fall sports #2 2015 pgs

LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS |thursday, AUGUST 27, 2015 | inside: mason county CENTRAL & HART

20152015201520152015201520152015FallSPORTS

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By ED PAPESDaily News sports writer

SCOTTVILLE — Over the past several seasons the Ma-son County Central Spar-tan footballers have spun a string of 3-6 and 2-7 win-loss seasons together. But last fall, the Spartans stepped up and posted a winning 5-4 campaign.

“That was a big improve-ment. We are looking to maintain that momentum this season,” said Central’s veteran head coach Scott Briggs, who has 10 returning letterwinners to work with.

“We have been preaching

to our guys, however, that having a good season is not going to be an automatic,” added Briggs, who starts his 19th season and the Spar-tans leader. “The guys will need to work hard to earn it. Otherwise, especially with the tough schedule we have, our season could go south in a hurry.”

The Spartans graduated seven players from the 2014 squad. Two of the most no-table are Sean Wells, an in-side linebacker-tight end, and Nate Strejcek, a defen-sive end-tackle. Both earned West Michigan Conference first-team honors.

The Central varsity will start the season with 23 players, that includes six se-niors and 17 juniors.

“We did not have to bring up any underclassmen this year. But we have a good mixture of experience and youth,” said Briggs. “And we have a very positive vibe go-ing in our program.”

“However, we will not have much depth with just 23 players. Injuries will be a big concern as it always is for us.”

One of the key areas this season for the Spartans should be a strong lineback-ing corp that will include se-

niors Spencer Knizacky (5-foot-9, 160), Blake Bladzik (6-foot-3, 205), Austin Mac-Dougall (6-foot-2, 190) as well as juniors Ryan Mount (6-foot-4, 185), Cody Sober-alski (5-foot-11, 175) and Ethan Rybicki (6-foot-1, 175).

A couple of those players, however, may have to move to the defensive line.

Bladzik, who is still recov-ering from an automobile accident that occurred last Thanksgiving, remains a bit of question mark for the sea-son.

“He has been cleared to play,” said Briggs. “But he is still experiencing pain.”

“Our defensive line has lost a lot. And our second-ary will not be as tall as last season. But they should be quicker,” noted Briggs.

On offense, the Spartans will rely on a strong nucleus in the middle. Knizacky, a solid all-around quarterback returns for his third season as the starter.

“This will be Spencer’s second season in our new offense which allows him more opportunities to pass the ball,” noted Briggs. “We will still run the fullhouse-T at times, but we will be throwing the ball also.”

In front of Knizacky with

be senior center Chance Iles (6-foot-1, 190), junior guard Eldon McCabe (5-foot-11, 175) and junior guard Matt Quinn (5-foot-11, 210).

Iles and McCabe were starters last fall. Quinn, a good athlete, returns to foot-ball after a one-year absence.

The running back duties will be covered by Mount, So-beralski, senior newcomer Lo-gan Merrick (5-foot-9, 160) as well as junior Austin Tyndall (5-foot-9, 145), junior Travis Tyndall, (5-foot-8, 140), junior Dylan Hearns (5-foot-11, 160), junior Rybicki.

see SPArtAnS, PAgE 4

ruSS millEr | for the Daily NewsMembers of the Mason County Central varsity football team are, sitting, from left, Dylan Hearns, Gunner Schultz, Logan Merrick, Travis Tyndall, Cody Frey, Trenton Strejcek and Austin Tyndall; kneel-ing, Ryan Rush, Cody Soberalski, Austin Larr, Spencer Knizacky, Matt Quinn, Chance Iles, Eldon McCabe and Ethan Rybicki; standing, coach Scott Briggs, assistant Jim Schulte, Evan Robison, C.J. Pyke, Ryan Mount, Jonathan Zoscsak, Sam Miller, Austin MacDougall, Blake Bladzik, assistant Greg Robison and assistant Jack Stibitz.

Mason County Central football

Spartans seek to maintain winning

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2 | luDiNgtoN Daily News/fall sports | thursDay, august 27, 2015www.ludingtondailynews.com

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ruSS millEr | for the Daily News

Mason County Central junior varsity footballMembers of the Mason County Central junior varsity football team are, sitting, from left, Ty Sniegowski, Alex Fricke, D’Anthony Swisher, Wyatt Perez, Ashton Cohoon and Trey Posma; kneeling, Zach Richardson, Ronnie Dice, Seth Cohoon, Jaden Stinnett, Anthony Thomsen, Bruce Banks, Adrian Rosales and Trenton Wil-bur; standing, coach Chris Carr, Max McLouth, Hunter Kirchner, Justin Silvers, Nate Nummerdor, Gus Quigley, Hunter wood and Ethan Beetz.

