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.)
Suttons Bay's Periard Makes Defense an Opportunity for Offense
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 25, 2022
Hugh Periard did his share of scoring touchdowns in helping Suttons Bay back to the 8-Player Division 1 championship game last fall. And not just when his team was on offense.
Periard, a senior, has been added to the MHSAA record book twice for scoring achievements as a defender.
He tied the record for interception returns in a season with three, and also became the first to make the list of longest interception return touchdowns, bringing one back the length of the field Sept. 17 against Brethren. Periard finished his career with four interception returns for touchdowns total.
See below for more recent record book additions for 8-player football.
8-Player Football
Ethan Bowerman’s record-setting performance was among a few from Deckerville’s 82-48 win over Genesee on Sept. 10. Bowerman set an 8-player record with six touchdowns in the first quarter and tied for third with seven scores for the game. All seven were rushing, tying for third-most in a game on the ground. As a team, Deckerville had a record 637 rushing yards and 689 total yards, and also a record 11 rushing touchdowns. Bowerman is a senior.
Fennville earned a pair of records during an Oct. 2 win over Bloomingdale. Junior quarterback Ben Peterson tied the record for touchdown passes in a game, with seven, and the defense set a record with seven interceptions.
Kinde North Huron senior quarterback Will Case posted one of the highest-scoring seasons in MHSAA 8-player history in the fall, scoring 222 points with 33 touchdowns and 12 two-point conversions. He also made the single-season rushing touchdowns list with 31. Additionally, North Huron’s Tyler Knoblock has become the first listing for single-game interceptions, from his senior season in 2018. He was added for four in a win over New Haven Merritt Academy, and finished that season with 11 interceptions – one shy of the minimum to be listed in that category.
Jacob Nolan drilled all nine of his extra-point attempts during Rudyard’s 63-6 win over Cedarville/DeTour in the fall, making the list for consecutive extra points in a game. He’s a junior this school year and was one off tying the record.
Whittemore-Prescott’s 68-52 win over Atlanta on Oct. 21 produced nine record book entries. Senior Nick Smith achieved four, with seven touchdowns (all rushing), 48 carries and a record 490 rushing yards. The game also produced five team entries – for 120 total points between the two, and Whittemore-Prescott’s 613 total and rushing yards, 58 rushes and 11 rushing touchdowns. Senior Russell Wilson also was added for five sacks in a 48-28 win over Vermontville Maple Valley.
Kingston junior Michael DeRoseau set a new standard for sacks in an 8-player game Oct. 22. He had six in his team’s win over Burton Atherton.
Mendon quickly has found its footing in 8-player football after decades of 11-player success, and put up some memorable rushing accomplishments in the fall. The Hornets set an 8-player record with 668 rushing yards against Fennville on Sept. 10, and their 678 total yards that game rank second. They also made the single-game rushing touchdown list with eight that game and also eight the previous game against Bloomingdale. Mendon’s 3,671 rushing yards over 11 games rank fourth for a single season of 8-player.
A pair of Bridgman standouts earned record entries in crossing the goalline. Jayce Warren became the first to return a kickoff at least 95 yards, breaking off a 95-yarder against Marcellus on Oct. 22. Teammate Reid Haskins made the single-game rushing touchdowns list with six against Mendon on Sept. 17. Warren was a senior and Haskins a junior.
Wyatt Wesley completed an unforgettable four-year varsity career with three MHSAA records. He totaled 8-player records of 2,493 yards and 44 touchdowns, both rushing, in 11 games this past fall, and also set the career rushing TD record with 75 across 31 games. He also made the season (306) and career (528) points lists among several others. Senior teammate Alex Larner was added for five tackles for loss in a Sept. 10 game against Ashley. As a team, Morrice was added 10 more times, including for 4,218 rushing yards and 85 total touchdowns for the season, and its 75 rushing touchdowns set a record.
Adrian Lenawee Christian junior kicker Brady McKelvey put his name atop four extra point lists. He made all 10 of his attempts Sept. 10 against North Adams-Jerome to top the single-game and consecutive single-game extra point lists, and made a single-season record 59 – with a record of 52 straight.
PHOTO Suttons Bay’s Hugh Periard pulls away for a score during last season’s Division 1 Final against Adrian Lenawee Christian. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)