Runners-up Become Champions in D4
November 7, 2015
By Bill Khan
Special for Second Half
BROOKLYN — Zachary Pettinga of Saugatuck lost the race, but didn't lose his sense of humor.
Explaining the decisive move made by Evart's Santana Scott, Pettinga said, "The top of his head blinded me. I lost my footing and everything."
Scott was rocking a look that made him look more like a senior citizen than a high school senior, with the top of his head shaved completely while keeping the hair on the sides and back.
The things high school kids will do in the name of team bonding.
"It's a team thing," Scott said. "We do it every year. I was a senior, so I got to decide, me and a couple other seniors. We thought this would look cool."
Despite the crazy look, Scott was all business when the gun went off.
He separated himself from Pettinga in the second mile to win in 16:05.7 in the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 4 championship race Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. Pettinga's second-place finish in 16:22.2 led Saugatuck to the team championship by a 51-92 margin over Bear Lake/Onekama. Harbor Springs was third with 179 points.
Scott became only the second MHSAA cross country champion for Evart, the first coming in 1952 when Gaylord Denslow was the Class C-D champion with a two-mile time of 11:02.1. Scott has talked with Denslow, who still lives in Evart.
"He's pretty cool," Scott said. "He gives me lots of running advice. He says just be one with your team and run for your team, not for yourself. That made a big impact this year."
Scott moved up the ranks each year at the MHSAA Finals, placing 36th (16:54.1) in 2012, 20th (17:02.2) in 2013 and second (15:54.7) last year. He was ecstatic with his second-place finish last season, realizing that nobody was going to catch three-time champion Jesse Hersha of Concord.
"Last year I just ran my heart out," Scott said. "Today it was to win. I didn't get the time I wanted, but races happen. I think it's actually windier than last year."
Saugatuck will probably be favored to repeat after winning Division 4 for the second time in three years. The Indians had five juniors, a sophomore and a freshman in a lineup that put five runners in the top 15. Pettinga and fellow juniors Nick Butch and Orlando Carrion were on Saugatuck's 2013 championship team and 2014 runner-up squad.
The addition of freshman Corey Gorgas helped put Saugatuck back on top. He was the Indians' No. 2 runner, placing 11th in 16:41.4. The rest of Saugatuck's pack included Butch (13th, 16:46.1), Carrion (14th, 16:49.7) and sophomore Keegan Seifert (15th, 16:51.8).
Bear Lake/Onekama had three runners across before Saugatuck, but didn't have the Indians' strength at the No. 4 and No. 5 spots. Bear Lake/Onekama has been creeping closer to the top, placing ninth in 2012, fourth in 2013, third in 2014 and second in 2015.
The MHSAA Cross Country Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
PHOTOS: (Top) Saugatuck’s Orlando Carrion (919) pushes toward the finish with teammate Keegan Seifert following close behind; they finished 14th and 15th for the team champion. (Middle) Evart’s Santana Scott improved from runner-up in 2014 to claim the individual title. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)
Pinckney's Jarema, Otsego Celebrate 1st Finals Victories
November 6, 2021
BROOKLYN — When Caleb Jarema crossed the finish line at Michigan International Speedway a year ago, a bull’s eye was painted on his back.
Having placed second in the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 cross country race behind Fremont senior Nathan Walker, Jarema automatically became the man to beat in 2021 as the only non-senior in the top four.
Jarema fulfilled the promise he showed at MIS as a junior, winning the Division 2 race Saturday with a time of 15:22.22.
He won by 6.63 seconds over Fremont’s latest senior standout, Conor Somers.
“I feel like I’ve had somewhat of a target on my back,” Jarema said. “I was more worried about the team. Obviously, I think a little bit about, ‘I want to be individual champion,’ but my focus this year is just trying to get the team to win.”
Pinckney, it turned out, finished fifth for the second year in a row.
The Pirates have a rich cross country tradition, having won three consecutive Division 1 championships from 2005-07. During that time, David Emery (2006) and Brian Hankins (2007) led Pinckney by winning individual championships.
Now Jarema has added his name to that legacy.
“We have this wall at Pinckney of people who have been all-state,” Jarema said. “It’s in our athletic hall, so every day I walk by and see Brian Hankins and David Emery, who were state champs. It’s a little thing that reminds me every day what I’m working for.”
Pinckney was still in Division 1 during Jarema’s first two years of high school. He didn’t qualify for the state meet as a freshman, placing 38th at Regionals in 17:18.2. As a sophomore, while also playing varsity soccer, Jarema qualified for the Division 1 Final by taking 11th at Regionals. He showed potential by taking 38th in the MHSAA Final in 16:12.8.
Like former Grand Blanc star Grant Fisher, he gave up soccer his junior year, in Jarema’s case because of the toll playing both sports was taking on his body.
“I definitely miss soccer,” Jarema said. “(Cross country) has kind of just become my home. I love the people.”
After five top-five finishes in Division 2 over the last six seasons, Otsego won its first MHSAA team championship by a 135-147 score over Chelsea.
Senior Nick Cockerel was ninth in 15:53.86, senior Tristin Canales was 15th in 15:59.58, senior Mason Kolhoff was 17th in 16:01.35, senior Chase Brown was 36th in 16:29.17 and junior Colin Wesseldyk was 95th in 17:05.04 for Otsego.
Chelsea could be primed to be crowned champion next season, as the Bulldogs were led by sophomore standout Connell Alford’s fourth-place time of 15:42.64 and had three juniors take places two through four in their lineup.
PHOTOS (Top) Pinckney’s Caleb Jarema closes in on his first MHSAA Finals championship Saturday afternoon. (Middle) Otsego’s Nick Cockerel (1284) and Grand Rapids Christian’s Tinsae Nelson (1234) and Ben Zwart (1238) make their push toward the finish. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)