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.)
EGR Denies Country Day Repeat Attempt, Delivers 1st Finals Title Under Past Standout
By
Drew Ellis
Special for MHSAA.com
June 6, 2025
ANN ARBOR – In 2007, Kyle Osipoff couldn’t have imagined a much better feeling than winning a Division 2 boys lacrosse championship as a senior for East Grand Rapids.
On Friday night, Osipoff may have topped that feeling when he coached the Pioneers to their first championship since 2021, with a 15-10 win over Detroit Country Day at the University of Michigan.
“I won here. I graduated in 2007, so to be part of this (as a coach), is an honor,” Osipoff said of the title, his first as a head coach, and seventh for the program. “To win one with these boys is probably one of the cooler experiences I’ve had in my life. I’m grateful. I’m happy.”
East Grand Rapids (20-3) never trailed in the contest, as it was able to get out to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter thanks to three goals from senior attacker Gavin Buck.
“We knew that we had to come out hot, and that is exactly what we did,” Buck said. “The team was in it from the very get-go, and we just wanted this thing.”
East Grand Rapids was able to control play most of the first half, thanks largely to its success with faceoffs. Junior Kaden Goossens won all 11 faceoffs in the opening half.
“The biggest difference for us was the faceoff X,” Osipoff said. “Getting scored on, or scoring goals, knowing you have the opportunity to get the ball back every time is huge. Kayden Goosens did a phenomenal job for us, and he is a major part of why we got that win tonight.”
The possession battle prevented Detroit Country Day (20-4) from finding an offensive groove in the opening half. The Yellowjackets were held to just two goals over the first 24 minutes and trailed 7-2 at the break.
“We just couldn’t get into a rhythm,” Country Day coach Chris Garland said. “They won faceoffs and took the air out of the ball, and we just couldn’t get it back. (EGR) scored some really good goals early, and we got in a hole that we just couldn’t get out of.”
Country Day got more offensive production in the second half, but each time the Yellowjackets seemed to build some steam, East Grand Rapids had an answer.
Senior Bennett Winkel came through with a pair of goals in response to DCD scores in the third quarter, and sparked a three-goal rally to give the Pioneers a 13-5 advantage entering the fourth.
Country Day would string together three straight goals midway through the final quarter, but the Pioneers kept winning faceoffs to prevent the Yellowjackets from making a serious run at the lead. Goosens finished the game winning 26 of the 29 faceoffs held.
“I worked hard all season and I wanted to give my team the best chance to win, and that was by getting them the ball,” Goosens said of his play. “I think I did a pretty good job of it tonight.”
Buck finished with a match-high four goals for EGR, while Winkel added three.
“We are going to miss them. They are two seniors in Gavin Buck and Bennett Winkel that, when we are in a tough spot and need a goal, we can count on those guys,” Osipoff said.
Dylan Buck also scored three goals for the Pioneers, while Oliver Owen scored twice, and Owen Stropkai tallied five assists.
Country Day was led by Keaton Yearego, Luke Fisher, and Rhys Kenney, who each scored twice. Joseph North had one goal and two assists.
The Yellowjackets reached the D2 Final for the fourth-consecutive season, a credit to Garland, who is stepping away from the program after six seasons at the helm. Garland is moving to Baltimore, Md., and leaves Country Day with a 100-26 record, including the 2024 Division 2 championship.
“I think things are in better shape, and I am really proud of what we have accomplished here,” Garland said of his time with the Yellowjackets. “I have to thank the parents, the coaches, and the kids for all they gave. I will really miss the kids and the school, but I know the next coach will do a great job.”
PHOTOS (Top) East Grand Rapids coach Kyle Osipoff presents the championship trophy to his team Friday night at U-M. (Middle) EGR and Country Day players collide while in pursuit of a loose ball.