Grass Lake Follows Bargesser's Lead to 1st Title since 1970
By
Tim Robinson
Special for MHSAA.com
June 6, 2021
JENISON — Despite having a big lead late in Saturday’s Lower Peninsula Division 3 track & field championship meet, Grass Lake coach Anthony Cole wasn’t interested in conceding anything.
“We haven’t won it yet,” he said, smiling.
He didn’t have to worry.
The Warriors won with 68 points, exactly double the number of second-place Benzie Central, to take their first Finals title since winning Class C in 1970. Their most recent top-two finish came when they placed second in Class D in 1997.
They won it this time with plenty of help from senior Brennan Bargesser, whose blonde hair, long on top, was braided twice across the top of his skull to a small bun at the back.
“Aerodynamic,” he said.
Whatever the reason, Bargesser won the 100, 200, and 400 while also running the anchor leg of Grass Lake’s champion 400 relay.
“It’s been really fun having a couple of Bargessers on the team,” Cole said of both Brennan and his sister Lexie, who keyed the Grass Lake girls team’s run to a Division 3 co-championship. “But it’s not just him. It’s been the whole squad all season long. We’ve been peaking all season long. We’ve got senior kids who have bought into everything we’ve sold them. It’s been real fun to watch.”
One of those seniors, Josh Sherwood, picked up points with fifth-place finishes in the 100 and 200 and ran the third leg on the winning 400 relay. Jack Easterday was fifth in the 100 hurdles and sixth in the 300 hurdles. Connor Vieghelan took second in the pole vault, and Trenton Holden was fourth in the discus.
“We’ve had a lot of really good seniors,” Cole said. “It’s really been their show. Every one of our kids all bought in, and it’s been fun to see.”
For Bargesser, Saturday’s meet was the culmination of a season that saw him miss time due to COVID-19 and some injuries.
“This was a dream come true,” he said. “My sister and I have dreamed about this for years, and it was really cool for us as siblings to do this on the same day.”
Bargesser, who will attend Bethel University in the fall, said his teammates were invaluable.
“I love track guys,” he said. “They’re all so nice every time. Doesn’t matter if you win or lose. Everyone is congratulating each other all of the time. It’s really nice to be around.”
As for winning the team championship, “we’ve been talking about it the whole day,” Bargesser said. “Our big goal was to get The Mitten, and we needed everyone to do that.”
The man with the aerodynamic ’do thanked God for his talent and his teammates, but also for the 10-plus mph breezes on the hottest day of the year so far. “The wind was awesome,” he said.
Pewamo-Westphalia, which tied Grass Lake for the girls title, finished third in the boys meet with 30 points.
PHOTOS: (Top) Grass Lake celebrates its Division 3 team track & field championship Saturday. (Middle) Pewamo-Westphalia's Jack Easterday clears a hurdle. (Photos by Tim Robinson.)
Dollar Bay Cashes In on School Records for 1st Finals Title
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 6, 2021
KINGSFORD — History was made in the Upper Peninsula Division 3 Track & Field Finals on Saturday as the Dollar Bay Blue Bolts were crowned champions for the first time with 67 points.
They were followed by Pickford with 55 and Rapid River with 47.
Dollar Bay set school records while winning the 1,600-meter relay in three minutes, 42.88 seconds and 3,200 relay in 8:31.01.
Bessemer had won the 3,200 relay eight years in a row. The Speedboys, however, took third this time (8:58.64).
“We got it done,” said senior and Bay College basketball recruit Davin Hill. “Our coach pushed us hard all year. Our practices were harder than the meets.”
Senior John Norland anchored the winning 3,200 relay and took the 400 (51.38) and 800 (2:07.1).
“We knew we had a chance to win the U.P. Finals,” he said. “I ran my second-fastest split (2:01) in the 3,200 relay. The 400 and 800 are tough races. The 800 is very close to a sprint.”
Conner LeClaire added a first in the 300 hurdles (42.33) and second in the 110s (17.63).
Pickford’s lone first came on Hayden Taylor’s toss of 42 feet, 8¼ inches in shot put with Cedarville senior Drew Bailey taking second (42-2).
Rapid River senior Parker Dausey won discus (126-1) and classmate Max Lenaker took high jump (6-1).
North Central took the 400 relay (46.32) and sophomore Luke Gorzinski captured the 200 (23.29), edging Republic-Michigamme’s Isaac Lawrence by two hundredths of a second.
Lawrence won long jump (20-2) and placed third in the 100 (11.69), one hundredth of a second behind Munising’s Micaiah Peramaki.
Brimley senior Cameron Hoornstra won the 100 (11.62), and Rudyard’s Gannon Smith took pole vault (10-6).
Chassell senior Kolson Kytta became a double winner, taking the 1,600 in a school-record 4:35.37 and 3,200 (10:45.14) on a hot and humid day in Dickinson County.
“I did a lot of visualization about how I thought the races would do,” said Kytta, who’s considering running at Michigan Tech. “I put in a lot of training to get better. I don’t think the heat affected me too much.”
Lake Linden-Hubbell recorded its lone first in the 800 relay (1:38.04), and Carney-Nadeau senior Tim Hodson crossed first in the 110 hurdles (17.58).
“Our handoffs looked pretty good,” said senior Caleb Klein, who anchored the winning 800 relay. “This was our best time all year ,and I think the competition helped us a lot. All the adrenalin from all the fans being here also got me going.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Dollar Bay's A.J. Datto passes the baton to Davin Hill during the 1,600 relay Saturday. (Middle) Chassell's Kolson Kytta leads the pack after completing six laps of the 3,200. (Below) Carney-Nadeau's Tim Hodson won the 110 hurdles with Connor LeClaire from Dollar Bay taking second, Pickford's Josh Sullivan taking third, and Powers North Central’s Trenton Naser taking fourth. (Photos by Cara Kamps. Click to see more at RunMichigan.com.)