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 10th last season returning its top four placers from that team and with senior Jamin Thompson and junior Josh Oom posting the 24th and 25th-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 17th and fifth at the 2019 Final. Jenison senior Connor Vachon (12th), Milford senior Kazuma Bowring (14th) and Farmington senior Peter Baracco (19th) 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 20th 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 83rd a year ago but is unbeaten this season and has the fifth-fastest time (15:39.60). Ada Forest Hills Eastern senior Ben Clason (12th), Freeland sophomore Braydon Honsinger (13th), Holland Christian junior Parker Lambers (14th), Yale senior Matthew McClelland (15th) and Dearborn Divine Child sophomore Michael Hegarty (19th) 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 21st 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 13th 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 10-20th last season will run again this weekend – Hanover-Horton senior Dean Reynolds (10th), Grandville Calvin Christian senior Luke Witvliet (14th), Homer senior Alec Shaw (16th), Parchment junior Garrett Winter (17th), Memphis senior Tyler Carlson (18th), Potterville senior Zach Wright (19th) and Bloomingdale senior Joe Furlan (20th). Dansville senior Jalen Nelson was 10th in Division 4 last season and Saranac senior Grayson Rasmus was 13th; 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 10th in Divisions 3 with now-junior Max Sharnas coming in 27th and now-senior Nik Pettinga 29th. Pettinga was third and Sharnas 15th 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 17th. Webberville returns four of its top five from last year’s 10th-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 12-20th. Also back this weekend are Concord junior Jonathan Mikovits (4th in 2019), Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart senior Matthew Nowak (6th) Mayville senior Wyatt Emmons (8th), Breckenridge senior Colttion Vine (12th), Morrice senior Caleb Rivers (14th), Breckenridge junior Trent Carter (18th), Mendon senior Charlie Newburry (19th) and Sacred Heart junior Brock Lynch (20th).
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.)
Sinke Family Has Bear Lake Primed to Compete for Championships Now, In Future
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
October 25, 2024
One Sinke is nearing the end of a high school running career seeking to qualify for a fourth-straight MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 4 Cross Country Final.
A few other Sinkes are right in the middle of possible team and individual title opportunities.
Mason Sinke, who broke the Bear Lake cross country race record earlier this season, is about to finish his stellar career on 5K courses. He still has the spring track season ahead, and then he’s moving on to run for Hope College. Saturday, he hopes — or rather expects — to qualify for his fourth Final while vying for the individual Regional title at Benzie Central.
His team will not qualify for the Final due to an insufficient number of healthy runners. But the Bear Lake girls team – led by freshman Callie Sinke – has its eyes on qualifying for the Final and can’t help but think a state championship is obtainable in the near future.
A future boys title also isn’t out of the question as the Lakers have a strong middle school program as well. The middle school’s current number one runner is Johnny Sinke.
And all the Lakers cross country teams are coached by Tony Shrum and Kim Sinke. Shrum has headed up the cross country program, which co-ops with Onekama, since 2012. Kim Sinke, a former college distance runner, joined the staff this year. She is also the mother of Mason, Callie and Johnny Sinke.
Bear Lake is really hoping to start some strong winning streaks this weekend after long Regional championship streaks were common up until a decade ago. The Lakers are not unfamiliar with Finals appearances, but they’re looking for their first in a decade with the Regional trophy earned.
“For the girls, as long as we’ve got everybody healthy and racing, the goal is to win,” Shrum said of the upcoming Regional. “It would be our seventh girls Regional title in the program’s history, so they would be on a list with a pretty exclusive group.”
Shrum hopes the resting and recovering this week will allow the Lakers to put their best foot forward in the Regional. Bear Lake’s girls, the West Michigan D League champions this year, will be racing against some familiar foes.
There will be disappointment if there aren’t several Lakers listed among the top 10 finishers – and a handful in the top five are pretty much expected.
Callie Sinke, who is fighting through normal running injury challenges, and Addy Zeller are the Lakers’ top two runners and arguably the top two rated runners in the region. But injuries have slowed down the top two Lakers a bit.
“Right now Callie is about 20 seconds ahead of everybody in the field Saturday,” Shrum pointed out. “We have three of the top five girls when healthy in the region, and our fourth girl has top-15 ability and our fifth girl has been coming on.”
And these Lakers are young. Callie Sinke is a freshman and Zeller, hampered lately by a quad injury, is a sophomore. Melodie Hulinek, the number three runner who is coming back from a knee injury, is also a freshman. Natalie Brown, the current fourth runner, is a junior. Two other freshmen, Isabella Card and Peyton Buckner, may run for the fifth scoring spot, along with two other juniors, Lauren Pulido-Huber and Libby Daugherty. The co-op is without a senior on the girls side.
Shrum is excited about the opportunity this year and really the next three. He notes two current middle school runners will likely compete for varsity spots next fall.
“We’ve got a good core of girls coming back for the next four years,” Scrum said.
Zeller and Sinke attend Onekama High School. The rest of the girls team are enrolled with Bear Lake.
Mason Sinke is a senior at Onekama. He too has sat out a few races recently to rest and prepare for his last two career high school meets.
All season, he’s had a special partner and coach, Kaden Forward. The school record Sinke broke this year had belonged to Forward, who finished 13th in last year’s Final. Sinke was a few seconds behind Forward in the Final last year and finished 16th. He’s looking to take one of the top spots – if not first place – this Saturday and go on to a top 10, if not top five, at the Final.
The West Michigan D League features one of the top runners in the state in Alex Tyndall from Mason County Eastern. Tyndall finished 18th in last year’s Final, a few seconds behind Sinke. Tyndall and Eastern will be among many competitors Bear Lake has raced against week after week. A handful of other runners familiar to Mason Sinke will challenge him for a top-five Regional finish.
“Right now Mason would be the number two guy behind Alex coming in,” Shrum acknowledged. “We’ll see if he wants to chase Alex and push him and see if he can take Alex down. but otherwise I think silver at the Regional is a definite possibility for him.”
The Bear Lake boys team has no chance of qualifying for the Finals as two of its five team members are out with injuries. But Shrum holds strong hopes senior Greyson Hoeflinger will also qualify for the Finals as an individual.
Over the 35 years of the co-op’s existence, Bear Lake’s boys teams have won 23 Regional titles and the girls have won six.
“Between Mason and Kaden, they have really changed the mindset of our program,” Shrum said. “Callie is leading the girls on the same path.”
Bear Lake is looking forward to an influx of talented young runners on the boys side too.
“Our next set of boys teams could be banner raising, winning teams of the state final,” Shrum predicted. “We’re on the comeback collectively as a program.”
The future is bright, but the current boys and girls teams members should get the credit for getting Bear Lake back to its winning ways.
“To me it is exciting to get back on that level and compete for state titles and Regional championships in the next five, six years,” Shrum noted. “A lot of it really has to do with the current group of kids that we have and their dedication, their discipline, their excitement and enthusiasm for the sport.”
Tom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Mason Sinke runs to his school record-setting 5K time Sept. 7 at the Bear Country Invitational. (2) The Bear Lake girls team take a trophy photo after clinching the West Michigan D League title. (3) Mason Sinke, middle, takes a photo with Bear Lake head coach Tony Shrum and assistant and mother Kim Sinke. (4) Callie Sinke runs a race this fall. (Photos courtesy of the Sinke family.)