Prepzone Winter Sports Rewind

March 28, 2020

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SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020

It was a historic year for the Bad Axe Hatchets as the girls varsity basketball team won its first district championship since 1980. The boys basketball team was in the hunt for its own district title when high school sports were impacted by the global health crisis.

Next season, the boys team (11-8 overall, 6-6 league) will be without the services of senior starters Jack Clancy and Cody Talaski, but junior Jensen Emerick and sophomores Aaron Knowles and Noah Kervin will be back after notable seasons.

The Lady Hatchets (9-11 overall, 7-5 league) will lose the leadership of seniors Laken Chapin, Jelena Prescott and Melanie Rogers, but a core nucleus consisting of sophomores Kate Clancy and Sophie Shuart and juniors Alexis Booms and Camryn Affer will return with the experience of a winning a district championship under their belts.

Hatchets wrestler Sam Haas made it all the way to Ford Field for the state finals in his sophomore year, finishing the season with a 42-10 record.

At the bowling state finals, freshman Destiny Ranquist finished in 36th position with a 942, with the Bad Axe girls varsity bowling team claiming the Upper Thumb High School Bowling Conference title and reaching the state finals.

WINTER SPORTS WRAP-UP

BAD AXE HATCHETS

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BAD AXE HATCHETS

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The 2019-2020 Caseville boys and girls basketball teams both left it all on the court this season, competing hard in every game on the schedule. New boys coach Josh Slaughter led his team to a 9-7 overall record (5-5 in the North Central Thumb Stripes League). Senior Kaiden Geilhart turned in dominating performances night in and night out and earned a spot on the NCTL Stripes Division All-League First Team, and junior Andrew Pettengill was named to the Second Team.

The girls team was hampered by injuries, including one to team spark Adrian Ewald. On a positive note, junior Chelsey Breismiester was named to the NCTL Stripes All-League First Team, and junior Emma Hopkins received an honorable mention.

WINTER SPORTS WRAP-UP

CASEVILLE EAGLES

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CASEVILLE EAGLES

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DEDICATION TO REHABILITATION

NARAYAN REHABILITATION 1004 W. Caro Road Caro, MI 48723

989-672-8700

968 S. Van Dyke Road Bad Axe, MI 48413

989-269-8700

www.narayanrehab.com

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SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020

The Red Hawks’ winter season featured numerous highlights. Wrestling coach Don Markel was named he Michigan Wrestling Association’s Regional Coach of the Year, the second time he received the honor. Wrestler Hunter Caister was crowned Greater Thumb Conference champion and earned a trip to the state final at Ford Field, where he went 3-2 to place fifth in the 189-pound weight class. Hunter finished the season with a 51-8 record and finished his high school career with a record of 15239, good for seventh for alltime wins and fourth for best win-loss record.

The boys basketball team (12-8 overall, 6-6 league) saved its best for the end of the season, upending a strong USA team to earn a trip to the district title game against Bad Axe. The girls team (8-12, 5-7 league) also had a great showing in the post season, making it all the way to the district title championship game against the Bad Axe.

WINTER SPORTS WRAP-UP

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CASS CITY RED HAWKS

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CASS CITY RED HAWKS

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The Deckerville girls basketball team had a season to remember, earning a share of the North Central Thumb League Stars league title.

The Lady Eagles finished the regular season with a 17-3 record (11-1 league) and successfully defended its district championship, winning 18 straight games in the process. The girls team was well represented on the NCTL Stars Division All-League Team, with seniors Addison Williams and Claire Watson earning First Team honors.

Senior Ella Watson was named to the Second Team, and junior Riley Shutz and sophomore Karly Kappen received honorable mentions.

The boys team (9-11 overall, 3-9 league) found itself in the same division as a dominant Kingston team but managed to win nine games on the season. Senior Isaac Keinath was named to the NCTL Stars Division All-League First Team, and Ethan Bowerman received an honorable mention.