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thursDay, august 27, 2015 | luDiNgtoN Daily News/fall sports | 3www.ludingtondailynews.com

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from PAgE 2

“Our running backs will be receivers quite of-ten for us,” said Briggs. Other interior lineman will be senior tight end-tackle Bladzik (6-foot-3, 205), senior tight end-tackle MacDougall, junior Evan Robison (5-foot-10, 170), junior Cody Frey (5-foot-9, 205) and junior Jonathon Zos-csak (6-foot-5, 250),

The 2015 Mason County Central football team roster:

SeniorS: Blake Bladzik, Chance Iles, Spencer Knizacky, Austin MacDougall, Logan Merrick, Ryan Rush.

JuniorS: Cody Frey, Dylan Hearns, Austin Larr, Garth Lemere, Eldon McCabe, Sam Miller, Ryan Mount, C.J. Pyke, Matt Quinn, Evan Robison, Ethan Rybicki, Gunner Schultz, Cody Soberalski, Trenton Strejcek, Austin Tyndall, Travis Tyndall, Jonathon Zoscsak.

The varsity will have assis-tant coaches with a wealth of experience once again. Jack Stibitz will coach the offensive

and defensive line as well as the special teams. Jim Schulte will be the defensive coordina-tor, while Briggs handles the offense.

Chris Carr takes over the junior varsity team. Randy Wyman, Greg Robison and Pat-rick Wiese will help both the varsity and the junior varsity.

“There are three teams the rest of the league will be chasing,” said Briggs. “Those teams are Ravenna, Muskegon Oakridge and Whitehall. And any one of the those teams is capable of beating the others.”

“The whole league is a step ahead of last season,” added Briggs. “That will make our schedule tougher. But we have also taken on Manistee to re-place Hart, who is not having a team. And Manistee feels they will have a playoff-contending team this season.”

jEn SEgrAvES | courtesy photo

Mason County Central cheerleadersMembers of the Mason County Central sideline cheerleading team are, front row, from left, Jasmine Wise, Anna Wagner, manager Bria Hendrickson, Kelsey Decker and MaKayla Coleman, standing, Suzi Astrauskas, Brionna Carrier and Alli VanNoller.

vArSity footBAllThur., Aug. 27, Benzie Cen-

tral, 7 p.m.Thur., Sept. 3, Shelby, 7 p.m.Fri., Sept. 11, at Whitehall,

7 p.m.Fri., Sept. 18, Montague, 7

p.m.Fri., Sept. 25, North Muske-

gon, 7 p.m.Fri., Oct. 2, Manistee, 7 p.m.Fri., Oct. 9, at Oakridge, 7

p.m.Fri., Oct. 16, at Ravenna, 7

p.m.Fri., Oct. 23, at Ludington,

7 p.m.

junior vArSity footBAllWed., Aug. 26, at Benzie

Central, 6:30 p.m.Wed., Sept. 2, at Shelby, 6:30

p.m.Thur., Sept. 10, Whitehall,

6:30 p.m.Thur., Sept. 17, at Montague,

6:30 p.m.Thur., Sept. 24, at North

Muskegon, 6:30 p.m.

Thur., Oct. 1, at Manistee, 6:30 p.m.

Thur., Oct. 8, Oakridge, 6:30 p.m.

Thur., Oct. 15, Ravenna, 6:30 p.m.

Thur., Oct. 22, Ludington, 6:30 p.m.

coED croSS countrySat., Aug. 29, at Benzie Cen-

tral, 9 a.m.Wed., Sept. 2, at Cadillac In-

vitational, 10 a.m.Thur., Sept. 10, Leanna Wolf-

Geers Invitational, 4:15 p.m.Fri., Sept. 18, at Michigan

State InvitationalTue., Sept. 22, WMC jambo-

ree at Montague, 4:30 p.m.Sat., Sept. 26, at Oakridge In-

vitational, 8 a.m.Tue., Sept. 29, WMC jambo-

ree at Whitehall, 4:30 p.m.Tue., Oct. 6, Kelder Poured

Walls Invite, 4:15 p.m.Sat., Oct. 10, at Portage In-

viteTue., Oct. 13, WMC jamboree

at Shelby, 4:30 p.m.Sat., Oct. 17, at Traverse City

Central Invite, 10 a.m.Tue., Oct. 20, WMC jamboree

at Ravenna, 4:30 p.m.Sat., Oct. 24, Manistee Na-

tional InviteSat., Oct. 31, MHSAA region-

al at ManisteeSat., Nov. 7, MHSAA state

meet at Michigan International Speedway

BoyS SoccEr(co-oP with mASon co. EASt-Ern AnD mAniStEE cAtholic)

Fri., Aug. 21, at LeRoy Pine River, 5 p.m.

Tue., Aug 25, Shelby, 4:30 p.m.

Tue., Sept. 1, at Whitehall, 4:30 p.m.

Thur., Sept. 3, at Traverse City Christian, 5 p.m.

Tue., Sept. 8, Montague, 4:30 p.m.

