High 5s: 11/21/12
November 21, 2012
With the Thanksgiving holiday mid-week and nearly every fall sport done, we'll give out just one High 5 today. But it goes to a team that's been among the elite for half a decade and could be just getting started.
Holland swimming and diving
The Dutch scored 311.5 points to defeat runner-up Ann Arbor Skyline by 56 at the Lower Peninsula Division 2 Final at Oakland University. Holland totaled seven first-place finishes, including winning all three relays. It was the second-straight championship for the Dutch, who finished LP Division 2 runners-up from 2008-10.
Previous 2012-13 honorees:
- Julia Bos, Grand Rapids Christian cross country - Click for more
- Morgan Bullock, Zeeland swimming - Click for more
- Nathan Burnand, Waterford Mott cross country - Click for more
- Aaron Chatfield, Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian soccer - Click for more
- Erin Finn, West Bloomfield cross country - Click for more
- Alex Grace, Saginaw Swan Valley football - Click for more
- Billy Heckman, Portage Central tennis - Click for more
- Codi Jenshak, Escanaba tennis - Click for more
- Amanda McKinzie, Battle Creek St. Philip cross country - Click for more
- Connor Mora, Cedar Springs cross country - Click for more
- Kelsey Murphy, Plymouth golf - Click for more
- Dewey Lewis, Rockford soccer - Click for more
- Nick Raymond, Erie Mason cross country - Click for more
- Jacqueline Setas, Lansing Catholic golf - Click for more
- Michael Sienko, Williamston tennis - Click for more
- Carli Snyder, Macomb Dakota volleyball - Click for more
- Beal City volleyball - Click for more
- East Kentwood soccer - Click for more
- Flint Beecher football - Click for more
- Grand Blanc boys soccer - Click for more
- Ithaca football - Click for more
- Lansing Everett football - Click for more
- Ludington boys tennis - Click for more
- Muskegon Mona Shores girls golf - Click for more
Holland Christian Wins 6 Flights, Claims 1st Team Championship since 1965
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
October 23, 2024
MIDLAND – Holland Christian, for several years a Lower Peninsula Division 3 boys tennis program, has found Division 4 to its liking this season.
The Maroons captured the Division 4 championship Tuesday at the Midland Tennis Center, rolling to the title with 33 points ahead of runner-up Maple City Glen Lake at 23. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett was third with 21.
Heading into the semifinals, Holland Christian carried a one-point lead over Glen Lake, with University Liggett a distant third with 16 points. The championship was the Maroons’ fifth but first since 1965, with its best Finals finish since coming in second in Division 3 in 1998. They had finished fourth in Division 3 in 2023 before moving into Division 4 for this season.
“We’re used to seeing teams (like) Detroit Country Day and Cranbrook; that’s part of it,’’ said Henry Langejans, a senior on the Maroons top-seeded doubles team with Lucas Van Wieren. “Stepping down to D-4 is a factor. We expected to be here.’’
Holland Christian won six flights, with a sweep at doubles. Langejans and Van Wieren captured the title at No. 1 doubles with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Landen Maltby and Luca Marciano of Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, and Tyler Hemmeke and Gavin Swiftney defeated Liggett’s Griffin Machal and Niko Cooksey at No. 2, 6-3, 7-6. Sophomores Michael Gorno and Graham Tanis prevailed with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Casey Jackson and Brady Thelen of Traverse City St. Francis, and Levi King and Jack DeYoung got the best of Liggett’s Davis Ford and Lucas Ferguson at No. 4 doubles 6-3, 6-4.
Gorno is the son of Holland Christian coach Steve Gorno.
“Playing for my dad is amazing,’’ said Michael. “He has taught me everything I know about tennis. We have a great coaching staff. We’ve been blessed to have our three coaches.
“We’ve been ranked No. 1 all year. We’ve had a target on our backs, so we’ve gotten every team’s best all year.’’
The runner-up finish was Glen Lake’s best all-time, and coach John Voss also noted this season’s Regional title was his program’s first since 2002. “We have players in No. 2 and No. 3 singles so we’ve had a good year,’’ said Voss. “This has been our best year.’’
Lakers senior Michael Houtteman, the top seed at No. 3 singles, said his team’s run started before the season. He defeated Edwin Seo of Berrien Springs, 6-2, 6-1, to clinch his flight.
“A lot of us have been putting the work in before the season,’’ said Houtteman. “We got tennis courts at the school my freshman year. I think a lot of us are playing our best tennis now. We have a lot of seniors. We’re all pretty amped us. A couple of flights lost, but they are out cheering us on as hard as they can.’’
No. 1 singles was a battle between friends: Freshman top-seed Oliver Caldwell of Grand Rapids West Catholic and Owen Jackson of Traverse City St. Francis.
After entering the Finals 1-1 against each other, Caldwell prevailed this time, winning 6-2, 6-3.
“He was the only person I lost to this year,’’ said Caldwell. “I’ve had a great season. He’s a great player. We go way back. I used to live in the Traverse City area, and we went to the same tennis school.’’
Holland Chrisitan’s Dylan Becksvoort defeated Hawthorn Sutherland of Glen Lake 6-3, 7-5, to win No. 2 singles. At No. 4, Holland Christian freshman Nicco Grosso defeated senior Hayden Riley of Lansing Catholic 6-1, 6-3.
“I’m kind of emotional right now because I’ve been working all year for this,’’ said Grosso. “Since the summer, Coach has had this planned out. We didn’t necessarily have the lineup, but the plan was there.’’
PHOTOS (Top) Holland Christian’s Lucas Van Wieren winds up during a No. 1 doubles match Tuesday at Midland Tennis Center. (Middle) The Maroons’ Tyler Hemmeke serves at No. 2 doubles. (Below) Grand Rapids West Catholic’s Oliver Caldwell shows intensity during a No. 1 singles match. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)