Pickford Boys Dominance not to be Denied as Panthers Extend Title Streak to 5
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
May 31, 2026
KINGSFORD — The Pickford boys continued their winning ways here Saturday, taking home an Upper Peninsula Track & Field Finals championship trophy for the fifth-straight year.
Their current streak started in 2022 when they were still competing in Division 3. Since moving up to D-2, the Panthers have gone 4-for-4.
This time the Panthers scored 139 points, followed by Rudyard with 104 and Bark River-Harris at 77.
Pickford senior John Anderson became a triple-winner, taking the 300-meter hurdles in a personal-best 42.01 seconds, high jump with a leap of 6-6 and long jump at 20-2½. Classmate Gunner Bennin added a first in the 400 in a season-best 52.54 and helped the Panthers take the 400 relay. He also was runner-up in the 100 (11.57) and 200 (23.25).
Rudyard senior Steve Kirschner also won three individual events including the 800 in a personal-best 2:04.6, the 1,600 (4:38.99) and 3,200 with a season-best 10:51.37 and helped the Bulldogs capture the 1,600 relay.
In the 3,200, Kirschner was followed by classmate Seth Templeton (11:08.33) and freshman teammate Jack LaLone (11:15.02).
Freshman Jett Sawyer provided the Bulldogs with an additional first with a leap of 11-0 in pole vault.
BR-H junior Gionni McDonough retained his title in the 110 hurdles with a 15.61, followed by Anderson in a personal-best 15.87 and Ironwood senior Talon Hughes (15.92). McDonough then placed second in the 300 hurdles in a season-best 43.81, and long jump with personal-best leap of 20-½. His classmate, Ben Knauf, was runner-up in the 800 (2:09.74) and 1,600 in a personal-best 4:43.
Norway senior Josh Schiltz won discus (127-2) and was part of the winning 800 relay, and Hughes became a double-winner by taking the 100 (11.36) and 200 (23.07).
Munising senior Avery Murk took shot put with a personal-best toss of 42-4 and classmate Dylan Adkins, who will attend classes at Michigan Tech this fall, was runner-up in the 400 (53.52) and third in the 100 (11.8).
“There were some fast people here today,” Adkins said. “I didn’t PR in anything, but I think the breeze had some effect in the backstretch. Overall, the day went okay. My starts were good. I haven’t had too many issues. I think my high school career went pretty good overall.”
PHOTOS (Top) In the 400 relay, Pickford's Gunner Bennin wins with Norway (4) and Rudyard (5) taking second and third respectively. Other members of the winning team included Joseph Lane, Josh Lovin, and Ethan Caldwell. (Middle) Rudyard's Steven Kirschner celebrates winning the 1,600 relay. Other members of the winning team were Ty LaLone, Eli Folkersma, and Jett Sawyer. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)
Thrower Claims Lone Individual Title to Lead Hackett to Team 3-Peat
By
Tom Lang
Special for MHSAA.com
June 3, 2023
Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep just keeps winning and winning.
This time the Irish took home their fourth title in the last five Lower Peninsula Division 4 Track & Field Finals, on Saturday at Hudsonville.
Hackett’s only individual title was taken by discus winner Nathan Buchmann, a senior, who was fine knowing he was the shortest in stature among all the sizable competitors.
“In the offseason after football I worked out every day, working towards this goal,” he said after getting his medal. “I would say this takes 80 percent technique and 20 percent strength to throw the discus. So, length can help but if you have good technique and are really strong, that will play into it.
“I think we are very balanced throughout the meet today,” he said about teammates that scored points in finishes other than first place. “We have 13 guys here today, and we have people in a lot of the races. But I do not run; I have too short of legs to be a fast runner,” he said with a chuckle.
Buchmann had to work through a hip injury to compete this spring.
“I think the setbacks are what make you strong,” he said. “You can either give up through the setbacks or push forward and become better.”
Coach Charissa Dean agreed.
“The kids have big hearts,” she said after all the points were totaled and the Irish were on top once again, with 53. “They worked hard. They had a lot of potential when we started the season. And we had a lot of drive to put in the work, and we are happy the results came out the way they did.”
Reading was runner-up at 47 points, followed by Wyoming Potter’s House Christian with 42, then Fowler and Flint Beecher each with 37 points.
Senior Lezawe “Moses” Osterink, of Potter’s House Christian, placed second in 1,600 but took the 3,200 title as defending champ of both. He dominated the latter by lapping the field with a final lap kick that resembled more of a superhero speedster.
“Nobody really took it out that hard at the start,” he said. “There was a freshman (Marek Butkiewicz of Hackett) that tried to get the pace going quick, but me and Dakota (Dykhuis of Montabella) just kind of sat back and gradually pulled him through.
“We took it gradually, and I was just relying that I could kick.”
Kick did he ever. The trio were neck and neck the majority of the race in a grouping ahead of the pack.
“With 400 to go I just tried to go all out,” Osterink said. “I had a lot more left than I thought and I was pleased with the win. Not really the time, but that doesn’t matter, especially this hot out.”
The overall meet was in the low 90s/high 80s heat and searing sun all day. So, race officials allowed the unique opportunity for coaches to spray the runners with water and give them water bottles.
“It was very weird because I’ve never taken water to drink while I’m running, so I didn’t know how that would feel,” Osterink said. “And they were spraying us and hitting us in the face. It was kind of fun.”
Junior Tyler Lenn of Marine City Cardinal Mooney defeated Osterink at his own game in the 1,600.
“I’m feeling great,” Lenn said after grabbing the medal. “I said to a newspaper after one of my races (during the season) I was right where I wanted to be. This has been a long rebuilding process for me since an injury back in the fall, and I set a pretty high goal the day the injury happened. I was telling myself I needed to fulfill what I said I would do at the beginning of last cross country season. And that is what I did today.”
Lenn suffered an ankle sprain from a misstep that turned worse because he kept running through the season on it.
“Coming back from that was pretty tough, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. 
“Perseverance; I said from the beginning what I was going to do. I kept my eye on that target, and no matter the circumstances life threw at me, that I was going to make it happen and I am a man of my word.”
Jaylin Townsend, a senior from Flint Beecher, dominated the short races. He won the 100 dash (10.67) and 200 dash at 22 seconds flat. It was his third 100 win at a Finals.
“I put in a lot of work; I had to three-peat,” he said after the 100. “There’s a lot of great competition here, so I knew I had to come out and run my best.”
Concord in the 400 (43.72), Buckley in the 800 (1:30.76) and 1,600 (3:29.13) and Potter’s House in the 3,200 (8:14.18) were relay champs Saturday. Reading’s Tayshawn Bester won the 110 hurdles (15.13), and Athens’ Landen Bennett won the 300 (39.85). Caseville’s Nathan Feltner won the 400 (50.76), and Vestaburg’s Owen Patton claimed the 800 (1:55.11).
Fruitport Calvary Christian’s Bradley Richards won the high jump (6-10), and Peck’s Alex Affer won the long jump (23-4). McBain Northern Michigan Christian’s Isaac Bowden was first in pole vault (13-0), and Brown City’s Kyle Affer won shot put (49-2).
PHOTOS (Top) Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep celebrates its third-straight LPD4 title Saturday. (Middle) Cardinal Mooney's Tyler Lenn, far right, sets the pace in the 1,600. (Below) Flint Beecher's Jaylin Townsend, middle, crosses the finish first for one of his two sprint championships. (Photos by Ken Swart/RunMichigan.com.)