Preview: Chasing the Champions
October 17, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
It’s not rare to see a repeat MHSAA Finals individual champion in cross country. Over the last decade alone, five Upper Peninsula runners have won multiple boys titles.
But how likely are three repeat champions in one season?
Stephenson senior Connor Cappaert can become the 14th to win three individual championships after earning his first two in different divisions over the last two seasons. Marquette junior Lance Rambo will have a chance to join that elite group next year if he can repeat this weekend in Division 1, and Ironwood senior Jared Joki can add a fourth top-three finish and second straight title in Division 2.
Here’s a look at some of the competition standing in the way, plus favorites for the team titles. Click for Saturday's race schedule and a list of all qualifiers.
DIVISION 1
Reigning champion: Marquette
2013 runner-up: Escanaba
2014 top three: 1. Marquette, 2. Escanaba, 3. Negaunee.
Marquette has two runners back from its top five that won last season’s title team. Rambo was the individual champion and came only six seconds from breaking the top 10 times in U.P. Division 1 history, and junior Troy Sergey added a 17th-place finish. But Escanaba is imposing with five of its top six back including fifth-place Joey Wolfe and seventh-place Eric Cousineau, a sophomore and senior, respectively.
Individuals: The field is loaded. In addition to Rambo, Wolfe and Cousineau, four more from last season’s top 10 are back: Houghton seniors David Jazsczak (third) and Jacob Colling (sixth), Kingsford junior Nate Carey (fourth) and Menominee senior Gunther Dedamos (ninth). Calumet sophomore Mitchell Delong was 15th last season and could move up. Negaunee’s Grant Johnson finished only 30th but won the Mid-Peninsula Conference title this fall.
DIVISION 2
Reigning champion: St. Ignace
2013 runner-up: Hancock
2014 top three: 1. Ishpeming Westwood, 2. Powers North Central, 3. Ironwood.
Westwood is seeking its first title since 2004 and hasn’t finished among the top two since 2006. The Patriots run six seniors and a junior, and senior Ryan Hunt placed ninth at last season’s Final. Powers North Central is the reigning Division 3 champion and looks like a strong candidate despite the move in division – sophomore Seth Polfus finished third individually and junior Bryce Holle was fourth last season in Division 3, and total the team returns four of last season’s top seven. Ironwood also has four of its seven back after finishing fourth a year ago, led by reigning individual champion Joki. A senior, he also finished third as a freshman and second as a sophomore.
Individuals: Norway senior Justin Anderson is looking to contend again after finishing fourth last fall, 13th in 2012 and 14th in 2011. Ishpeming could impact the team standings as well with senior Mark Holmgren and juniors Kazmine Langness and Derek Mahoski; they finished 14th, sixth and 16th, respectively, in 2013.
DIVISION 3
Reigning champion: Powers North Central
2013 runner-up: Pickford
2014 top three: 1. (tie) Stephenson, 1. (tie) Munising, 3. Cedarville.
This field is relatively open with North Central moving into Division 2. All seven runners from last season’s seventh-place finish are back for Stephenson, led by Cappaert. He’ll run for his third MHSAA title after winning Division 3 last season and Division 2 in 2012 (and finishing sixth in Division 2 in 2011). Munising, tied for the top spot in the final coaches poll, ran only four in 2013 and hence didn’t earn a team score, but has three of those back including junior and 10th-place finisher Brett Hannah.
Individuals: While Cappaert is a heavy favorite, he’ll have plenty of familiar competition. Reigning runner-up Zak Mazurek of Bessemer, also a senior, is back hoping to close the 18-second gap. In addition to Hannah, five more of last season’s top 15 are back – Wakefield-Marenisco junior Sam Dean (11th), Painesdale-Jeffers’ junior Kevin Semmens (ninth) and senior Anthony Harris (15th) and Marquette North Star Academy senior John-Henry Kibit (13th).
PHOTO: Kingsford’s Nate Carey (219) and Houghton’s Jacob Colling (215) are among top finishers from 2013 looking to challenge reigning champions Saturday. (Photo courtesy of RunMichigan.com/Paul Gerard.)
Lansing Catholic Senior 'Ties' Up Repeat
November 1, 2014
By Bill Khan
Special for Second Half
BROOKLYN — Keenan Rebera ticked off each item on his individual checklist.
Only the team championship eluded his grasp.
Rebera, a senior at Lansing Catholic, repeated as the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 3 cross country champion Saturday with a time of 15:30.2 at Michigan International Speedway.
His team finished second with 141 points, well behind Benzie Central's winning total of 87.
Before he even knew the team results, he was proud of the effort put in by his teammates throughout the season.
"No matter what the outcome is, I know these guys have put in the work and they will reap the rewards," Rebera said. "It's really good to have the atmosphere we have on the team. We have an expectation of putting in everything you have, everything you can give. We're all in, we're all very serious about it and we all love it."
As for his own race, Rebera had three goals in mind.
"Win, beat my time from last year and not have my shoes untied," he said.
At that, it was natural to glance down at Rebera's spikes — the laces were still tied.
Even without anyone to push him in the final mile, Rebera eclipsed last year's winning time of 15:31.0. Zac Benham of Scottville Mason County Central was second by 14.4 seconds.
"The conditions today were way worse than last year with the wind," Rebera said. "That's what makes it fun. That last mile was pretty lonely; that's the nature of this sport."
The Cougars couldn't topple the depth of the dynasty that has been built at Benzie Central.
Benzie repeated as the Division 3 champion, winning its eighth overall title. Benzie has been in the top four the last four years.
Benzie had three runners crack the top-30 all-state threshold, with sophomore Brayden Huddleston taking ninth in 16:09.0, senior Kyle Bailey 19th in 16:30.7 and junior Jake Williams 25th in 16:33.0. Also scoring for the Huskies were junior Noah Robotham (16:42.4) and sophomore Jeffery Crouch (17:09.8).
Benzie squeezed in four runners before Lansing Catholic crossed its No. 2 runner, sophomore Ethan Markey, who was 35th in 16:42.9.
PHOTOS: (Top) Lansing Catholic’s Keenan Rebera pushes toward the finish in repeating as Lower Peninsula Division 3 champion at Michigan International Speedway. (Middle) Burton Bendle’s Timothy Kimball (708) leads a pack that includes Benzie Central’s Kyle Bailey (534), who ran second for the eventual team winner. (Click to see more from RunMichigan.com.)