Blog

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

Accomplishments & Accolades

• 3x State Qualifier (XC)
• 2x Top 10 – Big North Conference (XC)
• 3^rd Place – 2021 Northern Michigan (XC)
• 9^th Place – D1 State 4x800m
• 24^th Place – Division 1 State 1600m
• Region 1 1600m Champion
• Big North Conference 1600m/3200m Champion



Ratings Throughout the Years



Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
11	Ava King	19:31.6	Traverse City West	133.1	Pete Moss	27-Aug
11	Ava King	19:56.6	Traverse City West	116.5	Northern Michigan	22-Oct
11	Ava King	19:55.4	Traverse City West	113.5	Region 2	28-Oct
11	Ava King	19:45.3	Traverse City West	123.9	Division 1 State	5-Nov
Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
10	Ava King	19:41.4	Traverse City West	129.9	Pete Moss	28-Aug
10	Ava King	18:46.8	Traverse City West	140.1	Northwood	11-Sep
10	Ava King	19:25.8	Traverse City West	130.4	Petoskey	25-Sep
10	Ava King	19:02.7	Traverse City West	138.1	Bluejay	2-Oct
10	Ava King	19:21.7	Traverse City West	149.1	Freeland Falcon	16-Oct
10	Ava King	19:10.8	Traverse City West	145.7	Big North Conference	19-Oct
10	Ava King	18:38.2	Traverse City West	140.9	Northern Michigan	23-Oct
10	Ava King	19:42.9	Traverse City West	140.7	Region 2	30-Oct
10	Ava King	19:16.0	Traverse City West	131.7	Division 1 State	6-Nov
10	Ava King	18:36.2	Traverse City West	145.6	MITCA	13-Nov
Grade	Name		Team	Rating	Meet	Date
9	Ava King		Traverse City West	121.8	Pete Moss	29-Aug
9	Ava King		Traverse City West	136.5	Petoskey Twilight Classic	11-Sep
9	Ava King		Traverse City West	135.6	Ludington	19-Sep
9	Ava King		Traverse City West	135.9	Petoskey	26-Sep
9	Ava King		Traverse City West	143.8	Bluejay	3-Oct
9	Ava King		Traverse City West	140.4	Big North Conference	13-Oct
9	Ava King		Traverse City West	136.3	Pre-Region 1	23-Oct
9	Ava King		Traverse City West	142.5	Region 1	31-Oct
9	Ava King		Traverse City West	132.0	Division 1 State	6-Nov



The Rundown



After missing most of the fall, Ava’s spring was all about making up for lost time. And girl was quickly able to assert her dominance over the Northern Michigan scene. Up until May 12^th, she won every single individual distance race that she entered, ranging from the 800m to the 3200m. Not only did Ava win everything in the early season, she set personal bests as well, sneaking under 5:00 and snapping 20 sec. off her previous 3200m best, which is now 10:57. Her best track season yet, now leading into a cross country season where she’ll be counted on to lead a young group that gained valuable experience last year. And you know Ava is waiting to show the state what she has to offer as well.

Last Year

SUMMER PREVIEW
MID-SEASON
FINAL PROJECTIONS
THE RESULT

Girls

1. Stockbridge (25^th)
2. University Liggett (non full team)
3. Madison Heights Bishop Foley (26^th)

Boys

1. Stockbridge (23^rd)
2. Algonac (28^th)
3. Charyl Stockwell Academy (27^th)
4. Dansville (26^th)

I’ll criticize the MHSAA when needed, but also praise when possible. They took a weaker region and made it fair, both geographically and in terms of getting higher quality teams to state. By sending Leslie and Lansing Catholic here, this gives opportunities for qualifiers in other regions which may have been abnormally strong.

