Blog

Last Year

Summer Preview

Mid-Season

Regional Projections

The Result (okay, why did athletic.net change the formatting here? Like I need my work to be more difficult…)

Girls

1. The Potter’s House (20^th)
2. Libertas Christian (12^th)
3. St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake (19^th)

Boys

1. The Potter’s House (Champion)
2. Three Oaks River Valley (5^th)
3. Holland Calvary Christian (14^th)

A lot of shuffling here, shuffling of significant teams. The Potter’s House is taking their talents up to Division 3, where their boys could find themselves a title favorite. River Valley is heading to Portage, a less arduous trip for that talented bunch. But when you think the region got much easier, perennial power Saugatuck slides its way in.

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

Muskegon Western Michigan Christian (Top 8), Gobles (Top 8), Saugatuck (13^th), St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake (18^th), Holland Calvary Christian (21^st)

Boys

Saugatuck (Top 8), Holland Calvary Christian (Top 8), Muskegon Western Michigan Christian (12^th), Muskegon Catholic Central (17^th)

THIS IS A VERY STRONG REGION AND SOME VERY GOOD TEAMS WILL MISS OUT ON QUALIFYING FOR STATE.

(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	Muskegon Western Michigan Christian	50
2	Gobles	51
3	Saugatuck	82
4	St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake	101
5	Holland Calvary Christian	108
6	Libertas Christian	140
7	Muskegon Catholic Central	199
8	Vermontville Maple Valley	205

Place	Boys Team	Score
1	Saugatuck	38
2	Holland Calvary Christian	49
3	Muskegon Western Michigan Christian	74
4	Muskegon Catholic Central	89
5	St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake	120
6	Martin	171

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 gonna be in the 50 Tickets, you’ll get a full writeup there. If you’re on a top team (Gobles, WMC, Saugatuck, Calvary Christian) 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.

Grace VanderKooi, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian

Bouncing around divisions has had no impact on this resilient girl. Her freshman self trailed her older sister en route to a top-10 finish at MIS. Her sophomore self took on a front running role with the Warrior girls, leading them back to State in Division 3, then placing 16^th herself. This past track season, she doubled at the State Finals, placing 2^nd in the 3200m and 3^rd in the 1600m, nearly setting a personal best in the 16 (on that hot day, WHO DOES THAT?).

Allison Glendening, St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake

Allison must’ve gotten sick of those mid-40 placings in Brooklyn. Cause 16^th is a massive improvement. And then bolstered by that first All-State finish, she used the Shepherd magic to go under 20:00 at MITCA.

Sadie Schout, Libertas Christian

Allendale must be her course. The flat fields and school grounds were home to Sadie’s first massive personal best of the season, a 19:44 in early October. And they were home to one of her greater accomplishments, a regional victory. That regional victory preceded a 6^th place finish in the State Finals, 60 whole places lower than what she placed the previous year.

Tyler Laansma, Tri-Unity Christian

Just one season in the game and Tyler proved his clutch gene. Why do I say that? His 17:10 here was almost half a minute better than his previous record, his 8^th place securing a State Finals berth.

Riley Weed, Holland Calvary Christian

Riley gets to be another rule breaker here in the regional previews. Aside from an outstanding middle school season where he won a number of races, such as Zone 6, Otsego Bulldog, Under the Lights, he competed in a few races with the big dogs. Did he hold his own? You bet. 7^th here, 46^th in the D4 Finals, and the top 8^th grader in each.

Matthias Morse, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian

On a pristine morning here in Allendale, busted out a 10+ second PB, an end to a four week stretch where he reduced his best time from 18:04 to 17:16.

Graeson Lawrence, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian

What will a senior year be like for a guy who’s dropped a minute each successive season? From mid-19’s as a 9^th grader to mid-17’s as a junior, Graeson has been all about that development.