WINTER SPORTS WRAP-UP

DECKERVILLE EAGLES

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DECKERVILLE EAGLES

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ELKTON-PIGEON-BAY PORT LAKERS

The Laker boys basketball team finished the 2019-2020 regular season with a winning record, going 11-8 (5-7 league) on the campaign. The team looks to make a strong showing in 2020-2021 with nine juniors — including Sawyer Kozfkay, Anthony Sheridon, Mason Williams and Garet Bowles — all returning.

The girls basketball team (2-18 overall, 2-10 league) experienced a tough year on the court and persevered to pick up a couple of victories.

Senior Emma Irion, junior Kyle Bowles and sophomore Savannah Schulz all turned in strong performances during the 2019-2020 season.

The Laker powerlifting team sent Erin McCardle, Colton Oyervidez, Blake Smithers, Lexi Smithers and James McArdle to the Michigan High School Powerlifting Championships in North Branch. Oyervidez was crowned state champion at the JV state powerlifting finals, lifting a total of 1,130 pounds.

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ELKTON-PIGEON-BAY PORT LAKERS

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Congrats on a great WINTER season, Lakers!

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HARBOR BEACH PIRATES

The Harbor Beach boys basketball team claimed a share of the Greater Thumb Conference East championship and ended the regular season with a record of 13-6 (10-2 league). It was a season that featured a victory that will be long remembered

by Pirates fans: the Valentine’s Day 55-52 win over Ubly, which ended on an unbelievable halfcourt game-winner by Dylan Kadar.

The Harbor Beach girls basketball team had a very successful 2019-2020, finishing the regular season with a 14-5 record (8-4 league). The Lady Pirates put together win streaks of four and six games. Seniors Claire Woodke, Jenna Guza and Annika Kirsch provided steady leadership throughout the season.

The Harbor Beach boys bowling team earned the No. 8 spot on the Michigan High School Interscholastic Bowling Coaches Association’s ranking at the end of February. The Pirates compiled an 8-2 record on the season. After qualifying for the Junior Gold Championships, which is a tournament featuring the top male and female youth bowlers in the United States, senior Dylan Burton earned a trip to Las Vegas in July to participate in the nation-wide competition. Claire Burton and Rikelle Hessling both earned a trip to the girls state finals.

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HARBOR BEACH PIRATES

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NORTH HURON WARRIORS

The North Huron boys and girls basketball teams both earned shares of their North Central Thumb League conference titles in 2019-2020.

The boys team finished the season with an 8-2 league record (9-11 overall). Senior De’Andre Williams and sophomore Will Case earned spots on the NCTL AllLeague Stripes First Team, and senior Brad Hoody was named to the Second Team.

The girls team ended

2019-2020 with a 9-1 record (12-8 overall). Senior Emma Taylor earned a place on the NCTL Stripes First Team, and seniors Patricia Pineau and Shelby Knoblock were named to the Second Team. Junior Mollie Zaleski received honorable mention honors.

Pineau also turned in stellar performances on the bowling lanes, making it to the state finals, where she placed 39th overall.

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NORTH HURON WARRIORS

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OWENDALE-GAGETOWN BULLDOGS

The Owendale-Gagetown boys and girls basketball teams didn’t accomplish all of the goals they set for themselves at the outset of the 20192020 season, but both Bulldog squads competed hard every time they took the court over the course of their campaigns.

The boys team (0-16 overall, 0-10 league) didn’t meet with much success during the season, but junior Andrew Partaka was a shining star for the Bulldogs, earning a spot on the North Central Thumb League Stripes All-League Second Team.

The Lady Bulldogs finished the season with a league record of 5-5 (7-9 overall). Sophmore Dana Morrish was named to the NCTL Stripes All-League First Team. Junior Libby Ondrajka was named to the Second Team, and sophomore Maddy Haldane earned an honorable mention.

