Blog

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

Accomplishments & Accolades

• 9^th Place – Division 3 State (XC)
• 2x All-State (XC)
• 2^nd Place – CSAA (XC)
• 2^nd Place – Region 21 (XC)
• 8^th Place – Division 3 State 3200m
• 9^th Place – Division 3 State 1600m

Ratings Throughout the Years

Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
10	Kyah Hoffman	20:04.0	Stanton Central Montcalm	145.0	Early Season Warrior	23-Aug
10	Kyah Hoffman	19:39.8	Stanton Central Montcalm	139.4	Saranac	31-Aug
10	Kyah Hoffman	19:18.9	Stanton Central Montcalm	135.4	John Bruder Classic	7-Sep
10	Kyah Hoffman	19:42.0	Stanton Central Montcalm	132.0	Central Moncalm Hornet	10-Sep
10	Kyah Hoffman	19:23.2	Stanton Central Montcalm	133.3	Sparta	17-Sep
10	Kyah Hoffman	19:00.4	Stanton Central Montcalm	138.9	CSAA (Morley Stanwood)	22-Sep
10	Kyah Hoffman	19:03.5	Stanton Central Montcalm	132.8	Cedar Springs	24-Sep
10	Kyah Hoffman	18:54.3	Stanton Central Montcalm	137.6	Bluejay	1-Oct
10	Kyah Hoffman	19:26.5	Stanton Central Montcalm	139.2	CSAA Lakeview	4-Oct
10	Kyah Hoffman	19:17.8	Stanton Central Montcalm	138.1	CSAA Conference	18-Oct
10	Kyah Hoffman	18:28.3	Stanton Central Montcalm	146.9	Don Baese	21-Oct
10	Kyah Hoffman	18:17.4	Stanton Central Montcalm	152.2	Region 21	29-Oct
10	Kyah Hoffman	18:59.1	Stanton Central Montcalm	141.3	Division 3 State	5-Nov
10	Kyah Hoffman	18:16.8	Stanton Central Montcalm	145.7	MITCA	12-Nov
Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
9	Kyah Hoffman	21:53.3	Stanton Central Montcalm	104.2	Early Season Warrior	24-Aug
9	Kyah Hoffman	21:01.1	Stanton Central Montcalm	101.3	Saranac	1-Sep
9	Kyah Hoffman	21:51.1	Stanton Central Montcalm	90.6	CM Hornet	11-Sep
9	Kyah Hoffman	21:07.8	Stanton Central Montcalm	91.4	Sparta	18-Sep
9	Kyah Hoffman	20:40.0	Stanton Central Montcalm	106.7	CSAA Gold 1	21-Sep
9	Kyah Hoffman	21:25.5	Stanton Central Montcalm	107.2	CSAA Gold 2	5-Oct
9	Kyah Hoffman	20:34.8	Stanton Central Montcalm	106.1	Saranac Color Run	12-Oct
9	Kyah Hoffman	20:28.3	Stanton Central Montcalm	110.2	Montabella Mustang	15-Oct
9	Kyah Hoffman	21:57.3	Stanton Central Montcalm	107.6	CSAA Gold Championship	19-Oct
9	Kyah Hoffman	20:26.4	Stanton Central Montcalm	108.9	Late Season Warrior	23-Oct
9	Kyah Hoffman	19:33.6	Stanton Central Montcalm	120.1	Region 21	30-Oct
9	Kyah Hoffman	19:19.2	Stanton Central Montcalm	125.6	Division 3 State	6-Nov
9	Kyah Hoffman	20:00.7	Stanton Central Montcalm	117.4	MITCA	13-Nov

The Rundown

Those State Finals results tell the whole tale. Each year, Kyah brings her best material to MIS, and each of these past two years, she’s wound up walking up the podium to grab a medal. In 2021, her late season surge brought forth her first sub-20 performance at Allendale, which was then followed by a 14-sec. best at MIS, arguably a tougher course. Although her MIS time wasn’t as quick as her regional effort, she did move up 18 places from her freshman form. That timely coincidence of clutch work appeared at Kent City this past June as well, where she pulled off one of the more impressive distance doubles of the day. In November, how will she repeat her championship season surge?