Thur., Sept. 10, Benzie Cen-tral, 4:30 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 11, at Reed City,

4:30 p.m.Mon., Sept. 14, at Manistee,

6 p.m.Tue., Sept. 15, Hart, 4:30 p.m.Thur., Sept. 17, at Pentwater,

4:30 p.m.Tue., Sept. 22, at Oakridge,

4:30 p.m.Thur., Sept. 24, Pentwater,

4:30 p.m.Tue., Sept. 29, North Muske-

gon, 4:30 p.m.Thur., Oct. 1, Manistee, 4:30

p.m.Mon., Oct. 5, at Ravenna,

4:30 p.m.Wed., Oct. 7, WMC tourna-

ment, 4:30 p.m.Mon., Oct. 12, WMC tourna-

ment, 4:30 p.m.Wed., Oct. 14, WMC tourna-

ment, 4:30 p.m.

vArSity vollEyBAllSat., Aug. 22, at Reeths-Puff-

er Invite, 9 a.m.Mon., Aug. 24, at Hart, 5:30

p.m.Tue., Aug. 25, Mason County

Central Invite, 9 a.m.Tue., Sept. 1, Whitehall, 5:30

p.m.Tue., Sept. 8, at Shelby, 5:30

p.m.Sat., Sept. 12, at Pentwater

Invite, 9 a.m.Tue., Sept. 15, Ravenna, 5:30

p.m.Tue., Sept. 22, at Montague,

5:30 p.m.Sat., Sept. 26, at OnekamaTue., Sept. 29, at North Mus-

kegonTue., Oct. 6, at Hart, 5:30

p.m.Sat., Oct. 10, Shelby Invite,

9:30 a.m.Tue., Oct. 13, at Oakridge,

5:30 p.m.Tue., Oct. 20, at Orchard

View, 5:30 p.m.Tue., Oct. 27, home quad,

5:30 p.m..Thur., Oct. 29, WMC tourna-

ment, 3 p.m.

junior vArSity vollEyBAllSat., Aug. 22, at Reed City In-

vite, 9 a.m.Mon., Aug. 24, at Spring

Lake, 5:30 p.m.Thur., Aug. 27, at White

Cloud Invite, 9 a.m.Tue., Sept. 1, Whitehall, 5:30

p.m.Tue., Sept. 8, at Shelby, 5:30

p.m.Sat., Sept. 12, at Brethren In-

vite, 9 a.m.Tue., Sept. 22, at Montague,

5:30 p.m.Tue., Sept. 29, at North Mus-

kegon, 5:30 p.m.Tue., Oct. 6, at Hart, 5:30

p.m.Sat., Oct. 10, at Ludington In-

vite, 9 a.m.Tue., Oct. 13, at Oakridge,

5:30 p.m.Sat., Oct. 17, at West Shore

Community College Invite, 9 a.m.

Tue., Oct. 20, at Shelby, 5:30 a.m.

Tue., Oct. 27, at Muskegon Catholic, 5:30 p.m.

2015 Mason County Central fall schedules

SpartanS: Aiming for another winning year‘there are three teams the rest of the league will be chasing. those teams are ravenna, Muskegon Oakridge and Whitehall. and any one of those teams is capable of beating the others.’

Scott BriggsMason county central

football coach

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ruSS millEr | for the Daily NewsMembers of the Mason County Central cross country teams are, kneeling, from left, Jocee Schwass, Savannah Keefer, Devin Battenfield, Brooke Mallison, Sarah Fricke, Leta Larsen, Jordyn Sanders, Kendall Wietecha, Nicole Johnson, Breanne Mallison, Penny Petersen, Rachel Allen and Tirzah Wood; standing, assistant Keri Sanders, manager Leah Larsen, Brandon Kelley, Zac Benham, Seth Wood, Jacob Edwards, Evan Boes, Adam Fulton, Trenton Ahlfeld, Jacob Shoop, Mitch Lange, Nolan Asiala, Cody Cooper, Alec Trent and coach Ed Sanders. Not pictured: Zech Kmiecik, Trever Persoon, Parker Knizacky and manager Adam Swagner.

Mason County Central cross country


SCOTTVILLE — As coach Ed Sanders begins his 16th season leading the Mason County Central boys cross country squad there is plenty of good news awaiting him.

First of all, his top runner, senior Zac Benham, who is one of the best in the state, is back and at 100 percent. Benham suffered leg inju-ries last spring that prohib-ited him from running track.

But he is back and so are the next three runners from last season’s lineup.

“We have a very good first four,” said Sanders. “We just need to find those fifth and sixth place runners. Time will tell who they will be.”

Last season, the Spartans placed second in the West Michigan Conference behind Whitehall. Central also took third at the MHSAA Division 3 regional meet hosted at Ac-me’s Grand Traverse Resort. At the state meet, the Spar-

tans placed 19th.Benham is expected to

lead the way again this sea-son. The runner placed first at the regional meet last year. And he was second at the state meet after finish-ing third as a sophomore.

