Opportunities Abound for New Winners

Boys Cross Country

October 23, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Saturday’s MHSAA Upper Peninsula Cross Country Finals at Beauchamp Grove in Gladstone, sponsored by Michigan National Guard, should provide the ideal scenarios to crown first-time champions.

While Chassell is the favorite in Division 3 after winning a year ago, neither Bessemer nor Wakefield-Marenisco has won an MHSAA boys cross country title – and together they are the favorite in Division 2. Negaunee is top-ranked in Division 1 and hasn’t won in more than 30 years. And only one of three individual champions is back to chase another title.

Here's a look at some of the teams and individuals expected to contend in all three races. Click for Saturday's race schedule and a list of all qualifiers.

DIVISION 1

Reigning champion: Marquette
2014 runner-up: Escanaba
2015 top three: 1. Negaunee, 2. Marquette, 3. Escanaba.

Negaunee’s last boys cross country championship came in 1983, but the Miners are favored to return to the top with all seven runners back from last season’s fifth-place team. Senior Grant Johnson and sophomore Colton Yesney were the top finishers in 2014, at 10^th and 11^th, respectively. Marquette returns only two runners from last season and has added three freshmen to four seniors – but those two returnees are senior Lance Rambo, last year’s runner-up, and senior Troy Sergey, who was 13^th. Escanaba also returns only two runners from last season’s lineup, but junior Joey Wolfe was third individually and senior Jon Hook was 16^th.

Individuals: The top three finishers from last year should pace the field again, with Rambo and Wolfe joined by reigning champion Nate Carey. The Kingsford senior finished third behind both at the Great Northern Conference final last week. Calumet junior Mitchell DeLong was 12^th last season, and Kingsford senior Jorge Sanchez came in 14^th.

DIVISION 2

Reigning champion: Ishpeming
2014 runner-up: Powers North Central
2015 top three: 1. Gogebic, 2. Ishpeming, 3. Powers North Central.

Neither Bessemer nor Wakefield-Marenisco had enough runners to compete in Division 3 as a team last season, but as a co-op in Division 2 they've combined to make favorite Gogebic. Senior Sam Dean was fifth last season in Division 3 and sophomore Tim Rowe finished 20^th. Four of the top five Hematites finishers are back; senior Kazmine Langness was third last season, while senior Derek Mahoski was 11^th, sophomore Kyle Pruett was 12^th and junior Matthew Ferrett was 14^th. Powers North Central finished only 14 points back of Ishpeming and returns six runners led by runner-up Bryce Holle, now a senior, seventh-place junior Seth Polfus, 16^th-place sophomore Connor Robinson and 19^th-place senior Jared Gerlach.

Individuals: Total, 10 of last season’s top 15 are back – although two-time champion Jared Joki of Ironwood graduated. Manistique sophomore Phillip Hagenson finished fourth in 2014, while Hancock junior Murphy Mallow is back after finishing seventh. Ironwood does return a pair of standouts – sophomore Andrew Niemi was ninth last season and senior Tim Lorenson was 11^th.

DIVISION 3

Reigning champion: Chassell
2014 runner-up: Stephenson
2015 top three: 1. Chassell, 2. Munising, 3. Dollar Bay.

Chassell is a solid favorite returning all seven runners from last year’s team that won by six points. Four runners finished among the top 20 – now-freshman Abraham Gockenbach was fourth, junior Hunter Rautiola was ninth, senior Lars Daavettila was 14^th and freshman Ben Tuomi was 16^th. Munising was third last season and returns four of its top five including senior third-place finisher Brett Hannah. Senior Kyle LeClaire leads a Dollar Bay team returning five of seven from last year’s fourth-place team; LeClaire was sixth and sophomore Devin Schmitz finished 17^th.

Individuals: Although the top two finishers from 2014 are not back, nine of the top 15 will run. In addition to those mentioned above, Stephenson sophomore Ethan Brown was seventh last season, Cedarville senior Patrick McMaken was 10^th and junior Avry Freel was 15^th, Big Bay de Noc sophomore Lucas Sundling was 13^th and Eben Junction Superior Central junior Luke Leppanen was 14^th.

PHOTO: Munising’s Brett Hannah ended third in the U.P. Division 3 race last season and returns as the highest finisher back from that field.

