2020 Previews

50 Tickets to Brooklyn (#19)

The List

19. Avery McLean, Traverse City Central

Far right, MLive
  • In her three years, Avery has put together quite a career
  • Consider this: Twice Top-20 at Northern Michigan, twice Top-25 at Portage, 3x State Qualifier
  • And to cap it off, 2019 was her first All-State finish
    • Her last three races of the year may have been the best in her career – all PRs if compared to previous years
  • Considerable track ability, having run 2:17 a year ago
  • Traverse City Central has been extremely successful over that time period as well, finishing 2nd, 4th, and 6th
  • This year they’ll be right in that mix, McLean and another girl to be mentioned will be pivotal factors in securing a spot on that medal stand

19. Mason Sumner, Breckenridge

On his way to a State Title, MLive

Mason is as dedicated and determined as they come. No shocker to me of how he got to where he is at this point. He does all the small things at home (nutrition, stretching, sleep, etc.). He hasn’t been a captain his first 2 years but will be moving forward. He knows how to lead by example and wants whats best for his teammates just as much as he wants to succeed.

Coach Kurt Gulick
  • Mason was fortunate through his talent and teamwork to be one of the few to accomplish an individual and team State Title
  • As with Baracco, very accomplished in his first two years, the two of them being in the conversation for the most accolades thus far in the 2022 class
  • Suffered an injury last summer which may have contributed to a slower start
  • However, when October rolled around, he began to pull into form and put together four straight performances in that 16:00/200 rating range
  • With Breckenridge’s success and seeing how their runners have grown (see Colton Chovanec and Ashton Gillis), continue to expect big things from Mason
2020 Previews

50 Tickets to Brooklyn (#20)

The List

20. Andrew Sesti, Clarkston

Battling with Tristan Brandenburg
  • Andrew is another one in a long line of recent Clarkston greats
  • He started his season with a major PR at an OAA Jamboree (Troy) and finished it with three great performances (Regional, State, MITCA)
    • MITCA race was 16:20.9 (200.4 rating)
  • He showed up in major races such as Jackson (16th), Oakland County (11th), and Regionals (8th)
  • Will likely be the lead runner on a Clarkston squad that’s in a bit of rebuild, but we know from their past history that they’ll be there in November

20. Ellie Voetberg, Portage Central

  • Ellie is a girl who shows that continued dedication to the sport will pay dividends
  • She was a mid-19 girl for her first two years in HS, then finally made a major leap this past fall
  • One could see evidence of that leap occurring during the 2019 track season, where she was able to run 5:24 for 1600m
  • She began the season in a time close to her PR, then broke through at Otsego Bulldog
  • She did not let up after Otsego, running each subsequent race sub-19, which gave her third State Finals appearance and first All-State finish
2020 Previews

Best in Your Area: Tri-State

Hillsdale College

Moving a bit west and south for this region. Schools in this area didn’t really fit into Battle Creek, Jackson, Lake Erie, Lake Michigan. I guess it’s just a forgotten part of the state. This city boy does remember visiting a friend’s cottage where he shot his first bow, caught his first fish, and had his first glimpse of the Amish.

Apparently the Amish live here and in other communities in Michigan. They’re mainly based in Centreville, have another few communities here, tiny communities in Mio and the UP, and have moved into Lenawee County to farm the fertile land. They mainly wish to live a simple life without extravagance or advantages afforded by technology. In essence, forgetting material pleasures. Lenawee County would like to forget their migration, wishing to evict them for not disposing of poop correctly.

Anyhow, here are the teams in the region:

Bronson
Camden-Frontier
Coldwater
Colon
Hillsdale
Hillsdale Academy
Hillsdale Will Carleton
Jonesville
Litchfield
Quincy
Reading
Sturgis

Top Boys Teams

RankTeam
1Bronson
2Coldwater
3Quincy
4Sturgis
5Hillsdale

Top 25 Boys

RankGradeNameTeam
110Rhett ReifQuincy
212Luis OrtizBronson
312Erik ButchartQuincy
412Tremaine BrownSturgis
510Jacob ReifQuincy
611Myron LaftyColdwater
710Conner WeldenHillsdale Academy
810Ashton WellsBronson
911John AertsColdwater
1010Aden HathawayBronson
1110Tyler BaysReading
1210Samuel LarimerSturgis
1310Tucker LaflerColon
1412Antonio PotterColdwater
1511Joshua WestColon
1611Jonah RichardsHillsdale
1711Reagan MayerBronson
1811Matt TonerSturgis
1911Aidan FlanneryHillsdale
2011Joe PaniaguaCamden-Frontier
2112John MaierHillsdale
2210Haroun OmarColdwater
239Shaker AbdulrabColdwater
2412Gabe GadwoodHillsdale Will Carleton
2510Tanner NortonBronson

Top Girls Teams

RankTeam
1Hillsdale Academy
2Coldwater
3Sturgis
4Bronson
5Quincy

Top 25 Girls

RankGradeNameTeam
19Paityn ModertSturgis
211Legend SzafranskiColdwater
310Megan RobertsHillsdale Academy
411Carolyn PotterColdwater
510Chloe VickersColdwater
612Grace WelchBronson
712Tiffani LarderJonesville
812Avery RufenachtQuincy
99Quinn BirdSturgis
109Angela AlvarezHillsdale Academy
1112Sofia Matsukova-KrattHillsdale Academy
129Sadie MillerQuincy
1311Ezma MachanColdwater
1411Korin WhitcombSturgis
1512Claire WaltonHillsdale Academy
169Grace LindsleyQuincy
1711Maria EstebanHillsdale
1811Abby WareBronson
1910Danis SilvaBronson
2012Margaret SteeleReading
2112Emma RoundsJonesville
2211Alison FishBronson
2310Whitney WilkinsonHillsdale Academy
2412Jenna BrenemanColon
2511Madison MagdaJonesville