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

Leslie (Top 7), Lansing Catholic (10^th)

Boys

Lansing Catholic (26^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	Leslie	24
2	Lansing Catholic	42
3	Stockbridge	109
4	Wixom St. Catherine	121
5	Rochester Hills Lutheran NW	131
6	Madison Heights Bishop Foley	142
7	Algonac	187
8	Charyl Stockwell Academy	195
9	Clawson	229

Place	Boys Team	Score
1	Lansing Catholic	54
2	Leslie	67
3	Algonac	94
4	University Liggett	103
5	Dansville	125
6	Charyl Stockwell Academy	162
7	Clawson	178
8	Rochester Hills Lutheran NW	194
9	Madison Heights Bishop Foley	200
10	Detroit Northwestern	292

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.

Tessa Roe, Lansing Catholic

Had one of her better track seasons yet, recognizing a bit of strength during the spring season. By season’s end, she whittled her 1600m time down from 5:13 to 5:02, nabbed an 11:12, and placed All-State in both events.

Hailey Creisher, Leslie

Initial high school season had some great moments, such as her wins at Bath and Holly, then sub-20’s later on at Stockbridge and Portage.

Erin Lubahn, Leslie

Each year, she closes the season running her best stuff. This past fall, it was 4 of her final 7 races being of the 19 min. variety, to go along with a top-10 at Region 23 and a GLAC win.

Kerith Short, University Liggett

Your defending regional champ. Kerith has gone sub-20 each of the past two years and is inching closer towards an All-State. 45^th as a freshman, 37^th as a sophomore.

Jaidyn Smith, Leslie

The third of Leslie’s terrifying triumvirate, Jaidyn does as Erin and Haley both do, runs her best to close. Last year, it was a 19:56, then perhaps more impressively, very low 20’s at Greater Lansing and Region 23.

Theodore Davis, Dansville

One of the better underclassmen in the state the past two years. Theodore has racked up two All-States, a regional championship, and numerous other wins. He’ll be looking to defend here and improve on his 10^th place finish in Division 3.

Julian Walker, Algonac

First high school season showed a glimpse of great potential – a shocking 16:49 at Goodells.

Michael Darlington, University Liggett

Has been a state qualifier in three of his four seasons. Twice in cross country, placing top-10 here. Then this past spring in track, winning the Region 27 3200m. A week later, he had the best meet of his career, spinning a 4:49/10:29 double at the CHSL Cardinal Championship.

Anthony Urbaniak, Charyl Stockwell Academy

Great progress during his junior year, finishing 6^th in this region when he’d never even cracked the top 40.

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

2022 Results

Meet	Division	Place
Under the Lights v2	Midnight	1st of 13
Ottawa Hills	Session 2	4th of 13
Cougar Falcon	Eagle	2nd of 11
Bluejay	Elite	3rd of 30
Portage	D1	12th of 32
Region 3		3rd of 13
Division 1 State		12th of 27

Top Returners

Parker Ludwig

FHC’s #2 man during championship time, he sped as far down as 16:14. Parker’s 12^th place in Region 3 greatly exceeded his sophomore place (34^th).

Sawyer McCarthy

As a sophomore, didn’t waste any time in entering the 16’s, a mark he was unable to hit as a freshman. Was able to run in Brooklyn and then held his own, placing 98^th at State.

Will Banfield

Junior year was his first XC runnin’ since 2019. Very little adjustment needed, as Will took four races to gravitate towards the 16’s. Watch out for him in the 800m next year, his 1:56 can easily turn into much faster and he gained valuable state meet experience.

Jacob Sanford

He’s a young mid-distance star, running 2:02 as a 9^th grader, then a part of the Rangers’ 12^th place 4×8 team this year. Don’t discount his range either, having run in high-16’s/low-17’s during his sophomore cross season.

Trevor Timmer

Been in the 17’s each of the past two years, with his 1600m on the track suggesting more is in store. A 4:44 there in late May was a 13 sec. drop from the 2022 spring.

Potential Newcomers

Ben Romero

Undefeated in his 8^th grade cross season, winning the WMMSC Gold and overall championship. How accurate is the athleticnet middle school track list? You tell me, but 4:34 for the 1600m this spring is about as good as I’ve seen.