Category: 2020 Previews

Teams

Alma
Bay City John Glenn
Birch Run
Clio
Essexville Garber
Flint Kearsley
Flint Powers Catholic
Flint Southwestern
Frankenmuth
Freeland
Midland Bullock Creek
North Branch
Saginaw Swan Valley
Shepherd
Standish-Sterling

Boys

Team Projections

Individual Projections

Ranked Teams

Flint Powers Catholic (11), Freeland (25)

Highest Rated Seniors

• Matthew Hart, Flint Powers Catholic

Matthew turned it up a notch during the championship season.  He ran his personal best at Greater Flint, which was his first time breaking 17:00.  He nearly duplicated that at Regionals, running 17:03 to place in the top-15 for the second consecutive year.

• Evan Schapman, North Branch

Evan’s first year of cross country came as a junior and he stepped right into All-Region contention.  He ended up finishing 18^th here last year.  It took one race for Evan to get his feet wet, from then on, he was almost always in the 17:00’s.  With a year of experience, expect Evan to get into that top-15.

• Andrew Farrer, Flint Powers Catholic

At Greater Flint, Andrew showed what he’s capable of in this sport.  His 17:06 there definitely wasn’t projected, and was easily his best rating of the season.  He’s had significant improvement throughout the years, during his freshman year, he was largely above 19:30.

Career Achievement

• Braydon Honsinger, Freeland

Profile.

• Logan Snyder, Alma

This was a very senior-dominant region last year with the Corunna boys, Jorden Sowash, Wesley Beck, and others.  However, Braydon and Logan were able to break into the too-10 as freshmen.  Logan gets lost in the great talent in the mid-Michigan area, but with the common sophomore breakthrough, he could vault past many.  He gradually improved throughout last year, culminating in a 17:02 here.

Anyone Else?

• Lucas Danic, Flint Powers Catholic

Lucas gets underrated because of his State race, but he showed a dramatic jump from his freshman to sophomore year.  He mainly ran in the mid-18’s as a freshman, in his second race as a sophomore, he nearly slipped under 17:00.  It took a majority of the season to get back to that level, but he was able to here at Regionals, where he finished 13^th. 

• Mason Cross, Shepherd

Can Mason follow in the footsteps of Caleb, Tyler Noble, and Seth Schafer in being the next Shepherd great.  Early returns say yes.  He ranks in the top-5 on both their freshman and sophomore lists and has displayed that he can run his fastest late in the season.  He competed in their Midnight Mile, running a 4:48 (and closing in 66!).

Girls

Team Projections

Individual Projections

Ranked Teams

Frankenmuth (3), Shepherd (8), Freeland (13)

Highest Rated Seniors

• Gabbie Michael, Frankenmuth

Profile.

• Madde Skeel, Shepherd

Madde just got done running her HS mile PR in Shepherd’s Midnight Mile.  Along with the ultra-talented, deep Shepherd team, she moves into D2.  Late in her sophomore year, she broke 20:00 for the first time.  As a junior, she cemented her status into the 19’s, resulting in a 20^th place finish at MIS.

• Delaney Knoll, Frankenmuth

Delaney roared back from a subpar Regional race to nab her second consecutive top-100 finish at MIS.  That State Meet performance was key in Frankenmuth’s 6^th place finish and she’ll be needed to get them into the top-5 this year.  She’s broken 20:00 each of the past two years.

Career Achievement

• Haileigh Bissett, North Branch

Profile.

• Kiera Hansen, Freeland

Twice the Regional Champion, Kiera has established herself as a big race runner.  In both of the past two years, she’s run her season best at this race.  Peaking like this (compared to early season efforts) leaves her a little underrated, as she’s definitely shown she can compete with Gabbie and Haileigh.  Oh, she’s also been All-State in both seasons as well.

Anyone Else?

• Amelia Gouin, Shepherd

Amelia also competed in the Midnight Mile and ran faster than Madde Skeel and Ariel Warner.  Results like that can compound, if she can race with them over a mile, she can do it over 5k.  And she’s shown she’s capable of doing so, owning a PR of 19:32 from her sophomore year.

• Mary Richmond, Frankenmuth

Mary just missed an inclusion in the top 50 returners, but she is definitely one of the better incoming freshmen.  She was just a winner last year.  Bluejay, Marauder, Saginaw County being a few examples.  She even moved up to the 5k distance, running 20:43 at the Delta College PROM.

