Preview: Classic Clashes and Broken Records Expected
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 5, 2021
The attention that will be paid to one of the Lower Peninsula Boys Track & Field Finals on Saturday will go past usual interest in just a local school or single division.
Many eyes will be turned to the Division 1 meet, featuring among many Ann Arbor Skyline senior Hobbs Kessler, who has made national news over the last few weeks by setting the national high school record in the 1,500 (3:34.36) and qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the event.
But he’ll be facing some familiar competition in his distance races at East Kentwood – including Hartland junior Riley Hough, who edged Kessler by two seconds in the Division 1 cross country final this past fall.
Their matchup is just one of many stories worth tuning in for this weekend. Events at all four sites begin at 10 a.m. (EDT) and tickets to attend can be purchased online only at GoFan. The meets also will be broadcast on MHSAA.tv and viewable with subscription. Click to watch each division: LPD1 | LPD2 | LPD3 | LPD4.
Below is a glance at team contenders and individuals to watch in all four divisions.
Division 1 at East Kentwood
Top Regional scores: Macomb Dakota 160, Traverse City West 145½, Northville 136, Novi 136.
Team forecast: East Kentwood won the last three championships before COVID, with Ann Arbor Pioneer finishing runner-up in both 2018 and 2019. Dakota is an interesting possibility this time with qualifiers throughout the meet. Fenton has top-three seeds in six events, and Zeeland West is another team with scoring opportunities in a variety of events.
Trey Gardette, Ann Arbor Huron: The senior sprint star has taken amazing strides over the last two years and may be on the verge of an unforgettable finish to his high school career. Gardette’s top-seed 10.5 in the 100 is a blink faster than the LPD1 Finals record of 10.53, and he’s second-seeded in the 200 and also will run on the 400 relay.
Riley Hough, Hartland: The I-96 corridor has been the center of distance running this school year, and Hough hopes to follow his Division 1 cross country championship in the fall with titles in the 1,600 and 3,200. He’s seeded first in the former with a 4:13.93.
Hobbs Kessler, Ann Arbor Skyline: He’s slated to run the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 and on the top-seeded 3,200 relay (7:53.30) Saturday. He won all three of those open races at his Regional, and so while he isn’t top-seeded in any that likely means little as he could drop major time.
Tamaal Myers II, Detroit Cass Tech: The Technicians standout junior has the top 110 hurdles seed time (14.06) by nearly a second and is tied for the top seed time in the 300 (39.32). He’ll also run the 400 and on the 1,600 relay.
Brandon Miller, Fenton: He finished fifth in the 200 as a sophomore in 2019, but he can take a massive leap Saturday as his top seed time in that race (21.25) is five hundredths of a second off the meet record. He’s also the second seed in the 100 with a seed time of 10.60 that is seven hundredths of a second off that meet record. And he’ll also run on contending 400 and 800 relays.
Division 2 at Zeeland
Top Regional scores: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 216½, Dearborn Divine Child 186, Frankenmuth 164.
Team forecast: Four teams have won this championship over the last four seasons. Flint Powers Catholic is a possibility to make it five as it runs for its first team title led by sprint standouts and relays. Frankenmuth with top qualifiers in the sprints, relays and field events is another to watch in what lines up to be a low-scoring team race. A total of 10 schools won championships in this division over the previous 11 seasons before 2020 was canceled.
Ryan Brenner, Frankenmuth: The senior Eagles hurdler is the top seed in the 300 with a time of 40.1 and also will run on the top-seeded 1,600 relay (3:28.44) and high jump.
Jamal Hailey, Berrien Springs: The standout junior sprinter has the top seed time in the 100 (11.04) and the third-fastest in the 200, and he’ll also run on the second-seeded 400 relay.
Austin Hamlin, Flint Powers Catholic: The Chargers sophomore would play a major role in any team title pursuit, entering with the top seed in the 200 (22.5), third-fastest in the 100 and as part of the top-seeded 400 relay (43.3) and fourth-seeded 800 relay. That 400 relay time is a second off the meet record.
Alex Mansfield, Monroe Jefferson: The junior thrower is another who has made a major move over the last two years. He enters Saturday with the top seed in the shot put (56-3) by two feet and the top seed in the discus (163-11) by nearly 10.
Luke Stowasser, Edwardsburg: The junior Eddies jumper also is top-seeded in both of his events, with a 22-6½ in the long jump and 6-10 in the high jump. That high jump is six inches better than the field and two off the meet record. He was the high jump runner-up as a freshman.
Division 3 at Jenison
Top Regional scores: Grass Lake 132, Caro 129, Pewamo-Westphalia 126 1/3.
