2020 Previews

An Early Look: Region 35-4

Teams

Carsonville-Port Sanilac
Deckerville
Dryden
Genesee
Genesee Christian
Harbor Beach
Kimball Landmark
Kinde-North Huron
Kingston
Marlette
Mayville
New Life Christian Academy
Owendale-Gagetown
Peck
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary
Saginaw Nouvel
Ubly
Unionville-Sebewaing

Boys

Top 3 Last Year
Breckenridge
Unionville-Sebewaing
Deckerville

Team Projections

PlaceTeamScore
1Unionville-Sebewaing33
2Mayville60
3Deckerville63
4Kingston124
5Ubly156
6Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary169
7Saginaw Nouvel173
8Harbor Beach175
9Genesee Christian Academy234

Individual Projections

IndividualTeamGradeNameTeam
1112Wyatt EmmonsMayville
2212Bryce LangmaidUnionville-Sebewaing
3311Ty PavlichekUnionville-Sebewaing
4412Bentley AldersonUnionville-Sebewaing
5511Jacob VanhoveUnionville-Sebewaing
6612Matthew HalifaxHarbor Beach
7712Sam KorthalsSaginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary
8812Trevor BarkerDeckerville
9912Brett DumawDeckerville
101012Colton CramptonMayville
111112Chase SimkissDeckerville
12129Utah GusaUbly
131311Charlie MoroMayville
141411Joseph TunneySaginaw Nouvel
15159Christopher GonzalesMayville
161612Morgan GreenKingston
171711Benjamin MoellerDeckerville
181810Kendall DumawDeckerville
191912Tyler AleksinkUnionville-Sebewaing
202010Ethan GreenKingston

Ranked Teams

Unionville-Sebewaing (2), Deckerville (9), Mayville (11)

Highest Rated Seniors

Wyatt began rounding into form late last year, with his first jaunts into the 16’s.  Has finished All-State twice, but searching for that first Regional title.

Major time drops from year to year for Bryce.  After not breaking 18:00 as a sophomore, consistently ran in the 17’s last year.

Will be right there with Bryce (along with VanHove and Pavlichek).  Has been a top performer for USA for years, 3-time All-Region, 2-time All-State.

Career Achievement

Lead runner on a Deckerville squad that had a bit of a renaissance last year.  Had a breakthrough race here at Regionals, hopefully he can build on that.

Anyone Else?

Travis has regained his love for running this summer.  As Mayville’s 5th runner, holds the key to their return to MIS and the potential for a top-10 finish. 

According to the USA boys, he’s had a bit of a breakthrough in training, competing with the top guys on the team this summer.  I have him as their 7th runner…

It appears we’ll have four more years of that Gusa name in the Ubly cross country books.  Utah broke 12:00 at Thumb Area, a sure mark of a freshman that has the potential to make an immediate impact.

Girls

Top 3 Last Year
Harbor Beach
Owendale-Gagetown
Deckerville

Team Projections

PlaceTeamScore
1Owendale-Gagetown72
2Ubly78
3Harbor Beach114
4Kingston115
5Unionville-Sebewaing122
6Deckerville123
7Mayville138
8Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary187
9Marlette190
10Genesee198

Individual Projections

Individual TeamGradeNameTeam
1111Paige AndersonHarbor Beach
2210Sophia SanfordDeckerville
3312Haley RowbothamMayville
4412Makara KramerHarbor Beach
5512Libby OndrajkaOwendale-Gagetown
6612Abigail SanfordDeckerville
779Gracy WalkerKingston
8810Autumn WakefieldSaginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary
911Karis RoszczewskiKimball Landmark
10911Madelyn HaldaneOwendale-Gagetown
111010Abigail GuzaUbly
121110Maze GusaUbly
131210Allison HaldaneOwendale-Gagetown
1412Ella KageDryden
1511Ellie BenderNorth Huron
161310Lauren GreenUnionville-Sebewaing
1712Grace BallmerGenesee Christian Academy
18149Ashlyn WalkerKingston
191512Emma AlbertsonMarlette
20169Emily GreyerbiehlUbly

Ranked Teams

Owendale-Gagetown (16), Ubly (20)

Highest Rated Seniors

Sub-20 the last three years.  3-time All-State, 3-time Top 5 finish in the Region.  Very accomplished mid-distance runner as well, finishing 7th in the 1600m in 2019.

Three-time state qualifier and All-State the past two years.  Ran particularly well to end the 2019 season, PRing at the State meet, not always an easy task.

Substantial improvement from 2018 to 2019.  Finished 18th at the 2018 Regional here, finished 8th in 2019, with more than an 80 second drop. 

