Mosher, sprinters highlight Cheboygan Tribune All-Area boys track and field team

Cheboygan's Keegan Mosher (middle right) and Inland Lakes' Sam Mayer (middle left) finish up during a 100-meter run event at the Cheboygan Invitational from this past season. Both athletes found themselves on this year's Daily Tribune all-area track and field team.
Cheboygan's Keegan Mosher (middle right) and Inland Lakes' Sam Mayer (middle left) finish up during a 100-meter run event at the Cheboygan Invitational from this past season. Both athletes found themselves on this year's Daily Tribune all-area track and field team.

Top-notch speed, high-quality jumps, and big-time throws.

That’s what we saw during this year’s area boys track and field season, which featured several terrific athletes ranging from Cheboygan, Inland Lakes, Onaway and Pellston.

So, let’s recognize the best the area had to offer this past season for boys track.

2022 Cheboygan Daily Tribune All-Area Boys Track and Field Team  

Running Events 

100-meter/200-Meter Run  

Keegan Mosher, Cheboygan, Jr. – Mosher was the fastest sprinter in the area all season long. During a thrilling junior campaign, Mosher captured Straits Area Conference titles in both the 100 and 200. While he just missed out on qualifying for states in the 100, Mosher earned several first places throughout the season. Will return as one of the top area athletes next spring.

Sam Mayer, Inland Lakes, Jr. – It was another strong season for the Inland Lakes star, who qualified for states in the 100 thanks to a second-place finish at regionals. Despite not earning all-state in that event, he’ll have a good chance to do so in 2023.

Garrett Cameron, Pellston, Jr. – What a year it was for area boys' sprinters, huh? Cameron didn’t qualify for states in either event, but he made up for it by winning Ski Valley titles in both the 100 and 200. If Cameron keeps progressing, he should be able to qualify for states in at least one of these events next season.

Onaway junior Garrett Cameron earned all-area honors in the 100 and 200 events.
Onaway junior Garrett Cameron earned all-area honors in the 100 and 200 events.

Honorable Mention: Richard Aluague (Onaway)

400-Meter Run  

Laith Griffith, Pellston, So. – One of the top young speedsters in the area, the Pellston sophomore qualified for states after an impressive finish against some tough regional competition. Expect Griffith’s times to get even better as he looks to deliver a strong junior campaign.

110 Hurdles 

Nathan Wiles, Cheboygan, Sr. – The Cheboygan senior hurdler capped off a solid career with a personal-best time of 19.37, which was good enough for a runner-up finish at the Straits Area Conference meet.

300 Hurdles  

Jadin Mix, Onaway, So. – It was a strong season for the young Onaway standout, who qualified for states in this event. Perhaps Mix’s most impressive finish was his first-place showing in a stacked field at the Mancelona Invitational in late April. Next year, Mix will look to win both conference and regional titles, and perhaps challenge for a state title.

800-Meter Run  

Coby Dyer, Pellston, Jr. – The Pellston junior performed well in one of the toughest events in track, finishing fourth at the Ski Valley championships and seventh at regionals. Will return as one of the top area mid-distance runners in 2023.

1600-Meter Run 

Isaac Yokom-McDonald, Cheboygan, Sr. – In a season where we didn’t see too many long-distance standouts, Yokom-McDonald was a strong performer when he was competing in this event. Had multiple good finishes in meets this past season.

3200-Meter Run  

Hayden LaPointe, Cheboygan, Fr. – Another young talented area runner, LaPointe’s top performance came when he clocked a fifth-place time of 12:34 at the St. Ignace Invitational.

400-Meter Relay  

Inland Lakes (Sam Schoonmaker, Sam Mayer, Dylan Zinke, Evan Perreault) – This group delivered a big-time performance at regionals, qualifying for states with a second-place finish. They should be a force again next season when they try to capture both conference and regional titles.

Onaway (Richard Aluague, Jager Mix, Hudson Decker, Xavier Santiago) – I’d be remiss if I also didn’t mention these four, who captured the Ski Valley title in this exciting event. Just a ton of speed all the way around with this group.

Senior Jager Mix played a key role in multiple Onaway relay teams making the all-area team.
Senior Jager Mix played a key role in multiple Onaway relay teams making the all-area team.

800-Meter Relay  

Onaway (Richard Aluague, Brendon Brewbaker, Jager Mix, Hudson Decker) – What a conference meet it was for this team, which also took first in the Ski Valley. Having senior experience like Mix and Aluague helps, but Brewbaker and Decker both did their part.

1600-Meter Relay  

Cheboygan (Keegan Mosher, Evan Benson, Gabe Sabolsky, Luke Patrick) – These four capped off a decent campaign with a second-place showing at the Straits Area Conference meet. Mosher is among those who will return to lead this group next season.

3200-Relay (Jadin Mix, Jager Mix, Hudson Decker, Brendon Brewbaker) – The Onaway boys really delivered a solid season in the relays, with this group finishing second in the Ski Valley and fourth at regionals. It will be fun to watch again next season when Jadin Mix, Brewbaker and Decker are all back.

Field Events  

Shot Put/Discus  

Gauge Ginop, Cheboygan, Jr. – A consistent performer for the Chiefs all season long, Ginop finished off a very good junior campaign by taking first place in the discus at the Straits Area Conference meet. Also earned fourth in the shot put. Will be back as one of Cheboygan’s top throwers next season.

Cheboygan junior Gauge Ginop was one of the top throwers in the area this past season.
Cheboygan junior Gauge Ginop was one of the top throwers in the area this past season.

Robert LaPointe, Cheboygan, Jr. – Another one of Cheboygan’s strong throwers, LaPointe earned a runner-up finish in the shot put at the SAC meet. Like his teammate Gauge Ginop, LaPointe was consistent for most of the season.

Ty Thompson, Inland Lakes, Sr. – After qualifying for states with a runner-up finish in the discus, Thompson followed it up by winning the Ski Valley title in the same event. A remarkable final season for one of the best throwers in the area.

Honorable Mention: Nevin Thompson (Inland Lakes); Edward LaPointe (Cheboygan)

Long Jump  

Kelsey Lamb, Cheboygan, So. – A solid performer for the Chiefs, Lamb took fifth at the SAC finals. With a couple more years left, Lamb will have a chance to remain among the top athletes in this event.

High Jump  

Xavier Santiago, Onaway, So. – Wow, what a season it was for this young Onaway talent, who won both Ski Valley and regional titles in his respective event. Next on the goal list will perhaps be earning all-state honors, which he came really close to doing recently.

Sam Schoonmaker, Inland Lakes, So. – While he didn’t take first at either the Ski Valley or regional meets, Schoonmaker finished off a stellar campaign by earning all-state in this event. Watching him battle against Onaway’s Xavier Santiago will be exciting over the next couple of years.

Inland Lakes sophomore Sam Schoonmaker earned all-area honors in the high jump event.
Inland Lakes sophomore Sam Schoonmaker earned all-area honors in the high jump event.

Pole Vault  

Evan Benson, Cheboygan, Fr. – Finished off his freshman season by recording a personal-best vault of 9-6 at the SAC meet. Will look to challenge for an SAC title next spring.

Cheboygan Daily Tribune Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year: Keegan Mosher (Cheboygan)

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Mosher, sprinters highlight Cheboygan Tribune All-Area boys track and field team