Team forecast: Grass Lake will be pursuing its first team title since 1970 and has six top-four seeds leading the way. Figuring the next few contenders is difficult with points looking to be spread among a number of teams.
Brennan Bargesser, Grass Lake: A drive for the team championship would include significant points from Bargesser, who is seeded first in the 200 (21.98) and 400 (49.34) and second in the 100 for his final high school meet. He’ll also run on the top-seeded 400 relay (44.14) – that seed time is one second off the meet record.
Hunter Jones, Benzie Central: The sophomore standout has two Division 3 cross country championships to his credit and will make his Track Finals debut as the top seed in the 3,200 (9:37.42) and a likely contender in the 1,600 and 800 as well.
Josh Jones, Harrison: He’ll close his high school career running the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, with his 1,600 seed time (4:19.84) topping that event list.
Brenden Quackenbush, Chesaning: He’s set to establish himself in both throws at this level Saturday, with the top seed in the discus (143-0) by nearly two feet and the third seed in the shot put.
Derrick Voltz, Carrollton: A qualifier in the 100 as a freshman in 2019, he could cap his junior season as a two-event champion. He’s seeded first in the long jump (23-2) by nearly a foot with that leap only five inches off the meet record. He’s also the top seed in the 100 (11.11) just ahead of Bargesser.
Division 4 at Hudsonville
Top Regional scores: Lutheran Westland 171, Reading 170, Carson City-Crystal 147.
Team forecast: Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep was the back-to-back champion before COVID, and Saugatuck was the Division 3 runner-up in 2019 but is back in Division 4. Saugatuck won’t run a relay this weekend but has favorites in the hurdles and distance events, and Breckenridge’s strengths in the sprints and relays should make it a team title contender as well as it seeks its first championship.
Coleman Clark, Carson City-Crystal: The lone returning champion in this division won the 3,200 as a sophomore in 2019 and will run that race along with the 800 and 1,600 and as part of the top-seeded 3,200 relay (8:19.40).
Benny Diaz, Saugatuck: The junior sprint/hurdles standout could make a run at four individual titles Saturday or next season. He’s the top seed in both hurdles races this time (15.01 in the 110 and 40.59 in the 300), and the fourth seed in the 200 and seventh in the 100. He was third in Division 3 in the 300 as a freshman.
Zane Forist, Carson City-Crystal: He was the runner-up in the discus and eighth in the shot put as a freshman two years ago, and he’s aiming for much more this time. His top-seed throws of 196-8 and 64-4, respectively, would both set LPD4 championship meet records – both by roughly six feet.
Nik Pettinga, Saugatuck: A top distance runner in cross country the last few seasons, he is looking to finish as a champion in his last high school meet and enters as the top seed in the 1,600 (4:26.99) and second seed (to junior teammate Max Sharnas) in the 3,200.
Charlie Steinhaus, Breckenridge: The speedy senior would help lead any charge for a team championship, entering as the top seed in the 100 (11.01) and second in the 200. He’ll also run on the top-seeded 400 relay (44.51) and second-seeded 800 relay.
PHOTO: Carrollton’s Derrick Voltz, right, breaks across the finish line during the 100-meter preliminaries at his Division 3 Regional at Shepherd last month. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)
Preview: All Eyes Turn to Midland as Tennis Debuts Revamped Championship Round (Updated 10/23)
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 16, 2025
While several contenders at this season’s Lower Peninsula Boys Tennis Finals will be familiar, the season-concluding tournaments across four divisions will have a significantly different look.
Beginning this weekend, all four championships will be decided at Midland Tennis Center over the next nine days. Division 1 begins Friday and concludes Saturday, followed by Division 4 next Monday and Tuesday, Division 2 on Oct. 22 and 23 and concluding with Division 3 on Oct. 24 and 25.
As such, our preview will be updated in advance of those Finals, concluding with Division 3 added prior to its championship weekend.
Division 3 (Oct. 24-25)
Top-ranked: 1. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 2. Detroit Country Day, 3. Holland Christian.
Cranbrook, Country Day and Ann Arbor Greenhills (ranked No. 4 this season) have combined to win every Division 3 championship since 2008, with Country Day and Greenhills sharing the title last season and Cranbrook finishing third. But Holland Christian provides an intriguing angle this time; the Maroons moved into Division 3 this year after winning last season’s Division 4 title.
