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.)
Watch 550+ Events on MHSAA TV
October 27, 2020
By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
The last week of the girls volleyball regular season, and playoff action in football and boys soccer will provide plenty of viewing this week on the NFHS Network, MHSAA.tv and FOX Sports Detroit.
Here’s the schedule:
Football Playoffs
Thursday - Oct. 29
Bay City Central vs. Pontiac - 7 PM
Midland Dow vs. Flushing - 7 PM
Suttons Bay vs. Manistee Catholic Central - 7 PM
Friday - Oct. 30
Traverse City West vs. Grand Rapids Union - 6 PM
Whitehall vs. Fruitport - 6 PM
Pewamo-Westphalia vs. Hesperia - 6:45 PM
Mt Morris vs. Pinconning - 6:55 PM
Birmingham Seaholm vs. Sterling Heights - 7 PM
Bloomfield Hills vs. Troy - 7 PM
Brandon vs. St. Clair - 7 PM
Brighton vs. Novi - 7 PM
Burton Bendle vs. Byron - 7 PM
Calumet vs. Houghton - 7 PM
Caro vs. Chesaning - 7 PM
Cass City vs. Reese - 7 PM
Cedar Springs vs. Petoskey - 7 PM
Charlevoix vs. Roscommon - 7 PM
Clare vs. Kent City - 7 PM
Corunna vs. Birch Run - 7 PM
Dearborn Heights Robichaud vs. Whitmore Lake - 7 PM
Detroit Catholic Central vs. Walled Lake Northern - 7 PM
DeWitt vs. Jackson Northwest - 7 PM
Durand vs. Detroit Collegiate Prep - 7 PM
East Grand Rapids vs. Grand Rapids Northview - 7 PM
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker vs. Bad Axe - 7 PM
Erie-Mason vs. Ecorse - 7 PM
Fenton vs. Walled Lake Central - 7 PM
Flint Powers Catholic vs. Marshall - 7 PM
Fowlerville vs. Haslett - 7 PM
Frankenmuth vs. Bridgeport - 7 PM
Freeland vs. Saginaw Valley Lutheran - 7 PM
Gladstone vs. Negaunee - 7 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Lake Orion - 7 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Lake Orion - 7 PM – FOX PREP ZONE
Grass Lake vs. Manchester - 7 PM
Grosse Pointe North vs. Detroit U Of D Jesuit - 7 PM
Harbor Beach vs. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary - 7 PM
Hartland vs. Howell - 7 PM
Hemlock vs. Vassar - 7 PM
Hillsdale vs Olivet - 7 PM – NFHS Network Bonus Coverage
Holt vs. Ann Arbor Skyline - 7 PM
Hopkins vs. Belding - 7 PM
Kalamazoo Central vs. Ann Arbor Huron - 7 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Tecumseh - 7 PM
Macomb Dakota vs. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North - 7 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood - 7 PM
Manistee vs. Kalkaska - 7 PM
Maple City Glen Lake vs. Elk Rapids - 7 PM
Mason vs. Ionia - 7 PM
Midland vs. Alpena - 7 PM
Midland Bullock Creek vs. Carrollton - 7 PM
Millington vs. Otisville LakeVille - 7 PM
Mount Pleasant vs. Gaylord - 7 PM
Northville vs. Salem - 7 PM
Notre Dame Preparatory vs. Hazel Park - 7 PM
Pinckney vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary's - 7 PM – FOX PREP ZONE
Portage Northern vs. Battle Creek Central - 7 PM
Portland vs. Lakewood Lake Odessa - 7 PM
Ravenna vs. Morley Stanwood - 7 PM
Reed City vs. Cheboygan - 7 PM
Riverview Gabriel Richard Catholic vs. Springport - 7 PM
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Flat Rock - 7 PM
Saginaw Swan Valley vs. Shepherd - 7 PM
Saline vs. Ann Arbor Pioneer - 7 PM
South Lyon vs. Milford - 7 PM
South Lyon East vs. Garden City - 7 PM
St. Joseph vs. Richland Gull Lake - 7 PM
Stevensville Lakeshore vs. Niles - 7 PM
Unionville Sebewaing vs. Marlette - 7 PM
Vicksburg vs. Plainwell - 7 PM
Walled Lake Western vs. Waterford Mott - 7 PM
West Bloomfield vs. Utica Ford - 7 PM
Zeeland West vs. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills - 7 PM