Teams

Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood
Bloomfield Hills Marian
Detroit Cody
Detroit Communication Media Arts
Detroit Cornerstone Health & Technology
Detroit Country Day
Detroit Henry Ford
Detroit International Academy
Detroit Mumford
Detroit Old Redford
Detroit University Prep
Detroit University Prep Art & Design
Goodrich
Lake Fenton
Linden
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
Ortonville Brandon
Pinckney
Pontiac
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
Redford Union
Wixom St. Catherine

Boys

Team Projections

Individual Projections

Ranked Teams

Pinckney (3), Linden (12), Goodrich (15), Lake Fenton (22)

Highest Rated Seniors

• Gavin White, Pinckney

Profile.

• Joseph Gilbert, Lake Fenton

Joseph can serve as an example of how these talented MS runners can make a name for themselves in HS.  He was sub-12 on multiple occasions at the MS level (as are many freshmen I’ve mentioned), and in his junior year, was able to run into the 16:00’s.  His championship season went exceptionally well, with many races in the 16:30 range.  The best of which seems to be his performance at Flint Metro League, where he finished 2^nd. 

• Lucas Oberle, Goodrich

As a sophomore, Lucas had a few races over 20:00.  As a junior, he was sub-18 in almost every race.  That remarkable improvement resulted in his first All-Region performance.

Career Achievement

• Caleb Jarema

Profile.

• Eli Seitzinger, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep

Three years in a row, Eli has been an individual qualifier in this region.  He was also victorious on the track – in 2018, winning the 3200m at the Freshman Oakland County meet.

Anyone Else?

• River Meckstroth, Linden

During the championship season, River was scarily consistent, his ratings all in the 183-188 range.  For a team like Linden that is harboring the idea of another high place at the State Meet, that steadiness is valuable.  His best time was a 16:34 at FML, his best race may have been his State Meet, placing 44^th in 16:47.

• Colton Dietrich, Lake Fenton

Colton was able to undergo some substantial improvement from his freshman to sophomore year.  He broke 20:00 ONCE as a freshman.  In October/November of his sophomore year, he broke 18:00 in EVERY race. 

• Evan Loughridge, Pinckney

Evan is the key that unlocks Pinckney’s potential.  He has the potential to be one of the better 3^rd runners in Division 2.  His MS career contained many impressive times, running sub-11:30 three times last year. 

Girls

Team Projections

Individual Projections

Ranked Teams

Pinckney (20), Linden (21)

Highest Rated Seniors

• Maya Harb, Bloomfield Hills Marian

The past two years, Maya has racked up many accomplishments.  Twice top-10 at Regionals and once top-40 at MIS.  Her junior year featured a redemptive race at Catholic League.  The previous year, she ran a 22:48 (3:00 off her best), finishing 25^th.  Last year, a 5^th place finish. 

• Vivi Eddings, Pinckney

Vivi is another girl with an accomplished career.  Her freshman and sophomore years (both at the D1 level) featured two All-Region and one All-State performances.  On many occasions, she raced well into the 18’s.  Her junior year was cut short, but if healthy, she’s potentially a top runner in D2.

• Melanea Strauss, Linden

Melanea ran her best race of the 2019 season at the State Meet.  Not an easy task in a pressure-filled environment, but she was able to obtain a season record (20:13) and finish 82^nd, her second consecutive top-100 place.

Career Achievement

• Nyla Griffin, Pinckney

In her three years with the Pinckney program, Nyla has quietly racked up a few honors.  She’s finished top-10 in the SEC the past two years.  In an extremely tough regional (2018 Huron Meadows, D1), she hit an individual qualifier.  She even broke 20:00 in that race.

Anyone Else?

• Olivia Giza, Goodrich

Whomever is coaching Goodrich’s MS program is doing great work.  Olivia and Luke Francis raced very competitively last year.  Olivia nabbed victories at Kayla O’Mara and Bath and was consistently in the 12:30 range. 

• Sophie Endrud, Detroit Country Day

Through September 2019, Sophie’s freshman year was running very well.  She ran in the 21’s on some tough courses, finished 8^th at Soter-Crane.  In October, she was a completely different runner.  Sub-20 on the great Spring Lake course and at MIS, along with a 2^nd place finish at this region. 

• Erin Siver, Bloomfield Hills Marian

Erin, Maya Harb, and Ainslie Vanneste seemingly go hand in hand and they all have been integral to Marian’s success over the past two years.  Erin has twice been top-10 at this region.  On the track, she’s a little bit of speedster, finishing 6^th at the Oakland County 800m as a freshman. 

