2021 Benzie County Fall Sports Preview

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A Supplement to:

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2021 | Benzie County Fall Sports Preview

Benzie Central Cross Country

By: Robert Myers look to address a growing rmyers@pioneergroup.com podium drought, at least

Mylie Kelly burst onto the scene last year as a freshman with a top 10 finish in the state.

Benzie Central’s cross country teams are no stranger to high expectations thanks to a rich history filled with conference, regional and state championships.

Heading into 2021, the boys and girls teams will

state runner-up finish in 2018, though they were

by Benzie Central’s ranked as high as No. 2 standards. The boys team in the state in 2020. last reached the podium This year, both teams with a state runner-up will look for young finish in 2015, capping runners to take the next a dominate three-year step and help established run that featured state superstars, Hunter Jones titles the previous two and Mylie Kelly, lead their years. The girls team last respective teams to new reached the podium on a championships.

LAST YEAR: Benzie Central’s boys team failed to qualify for state finals after losing their No. 2 runner Wesley VanPoortfliet to a COVID-19 quarantine just prior to the regional meet. As a result, the team settled for fourth in the region, one place from qualifying for state finals. Nonetheless, the team did win a league championship and Hunter

PREDICTION:

Hunter Jones enters this season two-for-two in cross country individual state championships.

Coach Asa Kelly expects his team to fly under the radar early this season, which may be a nice change for the Huskies, but don’t expect that to last. The boys and girls teams should easily defend their conference titles, and while winning an ever-difficult region will be tough, both teams

Jones took home his second individual state championship in as many years to represent the Huskies at state finals.

It was an up and down season for the Benzie Central girls cross country team that ended on a sour note when the No. 2 ranked Huskies fell to fifth at the state finals meet. Still, the girls did run away with a conference title, and Mylie Kelly ran the race of her life to finish eighth in the state as a freshman.

should qualify for state finals, likely as one of the top two teams in their region. Podium finishes right now seem unlikely, with the boys team largely unproven behind Hunter Jones and Michael Musgrave and the girls team needing to replace three of their top seven from a year ago, but top 10, possibly top five, finishes should be in order

for both teams.

Individually, Hunter Jones looks destined to three-peat as state championship, while Michael Musgrave could push for all-state. On the girls side, Mylie Kelly could contend for a top five finish in the state, and Elise Johnson looks poised to make a huge leap her senior season, possibly even into the top 10.

COACH’S CORNER: “We have a fair amount of inexperience, but the excitement seems to be there,” said Benzie Central coach Asa Kelly. “We have kids that want to be there, which is key. We are not going to have the biggest team we’ve ever had, but we have kids who want to be there. I’ll take that any day ... We have pretty strong leadership on both sides.”

KEY RETURNERS: Boys: Hunter Jones (14:56) Michael Musgrave (17:14) Girls: Mylie Kelly (18:50) Elise Johnson (19:34) KEY LOSSES: Boys: Wesley VanPoortfliet (16:26) Craig Seger (17:10) Girls: Cierra Guay (19:12) Madison Tiechman (19:49)

Benzie County Fall Sports Preview | 2021

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2021 | Benzie County Fall Sports Preview

Benzie Central Football

Benzie quarterback Ike Koscielski carries the ball against Cheboygan in 2020.

By: McLain Moberg mclain.moberg@pioneergroup.com

Last season, the Benzie Central varsity football team finished 2-5 with wins over Cheboygan and Grayling, respectively. However, what you don't see from those numbers is the vast effect

The Benzie High School varsity football team huddles up in the middle of a game last season.

COVID-19 had on the Huskies 2020 season. In his eighth year leading the program, coach Jason Katt dealt with a depleted roster in the playoffs, losing a combined 14 starters from the offense, defense, and special teams. Yet even with many of Benzie's seniors sidelined for two weeks, the young players

on Katt's roster stepped up and took on Grayling for a second time rather than allow the game to receive a cancelation.

The result was a 35-point loss, but it helped strengthen the team’s mental toughness and core chemistry, which will see them through the upcoming season.

varsity. Even so, the true strength of Benzie Central comes from its continued mantra of battling through The Huskies return tons of talent in 2021, including adversity and taking it one game at a time. three-year starting quarterback Ike Koscielski, Nate "Right now, we are all preaching game one; we Childers, a senior running back/defensive back itching are all focused on getting that game one victory," to prove himself on the field, Michael Wooten, a threeyear returner along both lines, two other starters on the Koscielski said. "After that, we are just ready for offensive line, and plenty of skilled athletes from junior whatever comes."

