Uncategorized

The Regional Previews: Division 3, Region 21

Last Year

SUMMER PREVIEW
MID-SEASON
FINAL PROJECTIONS
THE RESULT

Girls

  1. Stanton Central Montcalm (10th)
  2. Muskegon Western Mich. Christian (14th)
  3. Kent City (19th)

Boys

  1. Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (4th)
  2. Saranac (11th)
  3. Stanton Central Montcalm (10th)

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

Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (13th), Kent City (16th), Fennville (26th)

Boys

The Potter’s House (Top 6), Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (Top 6), Saranac (14th)

(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

PlaceGirls TeamScore
1Grand Rapids Covenant Christian58
2Kent City64
3Fennville85
4The Potter’s House110
5Saranac131
6Grandville Calvin Christian150
7Montague171
8Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian212
9Holland Black River217
10Delton-Kellogg234
11Ravenna294

PlaceBoys TeamScore
1The Potter’s House39
2Grand Rapids Covenant Christian63
3Saranac101
4Kent City134
5Holland Black River167
6Grandville Calvin Christian172
7Shelby200
8North Muskegon203
9Montague247
10Ravenna252
11Grant260
12Fennville299
13Delton-Kellogg316

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 on a top team or in the 50 Tickets 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.

Lila Volkers, Kent City

Ended her freshman year on a hot streak, then used that momentum to catapult into a 2022 season where she placed top-10 at State and won this region, I believe setting a school record while doing so.

Amber Koole, Grand Rapids Covenant Christian

Her freshman year was all over the place, ranging from the high-21’s to the 25’s. The past two years, she’s placed in the top-10 here and in 2022, grabbed an All-State.

Hannah Geaney, The Potter’s House

The Pumas have moved into Division 3, but don’t let that fool you into thinking Hannah can’t grab another All-State. Track times of 5:39/12:20 certainly indicate she can handle the paces necessary to do so.

Lola Bryce, Grandville Calvin Christian

Knocked 2.5 minutes off her freshman best, good enough to run varsity over here in Region 21 AND qualify for State.

Gracie Houtman, Kent City

After missing much of her sophomore spring, was able to quicken her times considerably. 13:52 to 12:25 may be the most striking and that strength has the potential to lead to an outstanding senior year.

Jackson Rodriguez, The Potter’s House

One might say his first year of cross country was a rousing success. 2nd here in Region 21, 3rd in Division 4, and a speedy personal best of 15:53. As with many of these Potter’s House folks, more to be written later…

Samuel Martini, Kent City

Following a cross country season where he hit his best place at State ever, Sam went on to set personal bests in every distance race. Most applicable to the 5k may be his 3200m, dropping from 9:38 to 9:34 and obtaining another 6th spot in Division 3.

Ian Palacios, The Potter’s House

After missing his sophomore season, Ian returned to the cross country scene with much vigor. Lowered his personal best to the mid-16’s and placed 11th at State.

Nathan Day, Saranac

Had a few outstanding performances on this Allendale course. A 16:41 in early October was his first race under 17:00, that was then bested by 4 seconds a month later. I’m not sure if the 800m is the greatest indicator of XC performance, but dude subtracted 10 seconds from his 2022 best to run 1:58 and place 5th in Division 3.

Uncategorized

50 Tickets to Brooklyn: Boys #32

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

Corrected thanks to those Conways 😉

Accomplishments & Accolades

  • 5th Place – SEC Red (XC)
  • 6th Place – Region 4 (XC)
  • 2x State Qualifier (XC)
  • 14th Place – Division 1 State 3200m
  • 3rd Place – Region 5 3200m



Ratings Throughout the Years

GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDate
11Luke Suliman16:32.9Ann Arbor Skyline199.0Lamplighter19-Aug
11Luke Suliman16:28.0Ann Arbor Skyline198.0Saline Early Bird1-Sep
11Luke Suliman16:16.5Ann Arbor Skyline196.5Bath10-Sep
11Luke Suliman16:01.0Ann Arbor Skyline195.3Jackson24-Sep
11Luke Suliman16:09.6Ann Arbor Skyline195.8SEC Red 228-Sep
11Luke Suliman16:03.6Ann Arbor Skyline194.8Portage8-Oct
11Luke Suliman15:51.8Ann Arbor Skyline193.7Gabriel Richard15-Oct
11Luke Suliman15:55.8Ann Arbor Skyline192.1SEC Championship20-Oct
11Luke Suliman16:14.4Ann Arbor Skyline193.2Region 428-Oct
11Luke Suliman16:28.3Ann Arbor Skyline190.2Division 1 State5-Nov
GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDate
10Luke Suliman17:53.4Ann Arbor Skyline178.2Mustang31-Aug
10Luke Suliman17:02.1Ann Arbor Skyline181.6Bath11-Sep
10Luke Suliman17:09.6Ann Arbor Skyline183.1SEC 114-Sep
10Luke Suliman16:50.5Ann Arbor Skyline185.8Jackson25-Sep
10Luke Suliman17:00.7Ann Arbor Skyline185.1SEC Red 228-Sep
Luke Suliman16:40.7Ann Arbor Skyline189.1Portage9-Oct
10Luke Suliman16:18.8Ann Arbor Skyline186.7Gabriel Richard16-Oct
10Luke Suliman16:48.6Ann Arbor Skyline183.5SEC Championship21-Oct
10Luke Suliman16:58.6Ann Arbor Skyline182.5Region 429-Oct
GradeNameTeamRatingMeetDate
9Luke SulimanAnn Arbor Skyline167.3Hartland/Skyline25-Aug
9Luke SulimanAnn Arbor Skyline159.6Adrian/Hudson/Skyline/Tecumseh12-Sep
9Luke SulimanAnn Arbor Skyline168.7Plymouth/Skyline13-Oct
9Luke SulimanAnn Arbor Skyline170.2SEC Red17-Oct
9Luke SulimanAnn Arbor Skyline165.0Pre-Region 1124-Oct
9Luke SulimanAnn Arbor Skyline166.9Region 631-Oct



