Did you see that? (11/5-11/11)

November 13, 2012

Upsets all over the volleyball Regional brackets were among the most stunning highlights from the week’s non-football action across the state.

Volleyball

Upset of the week: In arguably the biggest surprise in any sport last week – football included – Class A honorable mention Grand Rapids Christian downed No. 1 and seemingly unstoppable Richland Gull Lake in five games to claim the Regional title at Portage Northern. The Eagles trailed two games to one before winning the final two. (Grand Rapids Press)

Upset, part II: Unranked Birmingham Seaholm added to its previous elimination of No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Marian by finishing a Class A Regional title by beating No. 2 Clarkston in three games. The Maples didn’t allow the Wolves to score more than 18 points in any of the three games. (Oakland Press)

Vikings sail on: Lakewood, the No. 1 team in Class B, trailed No. 3 Ada Forest Hills Eastern after three games. But the Vikings again finished strong to claim their fourth win over a ranked opponent of this tournament run. (Ionia Sentinel-Standard)

USA, all the way: Unionville-Sebewaing also pulled off a sizable upset, in Class C, claiming its second Regional title ever by defeating No. 2 St. Louis. The Patriots, an honorable mention in the poll, dropped the first game before coming back to win the next three. (Bay City Times)

First-time title: Powered by 6-foot-5 middle Abby Cole, Grand Haven claimed its first Regional title by sweeping Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central in Class A. Cole also was a star on the Buccaneers’ Class A Final basketball championship team last winter. (Grand Haven Tribune)

Swimming and diving

Milan tops in SMISL: Most swimming and diving leagues finished up conference competition two weekends ago. But Milan – an honorable mention in Division 2 – claimed one of the final meet titles, in the Southeasterm Michigan Independent Swimming League. Milan took only two first places, but edged Division 2 honorable mention Temperance Bedford, with Division 3 No. 7 Adrian finishing third and Division 3 No. 8 Tecumseh coming in fourth. (Monroe Evening News)

Soccer

Mr. Soccer is Mr. Lewis: Rockford’s Dewey Lewis was named this season’s Mr. Soccer by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association. Lewis was a four-year varsity player for the Rams, and will play next season at Michigan State. (Grand Rapids Press)

Ishpeming Adds to Near-Decade Reign Atop Upper Peninsula Division 2

By John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com

June 5, 2022

KINGSFORD — The Ishpeming boys have allowed very little to stand between them and the Upper Peninsula Division 2 track & field championship in recent years.

They added another trophy to their collection Saturday by scoring 116 points.

The Hematites, who won three of the last four titles outright and shared the fourth, were followed by Iron Mountain with 102 points and St. Ignace at 63.

Senior Jonny Matson scored 36 points for the Hematites, who also have either won or tied for the title six of the last seven seasons.

That string was interrupted only in 2017 when they were runners-up to Newberry and three years later by COVID-19.

Last year, the Hematites shared the title with Norway.

Matson won the 400-meter dash in 53.58 seconds and long jump at 18 feet, 11¾ inches and was runner-up in the 100 (11.73) and 200 (23.77).

“Jon has been a great leader for us, and Parker Gauthier and Hunter Smith picked it up,” said Troy Smith, who shares Ishpeming’s coaching duties with his wife Trisha. “We greatly appreciate the effort of our coaching staff (Morgan Kangas, Khora Swanson and Hailey Smith). They’re a big part of our success.

“Our numbers have been a little low, but we have a great group of kids.”

Iron Mountain trackThe Hematites won the 3,200-meter relay in 9 minutes, 4.42 seconds, and Tramon Gauthier added a first in the 110 hurdles (16.67) and second in the 300s (43.0).

Smith was runner-up in high jump (5-11), and Parker Gauthier placed third in the 3,200 (11:44.6).

Iron Mountain’s Matt Colavechhi won the 100 (11.56) and 200 (23.71), and senior Luke Ruble added victories in the 1,600 (4:54.69) and 3,200 (10:52.05).

The Mountaineers also won the 400 relay (45.31) and 800 (1:34.42).

Bark River-Harris was runner-up in the 400 in a school-record 45.34

“Nick (Anderson) started real good and got us in a good spot,” said BR-H junior Vincent Martin, who ran the second leg. “We were seeded fourth. We knew the other three teams were good in the first and anchor legs. We mixed up our lineup a little and were in first going into the third leg.”

St. Ignace got a first from junior Reese McLean in the 800 (2:09.06), and Owen Lester took pole vault (10-0).

“That was a PR by three seconds,” said McLean. ‘With this being the last meet, I decided I might as well put everything into it. I think I started out all right. I wanted to get to the front right away.”

West Iron County’s Landon Sundelius won the 300 hurdles (40.56) and placed second in the 110s (16.74), and Nathan Hochstein of L’Anse was high jump champion at 5-11.

Manistique earned a victory in the 1,600 relay (3:43.99).

Click for full results.

PHOTOS (Top) Ishpeming's Tramon Gauthier leads West Iron County's Landon Sundelius and they take first and second in the 110 hurdles. (Middle) Iron Mountain's Matthew Colavecchi edges Bark River-Harris's Vincent Martin by three hundredths of a second to seal the win in the 400 relay. Other members of Iron Mountain's winning relay were Max Jayne, Joey Colavecchi, and Kurt Adiano Ryan. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/Run Michigan.)