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.)
Soccer Districts Kick Off on MHSAA TV
October 13, 2020
By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
The first round of District play in the 2020 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Boys Soccer Tournament highlights another full week of activity on the NFHS Network and MHSAA.tv.
Games this week begin Wednesday (Oct. 14).Here’s the schedule:
Wednesday – Oct. 13
Grosse Pointe North vs. Detroit Cass Tech - 4 PM
Macomb 'Anse Creuse North vs. Port Huron - 4 PM
Garden City vs. Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy - 5 PM
Lake Orion vs. Utica Eisenhower - 5 PM
Birmingham Seaholm vs. Birmingham Groves - 5:30 PM
Reed City vs. Hart - 5:30 PM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Taylor Preparatory - 6 PM
Fenton vs. Davison - 6 PM
Northville vs. Walled Lake Western - 6 PM
South Lyon East vs. Milan - 6 PM
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore vs. St. Clair Shores South Lake - 6 PM
St. Joseph vs. Sturgis - 6 PM
Waterford Mott vs. Utica - 6 PM
East Lansing vs. Swartz Creek - 7 PM
Hemlock vs. Saginaw Swan Valley - 7 PM
Saline vs. Belleville - 7 PM
Thursday – Oct. 15
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs. Madison Heights Lamphere - 4 PM
Manchester vs. Ann Arbor Greenhills - 5 PM
East Grand Rapids vs. Wyoming - 6 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Lapeer - 6 PM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. Grand Rapids Covenant Christian - 6 PM
Novi vs. Brighton - 6 PM
Petoskey vs. Bay City Western - 6 PM
Clare vs. Pinconning - 7 PM
Comstock Park vs. Portland - 7 PM
Bloomfield Hills vs. Troy - 7:30 PM
Friday - Oct. 16
Vicksburg vs. Niles - 6 PM
During the coming week, nearly 700 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.
Here is a list of football and girls volleyball varsity events taking place over the coming week on the NFHS Network/MHSAA.tv (Home team generally listed first):
Football
Friday - Oct. 16
Dearborn Heights Robichaud vs. Dearborn Heights Annapolis - 4:30 PM
Lowell vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern - 6:55 PM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Trenton - 7 PM
Caro vs. Cass City - 7 PM
Chesaning vs. Byron - 7 PM
Clare vs. Harrison - 7 PM
Comstock Park vs. Sparta - 7 PM
Corunna vs. Lake Fenton - 7 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood - 7 PM
Detroit Catholic Central vs. River Rouge - 7 PM
Frankenmuth vs. Birch Run - 7 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern - 7 PM
Grosse Pointe North vs. Warren Woods-Tower - 7 PM
Holt vs. Portage Northern - 7 PM
Hopkins vs. Wyoming Godwin Heights - 7 PM
Houghton vs. Negaunee - 7 PM
Howell vs. Brighton - 7 PM
Kingsley vs. Sault Ste. Marie - 7 PM
Lake Orion vs. Farmington - 7 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Oakland Christian - 7 PM
Manchester vs. Michigan Center - 7 PM
Maple Valley vs. Webberville - 7 PM
Marquette vs. Escanaba - 7 PM
Mason vs. Lansing Catholic - 7 PM
Mayville vs. International Academy of Flint - 7 PM
Millington vs. Hemlock - 7 PM
Montrose vs. Otisville LakeVille - 7 PM
New Lothrop vs. Durand - 7 PM
Niles vs. Buchanan - 7 PM
Northville vs. Novi - 7 PM
Ortonville Brandon vs. Clio - 7 PM
Ovid-Elsie vs. Mt Morris - 7 PM
Peck vs. North Huron - 7 PM
Petoskey vs. TBA - 7 PM
Plainwell vs. Three Rivers - 7 PM
Portage Central vs. Battle Creek Central - 7 PM
Rockford vs. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer - 7 PM
Saline vs. Ann Arbor Skyline - 7 PM
South Lyon vs. Highland Milford - 7 PM
South Lyon East vs. Waterford Kettering - 7 PM
St Johns vs. Fowlerville - 7 PM
St Johns vs. Fowlerville - 7 PM
St. Joseph vs. Richland Gull Lake - 7 PM
Stevensville Lakeshore vs. Battle Creek Lakeview - 7 PM
Stockbridge vs. Wyoming Lee - 7 PM
Suttons Bay vs. Mesick - 7 PM
Traverse City West vs. Cadillac - 7 PM
Troy vs. Pontiac - 7 PM