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

2022 Results

Meet	Division	Place
Early Season Warrior		1st of 14
Pete Moss	Medium	3rd of 15
Oiler	Small	1st of 6
Leanna Wolf Geers		1st of 5
Evart Wildcat	Big	1st of 14
Cecil Burch		1st of 7
Chris Grabowski		1st of 12
CSAA Conference		1st of 8
Late Season Warrior		2nd of 16
Region 20		2nd of 12
Division 3 State		6th of 28

Top Returners

August Rohde

Took the sophomore leap and then some. Busted out a 16:37 at Benzie early, then waited ‘til the best possible moment to beat that, a 16:36 at State.

Anthony Kiaunis

Really proud of the way he conducted his track season. His cross year began great, with two performances in the 16’s, but those times weren’t replicated the rest of the year. A lesser man may let that carry over to track, but he’s no lesser man, he decided to run personal bests from the 400m-1600m.

Ryan Allen

Ended his track season just as he did cross season, showing considerable strength in championship races. His 10:23 from Region 23 is impressive considering a 1600m best of 4:49, and points to an ability to grind through tough races.

Aaron Allen

Aaron was probably one of the steadier runners in the state last fall, running the equivalent of 19-flat efforts (by the ratings, at least) for much of the season. That is, until his final two races, a personal best at Chippewa Hills and an 18:27 at MIS.

Paul Saladin

Similar to many of his ‘Yote teammates, Paul had a significant personal best in the biggest race of the year – demolishing 19-flat at State.

Orlando VanLeeuwen

A transfer from LeRoy-Pine River, Orlando was able to secure a 27 sec. PB in the 1600m during track.

Potential Newcomers

Brady Dozier

Consistent figure in the low-13’s, even a 12:29 in there too!

Liam Vanscoyoc

Just as Brady, a sub-13 mixed in with a ton of 13-min. efforts. Those solid efforts typically translate to freshmen that need a bit of seasoning, but have the ability to contribute at the D3 level.

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

2022 Results

Meet	Division	Place
Birch Run Early		3rd of 20
John Bruder	Large	10th of 16
Spartan	White	5th of 28
Bluejay	Gold	6th of 9
Apples 2 Apples	Large	4th of 9
TVC 10		1st of 6
TVC Overall		3rd of 13
Region 24		3rd of 10
Division 3 State		15th of 26

Top Returners

Liliana Lehnst

Her freshman and sophomore years had 14 performances in the 20’s, none under. Liliana’s junior year had more than half of her finishes under 20. Her 19:49 at Birch Run early on was an eye-opener, and it led to a special season that culminated in an All-State honor.

Izabelle LaLone

One of many in this next generation in the Blue & Yellow. Exhibited a ton of range on the track, a part of Ithaca’s All-State 4×4, but also flashed a 13:00 as an eight-lapper.

Myleigh Hephner

Not gonna lie, I’ve never heard of Myleigh before writing this. I should get my act together, as a freshman, she ran 2:28 in the 800m and healthily broke 6:00 for the 1600m.

Emma Dawe

Girl did it all during track, ranging from the low hurdles to the long sprints to the very long distance. Hard to pick a best event, maybe the 3200m was it. Her 13:17 ranked 15^th amongst D3 freshmen.

Karisa Deacons

Sophomore year wasn’t quite as fast as her freshman debut, but Karisa did end up having her best finish in a TVC-8 meet, 6^th in the final jamboree.

Hayden Whitmore

The crucial 4^th/5^th runner on a championship squad. A bad race from a girl in that position can lead to a significant point swing, but Hayden held firm in her spot, resulting in a TVC-8 crown for the Yellowjackets.

Laiyla Pray

Has played a valuable role on Ithaca’s team these past three years and finally got a big payoff, running in the 22’s for the first time ever at Apples 2 Apples.

Emmalee Shankel

Her fall season ended a bit early, but not before she nailed another time in the 22’s.

Potential Newcomers

Makinna Foglesong

MHSAA Zone 5 was one of the bigger meets of her 8^th grade year. And one of the better finishes too, 4^th of over 100 girls in the varsity race.