Getting to the Finish Line

P-CEP athletes shine during unconventional winter season

By Brad Emons

It wasn’t easy, but somehow, some way the winter sports season got to the finish line. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Michigan High School Athletic Association was finally given the go-ahead to launch the winter sports campaign – albeit in early February. The Plymouth-Canton Educational Park season was highlighted by Salem’s fourth Division 1 boys bowling title in school history (see page 6). The Rocks, coached by Kathie Hahn, defeated Macomb Dakota, 1,404-1,309, in the match play finals held March 26 at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park. Salem was led by senior individual state qualifiers Jaydon Kurowski and Brendan Chorian, along with juniors Zander Craft and Jacob Ngo. Sophomores Dominic Parrelly and Caleb Czyzak rounded out the championship squad. At the Super Bowl regional the previous weekend, the P-CEP teams went 1-2-3 led by Plymouth (3,811), Salem (3,767) and Canton (3,742). Plymouth boasted four individual state qualifiers in juniors Gabe Johnson, Lucas Metz, Jack Sanders and Zach Endres. On the girls side, Salem qualified for the state finals after capturing the D1 regional at Super Bowl led by individual singles champion Amanda Ellwood, a senior who rolled a 723 in four games. The Rocks finished eighth in the qualifying block at the state finals with a total of 1,238 in six games before being eliminated in the match play opener by top seed Westland John Glenn, 1,320-1,032. In individual singles, Salem junior Brionna Jones finished fifth in the qualifying block (1,238) before being ousted in the round of 16 match play. Plymouth freshman Brianna Swickard also qualified in individual singles, but did not compete, after a sixth at the regional.

WILDCATS FINISH THIRD

After a runner-up finish in 2020, the Plymouth girls competitive cheer squad garnered a third-place finish for coach Samantha Koehler at the Division 1 finals held March 26-27 at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center in East Lansing. Rochester Adams (790.52) repeated as champion, while Grandville (782.60) edged Plymouth (782.36) for second place. The Wildcats were runner-up at the Troy Athens regional and added a first at their own district competition. Plymouth was also runner-up in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association. Senior team members included Alaina Beadle, Sydney Cole, Taylor Hendershot, Kendall Rabold and Hannah Rawlings. Among the juniors were Madison Bretz, Allison Cassar, Maggie Cheetam, Katie Fisher, Raimi Gibeau, Avery Maruszewski, Kia McDowell, Natalie Muzquiz, Ava Perry, Molly Rathke, Ashley Sasena, Alaina Soulliere and Hailey Tocco. Sophomore members included Emma Blaies, Julia Cleveland, Khalila Harvey, Leanne Johnson, Kelsey Laesser, Lexi Macyda, Anissa McKenzie, Kaylin Neher, Chloe Pangborn and Hailey Vanderziel. They were joined by ninth-graders Sophia Dragan, Jenna Kuzara, Raya Matt and Olivia Mussen. Assistant coaches included Sara Kempton, Alyssa Tocco and NaKhari Barkley.

ROCK SOLID HOOPS

The underdog Salem boys basketball team emerged with its first district title since 2014 with a 50-44 overtime victory over rival Canton on March 29 at Plymouth High. The Rocks (8-9), under first-year coach Ryan Nimmerguth, also upended Northville (41-39) and Novi Detroit Catholic Central (72-67 in overtime) en route to the Division 1 district title. Salem’s season ended in the regional semifinal on April 1 after a tough loss against Livonia Stevenson, 53-51. Salem senior guard Tanner Locke made the All-KLAA West team, while junior forward Ashton Wheeler earned honorable mention. Junior guard Cole Vickers, who averaged 19.5 points per game, and junior guard Lake McIntosh, who averaged 14.5, along with senior forward Bruce Warmann, earned All-KLAA West honors for Canton (10-6). Junior guard Ryan Tarquinto was named honorable mention. Meanwhile, Plymouth (3-14) was led by All-KLAA West pick Jason Stewart, a junior guard. Senior guard Kane Elmy was honorable mention.

