SAC Sound-Off: Seniors Say Good-Bye
June 13, 2012
All over Michigan during the last three weeks, seniors have been finishing up their high school athletic careers -- some to next play at the college level, most to continue as students only, but armed with a book full of memories and lessons learned on the field.
Our SAC seniors are no different. Here's what they'll miss most as they too move on to the next level.
I'm going to miss ...
"...everything about high school sports -- competing, winning, hanging out with my friends and meeting new people." -- Benzie Central's Travis Clous
"... the atmosphere of growth and learning, with others around encouraging me to always strive for greatness as I do the same for them." -- New Buffalo's Lena Madison
"... the butterflies in my stomach before every serve-receive and cheering for my teammates when they make a mistake." -- Detroit Country Day's Maria Buczkowski
"... the team unity the most. In high school sports, I've been friends with most of my teammates ever since kindergarten. Sports in college aren't the same because your teammates aren't your lifelong friends." -- Rudyard's Tyler Wilson
"... supporting my fellow students while leading our student cheering (section) for football. Those were some of the most fun nights of my life in high school." -- Grand Blanc's Bailey Truesdell
"... the support that my community gives to all of the sports teams." -- Muskegon Catholic Central's Alissa Jones
Performance of the Week: Charlevoix's Hunter Eaton
November 7, 2025
Hunter Eaton ♦ Charlevoix
Junior ♦ Cross Country
Eaton raced the Lower Peninsula Division 3 Final in 15 minutes, 30.8 seconds, to win the championship by three seconds at Michigan International Speedway after breaking away from a group of three contenders during the final mile. He improved from finishing ninth as a sophomore, and his individual victory paced Charlevoix to a team championship as well as Eaton and his teammates edged runner-up Lansing Catholic by seven points.
Charlevoix boys cross country has a long record of success, but its Saturday sweep updated a couple of “last time” references significantly. Eaton was the boys team’s first individual champion since 1989, and the Rayders’ team title was the program’s first since 1991. Eaton also runs track; he won the 3,200 and finished second in the 1,600 at the spring’s LPD3 Finals in that sport.
The cross country sweep carried special significance for Eaton’s entire community. The Rayders are coached by Doug Drenth, who also coaches the boys golf team, which was involved in a devastating crash April 27 while traveling during a tournament weekend. Drenth is continuing to recover after suffering life-threatening injuries, and multiple golfers also required surgeries including his son Maxwell – Charlevoix’s fourth scoring runner at MIS.
@mhsaasports 🏃➡️POW: Hunter Eaton #charlevoix #crosscountry #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA
@mhsaasports 🏃➡️POW: Hunter Eaton #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA
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Previous 2025-26 honorees
Oct. 31: Stephen Gollapalli, Lansing Christian tennis - Report
Oct. 23: Talya Schreiber, Pickford cross country - Report
Oct. 16: Avery Manning, Dexter golf - Report
Oct. 9: Brady Van Laecke, Hudsonville football - Report
Oct. 2: Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock volleyball - Report
Sept. 25: Sam Schumacher, Portage Central tennis - Report
Sept. 18: Kaylee Mitzel, Saline field hockey - Report
Sept. 11: Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4: Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report
PHOTO Charlevoix's Hunter Eaton runs toward the finish line at the Lower Peninsula Division 3 Final at Michigan International Speedway. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)