Local Sports: Mason sets up showdown for TCC title
ADRIAN − Erie Mason's boys cross country team won the Tri-County Conference championship the past two years.
Just one meet into the 2022 season, the Eagles knew it would not be as easy to get the three-peat. League rival Adrian Madison was right on Mason's heels in the season-opening Addison Keunner Invitational.
"They were at our first meet and we only beat them by one point," Mason coach Alison Meisner said. "So, we knew we had to keep working."
It was a sign of the competition to come.
Madison won the first TCC Jamboree with Mason finishing second.
"We had to focus on just plugging along and taking it one day at a time," Meisner said. "Keep pulling the pack together. They knew what they had to do. Somebody had to step up and the back half of the pack had to close."
Mason did just that Tuesday.
The Eagles took first place in the second TCC Jamboree with 38 points. Madison was runner-up with 53, Whiteford third with 64, Morenci fourth with 67, and Sand Creek fifth with 137.
That sets up a winner-take-all event in the TCC Championships on Oct. 18 between Mason and Madison.
"We're tied right now," Meisner said. "So, whoever wins the championship will win the title."
Jackson Ansel led Mason Tuesday, finishing in second place in 17:37.68 after another great battle with Whiteford's Keegan Masters.
Masters won the race in 17:18.31.
"The race started off fast with Jackson Ansel setting a fast pace," Whiteford coach Jay Yockey said. "Keegan responded well and let the race develop and he came back and passed him just after the two-mile mark and never looked back."
Mason placed five inside the top 18 to win the race. Parker Campbell (sixth), Austin Sulier (seventh), Ryan Joyce (10th), and Parker Sorg (18th) kept a tight pack. Sixth runner Jackson Carner came in 19th just seconds behind Sorg.
Elliott Rodgers (fifth) and Zach Kah (11th) also ran well for Whiteford.
Summerfield Evan Suydam was third in 17:47.53 with teammate Josh Jensen 21st.
Sand Creek won the girls race with 25 points, Whiteford was second with 50, and Mason third with 54.
Mason's Bailey Meiring was second in 22:49.11 and Riley England took 12th. Annabelle Gapp led Whiteford in fifth, with Emily Rason, Jillian Webb, and Madelyn Thomas finishing 14-15-16. MaKenna Shipe paced Summerfield in 26th.
PREP SWIMMING
Erie-Ida earns first win
DEARBORN – Mia Balczerak and Riley Jacobs were the top point earners as Erie Mason-Ida beat Dearborn Edsel Ford 88-79 Tuesday for its first win of the season.
Balczerak won the 50-yard freestyle, hit a personal-best in the 100, and was part of the winning 400 freestyle relay.
Jacobs won the breaststroke and was part of the 400 relay.
Other standouts were Alexa Lay, Summer Smith, Gracie Dean, Shelby Potter, Summer Smith, Sophia Sorg, Ellie Crawford, Sydney LaVoy, Issy Cureton, and Sidney Roderick.
Big win for Big Reds
TRENTON – Milan ran its record to 10-0 with a pair of victories, including a 124-62 rout of No. 5 Detroit Country Day.
The other win was 137-49 over Trenton.
Annabelle Williams ruled the 100 and 200-yard freestyles with other wins coming from Kierra Luhrs (butterfly), Phoebe Rhoney (50), Mary Kate Wayne (breaststroke) and all three relays.
Emily Huelke, Nadia Smith, Hannah Brady, Rylee Mitchell, Sara Mitchell, Lila McKenna, Zariah Blackwood, Ginny Heikka, Sarah Monroe, Shyann Simons, Laila Nemeth, Megan McChesney, Ella Cummings, Bri Pumfrey and Hallie Thornton turned in strong performances.
Dundee doubles up
WILLIS – Audrey Bennett (200, 500-yard freestyle), Lia Parry (individual medley, backstroke) and Sarah Carter (butterfly, breaststroke) were double winners as Dundee whipped Ypsilanti Lincoln 118-60 Tuesday.
Other winners for the 10-0 Vikings were Kaylee Imo (50) and Brook Hester (100).
PREP VOLLEYBALL
Ciacelli stands out
SAND CREEK – Addison Ciacelli piled up 20 assists, 13 points, 4 aces and 4 digs to lead Summerfield past Sand Creek 25-18, 25-17, 25-11 Tuesday.
Other standouts included Ava Fisher (11 points, 3 aces, 6 digs), Julia Fietz (8 kills, 6 points, 2 aces), Kailee LaPlante (8 kills), Megan Pease (6 kills, 3 blocks), and Marissa Eastman.
Summerfield’s junior varsity won 27-25, 25-18 led by Mia Miller and Kyra Hora.
Llakmani serves up win
WYANDOTTE – A long service run by Gloria Llakmani in the fourth set was the key as Gibraltar Carlson topped Wyandotte Roosevelt 27-25, 25-27, 25-23, 25-13 Tuesday.
Llakmani also had 12 digs.
Emma Ferguson had another big night for the Marauders with 30 assists, 13 digs and 2 aces while Abby Carafelli contributed 7 kills, 8 digs, 2 aces and a block.
Eyler piles up assists
IDA – Ryleigh Eyler accumulated 28 assists in Ida’s 26-16, 25-19, 25-17 victory over Onsted Tuesday.
Other leaders were Kaylee Stein (10 kills), Mia Karl (10 kills), Ellie Jones (6 kills), and Jess Scrader (11 digs). Kylie Grieser also played well.
Irwin leads Dundee
DUNDEE – Kennedy Irwin logged 10 kills, but it was not enough for Dundee in a 25-6, 25-18, 25-19 loss to Clinton.
Briley Bordine recorded 13 digs and Lola Salenbien 10 assists.
PREP SOCCER
Dexter tops Monroe
Brian Palmer’s goal off a Talen Swinkey assist was the only offense Monroe could muster in a 3-1 loss to Dexter Tuesday.
Seniors Logan Janes, Manuel Diaz and Nick Braden played well on Senior Night.
“We are producing outstanding soccer for short periods but the key to maintaining that level over a full 80 minutes continues to elude us,” Monroe coach Ian Cooke said. “It’s puzzling at times.”
Bedford falls short
TEMPERANCE – Carson Oberski scored off an assist by Leo Wagenhauser and Caleb Parsons made 17 saves, but Bedford fell 2-1 to Saline Tuesday.
PREP GOLF
Jefferson, Huron win
YPSILANTI − Jefferson and New Boston Huron both winners against Milan Tuesday at Pine View Golf Course. Huron defeated Milan 245-251 and Jefferson won 209-251.
The Bears were led by medalist Rylee Dunn with a 48, along with Callie Calvin 52, Kayce Maitland 53, and Claire Conover 56.
Huron's Addison Bozynski shot 54 and Brooklyn Burke carded a 57.
Milan was led by Julia Hawkins (58), Jules Meads (59), and Rylee Kennedy (64).
PREP TENNIS
Milan wins 11th
MILAN − Milan dropped two close matches but defeated Ypsilanti Lincoln 6-2 on Tuesday.
The Big Reds (11-5-4) won singles matches with Matthew Bowman, Zach Fink, and Peter Pena, and doubles with Gavin Kruise-Gunnar Kruise, Nathan Bowman-Tyler Denham, and Zach Farmer-Luke Morse.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Mason sets up showdown for TCC title