Walled Lake Western vs. Walled Lake Northern - 7 PM
White Lake Lakeland vs. Walled Lake Central - 7 PM
Whitmore Lake vs. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest - 7 PM
Norway vs. Manistique - 8 PM
Saturday - Oct. 17
Traverse City St. Francis vs. Ogemaw Heights Oct 17, 2020 - 1 PM
Girls Volleyball
Tuesday - Oct. 13
Dearborn Heights Robichaud vs. Hamtramck - 4 PM
Multi-team Event @ Dollar Bay - 4:20 PM
East Lansing vs. TBA - 5 PM
Galesburg-Augusta vs. Martin - 5 PM
Holt vs. TBA - 5 PM
Bay City John Glenn vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill - 5:30 PM
Grand Rapids Christian vs. East Grand Rapids - 6 PM
Mayville vs. Caseville - 6 PM
Plainwell vs. Hopkins - 6 PM
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Dearborn Henry Ford Academy - 6 PM
Sturgis vs. Vicksburg - 6 PM
Vermontville Maple Valley vs. Stockbridge - 6 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Warren Mott - 6 PM
Hartland vs. Canton - 6:15 PM
Mt Morris vs. Otisville LakeVille - 6:15 PM
Brighton vs. Howell - 6:30 PM
Chesaning vs. Montrose - 6:30 PM
Erie-Mason vs. Ottawa Lake Whiteford - 6:30 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Midland Dow - 6:30 PM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. Thornapple Kellogg - 6:30 PM
Macomb L'Anse Creuse North vs. Utica Eisenhower - 6:30 PM
Maple City Glen Lake vs. Frankfort - 6:30 PM
Negaunee vs. Calumet - 6:30 PM
New Lothrop vs. Ovid-Elsie - 6:30 PM
Novi vs. Northville - 6:30 PM
South Lyon vs. South Lyon East - 6:30 PM
Southfield Christian vs. Plymouth Christian Academy - 6:30 PM
Walled Lake Northern vs. Highland Milford - 6:30 PM
Whitmore Lake vs. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist - 6:30 PM
Harbor Beach vs. Sandusky - 6:45 PM
Bear Lake vs. Marion - 7 PM
Bloomfield Woodhaven vs. Dearborn Edsel Ford - 7 PM
Brethren vs. Manistee Catholic Central - 7 PM
Garden City vs. Riverview - 7 PM
Grandville vs. Hudsonville - 7 PM
Kingsley vs. Leland - 7 PM
Pentwater vs. Baldwin - 7 PM
Rockford vs. Grand Haven - 7 PM
Waterford Our Lady vs. Warren Regina - 7 PM
West Bloomfield vs. Berkley - 7 PM
Caro vs. Vassar - 7:30 PM
Cass City vs. TBA - 7:30 PM
Dryden vs. Akron-Fairgrove - 7:30 PM
Wednesday - Oct. 14
Flushing vs. Linden - 5:15 PM
Holly vs. Fenton - 5:15 PM
Grosse Pointe North vs. Marysville - 6:30 PM
Petoskey vs. Gaylord - 6:30 PM
St. Joseph vs. Richland Gull Lake - 6:30 PM
Wayland Union vs. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills - 6:30 PM
Traverse City West vs. Alpena - 6:45 PM
Bay City John Glenn vs. Birch Run - 7 PM
Bridgeport vs. Saginaw Swan Valley - 7 PM
Cadillac vs. Traverse City Central - 7 PM
Morley Stanwood vs. White Cloud - 7 PM
Waterford Our Lady vs. Riverview Gabriel Richard - 7 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. Wixom St. Catherine - 7:15 PM
Clare vs. Farwell - 7:30 PM
Harrison vs. Gladwin - 7:30 PM
Hemlock vs. Millington - 7:30 PM
Thursday - Oct. 15
New Lothrop vs. Beal City - 5:30 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Clio - 5:30 PM
Armada vs. Yale - 6 PM
DeWitt vs. St Johns - 6 PM
Fowlerville vs. Mason - 6 PM
Mayville vs. Kingston - 6 PM
Plainwell vs. Three Rivers - 6 PM
Wayland Union vs. Wyoming - 6 PM
Williamston vs. Lansing Waverly - 6 PM
Warren Woods-Tower vs. St. Clair Shores Lakeview - 6:15 PM
Dollar Bay vs. L'Anse - 6:20 PM
Blanchard Montabella vs. Remus Chippewa Hills - 6:30 PM
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic - 6:30 PM
Flint Powers Catholic vs. Flint Carman-Ainsworth - 6:30 PM
Galesburg-Augusta vs. Saugatuck - 6:30 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill - 6:30 PM
Highland Milford vs. Walled Lake Central - 6:30 PM
Ishpeming vs. Hancock - 6:30 PM
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Lawton - 6:30 PM
Macomb L'Anse Creuse North vs. Romeo - 6:30 PM
Manchester vs. Michigan Center - 6:30 PM
Marcellus vs. Three Oaks River Valley - 6:30 PM