WILDCATS GO BACK-TO-BACK

The Plymouth girls basketball team (12-8), coached by Ryan Ballard, earned its second straight Division 1 district title with a 44-33 victory in the finals over rival Canton on March 28 at Plymouth High. The Wildcats reached the final with a 62-54 victory over Salem. The Wildcats lost in the regional semifinal to state semifinalist Wayne Memorial, 51-27, on March 31 at Northville. Senior guard Emma Riley, who averaged 13 points per game, earned All-KLAA West honors along with senior guard Kyra Brandon. Junior guard Ainsley Florence made honorable mention. Senior guard Noel Blain and senior center Alex Bohn made All-KLAA West for Canton (6-11), while sophomore forward Rachel Williams was named honorable mention. Junior guard Marissa Henry earned All-KLAA West honors for Salem (2-15). Freshman guard Madison Morson was named honorable mention.

SALEM ICES OPPOSITION

Three straight victories enabled Salem (8-6) to capture the Division 1 boys hockey regional capped by a 2-1 overtime victory over rival Plymouth on March 20 at the Dearborn Ice Skating Center. The Rocks, coached by Ryan Ossenmacher, also defeated Dearborn Unified (5-1) and Northville (1-0) en route to the title. Salem’s season ended on March 24 in the quarterfinals against eventual Division 1 champion Detroit Catholic Central, 3-1. For Salem, junior forward Alex Mazzucca and junior goalie Andre Genereux earned Division 1 second-team All-State honors by the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association. Salem senior forward Devan Grayshaw also earned honorable mention. Plymouth (7-7-2) had a pair of honorable mention All-Staters in junior forward Tyler Kelley and senior defenseman Alexander Blankenship. Junior forward Tyler Husted earned honorable mention All-State for Canton (8-8).

CANTON GYMNASTS QUALIFY

After a third-place showing at the White Lake Lakeland regional, the Canton girls gymnastics team earned a spot and placed 12th in the MHSAA team finals, March 26-27, at Rockford. In the individual finals, Plymouth’s Maise Swafford (eighth, uneven bars) and Canton’s Lia Pinkosky (tied for ninth, balance beam) earned Division 1 All-State honors with top 10 finishes. In Division 2, Plymouth’s Ella Seale took third in the all-around (35.75) after tying for second on the uneven bars; eighth on floor exercise and 10th on beam. Canton’s Kana Quinn added a seventh on vault. Other D2 meet qualifiers included Canton’s Livia Perelli and Grace Tarquinto, along with Salem’s Hannah Pheeney.

GOING TO THE MAT

Plymouth junior Spencer Vos (215 pounds) had a banner season finishing fourth by winning four of six matches in the Division 1 individual finals held April 2-3 at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo. Voss, who was the regional runner-up at Westland John Glenn, finished 25-7 on the year. Salem senior Connor Armstrong (145) added a third at the regional to qualify for Kalamazoo where he finished 23-7 on the year. He won his opening round match before dropping his next two. Canton had three state qualifiers who did not compete in the individual finals led by juniors Giulian Bodiu (285), who placed second at the regional; Brandon Watkins (103) and Adam Nicholas (171), both fourth at the regional.

GURGEL SWIMS FAST

Canton sophomore Ryan Gurgel took All-State honors (top eight) with a third-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley (1:54.14) at the Division 1 boys swimming and diving finals held March 26-27 at Hudsonville. Gurgel also placed ninth in the 100 butterfly (51.25) and helped the Chiefs, who placed 16th overall with 40 points, to an 11th in the 400 freestyle relay along with junior Matt Thompson, senior Logan Stombaugh and senior Ben Ruhala (3:16.33). Other individual state point scorers from P-CEP included sophomore Andy Mak (Plymouth), 100 breaststroke (58.79); Evan Holmberg (Plymouth), 100 backstroke (53.40); Stombaugh, 14th, 200 IM (1:59.02); and sophomore Paolo Belleza (Plymouth), 16th (59.73). Plymouth’s 200 medley relay team of Holmberg, Mak, junior Matthew Bey and Belleza took 13th (1:38.21). They also added a 16th in the 400 freestyle relay (3:17.73). Salem’s 400 freestyle relay quartet of sophomore Bruce Beyer, junior Jalen Hung, freshman Laken Hung and sophomore Andrew Repp finished 14th (3:16.95).