Career Achievement

Three straight top-10 finishes at this regional.  Broke into the top-50 at State for the first time since her freshman year and had her highest finish at Thumb Area. 

Anyone Else?

Paige had a string of 20:00 performances to close last season, culminating in a 23rd place finish at State.

In her first year of XC, Sophia showed her potential late, finishing 2nd here and 16th at MIS.

One of the few Thumb area girls to break into Caro’s dominance at the middle school level.  Kingston may be very good in a few years here with Gracy leading the charge. 

Genesee Christian moves over from Region 33.  Grace ran 21:32 there to qualify for State, can she shake things up here? 

2020 Previews

An Early Look: Region 36-4

Just as last summer, I will write previews for each region. Unlike last summer, we’re waiting on word from the MHSAA regarding the likelihood and plans for the season.

When the MHSAA makes their proposal, I’ll attempt to adjust these if needed. Until then, they’ll be in this format. The emphasis will be on our seniors – after all, they’re bearing the brunt of this, potentially losing their senior season.

Teams

Academy of the Sacred Heart
Allen Park Cabrini
American International Academy
Auburn Hills Oakland Christian
Austin Catholic
Birmingham Roeper
Detroit Davis Aerospace
Detroit Douglass
Detroit Lincoln-King Academy
Detroit Public Safety Academy
Detroit Southeastern
Detroit Westside Christian
Huron Valley Lutheran
Lutheran Westland
Marine City Cardinal Mooney
Michigan Math & Science
Plymouth Christian Academy
Pontiac Academy for Excellence
Pontiac Arts & Technology Academy
Southfield Christian
Southfield Manoogian
Sterling Heights Parkway Christian
Taylor Trillium Academy
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes

Boys

Top 3 Last Year
Allen Park Cabrini
Rochester Hills Lutheran NW
Plymouth Christian Academy

Team Projections

PlaceTeamScore
1Allen Park Cabrini38
2Lutheran HS Westland80
3Plymouth Christian Academy86
4Auburn Hills Oakland Christian104
5Birmingham Roeper110
6Austin Catholic114
7Southfield Christian134

Individual Projections

IndividualTeamGradeNameTeam
1112Dylan OrtizAllen Park Cabrini
2212William HooverBirmingham Roeper
3311Carson MugliaAllen Park Cabrini
4412Maguire SmithBirmingham Roeper
5512Aaron RaffaelliAustin Catholic
6610Nathan GothroPlymouth Christian Academy
7710Christopher RusselburgAllen Park Cabrini
8811Bram WolfAllen Park Cabrini
9910Joshua PassowPlymouth Christian Academy
101011Joey McMahonLutheran HS Westland
111110Samuel WenzelAustin Catholic
121211Jackson PichanLutheran HS Westland
131311Ethan McFarlandAuburn Hills Oakland Christian
141411Tyler KowalskiSouthfield Christian
15159Michael RoweAuburn Hills Oakland Christian
16169Luke DouglasAuburn Hills Oakland Christian
171712Logan BetkeLutheran HS Westland
18189TJ DonnanSouthfield Christian
1910Matthew Zammit Jr.Marine City Cardinal Mooney
201910Brayden McKayAllen Park Cabrini

Ranked Teams

Allen Park Cabrini (19)

Highest Rated Seniors

Last year, finished 2nd here and Catholic League C-D Championship.

Three consecutive trips to MIS, culminating in his highest finish ever last year (39th).

Major improvement in 2019, breaking 20:00 for the first time.  Ended the year with 17:38 here and 18:15 at MIS.

Career Achievement

Senior finished 7th at Regionals and 8th at Catholic League last year.

Anyone Else?

Broke 18:00 early at Ramblin’ Rock, then reached that level again late at State/Regional.

Showed tremendous progress throughout the year, nearly a 7:30 drop from his first race at Mustang (Cass Benton) to this regional.

Girls

Top 3 Last Year
Clarkston Everest Collegiate
Allen Park Cabrini
Royal Oak Shrine

Team Projections

PlaceTeamScore
1Clarkston Everest Collegiate40
2Allen Park Cabrini59
3Plymouth Christian Academy67
4Lutheran HS Westland96
5Acad of the Sacred Heart134
6Auburn Hills Oakland Christian141
7Southfield Christian163
8Alex Manoogian224