Boys Cross Country

Preview: Forecast Calls for New Favorites

November 5, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

With apologies to Division 2 favorite Fremont, this weekend’s Lower Peninsula Boys Cross Country Finals at Michigan International Speedway could be in store for wholesale changes atop the team standings.

Fremont is the only reigning champion or 2019 runner-up ranked among the top three in its division heading into this weekend’s championship races.

A change in format also will switch things up a bit. To limit the number of participants in each race, the four divisions will be run over two days – Friday and Saturday – with each gender in each division spread over two races. Third-place teams and individual qualifiers from Regionals will run first, and first and second-place Regional finishers will run second.

Watching this year’s Finals at MIS also will be different. Attendance is limited due to COVID-19 precautions, but opportunities to watch off-site are available again via MHSAA.tv. Coverage will be enhanced this year with an additional camera on the back of the course to better capture the first 800 meters, 1.5-mile and 2.25-mile marks of the race. The traditional Finish Line camera also will cover the action, with commentary from a crew of announcers.

Here’s the schedule, with links to broadcasts of each race:

Friday – Nov. 6
Division 1 Finals - Boys at 9:30 and 10 a.m. - Girls at 11 and 11:30 a.m.
Division 2 Finals - Boys at 1:30 and 2 p.m. - Girls at 3 and 3:30 p.m.

Saturday – Nov. 7
Division 3 Finals - Boys at 9:30 and 10 a.m. - Girls at 11 and 11:30 a.m.
Division 4 Finals - Boys at 1:30 and 2 p.m. - Girls at 3 and 3:30 p.m.

Come back both Friday and Saturday for coverage of all four meets on Second Half, and see below for teams and individuals who should be in the running. References to a list of fastest times per division this fall includes only the top time for each runner and can be found with the Finals program and much more information on or linked to MHSAA.com.

Division 1

Reigning champion: Brighton
2019 runner-up: Dexter
2020 top-ranked: 1. Romeo, 2. Caledonia, 3. Rockford

This season’s favorites are a mix of everything, with Romeo seeking its first championship, Caledonia its first since 1996 and Rockford a traditional power hoping to add a fifth championship with its most recent in 2014 and 2015. Romeo finished seventh last season and graduated four of its top seven, but the three runners back this weekend – seniors Zander Cobb and Joseph Rinke and junior Jack Kelke – are positioned to finished among the top 22 based on their fastest times this season. Caledonia is looking to jump from 10^th last season returning its top four placers from that team and with senior Jamin Thompson and junior Josh Oom posting the 24^th and 25^th-fastest season bests in Division 1 this fall. Rockford did finish second to Caledonia in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red championship race but might have the fastest individual of this bunch in senior Jude Parks, whose 15:30.88 is the eighth-fastest time in the division.

Individuals: Hartland senior Riley Hough finished seventh a year ago and has won all but one of his races this fall, with a 14:48.40 personal record that is the fastest time in Division 1. That one loss came in August against Ann Arbor Skyline to senior Hobbs Kessler, who finished sixth last season, has the division’s second-fastest time of 14:53.30 and is undefeated this fall. Traverse City Central senior Drew Seabase and Plymouth senior Patrick Byrnes rank third and fourth, respectively, for fastest times this season after finishing 17^th and fifth at the 2019 Final. Jenison senior Connor Vachon (12^th), Milford senior Kazuma Bowring (14^th) and Farmington senior Peter Baracco (19^th) also are back from last year’s top 20, and Richland Gull Lake senior Koby Fraaza was fifth in Division 2. Salem senior Talha Syed and Utica senior Carson Nicoletti have been among the fastest this fall and should be in the mix.

Division 2

Reigning champion: Fremont
2019 runner-up: Otsego
2020 top-ranked: 1. Fremont, 2. St. Johns, 3. Pinckney

Fremont broke Chelsea’s two-year hold on the Division 2 championship last season by finishing significantly ahead of the field and with only one senior. A year later, senior Nathan Walker will attempt to move up from fourth individually and has the fastest season-best time in Division 2 (14:56.46) by more than 34 seconds. The second-fastest time belongs to junior teammate Conor Somers (15:30.62), who was eighth at the 2019 Final, while now-seniors Adam Ward and Ben Paige also finished among the top 20. St. Johns has five of its seven back from last season’s eighth-place team, and they form an impressive pack – all five have season-best times between 15:56 and 16:31. The Redwings are seeking their first title. Pinckney, seeking its first since 2007, qualified two individuals for last year’s Division 1 Final, and senior Gavin White could make a move after coming in 20^th in that field. His season best ranks seventh in Division 2 and junior teammate Caleb Jerema’s (15:32.30) ranks fourth.

