Performance of the Week: Charlevoix's Hunter Eaton
November 7, 2025
Hunter Eaton ♦ Charlevoix
Junior ♦ Cross Country
Eaton raced the Lower Peninsula Division 3 Final in 15 minutes, 30.8 seconds, to win the championship by three seconds at Michigan International Speedway after breaking away from a group of three contenders during the final mile. He improved from finishing ninth as a sophomore, and his individual victory paced Charlevoix to a team championship as well as Eaton and his teammates edged runner-up Lansing Catholic by seven points.
Charlevoix boys cross country has a long record of success, but its Saturday sweep updated a couple of “last time” references significantly. Eaton was the boys team’s first individual champion since 1989, and the Rayders’ team title was the program’s first since 1991. Eaton also runs track; he won the 3,200 and finished second in the 1,600 at the spring’s LPD3 Finals in that sport.
The cross country sweep carried special significance for Eaton’s entire community. The Rayders are coached by Doug Drenth, who also coaches the boys golf team, which was involved in a devastating crash April 27 while traveling during a tournament weekend. Drenth is continuing to recover after suffering life-threatening injuries, and multiple golfers also required surgeries including his son Maxwell – Charlevoix’s fourth scoring runner at MIS.
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@mhsaasports 🏃➡️POW: Hunter Eaton #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA
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Previous 2025-26 honorees
Oct. 31: Stephen Gollapalli, Lansing Christian tennis - Report
Oct. 23: Talya Schreiber, Pickford cross country - Report
Oct. 16: Avery Manning, Dexter golf - Report
Oct. 9: Brady Van Laecke, Hudsonville football - Report
Oct. 2: Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock volleyball - Report
Sept. 25: Sam Schumacher, Portage Central tennis - Report
Sept. 18: Kaylee Mitzel, Saline field hockey - Report
Sept. 11: Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4: Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report
PHOTO Charlevoix's Hunter Eaton runs toward the finish line at the Lower Peninsula Division 3 Final at Michigan International Speedway. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)
Be the Referee: Losing a Shoe
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
November 4, 2025
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Losing a Shoe - Listen
In cross country, all runners must start the race wearing two shoes. But how many must they have on at the end of the race?
If a runner loses one – or both – shoes during the course of the race, they are not required to stop and put it back on. If your shoe gets stepped on and comes off, or if you run through a muddy portion of the course and lose a shoe, you can continue on.
A runner can finish the race with both, one, or no shoes. But the race must be started with two.
And as to what makes up a shoe – it must have two parts, an upper and a lower, such as a sole and a fastenable top portion.
You would not be able to start a race wearing just socks or slippers.
Previous 2025-26 editions
Oct. 28: Unusual Soccer Goals - Listen
Oct. 21: Field Hockey Penalty Stroke - Listen
Oct. 14: Tennis Double Hit - Listen
Oct. 7: Safety in Football - Listen
Sept. 30: Field Hockey Substitution - Listen
Sept 23: Multiple Contacts in Volleyball - Listen
Sept. 16: Soccer Penalty Kick - Listen
Sept. 9: Forward Fumble - Listen
Sept. 2: Field Hockey Basics - Listen
Aug. 26: Golf Ball Bounces Out - Listen