Local Sports: Jefferson cross country gets off to fast start at Puddle Jumper
MILAN – Jefferson got its cross country seasons off to fast starts Tuesday by sweeping the individual and team titles in Division 2 of the Puddle Jumper Invitational Tuesday.
Carter McCalister won the Division 2 boys race in 16:14.3 and the Bears finished with 44 points − 24 better than runner-up Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard. Dundee was fourth with 99, Flat Rock fifth with 119, and Milan sixth with 148.
Jefferson had all five runners in the top 13 as Blake Schroeder ran eighth, Ben Merkel 10th, Xander Hartunian 12th, and William Steinhour 13th.
"This was a good start," Jefferson coach Phil Speare said. "It’s just that we all know that everyone’s going to keep improving throughout the season on the other teams, too. It was great to see so many of our boys and girls medal today. When they divided the divisions up, seven of our varsity boys medaled and all eight of our varsity girls medaled. I can’t downplay that and I’m very proud of all of them for that."
Isaak Rubley of Dundee was second, Flat Rock’s Jacob Stanislawski third, and Milan’s Brayden Humes fifth.
Jenna Pilachowski of Jefferson was the girls winner in 19:22.7. Her teammates Kim Miller, Riley Peer, Veronica Fitzgerald, and Madison Duvall ran 4-5-7-16 as the Bears scored 29 points to 38 for runner-up Richard. Milan was third with 93 and Dundee fourth with 106.
Flat Rock did not have a full team, but Megan Woelkers took third individually. Kaily McDaniel’s ninth-place finish led Milan and Kaylee Hovey took 13th for Dundee.
Monroe’s boys scored 72 points to finish second to Saline (21) in the Division 1 race. Bedford was third with 79.
Kyle Hoffner and Luke Butler where fifth and seventh, respectively, for Monroe. Aidan Ortiz ran 13th and Ncholas Balla 15th for Bedford.
Bedford was third (82) and Monroe fourth (107) in the girls race which was won by Saline (37).
Vikoria Bloniarz placed fourth for Monroe. Rebekah Asselin and Izabella Loubser ran 13th and 15th for Bedford.
CROSS COUNTRY
Masters nips Ansel
OTTAWA LAKE – Whiteford’s Keegan Masters ran 16:51.1 to hold off Jackson Ansel of Erie Mason (16:53.6) for the boys Junior-Senior title in Tuesday’s Nick Haynes Invitational.
Whiteford also placed Elliott Rodgers fourth and Zach Kah sixth. Ryan Joyce was fifth for Mason. Seth Haliburda ran 10th for Airport.
Parker Campbell (19:01.7) and Austin Sulier of Mason took the top two spots in the Freshman-Sophomore Boys race. The Eagles also were fifth with Lucas Sachs.
Brendon Masters was seventh for Whiteford and Kenny Wingate of Airport ninth.
Annabelle Gapp, Madelyn Thomas, and Jillian Webb went 5-7-8 for Whiteford in Junior-Senior Girls. Babbi Colburn (12th) led Mason.
Courtney Bovair took third for Airport in Freshman-Sophomore Girls. Bailey Meiring was fifth for Mason and Emily Rasor seventh for Whiteford.
PREP SWIMMING
Malach, Rhoney lead
WILLIS – Elaina Malach (200-yard freestyle, backstroke) and Phoebe Rhoney (50, 100) each won a pair of events to lead Milan to a 128-46 win over Ypsilanti Lincoln Tuesday night.
The Big Reds also got wins from Mary-Kate Wayne, Nadia Smith, Kiera Luhrs, Laila Nemeth, and Rylee Mitchell and swept the relays.
Ella Cummings and Peyton Bergstrom logged best times.
Nine enough for Mules
TECUMSEH – Bedford had just nine girls available Tuesday, but that was enough to beat Tecumseh 89-66.
Gracie Ahl and Hannah Smith each won both of their events, Savannah Fritz had a personal best to win diving, Annabell Hill had two personal bests and Luna Heinz and Izzy Rischman swam well.
“I was very happy with our small but determined team,” Bedford coach Holly Scheffer said.
PREP SOCCER
State Line adapts
TEMPERANCE – Landon Worley moved from sweeper to center halfback and scored two goals to help State Line Christian overcome injuries and beat Waterford Lakecrest 4-1 Tuesday.
Treven Johnson had the other two goals, Andrew Knapp logged the first two assists of his career, and Andrew Knapp added an assist for the 2-1 Patriots.
PREP GOLF
Smith, Lump lead Mules
YPSILANTI – Elaina Smith shot 46 and Grace Lump 48, but Bedford fell 194-203 to Ypsilanti Lincoln Tuesday.
Monroe shows progress
ANN ARBOR – Monroe had a lot of personal-best scores but shot 218 to finish behind Ann Arbor Skyline (181) and Adrian (213) Tuesday.
Makayla Hammond led the Trojans with 50, while Kendra Zureki shot 54, Kara Danish 56, and Allison Casy 58.
PREP VOLLEYBALL
Royals stop Whiteford
OTTAWA LAKE – Alaina Andrews logged 20 assists, but Whiteford fell 25-18, 20-25, 25-11, 25-5 to Blissfield Tuesday.
Kenzie Gray had six kills and Aly VanBrandt eight digs for the 1-4 Bobcats.
State Line stumbles
TEMPERANCE – State Line Christian lost its home opener 25-23, 25-23 to Waterford Lakecrest Tuesday.
“We lacked control while digging and need to do a better job attacking,” State Line coach Gina Yglesias said. “Looking forward to the next time we play them.”
The junior high team won 25-14, 27-25 behind strong play by setter Gracie Kuhns.
AUTO RACING
Flat Rock champs crowned
FLAT ROCK – Eric Lee and Billy Earley wrapped up their titles with flair, winning feature races at Flat Rock Speedway Saturday night to secure season championships.
Lee won for the sixth time this season to clinch the Outlaw Super Late Models crown while Earley took home the feature and season championships in Figure 8.
Other season champs were Jeremy Vanderhoof (Street Stocks A Main), Mike Miller (B Main) and Derrick Shepphard (Enduro). Saturday winners were Greg Studt (A Main), Jeremy Cronenwett (B Main) and Ed Case (Enduro).
Flat Rock Speedway’s 70th Anniversary season comes to a close Saturday with a School Bus Figure 8 race. There will be a special 6 p.m. starting time.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Local Sports: Jefferson cross country gets off to fast start at Puddle Jumper