The Rundown



Just as Mason Jett earlier, Skyline is quietly (okay, maybe everyone is quiet in comparison to Hobbs) bringing forth elite runners. Luke has grown and progressed to kid that busted into the 15’s on a few occasions last year. Both were at Hudson Mills, where he placed top-10 at Gabriel Richard and in the SEC Red. Even on courses other than that fast track, he was able to show his worth, with low-16 efforts at Jackson, Portage, Huron Meadows, Bath.

Track is where we saw another push forward, Luke displaying a capability of running 9:30’s in all sorts of conditions. 9:39 in the heat at State (14th Place), 9:34 in the sideways rain at Regionals, or 9:31 in ideal conditions at Brighton. My guess is that the 9:39 at State is worth 9:25 to 9:30 in more ideal weather and my guess is also that he steps on a podium in early November.

Uncategorized

50 Tickets to Brooklyn: Girls #32

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

Accomplishments & Accolades

  • 10th Place – Division 3 State (XC)
  • 2x All-State (XC)
  • 3x State Qualifier (XC)
  • 7x All-State (Track)
  • 3rd Place – Division 3 1600m
  • 6th Place – Division 3 3200m
  • Division 3 4x800m State Champion



Ratings Throughout the Years

GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDate
11Tessa Roe19:36.2Lansing Catholic140.9Michigan Catholic27-Aug
11Tessa Roe19:47.2Lansing Catholic130.6Spartan16-Sep
11Tessa Roe18:38.2Lansing Catholic140.9Cougar Falcon24-Sep
11Tessa Roe18:44.1Lansing Catholic141.0Bluejay1-Oct
11Tessa Roe19:13.1Lansing Catholic133.0Greater Lansing15-Oct
11Tessa Roe18:56.4Lansing Catholic135.2Region 1429-Oct
11Tessa Roe19:14.0Lansing Catholic136.3Division 3 State5-Nov
GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDate
10Tessa Roe20:44.8Lansing Catholic129.1Michigan Catholic28-Aug
10Tessa Roe19:46.0Lansing Catholic129.3Lansing Catholic Mini 19-Sep
10Tessa Roe19:47.0Lansing Catholic130.0Lansing Catholic Mini 217-Sep
10Tessa Roe18:52.5Lansing Catholic119.8CAAC White 121-Sep
10Tessa Roe19:11.4Lansing Catholic131.2Cadillac25-Sep
10Tessa Roe19:53.4Lansing Catholic121.2Bluejay2-Oct
10Tessa Roe20:01.8Lansing Catholic128.4CAAC White 25-Oct
10Tessa Roe19:24.8Lansing Catholic135.7Portage9-Oct
10Tessa Roe19:52.7Lansing Catholic125.8Greater Lansing16-Oct
10Tessa Roe19:33.3Lansing Catholic122.6CAAC White 321-Oct
10Tessa Roe20:25.0Lansing Catholic131.3Region 2429-Oct
10Tessa Roe19:09.0Lansing Catholic129.0Division 3 State6-Nov
GradeNameTeamRatingMeetDate
9Tessa RoeLansing Catholic111.4Michigan Catholic29-Aug
9Tessa RoeLansing Catholic113.0Fowlerville/LC/Parchment9-Sep
9Tessa RoeLansing Catholic118.9Eaton Rapids Class15-Sep
9Tessa RoeLansing Catholic120.3Lansing Catholic Quad18-Sep
9Tessa RoeLansing Catholic113.0CAAC White22-Sep
9Tessa RoeLansing Catholic116.4CAAC White6-Oct
9Tessa RoeLansing Catholic124.9Greater Lansing10-Oct
9Tessa RoeLansing Catholic119.9Pre-Region 2724-Oct
9Tessa RoeLansing Catholic121.3Region 1431-Oct
9Tessa RoeLansing Catholic126.4Division 2 State6-Nov



The Rundown



She’s tenacious on the court, her defensive mindset disrupting many teams plays, her aggression uprooting the confidence of the opposing team’s point guard. That focus and mindset carries over to XC, where she’s able harness her speed and apply it to longer distances. Tessa has been a champion all year, whether contributing to the Lansing Catholic D2 basketball championship or on their D3 winning 4×8.

Her fall contained numerous personal bests and an uncanny consistency, adjusting for course, running the equivalent of a sub-19 effort each time out. Her personal best improved by over 30 sec. and she dropped 7 places at Division 3 State. Track saw new events and more time subtracted. 5:13 to 5:02 in the 1600m, 11:12 in a 3200m she hadn’t contested in the previous two years. The lone holdover from one of the better trio’s in the state, this fall she’ll be tasked with a leadership role that I know she’ll fill.