Seniors Nolan Asiala and Mitch Lange along with ju-nior Jacob Shoop should be right there to boost the Spartans’ prospects for an-other outstanding season.

see BoyS, PAgE 8

Boys team led by BenhamBy ED PAPESDaily News sports writer

SCOTTVILLE — “I am ex-cited for the upcoming sea-son,” said Ed Sanders, the veteran coach of the Mason County Central girls cross country team. “We have strong senior leadership and some promising young runners to go with them.”

Last season, Central fin-ished third in the West Michigan Conference be-hind league champ Hart and

Whitehall.But the Spartans did not

lose any runners to gradua-tion. And they return their top two runners, seniors Leta Larsen and Jordyn Sanders.

Sanders is a three-time all-conference runner, while Larsen has made it twice.

“Leta would have been all-conference three times, but she had an injury one year,” added Sanders. “But Leta is back at 100 percent.”

Sanders placed 23rd at the MHSAA Division 3 re-

gional meet last fall.Junior Penny Petersen,

29th at the regional; fresh-man Rachel Allen; freshman Brianne Mallison, freshman Brooke Mallison; senior Ni-cole Johnson; senior new-comer Devin Battenfield and senior newcomer Kendall Wietecha are the top candi-dates for the remaining four scoring spots.

“There should be a good battle for those spots,” add-ed Sanders.

see girlS, PAgE 8

Top runners back for girls

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ruSS millEr | for the Daily NewsMembers of the Mason County Central varsity volleyball team are, kneeling from left, Meghan Winey, Danielle Gerbers, Jacy Larson, Abby Parker and Hanna Gibson; standing, coach Brad Jacobs, Savannah Bice, Kayla Berringer, Kylie Mount, Dria Striker, Jolene Weier and Hunter Wiese.


SCOTTVILLE — This fall, Mason County Central high school principal, Brad Ja-cobs, with help of his wife Amy, will take over the Spar-tans volleyball program.

“We are a team,” said Ja-

cobs. “I will coach the var-sity and Amy will coach the junior varsity and help me with the varsity team.”

Last season, Jacobs fin-ished up the year for former coach Mary Scheffler. And the team ended up with an 8-25-3 record.

From that team, the Spar-

tans have graduated Abbie Berringer and Sarah Winey. Berringer was the lone all-West Michigan Conference mention last season.

Back to lead Central this fall on the court are six re-turnees.

“All six of those girls played quite a bit last year,”

noted Jacobs. Seniors Kylie Mount, a

5-foot-9 middle hitter-setter and Dria Striker, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter along with ju-nior Jolene Weier, a 5-foot-10, middle hitter, should spearhead the Spartans ef-forts.

“They are all dynamic hit-

ters at the net,” said Briggs. “Jolene will be quite a force in the middle.”

Help should also come from senior defensive spe-cialists Jacy Larson, 5-foot-3, and Danielle Gerbers, 5-foot-2 as well as junior Hunter Wiese, a 5-foot-8 outside hit-ter and setter.

Other juniors on the team are Abby Parker, a 5-foot-5 weakside hitter-backline player; Meghan Winey, a 5-foot-2 backline player-set-ter; Kayla Berringer, a 5-foot-6 weakside hitter-backline player and Hannah Gibson, a

see vollEyBAll, PAgE 8

Mason County Central volleyball

Jacobs takes on Spartan squad

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ruSS millEr | for the Daily NewsMembers of the Mason County Central boys soccer team are, front row, from left, Brian Lafata, Matt Cross, Joe Buswinka, Jarred Jones, Bradley Padgett, Cody Newman, Sean Dougherty and Ian Grey; back row, coach Scott Scheffler, Josh Petersen, Jake Martin, Connor Willick, Brennan McCarty, Tyler Marek, Brayden Perkins, Eric Erndteman, Aaron Hathaway, Joseph Slivka and assistant Eric Carlson.

Mason County Central boys soccer

Central relying on junior classBy ED PAPESDaily News sports writer

SCOTTVILLE — After go-ing 2-16-1 last season, sev-enth-year coach Scott Schef-fler has some bad news and some good news to contend with this fall.

First the bad news. The

Spartans lost four players to graduation, including Austin Krusinski, John Trivisonno and Jordan Steiger.

In addition, Central lost its two top returning seniors. Boone Alway, a three-year starter at goalkeeper and an all-conference performer, was lost for the season to a

torn ACL. And athletic Trev-or Carrier decided not to re-turn to soccer.

“Losing Boone leaves a big hole for us to fill,” said Scheffler.

Now the good news.“We have a good junior

group and we will rely on them a lot this season. We

actually return five start-ers,” said Scheffler recently. “We also got four very, solid and fundamentally strong, new players in a co-opera-tive with Manistee Catholic Central. In addition, we are looking forward to getting a foreign exchange student from Brazil. He is supposed

to have played quite a bit of soccer. But, we will see.”

One of the Catholic Cen-tral co-op players, senior Joseph Slivka, has all ready been named as team captain.

The junior nucleus will be lead by defenseman Ty-ler Marek, midfielder Eric Erndteman, midfielder Con-

nor Willick, forward Cody Newman and goalkeeping candidate Bradley Padgett.

