Did you see that? (9/17-9/23)
September 25, 2012
The crowning of a new MHSAA soccer scoring champion and some statewide showdowns in golf and volleyball headline the best of the week that was Sept. 17-23.
Soccer
Chatfield fills it up: Senior Aaron Chatfield, a forward for Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian, scored both of his team's goals in a 7-2 loss Friday to Elk Lake, but in doing so set the MHSAA career scoring record. He now has 174 goals, two more than former record holder Soony Saad of Dearborn. (Petoskey News)
Golf
Cougars edge Bulldogs: Two-time reigning MHSAA Division 4 champion Lansing Catholic edged Brighton 327-336 at the East Lansing Invitational on Sept. 17 at Walnut Hills Country Club. There were nine ranked teams in the 17-team field. Brighton is ranked No. 2 in Division 1. Lansing Catholic's Jacqueline Setas shot a 70 to take the individual medalist honor, and two of her teammates tied for second.
Volleyball
Blue streak: Richland Gull Lake downed Portage Central in three sets to win the Portage Central Invitational's gold division and a tournament the featured four teams ranked in Class A plus reigning champion Rockford and reigning Class B champion Fruitport (in A this season). Gull Lake moved up to No. 2 in Class A from No. 4 after the weekend, and Portage Central is No. 6. (Kalamazoo Gazette)
Tennis
Ludington on the move: The Orioles have moved up from No. 8 to No. 6 in the Division 4 rankings after downing formerly-No. 2 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett and No. 10 Almont at Saturday's Almont Invitational. (Mlive.com)
Cross Country
Flivver flies on: Kingsford's Dan Kulas claimed the individual championship at the Stephenson Invitational on Saturday in 16:58. He's won four straight races. (Iron Mountain Daily News)
Basketball
Pershing coach steps down: Detroit Pershing boys basketball coach A.W. Canada has resigned, but will remain with the program as an assistant. The Doughboys are regularly in contention in Class A, last winning the MHSAA title in 2009 after also making the Final in 2008. (Detroit News)
Story of the Week
Spring Lake setter lifts Lakers: It's been a little more than a year since Emily Blahnik's mother Brenda suffered a horrific fall that left her with a skull fracture, brain trauma and spinal cord injuries. But with her teammates and community in continuous support, Blahnik has remained a big part of Spring Lake's volleyball program. The Grand Haven Tribune has been covering this story throughout, and Nate Thompson provides us with this update. (Grand Haven Tribune)
Bad Axe's Ranquist Meets Her Goal, Sets Another as Newest D4 Champion
March 2, 2024
MUSKEGON – Jasmyn Ranquist had one goal Saturday, and really this whole season – just improve on last year.
Her freshmen run in 2023 was a good one – she reached the Division 4 Quarterfinals. But it was time to take the next step.
She took a few.
The Bad Axe sophomore qualified fifth for match play at the Singles Final at Northway Lanes, then rolled through her first three matches before prevailing 366-344 over Memphis junior Lauren Castillo to clinch the championship.
“One of my friends told me that because the girl last year (Gobles’ Morgan Brunner) won three years in row, that I’m next to win three years in a row,” Ranquist said. “And we’re on year one, so I’m super excited for next year.”
Ranquist bowled a high of 201 during the morning’s six-game qualifying block, while Costello qualified third rolling a pair of 212 games to finish her six.
Ranquist then opened match play with a 416-357 win over Hudson sophomore Ellie Loar before really opening things up with a 492-294 victory in her Quarterfinal and 443-339 victory in the Semifinal.
Castillo, meanwhile, showed some grit winning a roll-off with Ravenna freshman Taylor Nutt in their first match out of qualifying. Costello then stacked victories of 57 and 53 pins on the way to the Final.
Ranquist took a 209-175 lead with the first game. Castillo bested her in the second, 169-157, but not by enough to close the entire margin.
Castillo also was returning to the Finals, for the third time, and reached match play for the first.
“Lauren is one of my close friends,” Ranquist said. “I met her at Regionals last year, and she’s just amazing. And I’m so glad I got to bowl against her in the Finals.”