Last Year

Summer Preview
Mid-Season
Regional Projection
The Result

Girls

1. Hillsdale Academy (2nd)
2. Pittsford (14th)
3. Adrian Lenawee Christian (25th)

Boys

1. Hillsdale Academy (4th)
2. Adrian Lenawee Christian (8th)
3. Petersburg-Summerfield (16th)

This guy didn’t even have P-S listed, but with the addition of Brandon Thompson, the Bulldogs were able to nab that third spot. The girls held true to the projections, though Lenawee Christian held down third a bit easier than I had anticipated.

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

Hillsdale Academy (Top 10), Pittsford (17th)

Boys

Hillsdale Academy (Top 10), Adrian Lenawee Christian (13th), East Jackson (22nd), Morenci (25th)

(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	Points
1	Hillsdale Academy	27
2	Pittsford	47
3	Addison	78
4	Camden-Frontier	94
5	Jackson Preparatory	115

Place	Boys Team	Points
1	Hillsdale Academy	30
2	Adrian Lenawee Christian	69
3	Morenci	85
4	East Jackson	92
5	Jackson Preparatory	147
6	Camden-Frontier	158
7	Addison	199
8	Hillsdale Will Carleton	207
9	Vandercook Lake	209

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 (all of Hillsdale Academy) 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.

Izzy Brooks, Adrian Lenawee Christian

Has finished 2^nd and 1^st here the past two years, then continued on the week later, placing All-State each time. During the spring, had her best finish at the Division 4 Track Finals, placing 5^th in the 800m.

Brooke Smith, Pittsford

Three years in, thirty plus races, and finally graduated into the 19’s with a 2^nd place finish here last year. Then the next week, grabbed another All-State certificate.

Ruth Brownlee, Hillsdale Academy

Ninth grade year was her second year competing for the Colts and she closed it in nearly the same manner as she did in 8^th grade, running in the 20’s at the tail end of the season. The only difference? Placing All-State instead of 32^nd.

Ava Mallar, Pittsford

Contained in her two seasons of races are two top-5 regional finishes and two top-20 state finishes. One of the better all-around athletes on the track, too, ranking 7^th in D4 here.

Ella Walton, Hillsdale Academy

Has consistently been a mid-20 type figure at seasons end for the Colts, and as a result, has been top-10 here all three years.

Stephanie Hernandez, Addison

Hit the Cascades Conference distance trifecta. Won the league championship in the fall, then came back to capture the 1600m and 3200m during outdoor track.

Thomas Holm, Hillsdale Academy

Thomas must excel on the gradual downhills of Sharp Park. After all, his first sub-17 effort was at the Jackson Invite, then his personal best of 16:44 came at Regionals. That 16:44 ended up being a full 65 seconds better than his sophomore best.

Grayson Rorick, Hillsdale Academy

There surely had to be tons of motivation and off-season training after Hillsdale Academy’s 2021 state title. Because a kid such as Grayson, who was a factor in that trophy, made it clear that he desires another one. He placed 72^nd at State as a freshman and 27^th as a sophomore, reducing his time by 45+ seconds in the process.

Michael Allen, East Jackson

Sophomore track times of 4:46/10:39 gave the impression his 18:20 best from the previous year would fall. But to the degree of sub-17 twice? Michael was 21^st here as a sophomore then 21^st in the STATE as a junior.

Pierson Cousino, Adrian Lenawee Christian

Freshman year concluded with the two best efforts of his young career, 17:22 here and a 17:29 at MIS. That 17:29 earned him a 36^th spot, which was the 4^th best 9^th grade effort in Division 4.

Javin Mericle, East Jackson

Nearly halved his regional place from 2021, moving up 14 spots from 29^th to 15^th. Even more impressive, he dropped three minutes from the rain-soaked conditions the previous year.

Reece Poole, Hillsdale Academy

Sophomore year full of precipitous time descent. Began in the 19’s at their opener and Holly, ended with a 16:54 at State.