Sophomores that should help out include defense-man Brennan McCarty and goalkeeper candidate Jarrad Jones.

see SoccEr, PAgE 8

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from PAgE 6

5-foot-7 outside hitter-back-line player, who transferred from Ludington High.

The lone sophomore on the team is Savannah Bice, a 5-foot-9 frontline hitter.

“We are hoping to be in the upper half of the confer-ence,” said Jacobs.

The 2015 Mason County Central volleyball team ros-ter:

SeniorS: Danielle Gerbers, Jacy Larson, Kylie Mount, Dria Striker.

JuniorS: Kayla Berringer, Hannah Gibson, Abby Parker,

Jolene Weier, Hunter Wiese, Meghan Winey.

SophomoreS: Savannah Bice.

Jacobs has a strong as-sistant coaching staff that includes former Hart and Pentwater head coach Chris Bosse, Kelly Parker and Doug Berringer as well as Amy Jacobs.

“I tapped the volleyball network for those coaches,” added Jacobs.

In the West Michigan Con-ference, Jacobs predicts Whitehall, Shelby and Mon-tague as the teams to beat in the title run.

from PAgE 5

Asiala ran 19th at the regional last fall, while Lange came in 39th and Shoop 26th.

Senior Cody Cooper, junior Evan Boes, sophomore Jacob Edwards, sophomore Alec Trent and freshman Zech Kmiecik appear for now to be the runners contending for the fifth and sixth spots. Edwards is a transfer student while Trent did not run cross country last year.

“We have 15 runners out,” said Sanders. “That is a good number. We have four seniors, two juniors, three sophomores and six freshman. It is good to see so many freshman out.”

The 2015 Mason County Central boys cross country team roster:

SeniorS: Nolan Asiala, Zac Benham, Cody Cooper, Mitch Lange.

JuniorS: Evan Boes, Jacob Shoop.SophomoreS: Jacob Edwards, Kaden

Holmstead, Alec Trent.FreShmen: Trenton Ahlfeld, Adam Fulton,

Brandon Kelley, Zech Kmiecik, Parker Knizacky, Trevor Persoon.

Assisting Sanders once again will be his wife Keri. Keri will also coach the middle school team.

In the conference, Sanders sees de-fending champion Whitehall, his own Central team and Hart as the top three squads.

“Something that will help us at the regional meet this season is that we will not be running at Benzie Cen-tral and facing them,” said Sanders. “We are moving to a regional hosted

by Manistee at the Manistee National golf course. But we will see Clare and Evart there. And they are also very good.”

from PAgE 5

The squad has 13 mem-bers, eight seniors, one ju-nior, no sophomores and four freshmen.

“We are really a ‘bookend-team’,” noted Sanders. “Lots of seniors and nice group of freshman.”

Central did lose senior Chloe Kimes and sopho-more Olivia Kimes. Both opt-ed not to run this season.

The Mason County Cen-tral 2015 girls cross country team roster:

SeniorS: Devin Battenfield, Sarah Fricke, Nicole Johnson, Savannah Keefer, Leta Larsen, Jordyn Sanders, Kendall Wiete-cha, Tirzah Wood.

Junior: Penny Petersen.FreShmen: Rachel Allen,

Brianne Mallison, Brooke Mal-lison, Jocee Schwass.

Keri Sanders, coach Ed Sanders’ wife, will assist with the varsity and also coach the middle school team.

“In the league race, I think it will be Hart, us and White-hall,” said Sanders.

from PAgE 7

Freshman aid is expected from three Manistee Catholic students. Those are center defenseman Brayden Perkins, striker Joe Buswinka and wing defend-er Sean Dougherty.

“These guys have played a lot of travel soccer,” added Scheffler. “They have a good amount of experience.”

The Spartans could also get some help from senior newcomer Jake Martin.

“Jake is a good athlete,” noted Schef-fler. “And we can always use good ath-letes.”

“I expect us to improve significant-ly on our record this season,” added Scheffler. “We may have had more tal-ented individuals in the past, but I be-lieve this is a better team. We will need

to rely on our passing and team play.”The 2015 Mason County Central

boys soccer team roster:

SeniorS: Jake Martin, Joseph Slivka.JuniorS: Eric Erndteman, Tyler Marek,

Cody Newman, Bradley Padgett, Josh Peterson, Connor Willick.

SophomoreS: Ian Grey, Jarrad Jones, Brennan McCarty and Aaron Hathaway.

FreShmen: Joe Buswinka, Matt Cross, Sean Dougherty, Dylan Hill, Brian LaFata, Brayden Perkins.

Assisting Scheffler this season will be former Ludington player Eric Carl-son.

Scheffler projects defending champs Whitehall and always-talent-ed North Muskegon to be the teams to beat in the West Michigan Conference this season.

