Morenci Rallies to Support 3-Sport Standout
By
Doug Donnelly
Special for MHSAA.com
March 22, 2021
MORENCI – It would have been easy for Rodney Zimmerman to take a night off and no one would have thought twice.
But the three-sport athlete at Morenci High School in Lenawee County wouldn’t even consider it. Even while his mom was going through cancer treatments, battling COVID-19 and pneumonia, Zimmerman hit the weight room every morning, showed up for practice every afternoon and, now, has taken a step toward his dream of becoming a college athlete.
Zimmerman committed this week to Saginaw Valley State University to run track.
“He’s just one of those kids that everyone rallies around,” said Morenci track and football coach Stefan Wilkinson. “He works really hard at everything he does. He goes all out, every time he’s on the court or field or track. He’s a very humble kid.”
Outside of his own community, few people were aware that his mother was going through cancer treatments in the fall, causing her to miss some of his games. Morenci rallied around the quiet senior.
“Everyone knew what was going on,” Zimmerman said, reluctantly. “Morenci is a small town. The parents and coaches were great to me. They would cook meals for us. That was really nice.
“Sports is a way for me to put that out of my mind,” he said. “I just go out and play the game. It is hard, but you have to do it. Football became my escape from all of that. That really helped. It wasn’t too hard to focus. Well, it was, but I just had to do it. I wanted to keep playing.”
Sports has been a part of his life since grade school. He grew up near Waldron in Hillsdale County and attended Pittsford until seventh grade when he moved schools and started going to Morenci. It was a good fit for him and the community.
His first interest was basketball, but he decided to pick up other sports as well.
“At first when I came here, I just played basketball, but I eventually picked up football and then track,” he said. “The coaches always told me it was good to play all of the other sports.”
He’s a familiar face at Morenci events because he stands out in three sports. He also wears a signature headband.
Zimmerman was a running back for the Morenci football team in the fall, is a point guard for the Bulldogs basketball team as they head into next week’s Division 3 postseason, and he can’t wait to return to the track this spring. He’s a sprinter and a good one.
As a sophomore, Zimmerman finished second at the Tri-County Conference meet in both the 100 and 200 meters. At the Division 4 Finals, he placed fourth in the 100 and helped the Bulldogs 400 relay team place fourth as well. He also qualified in the 200.
He likes how track is somewhat of an individual sport.
“I like all of the sports, but I like that in track I have total control,” he said. “The only one responsible for your performance is you. It’s all up to you.”
He missed his junior year of track due to the season being canceled because of COVID-19.
“I was really disappointed that I missed my junior season because that’s a big season for recruitment,” he said. “I was thinking we were going to still have a season. I was working out and getting ready, then it was canceled. I was still lifting and trying to stay ready.”
He has goals for this season.
“I want to go to state again, and I want to be in the top three in my events,” he said.
He committed to Saginaw Valley State, a Division II college, after visiting the campus and finding out the Cardinals were able to give some scholarship money.
“They made the best offer,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to go to college. That’s been my plan. I want to do something in business, maybe own my own gym.”
College is still a while away. Right now, there is the District tournament looming for Morenci, then track season. His mother had a scan recently to find out where she stands with cancer.
For now, he’s happy to have her in the stands, watching him compete. The community continues to rally around him. His teammates do, too. During football season, Zimmerman and other players wore green on their shoes or wrist – a lime green ribbon promotes Lymphoma cancer awareness.
“It’s nice to have her watching again,” he said. “She missed some football games. She just had a pet scan last week to see if it is all gone. We are hoping for the best.”
Doug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Morenci's Rodney Zimmerman sprints toward the finish of a preliminary race during the 2019 Track & Field Finals. (Middle) Zimmeran was named this winter's Homecoming king. (Top photo by RunMichigan.com; middle photo submitted.)
Summit Leads from Start to Finish in Clinching 1st Trip to Championship Day
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
March 14, 2025
EAST LANSING – A simple strategy has left Romulus Summit Academy North playing for a Division 2 basketball championship.
It comes down to this: Jump on an opponent quickly, and don't let up.
Keep an opponent down, step on the gas and don't look back – which is exactly what the Dragons accomplished in Friday's methodical 52-40 Semifinal win over Kingsford at the Breslin Center.
Much like the team's previous five tournament wins by an average of nearly 40 points per game, Summit scored the first four points, led 16-6 after one quarter, 30-16 at the half and never let Kingsford climb within 12 points during the second half.
In other words, business as usual, said Dragons junior guard Marquan White.
"We don't anyone to get their first licks in," he said. "We want the advantage of keeping a lead and then going with it. We don't want to give other teams hope."
The win sends Summit (24-3) into Saturday's 6:45 p.m. championship game. Kingsford finished 22-4.
Dragons senior guard Amir Perryman said it's no accident the team starts games with a bang. It's a strategy stressed by coaches and taken to heart by players – and best of all, executed during games.
"They emphasize getting the first lead. We want to knock an opponent down and keep going the whole game," said Perryman, who finished with 10 points.
The quick start was a result of myriad strengths. Summit forced 17 turnovers while allowing the Flivvers to attempt 11 fewer shots (41-30). The Dragons also held a 24-13 rebounding edge.
Kingsford coach Ben Olsen said his team faced problems in falling behind by as much as 21-10 midway through the second quarter.
"We got down 10, and their pressure got to us," he said. "We weren't able to climb out of the hole. We talked about getting a quick lead and then play our style of game."
Dragons junior guard Chance Houser led his team with 21 points and seven rebounds. Gavin Grondin had 12 and Morgan Sleik 11 points for Kingsford.
Two years ago, Summit fell in the Semifinals to Grand Rapids South Christian.
"We've faced some adversity this year, but it means a lot to us – the players, coaches, assistant coaches and guys on the bench. We've all been part of it,” Houser said.
First-year Dragons coach Derek Clark said much of the credit goes to special depth at guard. He trusts at least four players to handle the ball, a strength which resulted in only 11 turnovers during the Semifinal.
"We've got a unique build to the roster. We've got a lot of good players who can handle the ball, and that gives us an advantage," he said.
As far as playing in the championship game, Clark said he refuses to underestimate any opponent.
"Anyone who makes it to this level can beat you," he said. "It's not like I'm some mad scientist and can concentrate on like 20 teams. We take it one step at a time. I haven't even been watching film of the other two (Semifinal) teams (Grand Rapids Catholic Central and Warren Lincoln). I've only been watching Kingsford."
PHOTOS (Top) Romulus Summit Academy North’s Chance Houser dunks during his team’s Division 2 Semifinal win Friday. (Middle) The Dragons’ Rapheal White (2) drives while defended by Kingsford’s Jett Buckley. (Photos by Adam Sheehan/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)