Individuals: The Fremont crew makes up 40 percent of runners back from last season’s top 20, with Walker the highest-placing returnee and Somers second on the list. Otsego senior Colin Mulder was ninth last season and has the third-fastest time this fall (15:31.22), while St. Clair senior Jack Pennewell was 83^rd a year ago but is unbeaten this season and has the fifth-fastest time (15:39.60). Ada Forest Hills Eastern senior Ben Clason (12^th), Freeland sophomore Braydon Honsinger (13^th), Holland Christian junior Parker Lambers (14^th), Yale senior Matthew McClelland (15^th) and Dearborn Divine Child sophomore Michael Hegarty (19^th) also are back from the top 20.

Division 3

Reigning champion: Hanover-Horton
2019 runner-up: Grandville Calvin Christian
2020 top-ranked: 1. Hart, 2. St. Louis, 3. Traverse City St. Francis

The theme among the favorites is experienced lineups. Hart finished fifth last season with only one senior and is favored to claim its first championship Saturday. Senior Alex Enns finished sixth individually last season and has the seventh-fastest season-best time in Division 4. St. Louis is seeking its first championship since 2005 after finishing sixth in 2019 also with only one senior. Junior Nate March was 21^st last season. St. Francis also is running for its first championship, coming off a fourth place in 2019 earned with only one senior. Junior Thomas Richards was 13^th last season and has the team’s fastest time this fall.

Individuals: Benzie Central sophomore Hunter Jones won last year’s championship by nearly 29 seconds, and his fastest time this fall (14:56) is nearly 35 seconds faster than the field. New Lothrop senior Carson Hersch has the second-fastest 2020 season best (15:30.80) after finishing third last season. Ithaca senior Braxton Lamey is next this season (15:42.70) and the next-highest returning finisher after coming in seventh in 2019. Seven more who finished 10-20^th last season will run again this weekend – Hanover-Horton senior Dean Reynolds (10^th), Grandville Calvin Christian senior Luke Witvliet (14^th), Homer senior Alec Shaw (16^th), Parchment junior Garrett Winter (17^th), Memphis senior Tyler Carlson (18^th), Potterville senior Zach Wright (19^th) and Bloomingdale senior Joe Furlan (20^th). Dansville senior Jalen Nelson was 10^th in Division 4 last season and Saranac senior Grayson Rasmus was 13^th; both are running in Division 3 this weekend.

Division 4

Reigning champion: Breckenridge
2019 runner-up: Unionville-Sebewaing
2020 top-ranked: 1. Saugatuck, 2. Carson City-Crystal, 3. Webberville

Saugatuck frequently moves between Division 3 and 4 and last season was 10^th in Divisions 3 with now-junior Max Sharnas coming in 27^th and now-senior Nik Pettinga 29^th. Pettinga was third and Sharnas 15^th when Saugatuck won Division 4 in 2018. Carson City-Crystal is seeking its first title since 1994, and Webberville is running for its first ever. The Eagles bring back six runners from last year’s fourth-place finisher, with senior Coleman Clark hoping to take the next step after finishing second last year and junior Ashton Keiffer back after finishing 17^th. Webberville returns four of its top five from last year’s 10^th-place team, with Nathan Lott another individual contender coming back from a third-place finish. Pettinga has the fastest time in Division 4 this fall (15:52.03), Lott’s season best is third (15:53.48), Sharnas’ fourth (15:55.29) and Clark’s sixth (16:06.17).

Individuals: Breckenridge junior Mason Sumner is the reigning champion and has the second-fastest season best at 15:53.40. He’s one of 12 runners back from last year’s top 20 – six from the top eight and six more who placed 12-20^th. Also back this weekend are Concord junior Jonathan Mikovits (4^th in 2019), Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart senior Matthew Nowak (6^th) Mayville senior Wyatt Emmons (8^th), Breckenridge senior Colttion Vine (12^th), Morrice senior Caleb Rivers (14^th), Breckenridge junior Trent Carter (18^th), Mendon senior Charlie Newburry (19^th) and Sacred Heart junior Brock Lynch (20^th).

PHOTO: Hartland’s Riley Hough (87) and Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Hobbs Kessler charge toward the finish line during last season’s Division 1 Final. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)