“We struggle to get 20 players out for soccer and Whitehall may have 60 that come out for varsity and junior varsity soccer,” said Scheffler. “And North Muskegon always has a good talent pool to pick from.”

vOlleyball: Jacobs leads SOCCer: Manistee Catholic supplies three players

girlS: Top two girls backbOyS: Four top runners back for Spartans this autumn

‘we may have had more talented individuals in the past, but i believe this is a better team.’

Scott SchefflerMason county central boys soccer coach

DAviD BoSSicK | Daily News fileMason County Central’s Jordyn Sanders makes the long climb during the MHSAA Division 3 regional last season at Acme’s Grand Traverse Resort.

DAviD BoSSicK | Daily News fileMason County Central’s Nolan Asiala runs along an early portion of last year’s MHSAA Division 3 regional meet at Acme’s Grand Traverse Resort. Asiala, along with several other key runners, return for the Spartans this season.

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8

By AnDy roBErtSshoreliNe MeDia

HART — The Hart soccer team was very young last year, so the Pirates are hope-ful they’ll take a step for-ward this season.

Hart has its third coach in three years this year, as Brenda Seguin, who has pre-viously coached the girls soccer team, will join Cris-tian Arellano to lead the pro-gram after Wilmer Barrera returned to his home of Col-orado after one season.

The Pirates will have three captains to lead the team this year, those being Dylan VanderZwaag, Matt Vander-wall and Fher Mendez. All three will be vital to Hart’s fortunes on the field as well as off. Damian Gonzalez re-

turns to his keeper spot, and Kaleb Wiegand will lead the defensive unit.

“Being new to the coaching staff, I am unfamiliar with the boys’ talents,” Seguin said. “There will be many battles for positions. Hope-fully, this will make them

practice harder and try to prove that they are the man for the job.”

Logan Wells and Osiel De-blas are among the key new-comers to the team that should play roles.

“Everything is new this year,” Seguin said. “We

would like to be competi-tive. The boys have to work well as a team and they should be able to accom-plish this.”

The Pirates will face a good mix of larger schools and schools their own size in preparation for this

year’s postseason. In non-conference action, Hart will host bigger schools like Ludington, Newaygo and Manistee, while also facing Covert and intra-county foe Pentwater.

In the West Michigan Con-ference, Whitehall has been

a powerhouse for several years and no change is ex-pected in that regard. The Pi-rates will look to compete in the next tier, which should include rival Shelby as well as North Muskegon.

AnDy roBErtS | shoreliNe MeDiaMembers of the Hart’s varsity boys soccer team members include, left to right, front row, Abel Mendoza, Manuel Riley, Ben Escamilla, Gustavo Deblas, Damian Gonzalez, Matt Vanderwall, Dylan VanderZwaag, Austin VanderLaan and Fher Mendez; second row, coach Brenda Seguin, Enrique Cruz, Timmy Carskadon, Brendan Reid, Logan Wells, Everardo Lopez, Michael Sosnowski, John Gua-darrama, Kenneth Diaz and Osiel Deblas. Not pictured is assistant Cristian Arellano.

Hart boys soccer

Seguin back with pirates’ program

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Dr. John Hendricks


HART — Hart volleyball gets a new coach this year, in Josh Armstrong, who previously headed up the seventh-grade spikers, but that’s one of few things that will be new, as the Pirates re-turn many of their key play-ers from a season ago.

Leading the charge will likely be senior Baylee Drap-er, who is the Pirates’ top re-turning offensive player and will be counted on for solid play in the front row. Jessica Riggs returns as the setter, and Haley Mast will take on a larger role in the defense. Is-abel Vela played libero much of last year and may do so again, though Armstrong said the position is up for grabs.

“This is a vital role for the team, and (I) am waiting for an athlete or two to real-ly step up to say they want the position and are willing to do whatever it takes to be the best at it,” Armstrong said.

Madison Hegedus, Terri Carlson and Haleigh Scha-ner are also back, and Kari Merten and Yolanda Gonza-lez step up to the varsity this year.

Armstrong said his team has put in great off-season work and he is looking for-ward to seeing it bear fruit

during the season.“Through the ups, through

the downs, I can’t wait to see them pull together and work as hard on the court as they have already this past off-season,” Armstrong said.

Hart will battle a tough West Michigan Conference this season likely to be led by Whitehall and Montague, both of which won tough opening tournaments. The match against rival Shelby, which will again be part of the Pink and Green fundrais-ing event, will also be a high-light of the schedule. The Pirates take part in invita-tionals at Pentwater, Shelby and Onekama and have sev-eral crossovers on the slate as well.

“It takes every player, ev-ery play, doing their own job, in order to have success as a team,” Armstrong said of the key to the season. “It also takes a lot of trust and belief in what you and the people around you are doing to turn it into wins.”

AnDy roBErtS | shoreliNe MeDiaMembers of the Hart vol-

leyball team are, front row, Isabel Vela; second row,

from left, Jessica Riggs, Terri Carlson and Haleigh Schaner; third row, Haley Mast, Baylee

Draper, Madison Hegedus and Coach Josh Armstrong. Not pictured: Yolanda Gonzalez

and Kari Merten.