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OWENDALE-GAGETOWN BULLDOGS

Har Jo’s

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Ben Franklin Craft & Variety Scrapbooking Supplies • Stamping Goods Yarn • Beads • Fabric • Health & Beauty Office & Art Supplies • General Crafts Sewing Notions • Housewares

www.harjosbenfranklin.com Monday – Friday 9-6pm & Saturday 9-3pm

9 South Main St. Pigeon • (989) 453-2323

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SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2020

The Ubly girls basketball team was picking up victory after victory when the MHSAA playoffs were suspended due to the global health crisis. The Lady Bearcats were in the midst of 19-game winning streak when their regional title game was postponed. Ubly finished the regular season with an outstanding 19-1 mark (12-0 league), having picked up its only loss way back in the middle of December. Seniors Katelyn Sweeney, Ellie Peruski and Jaiden Schulte provided stellar leadership, and juniors Josie Gusa and Dajnae Leipprandt were a driving force on the court. Sweeney carved her name into the Ubly record books as well, breaking the school’s all-time rebounding record.

The boys team finished 2019-2020 with an 11-8 record (8-4 league). Seniors Casey Sweeney, Austin Peruski, Isaac Warczinsky and Austin Cregeur, and juniors Levi Peruski, Gabe Sweeney and Cole Hagen all made significant contributions for the Bearcats in 2019-2020.

Wrestler Shane Osantowski went toe-to-toe with the top competition in the state and made Ubly history by finishing in second place in Division 4 for the 215-pound weight class at the state finals. During the season, Osantowski became the first Bearcat wrestler to log 100 career wins.

WINTER SPORTS WRAP-UP

UBLY BEARCATS

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UBLY BEARCATS

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UNIONVILLE-SEBEWAING PATRIOTS

The Unionville-Sebewaing Area boys basketball team marched to a share of its fourth straight Greater Thumb Central League West Championship in 2019-2020, finishing the season with a 17-3 record overall (11-1 league).

The trio of seniors Landin Zimmer and Nash Morton and junior Connor Gettel led the way all season for the Patriots, who were shocked in the boys district opener by Cass City, providing a disappointing end to a dominant season and stopping USA’s 32-game home win streak.

The girls team finished

2019-2020 with a 7-12 overall record (5-7 league). The Patriots will be without the services of seniors Chelsea Bolzman and Danielle Vogel next season, but juniors Brynn Polega, Maci Montgomery, Emily Rieman and Emma Stecker will return.

Reaching the state finals, bowler Ethan Androl delivered with a 373-pin count in his final match, a score good enough for second place across all of Division 4. Nick Ewald also qualified for the state finals on the boys side, and Bailey Sy qualified for the Patriots’ girls team.

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UNIONVILLE-SEBEWAING PATRIOTS

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THE FANS

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THE FANS

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YOUR BEST CHOICE IN PRIMARY CARE FAMILY PRACTICE

PEDIATRICS

CARRIE FRANZEL, FNP-BC

NICK HIMMEL, PA-C

CHARLES CHRISTENSEN, DO

1011 S. Van Dyke Bad Axe (989) 269-5258

2269 Main St. Ubly (989) 658-2159

1060 S. Van Dyke Bad Axe (989) 269-7775

INTERNAL MEDICINE MARTHA KOGLIN, PA-C

RICHARD LOCKARD, MD

YASIR BABIKER, MD

24 E. Spring St. Pt. Austin (989) 738-5222

6 N. Main St. Elkton (989) 375-2273

Internal Medicine & Pediatrics 1060 S. Van Dyke Bad Axe (989) 269-7606

OSMAN MUKHTAR, MD

SHANNON NOWISKI, FNP

SHIRLEY JAKUBEC, MD

2269 Main St. Ubly (989) 658-2159

233 State Street Harbor Beach (989) 479-3111

6 N. Main St. Elkton (989) 375-2273

BEHZOD ROSTAM, MD

JAIME TAN, MD

SCOTT MASON, PA-C

1080 S. Van Dyke Bad Axe (989) 493-9327

233 State Street Harbor Beach (989) 479-3111

1080 S. Van Dyke Bad Axe (989) 269-6048