Blog

Last Year

SUMMER PREVIEW
MID-SEASON
FINAL PROJECTIONS
THE RESULT

Girls

1. Pewamo-Westphalia (2^nd)
2. Lansing Catholic (3^rd)
3. Ithaca (15^th)

Boys

1. Ithaca (8^th)
2. Pewamo-Westphalia (12^th)
3. Bath (21^st)

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

Pewamo-Westphalia (7^th), Stanton Central Montcalm (12th), Laingsburg (20th)

Boys

Pewamo-Westphalia (Top 6), Bath (12^th), Stanton Central Montcalm (19^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	Pewamo-Westphalia	32
2	Stanton Central Montcalm	60
3	Laingsburg	76
4	Ovid-Elsie	112
5	New Lothrop	135
6	Almont	179
7	Perry	192
8	Bath	219
9	Montrose	229
10	Durand	262
11	Mt Morris	306

Place	Boys Team	Score
1	Pewamo-Westphalia	32
2	Bath	63
3	Stanton Central Montcalm	63
4	Laingsburg	154
5	Ovid-Elsie	179
6	Almont	182
7	Chesaning	185
8	New Lothrop	195
9	Memphis	204
10	Montrose	216
11	Perry	262

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.

Whitney Werner, Pewamo-Westphalia

In addition to moving up in terms of places during the cross season, Whitney set all new personal bests during track. Perhaps the most indicative of what may come this fall was her 11:11 in the Bluejay Elite 3200m. An 18-sec. best, at that point, her first 3200m of the year.

Kyah Hoffman, Stanton Central Montcalm

If her track season is any indicator, she’s in line to keep up as an elite runner in the D3 scene. She’s twice been top-5 over in Region 21 and Kaya just lowered her 1600m best from 5:35 to 5:15, her 3200m best from 12:40 to 11:33.

Ashley Choponis, Stanton Central Montcalm

Flashed a bit of the sub-20 capability during her freshman year, then blasted through the mark as a sophomore. Among those breakout races was a 19:20 in tough conditions during the State Finals, good for 12^th in Division 3.

Grace Coston, Stanton Central Montcalm

Look above and tell me Grace’s freshman year doesn’t appear similar to Ashley and Kyah. Grace was sub-20 on more than half of her races, the few exceptions being the early season heat or the gusty winds of early November.

Collin Farmer, Pewamo-Westphalia

He’s been a high-level performer all the time, and even these elites can grow. Shaved 3 seconds off his sophomore 3200m best, but more importantly, moved up 2 spots at the State Finals.

Gage Hoffman, Stanton Central Montcalm

Easily one of the better up and coming runners in the State. Gage had an exceptional freshman year, consistently in the mid-16’s and top-10 in Division 3. His 4:38 during the spring ranked him #24 amongst all Michigan 9^th graders.

Graham Coston, Stanton Central Montcalm

Thanks to a clutch late-season surge as a sophomore, he’s been able to place top-10 twice over in Region 21. Graham experienced major growth during track, lowering his 1600m best by 15 sec. and double that for the 3200m.

Noah Devereaux, Laingsburg

Peek through Noah’s resume and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a poor race. I mean, maybe his State Finals display? Nope, Noah was the 6^th freshman in the field. Noah comes off a year of nearly all 17 min. efforts and given the spring, looks to be able to take the next step into faster marks.

Carter Holmes, Bath

After getting a taste of success as a sophomore, Carter came back for more in his junior year. He spent considerable time in the 17’s and moved up nearly 100 places at the Division 3 State Finals.

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

2022 Results

	Meet	Division	Place
	Pete Moss	Medium	1st of 15
	Bredeweg		3rd of 20
	Spartan	White	2nd of 31
	Cougar Falcon	Falcon	1st of 11
	Bluejay	Elite	6th of 30
	Portage	D3	1st of 35
	Hart & Sole		1st of 6
	Mel Hall		1st of 10
	Region 20		1st of 12
	Division 3 State		1st of 28

Top Returners

Max Stitt

The lone returner from those that competed in the Pirates’ state championship back in November. Max posted a few sub-17’s throughout the year, at Portage and Pete Moss.

Jack Slotman

Excelled with his mid-distance work during track, his 2:06 800m ranking 3^rd amongst Division 3 freshmen.

Tyler Vanderzanden

Has proceeded from a freshman waiting ‘til late October to smash 20:00 to a junior who was nearly in the 17’s at Shepherd.

Bryce Vanderkodde

Freshman year provided a peek of the potential he can deliver. 18:54 at Shepherd and 19:15 at Portage show Bryce isn’t afraid of big moments.

Potential Newcomers

Bobby Jazwinski

Only lost once during his middle school cross season. Champion of large meets such as Bluejay, West Michigan, and Cougar Falcon. Showed tremendous endurance at the end of the year with a 16:12 at MITCA. If I were to include freshmen in the 50 Tickets, he would’ve made the top-40.

Pascal Miller

Sub-12 twice on the year. Welllll under that mark at Shepherd, his 11:37 placing 25^th in their highly competitive Bluejay MS race.

Aiden Schaner

Consistent top-5 finishes all season in the WMC Rivers Jamborees, then *almost* got under 12:00 at the West Michigan MS Invite.

Noah Wolff

Frightening that he was Hart’s fourth fastest 8^th grader and still ran a bunch of mid-12:00 races.

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

2022 Results

Meet	Division	Place
Happy Acres	Big	1st of 6
Marauder	Small	2nd of 9
Sparta	Silver	1st of 7
Pewamo-Westphalia		1st of 6
DeWitt	D3/4	1st of 8
Apples 2 Apples	Big	2nd of 9
Greater Lansing		5th of 30
Region 24		1st of 10
Division 3 State		2nd of 26

Top Returners

Whitney Werner

Although her regular season times were somewhat similar between her two high school seasons, Whitney definitely moved up in place. 6^th in Region 24 to 4^th, 25^th at the State Finals to 13^th.

Hayden Hengesbach

After two years finishing close to 100^th place, Hayden moved up in droves. Her 42^nd place nearly matched her personal best, set earlier in the year at DeWitt.

Emma Wittenbach

The fifth girl often holds the key to a team’s fortune and Emma was the Pirate fifth for the majority of championship season. Hard to filter out what was her best effort, but it may be the State Finals, where she placed 83^rd. Pretty good for not competing at MIS the previous year.

Melanie Werner

Took many races, she was on the cusp a number of times, but finally snuck under 21:00 at Pewamo’s home invite. Melanie hit that mark twice more throughout the fall.

Lilly Anderson

Freshman fall contained a few sub-22’s, though I think she might be the darkhorse in a few months. Lilly sped to a 5:56 late in the track season, along with a number of 2:4x’s in the 800m.

Isabell Helman

The junior was P-W’s 7^th girl late in the year, matching the mid-21 efforts she’s posted each season of her career.

Potential Newcomers

Alyssa Kramer

Placed 6^th at Jr. Greater Lansing during the fall, then sub-6 on the track just a few months ago.

Delaney Smith

Has been a steady mid-13 girl for much of the past two years, both during the spring and fall.

Claire Thelen

Closed her 8^th grade season with sub-14’s in four of her final five 2-mile races.