Grosse Pointe South vs. Oak Park - 7:30 PM – FOX GAME OF THE WEEK
Saturday - Oct. 31
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Taylor Preparatory - 12 PM
Rockford vs. Holland West Ottawa - 12 PM
Peck vs. Ashley - 12:45 PM
Adrian Lenawee Christian vs. International Academy of Flint - 12:50 PM
Kingsford vs. Ogemaw Heights - 1 PM
Kingsley vs. Standish-Sterling Central - 1 PM
Portage Central vs. Jackson - 1 PM
Redford Union vs. Dearborn Heights Annapolis - 1 PM
Marquette vs. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer - 2 PM
Royal Oak Shrine vs. Waterford Our Lady - 2 PM
Kinde North Huron vs. Au Gres-Sims - 5 PM
Traverse City St. Francis vs. L'Anse - 6 PM
Zeeland East vs. Holland - 7 PM
Brethren vs. Bear Lake - 7 PM
Boys Soccer Regional Semifinals
Tuesday - Oct. 27
Alma vs. Macomb Lutheran North - 5 PM
Clawson vs. Clinton - 5 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. DeWitt - 5 PM
Hillsdale vs. Dowagiac - 5 PM
Petoskey vs. East Grand Rapids - 5 PM
Salem vs. Mattawan - 5 PM
Walled Lake Central vs. New Baltimore Anchor Bay - 6 PM
Dearborn Edsel Ford vs. Saline - 7 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic vs. Grand Rapids South Christian - 7 PM
Grosse Ile vs. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard - 7 PM
Riverview vs. Chelsea - 7 PM
Spring Lake vs. Ada Forest Hills Eastern - 7 PM
Williamston vs. Frankenmuth - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. Utica Eisenhower - 8 PM
Wednesday - Oct. 28
Marshall vs. St. Joseph - 5 PM
Elk Rapids vs. Ogemaw Heights - 6 PM
Richland Gull Lake vs. Holland - 7 PM
Shelby vs. Muskegon Oakridge - 8 PM
Girls Volleyball
Tuesday - Oct. 27
Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian vs. Montague - TBA
Dearborn Heights Robichaud vs. Hamtramck - 4 PM
Vicksburg vs. TBA- 4 PM
Burton Bendle vs. Genesee - 5 PM
Fremont vs. Ludington - 5 PM
Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian vs. TBA - 5 PM
Hart vs. Fruitport Calvary Christian - 5 PM
Multi-team Event @ New Lothrop - 5 PM
Multi-team Event @ Plainwell - 5 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Holly - 5 PM
Troy vs. Detroit Country Day - 5 PM
Multi-team Event @ Onekama - 5:30 PM
Cass City vs. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker - 6 PM
East Grand Rapids vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern - 6 PM
Fowlerville vs. Charlotte - 6 PM
Multi-team Event @ Grand Rapids Christian - 6 PM
Vermontville Maple Valley vs. TBA - 6 PM
Wayland Union vs. South Christian - 6 PM
Williamston vs. Lansing Catholic - 6 PM
Holland vs. Wyoming - 6:15 PM
Montrose vs. Ovid-Elsie - 6:15 PM
Mt Morris vs. New Lothrop - 6:15 PM
Stockbridge vs. Grass Lake - 6:15 PM
Warren Woods-Tower vs. Clint Twp. Chippewa Valley - 6:15 PM
St Johns vs. Portland - 6:20 PM
Bloomfield Hills Roeper vs. Novi Christian Academy - 6:30 PM
Erie-Mason vs. Sand Creek - 6:30 PM
Grosse Pointe North vs. Fraser - 6:30 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Southfield Christian - 6:30 PM
Oakland Christian vs. Lutheran Westland - 6:30 PM
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Ypsilanti Arbor Prep - 6:30 PM
Sterling Heights Parkway Christian vs. Westland Huron Valley Lutheran - 6:30 PM
Gladstone vs. Negaunee - 6:45 PM
Harbor Beach vs. Marlette - 6:45 PM
Brown City vs. Capac - 7 PM
Chesaning vs. Durand - 7 PM
Fulton vs. Ithaca - 7 PM
Garden City vs. Dearborn Heights Crestwood - 7 PM
Hopkins vs. Allegan - 7 PM
