Rudyard Girls Soar to Historic Height, Claiming 1st Team Title Since 1977
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
May 31, 2026
KINGSFORD — Jimmy Carter was president the last time a Rudyard girls track & field team was crowned Upper Peninsula Finals champion.
The year was 1977 when the Bulldogs were competing in Class C, and gasoline was selling for less than one dollar a gallon.
But there were signs Rudyard’s history was about to change May 15 when the Bulldogs won the Division 2 Regional at Bark River-Harris.
That indeed did change Saturday as the Bulldogs were crowned Finals champions with 87 points. They were followed by BR-H with 78 and Ewen-Trout Creek with 71.
“We were dealing with a lot of little things, but the girls kept battling,” coach Mike Kirschner said. “They love to compete, and the warm weather helped. We knew what to expect from Pickford and Bark River-Harris, but we didn’t see (E-TC) coming because West Iron County won that (Gwinn) Regional. They’re young, but (E-TC has) some good athletes. No doubt, they’re tough.”
Bulldogs freshman Melissa Kirschner soared a personal-best 9 feet, 1 inch in pole vault, enough to match the UPD2 Finals record she now shares with Kali Jo Marshall of St. Ignace from 2010.
Rudyard sophomore Amelia Fountain won the 100-meter dash in 13.22 seconds and 400 (1:02.27) and was runner-up in the 200 (27.4).
“This is a great way to go into the summer, that’s for sure,” Coach Kirschner said. “We’re still young. I’m hoping we’ll continue to get more girls to come out. We had a solid year, which always means a lot more when you’re coaching your own kids.”
BR-H swept the sprint relays and junior Emma Zawada, who was a part of each relay, added a first in long jump at 14-11½.
E-TC crossed the finish first in the 3,200 relay and senior Irelynd McGeshick took discus (101-1).
Sophomore Bristol Shamion was West Iron’s leader with victories in the 100 hurdles (16.81) and 300 (48.49), both personal bests, and a third-place finish in the 200 at a season-best 27.82.
Zawada was second in the 300 hurdles (49.42), and Munising sophomore Addie Bowerman placed third (50.34), also both personal bests.
Hancock sophomore Alena Pietila, who anchored the winning 1,600 relay, placed second in the 800 (2:32.01) and 1,600 with a personal-best 5:41.12.
“It’s pretty fun,” she said about the 1,600 relay. “It’s exciting to run it. I like running when it’s warm, and I’m happy with how the day went. This is definitely a confidence builder going forward. I’m not sure about doing cross country, but I’m considering it. I didn’t do it (last fall) because I didn’t want to double with volleyball.”
Pickford senior Talya Schreiber, who will continue her running career at Bowling Green (Ohio) University, captured the 800 (2:29.58), 1,600 (5:08.2) and 3,200 (11:14.28). She won a combined eight individual championships over her final three seasons.
Also among individual champions were Norway’s Lauren Adams in the 200 and Hancock’s Tatum Sporalski in the shot put.
PHOTOS (Top) Rudyard's Amelia Fountain celebrates taking first place in the 100 dash Saturday. (Middle) Ewen Trout Creek's Leona Schutz hands off the baton to Alyssa DeCremer during the 3,200 relay. E-TC won the race with team members also including Emma Besonen and Bree Besonen. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)
Ontonagon Girls Win 1st Title Since 1974
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 5, 2016
KINGSFORD — Ontonagon High School senior Paige Blake had just enough leg strength to finish the 400-meter dash at Saturday’s Upper Peninsula Division 3 Girls Track & Field Finals.
That was also just enough for Blake to retain her title as she fell across the finish line and edged Munising sophomore Kelsea Ackerman by one hundredth of a second.
Blake was clocked in 1 minute, 3.26 seconds. Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Laura Lyons placed third (1:03.62).
“I ran until I couldn’t run anymore,” said Blake. “My legs just couldn’t go anymore. I was going after the school record, but came up short. I’m glad I won, but I don’t really want to run a full 400 again.”
Blake’s effort was also an example of what the Gladiators needed to secure their first U.P. team title since 1974, when they were competing in Class C.
They scored 72 points, followed by defending champion Newberry with 65 and Munising 62.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our girls,” said Ontonagon coach Brian Amos. “Paige and Lori (Wardynski) have been doing a lot of heavy lifting for the past three years. We finally got some field events and relays and everything came together for us this year. I’m happy for Paige and Lori that they got to experience this. I’m also happy the other girls got to experience this. This is something they can build on.”
Wardynski set a U.P. meet record in the 300 hurdles in 47.27 seconds, topping the previous best (48.07) by Brooke Granquist of Powers North Central in 2009.
Wardynski also won the 300 hurdles as a sophomore two years ago and added titles in the 100-meter dash title (13.4) and high jump (4-10) this time.
“I got off to a pretty strong start in the 300s,” said Wardynski. “I knew I had a good chance to place, but I was surprised to get the U.P. record. I just told myself to go as hard as I could.”
Blake was runner-up in the 200 (28.09) and third in long jump (14-9).
Newberry senior Natalie Beaulieu repeated as champion in the 1,600 (5:24.54) and set the U.P. meet record in the 3,200, erasing the old mark (11:49.16) by Cedarville’s Emma Bohn a year ago. Beaulieu also took fourth in the 800 (2:30.22) and helped the Indians place fourth in the 3,200 relay (10:50.64).
“I didn’t want to start too fast in the 3,200,” said Beaulieu. “I also didn’t want to start too slow. I was able to find a happy medium and my rhythm. I knew I wanted to do it before I went to college (Central Michigan University). This means a lot to me. It’s kind of a relief to get this done, in a way.”
Bohn was runner-up in the 1,600 (5:33.52) and 3,200 (12:03.82) this time.
Junior teammate Taylor Bryant and Brimley senior Kerri Chartrand tied for first in the 100 hurdles (16.73). Bryant was runner-up in the 300s (48.64) and fourth in the 100 dash (13.58).
“I was a little nervous at first,” said Bryant. “The track was slippery in warm-ups. I tried to adjust my steps and do the best I could. My start in the 100-meter dash was better than I thought it would be. I knew the fast heat was behind us and just went for time.”
The Indians added a first in the 400 relay (54.4) and fourth in the 3,200 relay (10:50.04).
“Karley (Honeyssette) got us off to a good start, and our handoffs went real good,” said junior Megan Grigg. “That very important in the 400 relay. If your handoffs aren’t on, you’re not going to place.
Munising won the 1,600 (4:24.02) and 3,200 relays (10:22.9).
Lake Linden Hubbell’s Stephanie Harry took pole vault (7-6) and Lyons captured long jump (15-3).
Pickford senior Heidi Hagen took first in the 800 (2:28.05) and helped the winning 800 relay (1:55.37).
“We were ranked first by a half-second, which is a good motivator,” said Hagen. “This is so exciting. Our handoffs were real smooth. The track was slippery (due to the rain), although it’s not that bad with spikes.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Ontonagon's Paige Blake rounds a curve during her winning 400 run Saturday. (Middle) Newberry's Natalie Beaulieu repeated and set a meet record in the 3,200. (Photos by Cara Kamps.)