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood: The Cranes are seeded to score big, with four top seeds, three second-seeded flights and a third seed. Holding down top lines are senior Kenneth Hu at No. 3 singles, junior Josh Day at No. 4, senior Kethan Lala and freshman Henry DeMuth at No. 1 doubles and sophomore Dylan Popat and junior Andy Yu at No. 4. After finishing runners-up at Nos. 3 and 4 singles, respectively, last season, senior Jace Bernard and sophomore Eli Rosen are second-seeded at Nos. 1 and 2. Hu was the No. 2 singles champion last year, and junior Ryan VanDyke and senior Cole Kirschenbaum were the No. 2 doubles runners-up last season and are seeded second at No. 1.
Detroit Country Day: All eight flights are seeded fourth or better, but the power is expected to come at singles where two flights are top-seeded and two are seeded second. Sophomore Ricky Jeong is the top seed at No. 1 after winning No. 3 last year as a freshman, and freshman Samuel Kole-James is the top seed at No. 2 singles. Sophomore Adam Mahmoud is the second seed at No. 3 after winning the No. 4 title last fall, and junior Victor Marin is the second seed at No. 4. Senior Charlie Khaghany was part of the runner-up at No. 1 doubles last season and is teaming with junior Preston Blum as the fourth-seeded pair this time.
Holland Christian: The Maroons are seeded at six flights and especially powered by doubles where they are seeded first at No. 1 and second-seeded at the other three flights. Juniors Michael Gorno and Graham Tanis hold that top seed at the top flight, and won No. 3 doubles in Division 4 last season. Senior Jack DeYoung was part of the No. 4 champion in Division 4 and is teaming with sophomore Brody Bergsma on the second-seeded pair at No. 2. Senior Dylan Becksvoort was the Division 4 champion at No. 2 singles last season and is the third seed in this bracket, sophomore Nico Grosso won No. 4 singles in Division 4 and is seeded sixth at No. 3, and Lucas VanWieren was part of the No. 1 doubles champ last season and is playing No. 1 singles.
Anish Komirisetty, Haslett sophomore: Komirisetty is seeded third at No. 1 singles, 28-1 with his only loss this season to Lansing Catholic’s Noah West, who finished Division 4 No. 1 singles runner-up Tuesday.
Carson Coles, Big Rapids senior: The fourth seed at No. 1 singles is 30-1 with his only loss to Komirisetty on Oct. 4.
Division 2 (Oct. 22-23)
Top-ranked: 1. Birmingham Seaholm, 2. Midland Dow, 3. Grosse Pointe South
Reigning champion Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern is ranked No. 5 this season, and Dow and Seaholm tied for second last year just two points behind. The Chargers most recently won the 2022 and 2023 titles, and Seaholm are seeking their first Finals team championship in this sport but with five runner-up finishes over the last 18 seasons – its most recent two years ago.
Birmingham Seaholm: The Maples will pursue a first championship with all eight flights seeded third or higher and seven top or second seeds. Junior Giorgio Materazzo is on the top line at No. 2 singles, and senior Joaquin Flory occupies the same at No. 4, while sophomore Carter Griffith at No. 1 singles, freshman Charlie Griffith at No. 3, and three of four doubles pairs are all second-seeded. Seniors Britton Leo and Alex Ting are second-seeded at No. 1 doubles; Ting was the champion at No. 4 singles and Leo part of the No. 3 doubles winner a year ago. Leo’s 2024 partner, junior Aaryan Senthilvanan, is partnered with senior Jad Abdo as the second-seeded pair at No. 2 doubles. Carter Griffith is 22-5 and last fall reached the No. 1 singles semifinals as an unseeded freshman.
Midland Dow: The Chargers will be powered by their doubles, as three pairs are top-seeded – senior Matthew McGaugh and junior Nathan Song at No. 1, sophomore Sullivan Ladd and junior Jashwanth Thamminana at No. 3, and sophomore Vettel Xu and junior Ethan Clark at No. 4. Junior Yassin Elsaadany is seeded second at No. 2 singles and sophomore Raymond Chai is seeded second at No. 4, while senior Siddarth Venkatesan is seeded fifth at No. 3 singles after finishing runner-up at No. 4 a year ago.
Byron Center: While Byron Center enters ranked No. 4, a number of high seeds could allow the team to push the top two favorites as the Bulldogs seek their first top-two Finals finish. Seven flights are seeded, including six seeded third or higher. Senior Nolan Booth and junior Brayden Slot are the top seeds at No. 2 doubles, and seniors Aidan Banchoff and Ben Vander Stelt are seeded second at No. 3. Seniors Rylan Vandenberge and Casey Schans are seeded third at No. 1 doubles after finishing runner-up at No. 2 a year ago.
Mason Crosby, South Lyon East junior: He’s seeded third at No. 1 singles and undefeated at 31-0 with only one match going three sets this season.