Individual Projections

IndividualTeamGradeNameTeam
110Erika Van LotonHuron Valley Lutheran
2112Emily CameronPlymouth Christian Academy
3212Avery McNallyAcad of the Sacred Heart
4311Avery HerrgottClarkston Everest Collegiate
5412Theresa WallerClarkston Everest Collegiate
6511Lily HeathAllen Park Cabrini
7610Caroline CrossClarkston Everest Collegiate
8712Nicole ReinhartPlymouth Christian Academy
910Natalie MalczykHuron Valley Lutheran
10811Ella NowcAllen Park Cabrini
11910Michaela KurthLutheran HS Westland
121011Ania GhazzawiAllen Park Cabrini
131112Paula FarmerLutheran HS Westland
141211Alexis DonnanSouthfield Christian
151310Alyse FelixClarkston Everest Collegiate
1612Bailee PfahlWaterford Our Lady of the Lakes
171411Erin BoomsClarkston Everest Collegiate
181510Grace PontoLutheran HS Westland
1911Naomi FoleyHuron Valley Lutheran
201612Meghan CarrAllen Park Cabrini

Ranked Teams

Clarkston Everest Collegiate (8), Allen Park Cabrini (15), Plymouth Christian Academy (17)

Highest Rated Seniors

Earned her first All-State honor last year with a 17th place finish.

A consistent performer throughout her career, running in the 20’s each and every season.  Survived a move up in divisions last year, still placing 4th in Region 26-3.

Experienced major growth at the end of 2019, setting PRs all throughout October.  Should be one of the lead girls on a very good Everest squad.

Career Achievement

Three consecutive trips to the State Finals for Bailee.  Last year, was able to run a minute-plus PR at this regional.

Anyone Else?

Finished 7th in the state as a freshman.

Substantial drop from the start of her freshman year (25:40, Trenton Watermelon) to the end of her freshman year (20:26 here, 21:40 at MIS).

2020 Previews

Best in Your Area: The Thumb

Kayaking to Turnip Rock is a great workout for an off-day

Here are the teams I had in the area:

Almont
Bad Axe
Brown City
Capac
Caro
Carsonville-Port Sanilac
Cass City
Croswell-Lexington
Deckerville
Dryden
Durand
Harbor Beach
Kingston
Marlette
Mayville
Millington
North Branch
North Huron
Otisville-Lakeville
Owendale-Gagetown
Peck
Pigeon-Laker
Reese
Sandusky
Ubly
Unionville-Sebewaing
Vassar
Yale

Port Huron area schools were put in the East Side category, mainly because of league/regional affiliations.

Top Boys Teams

RankTeam
1Caro
2Yale
3Unionville-Sebewaing
4Mayville
5Deckerville
6North Branch
7Croswell-Lexington
8Cass City
9Reese
10Bad Axe

Top 25 Boys

RankGradeNameTeam
112Nick McArdleCass City
212Matthew McClellandYale
312Cole MoenCaro
411Ethan McCombsCroswell-Lexington
512Wyatt EmmonsMayville
610Lukas KrieschYale
710Luke KecskesYale
812Kevin WilsonCaro
912Bryce LangmaidUnionville-Sebewaing
1011Ty PavlichekUnionville-Sebewaing
1112Izak BrownCaro
129Matthew PattulloCaro
1312Bentley AldersonUnionville-Sebewaing
1411Erik KentBad Axe
1512Evan SchapmanNorth Branch
1611Jacob VanhoveUnionville-Sebewaing
1712Nolan KuderaYale
1812Sam SpencerReese
1911James EllingCroswell-Lexington
2010Gabriel HutchinsNorth Branch
2110Connor StefanovskyCaro
2212Matthew HalifaxHarbor Beach
2312Matthew WestbrookCroswell-Lexington
2412Trevor BarkerDeckerville
2512Brett DumawDeckerville

Top Girls Teams

RankTeam
1Reese
2Croswell-Lexington
3Caro
4Sandusky
5North Branch
6Bad Axe
7Cass City
8Owendale-Gagetown
9Ubly
10Yale

Top 25 Girls

RankGradeNameTeam
111Haileigh BissettNorth Branch
210Ellymae McCoyReese
39Claire NeumannReese
412Riley CopelandCass City
511Paige AndersonHarbor Beach
610Sophia SanfordDeckerville
711Aubrey PutmanReese
810Ashley ShindorfVassar
912Haley RowbothamMayville
1012Makara KramerHarbor Beach
119Jenna SweeneyReese
1212Erin MannsCroswell-Lexington
1311Karli KregerSandusky
1410Karlie SchlaudNorth Branch
1512Libby OndrajkaOwendale-Gagetown
1612Abigail SanfordDeckerville
1711Brooke SweeneyReese
189Gracy WalkerKingston
1911Allison GalstererReese
2010Katherine HimmelBad Axe
2111Sage KellermanCroswell-Lexington
2210Allysen JansenSandusky
2311Kelcee VanBuskirkCaro
249Alexandria MorrisNorth Branch
2511Madison WareCass City