What you need to know

Prediction The way last year ended gutted the Huskies, especially their seniors who wanted nothing more than to compete in the postseason against Grayling, a team they had

defeated on the road by nearly two touchdowns on Oct. 2. With Koscielski still under center, Benzie felt good about its chances, but the game quickly got away from them.

According to Katt, it left a "sour

taste" in their mouth. However, numerous players are ready to lead the Huskies and help them bounce back this fall.

Overall record prediction: 4-5 (3-4 NMFL-Legends)

COACH’S CORNER: “I don’t know that you can throw any more adversity at these boys and have them not have the right mindset to overcome it,” Benzie head coach Jason Katt said.

“And football is a game of adversity … we’ve played some teams in the past, the couple last years, where we put in two good quarters, three good quarters; but these boys have a fourquarter mindset right now … we are all on the same page in terms of ‘we have been through the wringer;’ it takes four-quarters.”

The Numbers 2020 Record: 2-5 (1-1 Home, 1-4 Away) Best Win: @ Grayling, W 41-28 Worst Loss: @ Ogemaw Heights, L 7-20 2020 Playoffs: Lost to Grayling, 12-47 Key Returners: QB Ike Koscielski (5’10”, 152, Senior) OL/DL Michael Wooten (6’3”, 210, Senior) Key Losses LT Kyle Wilson (four-year starter, graduated) OLB/DB Chris Dunlop (threeyear starter, graduated)

Benzie County Fall Sports Preview | 2021

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Benzie Central Volleyball COACH’S CORNER: “We’ll have a pretty solid group this year and they’ll be fun to watch,” said Benzie Central coach Madison Lutzke. “Ava Bechler will be a force in the middle and we’ll have some athletic outsides and a versatile back row. I am looking forward to improving our record from past years and to really start competing.”

KEY RETURNERS:

By: Robert Myers rmyers@pioneergroup.com

Since the Huskies graduated a large and talented senior class following their 2017 season, Benzie Central LAST YEAR:

The 2020 season was not an easy one for Benzie Central, as the Huskies did not record their first win until Sept.

29 against Frankfort and later had PREDICTION:

Ava Bechler Autumn Wallington KEY LOSSES: Madison Evans (honorable mention all-conference) Alison Moore

has seen its share of struggles on the volleyball court, partially due to a lack of size on the front line and an overall lack of experience, but things might be changing for the Huskies this year. Though

The Huskies are one of the more intriguing teams in the area heading into the fall season.

Conventional wisdom would suggest that their youth would lead to struggles, however, in this case, the team’s youth is

Panthers & Huskies!

After making the varsity team last year as a freshman, Ava Bechler will look for a strong sophomore season.

to forfeit districts due to COVID-19 quarantines within the program, however, the young team did show flashes in practice and some of its late season games.

deceptive. Many of the returners first made the varsity team as either a freshman or a sophomore, indicating they are a more talented and experienced roster than their ages might suggest. Moreover, multiple players devote significant time to the sport in the offseason.

Best of Luck

still very young and depending largely on their sophomore and junior classes, the Huskies will feature five returning varsity players this fall and a team that should be very athletic on the court.

While this group of players may not peak as a team for another year, there should be a notable uptick in wins for the Huskies, launching them into the upper half of the league’s teams and marking them a contender for a district championship as they move into Division 3.

Autumn Wallington served as one of two primary setters on the varsity team last year and seems in line for an even bigger role this fall.

Good Luck to all Benzie County Athletes.

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2021 | Benzie County Fall Sports Preview

Benzie Central Soccer

Benzie Central High Schools’s Cole Burroughs dribbles the ball on game day.

By: McLain Moberg mclain.moberg@pioneergroup.com

Benzie Central varsity soccer welcomes back a familiar face in 2021 as Christopher Batchelder is ready to lead the Huskies again.

Batchelder, who is excited to

return, coached Benzie Central from 2012-15. However, six years later, being back in Benzonia has a different feel to it. For starters, it’s a much younger team, mixed with a good balance of veteran talent and leadership. Last year, Benzie dominated Kingsley in

What you need to know After finishing 6-11 last season with a playoff victory, Batchelder takes over the Huskies soccer program for a second time, searching for continued success. The longtime coach features key upperclassmen in Kevin Hubbell (senior), who scored 35 goals last year and earned an abundance of accolades, Cole Burroughs (junior), who earned Prediction Benzie Central returns multiple upperclassmen with leadership abilities, especially Hubbell,

Kevin Hubbell sprints down the field while dribbling the ball, intent on scoring a goal for Benzie Central High School.

the opening round of the district playoffs before losing to Shelby in the semi-finals. Although, for Batchelder, wins and losses are nothing compared to giving great effort and working hard, which is precisely what he wants to see from his team this season.