Southfield Christian vs. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest - 6:30 PM
White Lake Lakeland vs. Walled Lake Northern - 6:30 PM
Whitmore Lake vs. Westland Huron Valley Lutheran - 6:30 PM
Calumet vs. Ishpeming Westwood - 6:45 PM
Harbor Beach vs. Cass City - 6:45 PM
Bear Lake vs. Onekama - 7 PM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Taylor Preparatory - 7 PM
Escanaba vs. Sault Ste. Marie - 7 PM
Grandville vs. Caledonia - 7 PM
Hopkins vs. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian - 7 PM
Marquette vs. Houghton - 7 PM
Plymouth Christian Academy vs. Oakland Christian - 7 PM
Rockford vs. East Kentwood - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. Utica - 7 PM
Kingsford vs. Gladstone - 7:15 PM
Bad Axe vs. Vassar - 7:30 PM
Caro vs. Reese - 7:30 PM
Dryden vs. Peck - 7:30 PM
Pellston vs. Johannesburg-Lewiston - 7:30 PM
Unionville Sebewaing vs. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker - 7:30 PM
Friday - Oct. 16
Bloomfield Hills Marian vs. Dearborn Divine Child - 7:15 PM
Wixom St. Catherine vs. Farmington Hills Mercy - 7:15 PM
Saturday - Oct. 17
Bad Axe vs. TBA - 8:30 AM
Fenton vs. TBA – Part 1 - 8:30 AM
Linden vs. TBA - 8:30 AM
Multi-team Event @ St. Joseph - 8:30 AM
Chesaning vs. TBA - 9 AM
Flushing vs. Grand Blanc - 9 AM
Howell vs. TBA - 9 AM
South Lyon East vs. TBA - 9 AM
Cadillac vs. Grandville - 10 AM
New Lothrop vs. TBA - 10 AM
West Bloomfield vs. Rochester Adams - 12:30 PM
Grand Rapids Christian vs. Farmington Hills Mercy - 1 PM
Houghton vs. TBA - 3 PM
Niles vs. TBA - 5 PM
West Bloomfield vs. TBA - 7 PM
Monday - Oct. 19
Multi-team Event @ Petoskey - 5 PM
Negaunee vs. Ishpeming Westwood - 5 PM
Flushing vs. Flint Kearsley - 5:15 PM
Holly vs. Linden - 5:15 PM
Dollar Bay vs. Ewen-Trout Creek - 6:20 PM
Brighton vs. Novi - 6:30 PM
Galesburg-Augusta vs. Kalamazoo Christian - 6:30 PM
South Lyon vs. Highland Milford - 6:30 PM
South Lyon East vs. Waterford Mott - 6:30 PM
Sterling Heights Parkway Christian vs. Warren Fitzgerald - 6:30 PM
Walled Lake Northern vs. Waterford Kettering - 6:30 PM
Calumet vs. Houghton - 6:45 PM
Frankenmuth vs. Essexville Garber - 7 PM
Hemlock vs. St. Louis - 7 PM
Bay City John Glenn vs. Bay City All Saints - 7 PM
Marcellus vs. Lawrence - 7 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Clawson - 7:30 PM
Tuesday - Oct. 20
Marcellus vs. TBA - 5 PM
Southfield Christian vs. Brighton Charyl Stockwell - 5:30 PM
St Ignace vs. Brimley - 5:45 PM
DeWitt vs. Williamston - 6 PM
East Lansing vs. Lansing Waverly - 6 PM
Kinde North Huron vs. Carsonville-Port Sanilac - 6 PM
Mason vs. Haslett - 6 PM
Mayville vs. Dryden - 6 PM
Norway vs. Carney-Nadeau - 6 PM
Peck vs. Genesee - 6 PM
Vermontville Maple Valley vs. Lansing Christian - 6 PM
Munising vs. Rapid River - 6 PM
Chesaning vs. New Lothrop - 6:15 PM
Mt Morris vs. Byron - 6:15 PM
New Lothrop vs. Chesaning - 6:15 PM
Otisville LakeVille vs. Ovid-Elsie - 6:15 PM
St Johns vs. Haslett - 6:20 PM
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore vs. St. Clair - 6:30 PM
Blanchard Montabella vs. Vestaburg - 6:30 PM
Frankfort vs. Suttons Bay - 6:30 PM
Highland Milford vs. TBA - 6:30 PM
Howell vs. Salem - 6:30 PM
Negaunee vs. Hancock - 6:30 PM
Northville vs. Hartland - 6:30 PM
Watervliet vs. Lawton - 6:30 PM
Whitmore Lake vs. Novi Christian Academy - 6:30 PM
Garden City vs. Dearborn Heights Annapolis - 7 PM
Gladstone vs. Marquette - 7 PM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern - 7 PM
Hopkins vs. Comstock Park - 7 PM
Kingsley vs. Buckley - 7 PM
Macomb Lutheran North vs. Yale - 7 PM
Plymouth Christian Academy vs. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest - 7 PM
Saginaw Heritage vs. Grand Blanc - 7 PM
St. Charles vs. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. Madison Heights Bishop Foley - 7 PM
Kingsford vs. Escanaba - 7:15 PM
Cass City vs. Caro - 7:30 PM
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.