Marquette vs. Escanaba - 7 PM
St Charles vs. Blanchard Montabella - 7 PM
Bad Axe vs. Caro - 7:30 PM
Wednesday - Oct. 28
Macomb L'Anse Creuse North vs. Romeo - 4 PM
Waterford Our Lady vs. TBA - 4:30 PM
Grandville vs. Holland West Ottawa - 5 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep School vs. Bloomfield Hills - 5 PM
Mackinaw City vs. Harbor Springs - 5:30 PM
New Lothrop vs. Clio - 5:30 PM
Riverview Gabriel Richard Catholic vs. Dearborn Edsel Ford - 5:30 PM
Suttons Bay vs. Fife Lake Forest Area - 5:30 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Ferndale - 6 PM
Williamston vs. East Lansing - 6 PM
Blanchard Montabella vs. Fulton - 6:30 PM
Fennville vs. Bloomingdale - 6:30 PM
Petoskey vs. Traverse City West - 6:30 PM
Traverse City Central vs. Alpena - 6:45 PM
East Kentwood vs. Rockford - 7 PM
Freeland vs. Bay City John Glenn - 7 PM
Grandville vs. Rockford - 7 PM
Morley Stanwood vs. Lakeview - 7 PM
Saginaw Swan Valley vs. Alma - 7 PM
Brethren vs. Evart - 7:30 PM
Pellston vs. Cheboygan - 7:30 PM
Thursday - Oct. 29
Dearborn Heights Robichaud vs. Ypsilanti Community - 4 PM
Fenton vs. Flushing - 5:15 PM
Ortonville Brandon vs. Lake Fenton - 5:15 PM
Allen Park Cabrini vs. Garden City - 5:30 PM
Galesburg-Augusta vs. Battle Creek Central - 6 PM
Kinde North Huron vs. Owendale-Gagetown - 6 PM
Mason vs. St Johns - 6 PM
Munising vs. Eben Junction Superior Central - 6 PM
Vermontville Maple Valley vs. Parchment - 6 PM
Frankfort vs. Lake City - 6:30 PM
Southfield Christian vs. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian - 6:30 PM
Harbor Beach vs. Brown City - 6:45 PM
Maple City Glen Lake vs. Mesick - 7 PM
Marquette vs. Calumet - 7 PM
Saline vs. Ann Arbor Huron - 7 PM
Kingsford vs. Houghton - 7:15 PM
Wixom St. Catherine vs. Novi Christian - 7:15 PM
Cass City vs. Bad Axe - 7:30 PM
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker vs. Caro - 7:30 PM
Friday - Oct. 30
Peck vs. Mayville - 6 PM
Dollar Bay vs. Baraga - 6:20 PM
St Charles vs. Carson City-Crystal - 7:35 PM
Saturday - Oct. 31
New Lothrop vs. Chesaning - 8 AM
Saline vs. TBA - 8:30 AM
Mt Morris vs. TBA - 9 AM
St Charles vs. TBA - 9 AM
Plymouth Christian Academy vs. TBA - 12 PM
In the coming week, more than 550 events at all levels in a variety of sports will be available on the NFHS Network/MHSAA.tv. Monthly subscriptions are $10.99. Click for a complete list of upcoming games, and for a complete list of on-demand games.
Fans also can type their school name into the search field on the MHSAA.tv page to search for events. Varsity games being streamed also have links from the MHSAA Website’s Score Center, and from the schedules on individual school pages. Clicking on the green TV set icon listed next to an event will take you directly to a game. You can also watch on Roku enabled devices.
Now in its 12th year, the School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics. Pixellot – The NFHS Network’s automated streaming solution – is used by schools wishing to live stream games, but lacking the ability to staff the events. The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.
NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 a month. Subscribers will have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. All content becomes available for free, on-demand viewing 72 hours after being shown live. A portion of every subscription sold by an SBP school goes to benefit its program.
A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA Website.