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.)
Detroit Catholic Central Starts Fast, Holds Off Hudsonville Rally to Reign Again
By
Drew Ellis
Special for MHSAA.com
June 6, 2026
HOWELL – Playing in its first boys lacrosse state championship game, Hudsonville looked a bit overwhelmed to start Saturday’s Division 1 Final against Detroit Catholic Central.
The Shamrocks jumped out to a 6-0 lead, and eventually led by eight goals during the second quarter.
However, the Eagles would fight back and eventually get the Shamrocks’ lead down to two goals before Catholic Central put the game away with a pair of late scores to prevail 14-10 and claim the program’s third Finals championship.
“Coach (Gunnar) Elder, they did a great job. They were very resilient. They hung in there and could have folded, but they did not,” Catholic Central coach Dave Wilson said of Hudsonville. “Things got real sticky, and I’m just proud of our guys for hanging in there and battling a tough team.”
The start to the game at Howell Parker ultimately became the deciding factor in the outcome. The Shamrocks (17-5) scored the first six goals over the opening seven minutes of play. That included a pair of goals from senior Ryan Dye scored over nine seconds.
“We knew one of the advantages we had was that we had a lot of players who have played in a state championship game before,” Dye said. “We wanted to use that to our advantage. We felt like we could jump out quick and early on them.”
The Shamrocks built that lead to 10-2 midway through the second quarter before Hudsonville (21-2) started to build momentum. The Eagles would score four of the final six goals in the half to give themselves a fighting chance during the second, down 12-6.
“It’s one of those things where you hop on the field, sometimes you need to get hit,” Elder said of the slow start. “Unfortunately, we spotted them too many and it kind of hit us like a ton of bricks.”
Hudsonville turned up the defensive pressure, keeping the Shamrocks scoreless in the third quarter while Dom Moliterno, Will Zuiderveen, and Andrew McAleece each found the net to make the score 12-9 entering the final quarter.
“The defense played out of their minds today. They did a great job. Catholic Central’s got a lot of firepower and we stuck with them, gave them a lot of fits, and created a lot of turnovers to give our offense a chance,” Elder said. “To be able to lean on those guys, it’s just a testament to all of their character.”
Early in the fourth quarter, Hudsonville’s Zaidan Dykstra scored to get the lead down to two goals at 12-10. Catholic Central used a time out to try and regroup, which it managed to do.
“This group was tough. They had a tough stretch and played some really good teams, but that’s why we do that. You always hope that stuff kind of pays off so they can endure moments like this,” Wilson said. “Anybody can draw anything on a whiteboard for a perfect scenario, but it’s what are we going to do when the wheels fall (off) and everything catches on fire? They’re teenagers, so it’s going to happen, but we found a way to straighten it out and hang on.”
Junior Peyton Sofran came through with his fourth goal of the game with eight minutes to play to end the Hudsonville run. Dye then put home his third goal with 2:46 to play, on an assist from Nick Edwards, to put the game out of reach.
“It was crunch time,” Dye said of his insurance goal. “It felt really good (to score). It was a great cut and a wonderful pass by Luke Kramer. It was just a really special play. It was the last shot of my high school career and my last goal, and it came from one of my closest friends.”
Dye added two assists to go with his three goals, while Kramer put home four goals for the Shamrocks.
Zuiderveen and Carson Campbell each had three goals to lead Hudsonville.
Elder had a message for each of his players after accepting the runner-up trophy, and that was to be proud of their historic season.
“There’s nothing to hang their heads about. Hudsonville has never made it this far in boys lacrosse,” Elder said. “We have had a lot of firsts this year. Winning the first Regional championship and our first Semifinal, and our first appearance in a state championship. My message this whole time was to just enjoy all this, no matter what happened. There’s absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. I have a whole community that is just so proud of these guys and what they’ve done all season. I can’t say enough good things about them.”
PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Catholic Central’s Luke Kramer (22) and Peyton Sofran (3) celebrate during their team’s Division 1 championship game Saturday. (Middle) Kramer (22) follows through on a shot. (Below) Hudsonville’s Mason Weber looks to pass. (Photos by Adam Sheehan/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)