Hart volleyball

armstrong inheritsveteran

team

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HART — The Hart girls cross-country team enters this season with a chance to do something unprecedent-ed in the school’s history: Win a team state champion-ship.

The Pirates lost one of their all-time best runners in Jennie Gottardo, who is now running at Flagler College, as well as Maddie Hodges, who runs at Muskegon Commu-nity College.

However, Hart remains loaded with talent. The Pi-rates return two of their top finishers from last sea-son’s team that took fifth place at the state meet in Si-erra Albus and Alayna Ack-ley. Also back are scorers Alison Altland and Brooke Hodges, and consistent threats Sadie Vanderstelt, Kayleigh Gordon, Cassidy Owens and Kassidy Baum will also be in position to move up in the Hart peck-ing order.

Hart also brings in some great newcomers, led by freshman Adelyn Ackley, Alayna’s sister. Adelyn was perhaps the best dis-tance runner in the state as an eighth-grader and should be an immediate contributor. Lexi Gale and Tyra Bromley will also be runners to watch, as well as Allison Tiles and Taylor Lound.

As defending West Michi-gan Conference champs, Hart enters the season with a target on its back as it will look to fend off Whitehall. The Pirates’ hopes are high.

“Our goal is to fill in some gaps and return another team to the finals,” Hart coach Terry Tatro said. “(We hope) to limit injury,

stay focused, have fun, and see where the season takes us.”

On the boys’ side, Hart lost two of its better runners to graduation in Ryan Scott and Juan Lugo. Scott quali-fied for the state finals meet last year. Hart does, though, return top runners Braxton Platt, Devin Whitney, Austin Boundy and Jonah Gale. All four attended Grand Valley State and Wolverine camps this summer, Tatro said, and should be well-prepared for the season.

The Pirates also bring in a large group of newcom-ers, led by Andrew Whitney (Devin’s brother), Simon Herrera and William Schlaff. Brett Bonstell joins the team after previously playing football, and Austin Owens, Kegan Strait and Robbie Alt-land are other newcomers to look for.

As on the girls’ team, the battle for scoring spots will be interesting for the boys’ runners, especially the last two spots.

“We return solid up-front runners… but the other re-maining spots in the top sev-en are open for the taking,” Tatro said. “There should be some key battles for those positions throughout the season.”

The Hart boys hovered in the back half of the WMC last year, but hope to move up this year. Whitehall and Ma-son County Central will like-ly be the teams to beat once again in the boys’ half of the league.

“We would certainly like to qualify a boys team for the state finals,” Tatro said. “We have good numbers and an enthusiastic group.”

Hart cross country

pirate girls have sights on state

SuBmittED PhotoSMembers of the Hart girls cross country team are, kneeling, from left, Lexi Gale, Brooke Hodges, Ali Altland, Adelyn Ackley, Alayna Ackley and Sadie Vanderstelt; standing, Kassidy Baum, Kayleigh Gordon, Alyssa Scott, Maryanne Tate, Allison Tiles, Taylor Lound, Sierra Albus and Tyra Bromle.

Members of the Hart boys cross country team are, kneeling from left, William Schlaack, Joey McClatchy, Andrew Whitney, Kegan Strait, Jacob Bosley and Robbie Altland; standing, Brett Bonstell, Devin Whitney, Lars Forner, Braxton Platt, Austin Boundy, Jack Wittman, Jonah Gale and Simon Hererra.

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BoyS vArSity SoccErTue., Aug. 25, at Oakridge, 4:30 p.m.Thur., Aug. 27, Manistee, 4:30 p.m.Tue., Sept. 1, at Ravenna, 4:30 p.m.Tue., Sept. 8, Whitehall, 4:30 p.m.Thur., Sept. 10, at Pentwater, 4:30

p.m.Tue., Sept. 15, at Mason County

Central, 4:30 p.m.Fri., Sept. 18, Newaygo, 7 p.m.Tue., Sept. 22, at Montague, 4:30

p.m.Sat., Sept. 26, Hart tournament,

9:30 a.m.Tue., Sept. 29, Shelby, 4:30 p.m.Thur., Oct. 1, Reed City, 4:30 p.m.Mon., Oct. 5, North Muskegon, 4:30

p.m.Wed., Oct. 7, WMC tournamentMon., Oct. 12, WMC tournamentWed., Oct. 14, WMC tournament

junior vArSity footBAllWed., Sept.2, Oakridge, 6:30 p.m.Thur., Sept. 10, Ravenna, 6:30 p.m.Thur., Sept. 17, Traverse City CentralThur., Sept. 24, at Shelby, 6:30 p.m.Fri., Oct. 2, Mesick, 7 p.m.Thur., Oct. 8, Montague, 6:30 p.m.Thur., Oct. 15, at North Muskegon,

6:30 p.m.Thur., Oct. 22, at Evart, 6:30 p.m.

vArSity vollEyBAllMon., Aug. 24, Quad at Hart, 5:30

p.m.Tue., Sept. 1, Oakridge, 7 p.m.Tue., Sept. 8, at Montague, 7 p.m.Thur., Sept. 10, Holton, 7 p.m.Sat., Sept. 12, at Pentwater, 9 a.m.Tue., Sept. 15, North Muskegon, 7

p.m.Tue., Sept. 22, at Ravenna, 7 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 26, at Onekama Invite, 9 a.m.