First-Team All-Conference as a sophomore; Chaz Grundy (senior), Dominic Lopez (junior goalkeeper), and Steve Barron (junior). The Huskies opened their season on Aug. 23 against Grayling. “We talked about it today right as we were finishing (practice),” said Batchelder. “Did you work harder than that guy next to you? That’s what I want to see; have that mindset going in … and the results will fall wherever they may.”

who managed to command the offense last season. In addition, Batchelder expects nothing less than 100% effort 100% of the time. The Huskies run it back

this fall with youth, experience, leadership, and a familiar face on the sidelines.

Overall record prediction: 8-8 (5-5 Northwest Conference)

COACH’S CORNER: “I’m a huge Kobe Bryant fan; I’m a Mamba mode kind of guy … that’s the thing that has been talked about all week is ‘OK, you worked hard, but did you work harder today than you worked yesterday?’ And that’s what I want to see,” Benzie Central coach Chris Batchelder said on Aug. 13. “I don’t care if we win one game as long as they are giving me effort on that level.

“Not effort just to be like ‘oh yeah, I did well.’ No, did you really push yourself to the point where you didn’t think you could be pushed?

That’s the motivation behind everything.”

The Numbers 2020 Record: 6-11 (3-6 Home, 3-5 Away) Playoffs: Defeated Kingsley 9-0 before losing to Shelby (0-8) Key Returners Kevin Hubbell (earned All-Conference, All-District, All-Region, and Third-Team All-State honors in 2020) Cole Burroughs (First-Team All-Conference) Key Losses Christopher Corey (starter in 2020, graduated) Charlie Corey (starter in 2020, graduated)

Benzie County Fall Sports Preview | 2021

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2021 | Benzie County Fall Sports Preview

Frankfort Cross Country By: Robert Myers rmyers@pioneergroup.com

Over the past several years, Frankfort has quietly emerged as one of the better cross country programs in the region. The Panthers

Taylor Myers just missed out on an all-state finish in 2020 and has her eyes set on changing that this fall.

have battled numbers issues like so many other small schools, but the years they have been able to put forth at least five runners, their boys and girls teams have contended for, and

LAST YEAR: Frankfort’s boys team finished third in their region to qualify for state finals, where they finished

PREDICTION:

Frankfort coach Dal Townsend said that he has high hopes for Tristan Werden to take a big leap this fall.

LANE

Numbers are a concern if either team loses runners to injury or they choose to leave the team, however, if the teams stay healthy and

often earned state finals appearances.

This year looks to be more of the same with a strong group of returning runners and a few young freshmen who should be able to fill in the gaps.

22nd. Meanwhile, Taylor Myers qualified individually for state finals and narrowly missed all-state honors, finishing 42nd at the finals meet.

together, Frankfort should be sending its boys and girls teams to cross country state finals. The top three Frankfort boys should improve to the point where they can all run under 18-minutes

and carry the younger runners to a top three finish in the region, and Taylor Myers appears poised for a potential all-state season to lead the girls team back to state finals.

COACH’S CORNER: “The goal for the season is to make it out of the region and head to the state meet. That’s our goal for the girls team, and that’s the big goal for the guys team too,” said Frankfort coach Dal Townsend. “For both teams, I am looking forward to the freshmen really helping us out at the varsity level. I have some great upperclassmen for both the boys and the girls, I’m relying on the freshmen.

TOP RETURNERS: Boys: Skylar Werden (18:18) Logan Foster (18:25) Adam Townsend (18:25) Girls: Taylor Myers (20:47) Tara Townsend (22:00) BIGGEST LOSSES: Boys: Owen Roth (17:39) Chris Provo (18:49) Girls: None

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Benzie County Fall Sports Preview | 2021

COACH’S CORNER: “(I) am very aware of the rich tradition at Frankfort; it’s my dream job, and it’s something that’s really important to me that we have success,” Panther coach Ed Schindler said. “We put a lot of work into trying to make that happen … we’ve had a solid summer, and we are looking forward to getting the program back on track.”

The Numbers 2020 Record: 3-3 (2-0

Home, 1-3 Away) Best Win: vs. East Jordan, W 20-0 Worst Loss: Harbor Springs, L 22-57 2020 Playoffs: Back-to-back COVID-19 forfeits against Nouvel Catholic (win) and Johannesburg-Lewiston (loss).