Teams

Almont
Armada
Center Line
Croswell-Lexington
Detroit Denby
Detroit East English Village
Detroit Osborn
Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy
Hazel Park
Imlay City
Macomb Lutheran North
Marine City
Marysville
St. Clair
St. Clair Shores South Lake
Warren Fitzgerald
Warren Regina
Yale

Boys

Team Projections

Individual Projections

Ranked Teams

St. Clair (6), Yale (7)

Highest Rated Seniors

• Jack Pennewell, St. Clair

Profile.

• Matthew McClelland, Yale

At Matthew’s top end, he’s also a top-50 returner.  He’s brought it on so many important occasions – 1^st at Thumb Area (top-10 all three years), 3^rd at Regionals (top-10 all three years), and All-State.  His ratings indicate, given the right conditions, a guy that can dip under that 16:00 barrier this season.

• Joshua Cundy, Macomb Lutheran North

As the 2019 season wore on, Joshua showed a great consistency.  Low 17’s at Hansons and Macomb County led to sub-17’s at River Rat, Regionals, and the State Meet.  His State race had to be especially satisfying, as he improved from a 162^nd to 52^nd place finish.

Career Achievement

• Conner Uppleger, Marine City

A three-time State qualifier, even with Marine City moving up to Division 2.  He’s gradually improved throughout his career to the point of breaking 17:00 a few times late last year.  Those sub-17 performances resulted in a 7^th place regional finish and top-60 place at State.

Anyone Else?

• Andrew Parr, St. Clair

Andrew was able to put together his best race of his career at last year’s Regional.  His 16:59 was a PR, a tough task when the lights are shining.  He’ll be counted on again as a leader of the St. Clair pack.

• Alec Albrecht, Armada

Along with Connor Mackenzie and the recently graduated Noah Verlinde, part of a dynamic trio for Armada in 2019.  Those three led Armada to a top-20 finish at MIS.  Alec himself has twice been top-10 in Macomb County and top-10 at Regionals.

• Ethan McCombs, Croswell-Lexington

Significant year to year drops for Ethan from 2018 to 2019.  As a freshman, he was able to get under 18:00 late, as a sophomore, he was able to drop more than a minute.  The most notable improvements came in how he placed – 44^th to 8^th at Thumb Area, 29^th to 10^th at Regionals.

Girls

Team Projections

Individual Projections

Ranked Teams

Warren Regina (11)

Highest Rated Seniors

• Sabrina Kroll, Warren Regina

Sabrina’s tale of progress has occurred both during last season and throughout her career. She was able to start the season in the 21’s and finish it with a sub-20 at this regional.  That ability to navigate through the season doesn’t appear out of nowhere, as she clearly put in work during the previous summer (as an outside observer, very proud of the Regina program.  I’ve seen them at speed sessions, camp, all as a team.  One can see why girls stick it out and get the most out of their ability).  As a freshman and sophomore, Sabrina had not been under 22:00.

• Mackenzie Wassmus, Marysville

Last season, Mackenzie was extremely reliable, but still found a way to turn it on for championship meets.  Her 8^th place at Regionals marked a return to the podium there.  It was also a personal best of over 45 seconds.

• Jessica Denver, Imlay City

From MS to HS, it seems Jessica has been around forever.  And here she is, right in the mix for one last go round.  She’s been sub-20 and top-10 at Thumb Area/Regionals in all three years.

Career Achievement

• Grace Zdankiewicz, Warren Regina

Profile.

• Allison Starkey, Macomb Lutheran North

In her first two years, Allison has been a top performer in October.  She’s been top-10 in consecutive seasons at both Catholic League and Regionals.  And in both seasons, able to smash the 20:00 barrier at Regionals.   

Anyone Else?

• Ava Pergitone, St. Clair

Ava had quite the finish of her freshman year.  Sub-20 at Wagener Park, MAC Division, and Regionals.  And her State performance wasn’t too shabby either, a 20:12.  Given St. Clair’s culture, we could have a good one. 

• Reese Powers, Marysville

Earlier, I had mentioned Sabrina Kroll’s embrace of summer running.  Reese has exhibited that this summer.  Not that she was bad last year (she finished 15^th here), but she’s taken it to another level.  At the Hansons 3-mile CC race at River Bends, she went 19:47, then the following week, a 19:34 at a hilly Kayla O’Mara 5k.

• Kate Robinson, Madison Heights Lamphere

Going into last year, Lamphere’s top girls (Kate and Rebecca Shaffer) were relatively unknown.  But Kate’s 20:54 at Holly, not the easiest course ever, warranted notice.  She had a great championship season, finishing 1^st at the MAC Dfivision Meet, 5^th at Regionals, and top-60 at State, all in sub-20 performances.