Tue., Sept. 29, Shelby, 7 p.m.Thur., Oct. 1, at Hesperia, 5 p.m.Tue., Oct. 6, at Mason County Cen-

tral, 7 p.m.Sat., Oct. 10, at Shelby Invite, 8:30

a.m.Tue., Oct. 13, at Whitehall, 7 p.m.

Thur., Oct. 15, White Cloud, 7 p.m.Mon., Oct. 19, at Hesperia, 5 p.m.Tue., Oct. 20, at Fruitport, 5:30 p.m.Tue., Oct. 27, at Mason County Cen-

tral, 5:30 p.m.Thur., Oct. 29, at Mason County

Central, 3 p.m.

junior vArSity vollEyBAll

Mon., Aug. 24, at Ludington, 5:30 p.m.

Tue., Sept. 1, Oakridge, 5:30 p.m.Tue., Sept. 8, at Montague, 5:30

p.m.Thur., Sept. 10, Holton, 5:30 p.m.Sat., Sept. 12, at Morley-Stanwood

tournament, 9 a.m.Tue., Sept. 15, North Muskegon,

5:30 p.m.Tue., Sept. 22, at Ravenna, 5:30 p.m.Tue., Sept. 29, Shelby, 5:30 p.m.Tue., Oct. 6, at Mason County Cen-

tral, 5:30 p.m.Sat., Oct. 10, at Ludington Invite,

8:30 a.m.Tue., Oct. 13, at Whitehall, 5:30 p.m.Thur., Oct. 15, White Cloud, 5:30

p.m.Tue., Oct. 20, Hart quad, 5:30 p.m.Tue., Oct. 27, at Spring Lake, 5:30

p.m.

croSS countrySat., Aug. 29, at Benzie Central In-

viteSat., Sept. 19, at Briggs True Value

Invite at Ludington, 9:15 a.m.Tue., Sept. 22, at West Michigan

Confererence jamboree at Montague, 4:30 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 26, at Oakridge Invite, 8 a.m.

Tue., Sept. 29, at West Michigan Conference jamboree at Whitehall, 4:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 3, at Allendale Invite, 8:30 a.m.

Sat., Oct. 10, at Portage Central In-vite

Tue., Oct. 13, at West Michigan Conference jamboree at Shelby, 4:30 p.m.

Tue., Oct. 20, at West Michigan Conference jamboree at Ravenna, 4:30 p.m.

Thur., Oct. 22, at Oceana County Meet at Shelby, 4 p.m.

Tue., Oct. 27, at White Cloud, 4:30 p.m.

2015 Hart fall schedules

AnDy roBErtS | shoreliNe MeDia

Hart sideline cheerleading teamMembers of the Hart sideline cheerleading team include, kneeling, from left, Lexie King, Lexi Thocher, Edna Lopez, Maia Jonassen, Lesly Guerrero and Jaden Hanks; second row, coach Jennifer Hlady, Lily Hepworth, Hannah Kuipers, Kaitlyn VanDerzanden, Karla Ortega, Gabby Perez and Mirella Barco.

croSS country rEgionAlDiviSion 3 at maniStee

national GolF CourSe, maniStee: Clare, Farwell, Har-rison, Hart, Hesperia, Lakeview, LeRoy Pine River, Manistee, McBain, Montague, Morley-Stanwood, Newaygo, Reed City, Mason County Central, Shelby, Shepherd.

BoyS SoccEr DiStrictDiviSion 3 DiStriCt at

luDinGton: Benzie Central, Kingsley, Ludington, Manistee, Reed City, Mason County Cen-tral, Traverse City Christian

DiviSion 4 DiStriCt at WeSt-ern miChiGan ChriStian: Fruitport Calvary Christian, Hart, Muskegon Catholic, Western Michigan Christian, North Muskegon, Pentwater, Walkerville

vollEyBAllClaSS C DiStriCt at maSon

County Central (88): Hart, Hesperia, Holton, Montague, Mason County Central, Shelby. Winner goes to Kent City re-gional against Ravenna district winner.

2015 fall SpOrtS playOff aSSignMentS |for hart aND MasoN couNty ceNtral

leading the packHart’s Sierra Albus leads a group of run-

ners during last year’s MHSAA Division 3 regional at Acme’s Grand Traverse Resort.

Albus returns to a Pirates girls cross country team that has designs on a state champion-ship. Their tournament trail begins at a new

regional site for this season, at Manistee National Golf Course.

DAviD BoSSicK | Daily News file

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fall sports #2 2015 pgs

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