterFlight One3rd of 18
Happy AcresBig3rd of 6
Concord1st of 11
MarauderSmall2nd of 9
BathClass 31st of 8
HollyD41st of 12
JacksonRed4th of 11
Stockbridge4th of 16
Portage5th of 31
Greater Lansing10th of 30
GLAC Championship1st of 5
Region 232nd of 12
Division 3 State12th of 26

Top Returners

Hailey Creisher

Among her best finishes were a top-10 in Region 9, 3rd place in the GLAC, and top-100 spot at State.

Erin Lubahn

Dropped 16 sec. from her freshman best. At Stockbridge’s fast track, she went from 19:48 to 19:32.

Jaidyn Smith

Improved her 1600m times during track, breaking 6:00 for the first time in high school, which was good enough for 3rd in the GLAC

Jalynn Schmelter

Massive time drops in the spring make her Leslie’s hidden secret. She set personal bests of 5:47 and 12:48, each were significant personal bests that show she could be one of the better #4 runners in Division Three.

Kayla Creisher

Just finished her best track season yet in the longer distances. From her sophomore to junior year, dropped over 20 sec. in the 1600m.

Potential Newcomers

Mia Papendick

In the 13’s for a majority of her XC meets, landing her with various honors such as 2nd in the GLAC and 3rd at Zone 5.

Makya Isham

Began her season in the 14’s, then as October came, found her way in the low-13’s. Very nearly broke 6:00 during track, but in doing so, won the GLAC 1600m.

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50 Tickets to Brooklyn: Boys #30

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

Accomplishments & Accolades

  • SVL Champion (XC)
  • 2nd Place – Saginaw County (XC)
  • 5th Place – Region 2 (XC)
  • 3x State Qualifier (XC)
  • 11th Place – Division 1 State 800m
  • 2nd Place – SVL 800m/1600m
  • 8th Place – 2022 Division 1 State 800m

Ratings Throughout the Years

GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeet
11Kenny Lewis16:37.9Saginaw Heritage193.4Under the Lights
11Kenny Lewis16:10.7Saginaw Heritage201.8Oiler
11Kenny Lewis16:10.1Saginaw Heritage197.3Northwood
11Kenny Lewis16:45.9Saginaw Heritage184.7SVL North 1
11Kenny Lewis16:11.6Saginaw Heritage200.5Holly
11Kenny Lewis16:23.1Saginaw Heritage191.3SVL North 2
11Kenny Lewis15:43.2Saginaw Heritage200.6Bluejay
11Kenny Lewis17:18.0Saginaw Heritage184.7Heritage
11Kenny Lewis16:31.9Saginaw Heritage182.4Freeland Falcon
11Kenny Lewis15:58.7Saginaw Heritage193.1SVL Championship
11Kenny Lewis16:29.1Saginaw Heritage191.3Saginaw County
11Kenny Lewis16:01.6Saginaw Heritage192.8Region 2
11Kenny Lewis16:37.6Saginaw Heritage187.1Division 1 State
GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeet
10Kenny Lewis18:16.8Saginaw Heritage146.7SVL North 2
10Kenny Lewis18:33.4Saginaw Heritage150.9Coaching Legends
10Kenny Lewis18:11.9Saginaw Heritage170.4Freeland Falcon
10Kenny Lewis17:32.1Saginaw Heritage174.6SVL Championship
10Kenny Lewis17:22.8Saginaw Heritage175.1Saginaw County
10Kenny Lewis17:31.9Saginaw Heritage186.4Region 2
10Kenny Lewis17:05.6Saginaw Heritage176.1Division 1 State
GradeNameTeamRatingMeet
9Kenny LewisSaginaw Heritage172.7Clare/Freeland/Heritage
9Kenny LewisSaginaw Heritage173.4Breckenridge/Caro/Heritage/St Louis
9Kenny LewisSaginaw Heritage172.8SVL North
9Kenny LewisSaginaw Heritage176.8Dow/Heritage
9Kenny LewisSaginaw Heritage180.8White Pine
9Kenny LewisSaginaw Heritage181.1SVL North 2
9Kenny LewisSaginaw Heritage169.9Heritage
9Kenny LewisSaginaw Heritage173.1SVL Championship
9Kenny LewisSaginaw Heritage170.7Pre-Region 3
9Kenny LewisSaginaw Heritage179.7Region 2
9Kenny LewisSaginaw Heritage169.0Division 1 State

The Rundown

Throughout the winter, I often tediously analyze middle school races in order to give a more accurate summer preview. It’s probably the most boring part of doing these, but in doing so, certain names pop up that I like to keep an eye on. Kenny is one of those. At White Pine MS, he was a sensation, breaking 11 in cross, running 17:30 as an 8th grader.

Destined to be an impactful high school runner, and he’s lived up to that potential. The quick times were first evident on the track, where three consecutive sub-2:00 800ms to close out his sophomore year gained Lewis 3rd places in the SVL and Region 1, before besting both of those efforts to finish 8th in Division 1. Not satisfied with a bronze in the SVL, Kenny showed his value over the 5k distance last fall, winning the conference (a conference with a few names listed earlier). This spring, he matched 2022’s two-lap efforts while reducing 20 seconds from his 1600m. The potential is being realized, and an SVL championship will need defending. October 18th may be one of the better individual battles in the State and I know Kenny will be ready.