Key Returners RB/LB Adam Mills (6’1”, 190, junior) WR/LB Jared Coxe (5’8”, 130, senior)

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Frankfort Football

Senior wide receiver/linebacker Jared Coxe carries the ball Camryn Lewis runs the ball for Frankfort High School and upfield for Frankfort against Benzie. gains positive yardage.

By: McLain Moberg mclain.moberg@pioneergroup.com

Entering his third year with the

program, Ed Schindler is familiar

with the rich history accompanied

by Frankfort high school football.

He graduated in 1989 when the Panthers took their first trip to the state championship game, losing to Schoolcraft by 35 points. However, Frankfort brought home back-to-back titles in 1990 and 1991, led by Tim

What you need to know Frankfort loses its three-year starting quarterback in Jack Stefanski but returns seven starters who will have an immediate impact this fall. It's a group highlighted by Adam Mills, the Panthers leading rusher (one of two leading tacklers); Jared Coxe, the leading wideout and the other leading tackler; Tucker Hubbard, an offensive and defensive lineman who earned All-Conference and All-Area honors; Ethan Evans, another OL/DL that took home AllConference, Griffin Anderson, a senior defensive end who was an All-Conference honorable mention

Klein. The Panthers have only missed the playoffs three times in 26 years but are searching for a resurgence, hence the team's latest mantra of "the tradition returns."

last year; Spencer VanTol, a senior tight end/ linebacker; and Camryn Lewis, a senior who plays three positions (RB/LB/DL).

The quarterback spot is an open competition between junior Logan Lewis, junior Nick Stevenson, and sophomore Fletcher Anderson, but it's a position battle Schindler feels good about.

"We will wait until we have the pads on to see how those three athletes lead the team," said Schindler.

"We haven't made that decision yet, but whoever gets the nod will be given the opportunity to keep that job."

Key Losses QB Jack Stefanski (three-

year starter, graduated) OL/DL Jeff Lane (2020 starter, graduated)

Prediction Three years ago, Schindler took over a program he knew had high expectations. After a season riddled with ups and downs alongside multiple cancelations

due to the pandemic, Frankfort is ready to make another playoff push. Stefanski may be gone, but with Mills and Coxe back, whoever ends up under center shouldn't have much of an issue finding playmakers on the gridiron.

Couple that with the Panther's impressive defensive front, and they are in line for a successful season.

Overall Prediction: 5-4 (3-2 NMFL-Legacy)

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2021 | Benzie County Fall Sports Preview

Frankfort Volleyball By: Robert Myers rmyers@pioneergroup.com

Frankfort's defense should remain a strength with returners such as libero Madisen Clouse.

For several years now, Frankfort has been waiting on its big breakthrough year in volleyball, a year when the Panthers can take some of the top teams

in a strong Northwest Conference down to the wire and challenge for a district title. Injuries and attrition have played cruel jokes on the Panthers in recent years, preventing them from fielding the senior laden, talented teams

LAST YEAR: Frankfort finished 2020 with a 1013 record but struggled in Northwest Conference play, wherein the Panthers went just 1-6. The season PREDICTION:

Gracie Walrad enters the season as the Panthers' top returning outside hitter.

The Panthers were a fun team to watch last year with the effort they displayed chasing after balls and keeping volleys alive. While Sydney Miller and Maggie Kelly will be missed, the

then ended on a sour note, after numerous COVID-19 quarantines at the school caused Frankfort to forfeit the opportunity to compete in districts.

Panthers should be improved this fall to the point where a winning record should be in order. Still, they face an uphill climb in the Northwest Conference where talented teams remain at the top, and Leland will pose a steep

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challenge in the district, where the Comets have been virtually unbeatable. Anything could happen, but a top-four finish in the conference and a district loss to Leland seems the most likely outcome for the Panthers.

COACH’S CORNER: “The experience is there.

We lost to graduation an all-around outside hitter and an all-around setter. That is a lot for a team to lose, but there are girls ready to step up,” said Frankfort coach Becky Miller. “The conference is always tough, but we are hoping to finish at the top. We have a very talented group that works well together. We aren’t going to be the tallest team, but we will focus a lot of defense this year. Last year, due to COVID, we didn’t get a postseason, so the girls are hungry for that this year. They really want to earn that district championship banner and continue to push through the post season.”

KEY RETURNERS: Keyan Clapp Gracie Walrad KEY LOSSES: Sydney Miller (honorable mention all-conference) Maggie Kelly (honorable mention all-conference)

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Benzie County Fall Sports Preview | 2021

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