Sam Schumacher, Portage Central junior: The top seed at No. 1 singles is undefeated at 28-0 and just missed a first championship finishing runner-up at the top flight last season. He defeated Seaholm’s Carter Griffith on Sept. 6.
Division 4 (Oct. 20-21)
Top-ranked: 1. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, 2. Jackson Lumen Christi, 3. Maple City Glen Lake.
Last season’s champion Holland Christian is playing in Division 3 this season, but Glen Lake is the returning runner-up and Liggett was third in 2024. That was Glen Lake’s first top-two Finals finish, while Liggett is seeking its first championship since 2022 and Lumen Christi its first in program history with its previous high finish second in 2004.
Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett: The Knights are seeded at every flight, with four top seeds leading the way – sophomore Yurii Polnyi at No. 2 singles, sophomore Justin Platt at No. 4, senior Landen Maltby and junior Charlie Laethem at No. 2 doubles and sophomores Rene Quint and Lucas Ferguson at No. 3. Maltby was part of the No. 1 runner-up last season, while seniors Griffin Marchal and Niko Cooksey were runners-up at No. 2 in 2024 but are second-seeded at No. 1 this week. Ferguson was part of the runner-up at No. 4 doubles last season with Davis Ford, who is seeded third at No. 3 singles this time.
Jackson Lumen Christi: This team is expected to make a big jump after tying for 13th a year ago. Six Titans flights are seeded as they seek their first team championship, led by a pair of second seeds – senior Holden Luce and junior Brogan Kelly at No. 3 doubles and senior Jason Gonerka at No. 3 singles.
Maple City Glen Lake: Sophomores Levi Lamb and Luke Selby lead four seeded flights on the top line at No. 4 doubles, while junior Porter Martin is second-seeded at No. 4 singles. Last season’s No. 2 singles runner-up Hawthorn Sutherland is playing No. 1 this week as a junior.
Noah West, Lansing Catholic sophomore: After advancing to the No. 1 quarterfinals last season as a freshman, West is the top seed at the top flight and 26-2 without a loss since Aug. 16.
Luke Zhang, Plymouth Christian Academy junior: He defeated West to reach the semifinals at No. 1 singles last season as the fifth seed, and is second-seeded this time and undefeated at 17-0.
Division 1 (Oct. 17-18)
Top-ranked: 1. Troy, 2. Bloomfield Hills, 3. Novi.
Bloomfield Hills has won the last three Division 1 championships – including last season’s by eight points – with Troy finishing runner-up last fall and tying for second in 2023 after winning the most recent title in 2021 before the Black Hawks began their run. A Novi championship would be its first since 2015.
Troy: All eight Colts flights are seeded fourth or better, with five top seeds and domination expected especially at doubles. Senior Varun Shetty and sophomore Sourish Danui are top-seeded at No. 2, senior Nate Wanstreet and sophomore Jackson Kraus are top-seeded at No. 3 and senior Raghav Karur and junior Zain Taqi are top-seeded at No. 4. Troy also claims top lines at No. 3 singles with sophomore Krish Gupta and No. 4 with senior Anthony Wu. Sophomore Dheeraj Yelleti is seeded fourth at No. 2 singles after winning the No. 4 title a year ago, and Karur and Kraus won No. 4 doubles in 2024 while Wu and Shetty were runners-up at No. 2.
Bloomfield Hills: A top seed and three seconds should put Bloomfield Hills in position to score significant points again, and they could get a boost from at least one unseeded flight as well. Senior Connor Shaya is unseeded at No. 1 singles but won No. 2 a year ago, No. 3 as a sophomore and No. 4 singles as a freshman. Junior Brady Winston follows as the top seed at No. 2 singles, and reigning No. 3 singles champion Zev Spiegel is second-seeded at that flight. Also second-seeded are senior Jonah Chernett and junior Krish Reddy at No. 1 doubles and seniors Sajan Doshi and Meyer Saperstein at No. 2. Doshi and Saperstein were champions at No. 3 last season, while Winston was the runner-up at No. 4 singles.
Novi: The Wildcats finished seventh a year ago and enter this weekend with four flights seeded fourth or higher. Seniors Daniel Han and Jaehoon Lee lead the way as second seeds at No. 3 doubles as they play to become Novi’s first flight champions since 2016.
Chad Anderson, Rochester senior: Undefeated this fall at 22-0, he’s seeking to finish his career with his first championship and is seeded first at No. 1 singles after finishing runner-up at that flight last season and runner-up at No. 2 as a sophomore.
Grant Miller, Ann Arbor Pioneer freshman: He’s 25-2 this debut season with losses only to Anderson and Ann Arbor Skyline senior and third-seeded Connor Wilcox after winning the first set.