Diego BoCole, Jackson Preparatory

Underwent possibly the biggest leap I’ve seen in a while. Freshman personal best above 21:00, sophomore self ran in the 17’s on six separate occasions.

Joel Lange, Adrian Lenawee Christian

A reliable mid-18 guy by season’s end. Underwent a transformation in track that may benefit him on the cross course, lowering his 3200m best by nearly a minute to 10:27.

Nathan Daniels, Adrian Lenawee Christian

The rising senior cracked 18:00 for the first time ever at Stockbridge, then managed to hit under that mark three more times the remainder of the season, including a personal best here.

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

Accomplishments & Accolades

• 20^th Place – Division 1 State 1600m
• 6^th Place – Region 8 (XC)
• 13^th Place – Oakland County (XC)
• 2^nd Place – Region 9 1600m
• 4^th Place – Oakland County 800m

Ratings Throughout the Years

Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
11	Bryce Nowik	16:51.3	Clarkston	201.2	Milford	1-Sep
11	Bryce Nowik	16:38.3	Clarkston	189.6	OAA Red 1	13-Sep
11	Bryce Nowik	16:28.1	Clarkston	195.6	Spartan	16-Sep
11	Bryce Nowik	16:33.0	Clarkston	192.0	Mott Fall Classic	23-Sep
11	Bryce Nowik	15:56.1	Clarkston	196.3	Hansons	1-Oct
11	Bryce Nowik	16:48.5	Clarkston	190.2	Oakland County	8-Oct
11	Bryce Nowik	16:38.5	Clarkston	180.5	OAA Red Championship	20-Oct
11	Bryce Nowik	16:39.3	Clarkston	187.9	Region 8	29-Oct
11	Bryce Nowik	16:23.0	Clarkston	192.0	Division 1 State	5-Nov
11	Bryce Nowik	16:00.1	Clarkston	192.6	MITCA	12-Nov
Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
10	Bryce Nowik	18:13.3	Clarkston	169.9	Milford	2-Sep
10	Bryce Nowik	17:16.0	Clarkston	174.7	Ramblin’ Rock	11-Sep
10	Bryce Nowik	18:21.5	Clarkston	170.2	OAA Red 1	14-Sep
10	Bryce Nowik	17:36.6	Clarkston	170.5	Jackson	25-Sep
10	Bryce Nowik	17:34.0	Clarkston	172.7	Hansons	2-Oct
10	Bryce Nowik	17:55.0	Clarkston	174.3	Oakland County	9-Oct
10	Bryce Nowik	17:00.1	Clarkston	169.0	OAA Red 3	21-Oct
10	Bryce Nowik	18:43.9	Clarkston	173.7	Region 9	29-Oct
10	Bryce Nowik	17:00.4	Clarkston	178.9	MITCA	13-Nov
Grade	Name		Team	Rating	Meet	Date
9	Bryce Nowik		Clarkston	151.5	Clarkston/Troy	18-Sep
9	Bryce Nowik		Clarkston	149.2	Clarkston/Seaholm	25-Sep
9	Bryce Nowik		Clarkston	131.3	Clarkston/Lake Orion	30-Sep
9	Bryce Nowik		Clarkston	139.7	Canton/Clarkston	3-Oct
9	Bryce Nowik		Clarkston	141.0	OAA Red Championship	15-Oct

The Rundown

You just marvel at it when you see it. Bryce’s first year at the high school level was spent hovering around 19:00 and just two years later, he found his way under 16:00. There’s a reason Clarkston is almost always near the top of the Oakland County scene, Bryce is just one of many who have developed from humble beginnings. Other than his 15:56 at the Hansons Invite, all of the rest of his season contained efforts in the 16’s, on tough courses such as Hess Hathaway and Possum Hollow too. Bryce’s evolution didn’t just stop in the fall, he took it to another stratosphere in track, first breaking 2:00 in the 800m at Farmington, then subtracting a whole 4 seconds in the Oakland County final. After a summer of hard work, how will his story continue to unfold?