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Friendship Binds Champion Sister Acts
By
Dennis Chase
Special for MHSAA.com
November 2, 2017
By Dennis Chase
Special for Second Half
TRAVERSE CITY – Former college teammates Calvin Ackley and Rob McConnell used to joke that if their seven “little girls” ever took up cross country, and ran on the same team one day, that maybe, just maybe, they could win an MHSAA Finals championship.
The one team theory did not happen.
The championships? Well, that’s another story.
Rob and Tori McConnell’s four daughters have played prominent roles in Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart’s recent dominance in Division 4. The top-ranked Irish are favorites to three-peat Saturday at the Lower Peninsula Finals at Michigan International Speedway.
Meanwhile, Calvin and Amy Ackley’s daughter, Adelyn, will be seeking to defend her Division 3 individual championship. Top-ranked Hart, led by three Ackley sisters, will attempt to win the school’s first MHSAA team championship in any sport.
So, in the end, it wasn’t one school that benefitted. It was two.
“The next best thing,” said Calvin Ackley.
Ackley and McConnell go back 25 years, They were the top two runners on the Cornerstone University cross country team in 1992-93. The two friends eventually went their separate ways, but then reconnected a few years later after they had married and started having children – girls, lots of girls.
The families started getting together a couple times a year.
“We like to visit during the summer,” said Bailley McConnell, a senior at Sacred Heart. “We’re all good friends. They’re like family.”
The girls like to be active when they’re together – going out for runs, playing on the sand dunes near Silver Lake, swimming, jumping around on a trampoline, and 4-wheeling.
“We’re pretty energetic when we’re together,” said Alayna Ackley, a senior at Hart. “We have a lot of fun.”
They’re having a lot of fun this fall, too.
And not just on the trails. The girls like to peruse athletic.net, a website filled with running results, to keep track of each other.
“We’re always looking to see how they’re doing and comparing it to how we’re doing,” said Bailley.
A little friendly competition of sorts.
“It’s like, ‘OK, the McConnells are doing this. We need to step it up,’” said Calvin.
Hart and Sacred Heart both have failed to finish first just once this season – in September’s all-division Spartan Elite race at Michigan State. Hart finished second, eight points behind Rockford, the state’s No. 1 team in Division 1.
The Ackley sisters own three of the top six times statewide in Division 3 – Adelyn, a junior, is first (16:54.5), Alayna fifth (18:22.8) and Savannah, a freshman, sixth (18:31.6). Lynae Ackley, a freshman and first cousin, is 10th (18:41).
Sacred Heart has three of the top nine times in Division 4 – Bailley is third (18:30.1), Scout Nelson, a junior, fourth (18:37.4) and Desiree McConnell, a sophomore, ninth (19:10.5).
A year ago, all four McConnell sisters placed in the top 18 at the Finals. Alexis, who was third overall in Division 4, graduated and is now at Cornerstone (she was the Eagles’ No. 1 runner at their last NAIA meet). Cammie, who was fourth at MIS in 2016, broke her femur in August when she fell during a night run. The junior has missed the entire season.
“If they had Cammie, they could be as good as any team in the state,” said Calvin.
Still, the Irish’s depth has helped offset the losses. Sacred Heart posted a perfect score of 15 in winning last Friday’s Regional. Nelson, Bailley and Desiree McConnell, Lauren McDonald and Rowan Fitzpatrick went 1-5. Sara Peltier took seventh.
“It’s super exciting to be able to do what we’ve done,” said Bailley, who was second overall at last year’s Division 4 meet. “We have a motivated team.”
Hart claimed its Regional by placing five runners in the top 11. Adelyn finished first, Alayna third, Savannah fifth, Lynae 10th and Brenna Aerts 11th.
“We’re trying to stay humble and be confident in our abilities,” said Alayna. “We’re not letting (the No. 1 ranking) get to our heads.”
It’s been quite a ride for Rob McConnell and Calvin Ackley. They both got back into a more serious running mode when their children developed an interest in the sport.
“I didn’t want to send the girls out (on runs) by themselves, especially when they were younger, so I would follow in the car,” said Calvin, 46. “Then, I thought, I might as well get back in shape. In the last five years, I’ve enjoyed running more than I ever did when I was younger. When you get older, you enjoy a different perspective on it. And it’s been a great bonding experience with my daughters.”
Amy Ackley, also a runner at Cornerstone, continues to run as well, marathons included.
Calvin Ackley said the couple “did not push” their daughters into running – they also have three younger sons – but they wanted a healthy lifestyle for their children. So they set an example.
“Our girls don’t train by running mega miles,” said Calvin, a teacher/coach at the middle school. “They run maybe 30 to 40 miles (a week). The key in running is consistency, training in those (winter) months that everyone likes to forget about. That makes a big difference.”
Rob McConnell runs anywhere from 70 to 100 miles a week. He and Tori, who ran at Alma College, enjoyed running in local races when their girls were young. The girls tagged along and soon wanted to be part of it.
“They wanted to do the fun runs, then the 5Ks,” said Rob. “Eventually they ran some half marathons.”
Rob and Tori like running long distances as well. In fact, they ran the Boston Marathon in 2013 – the year of the bombing.
Rob, 43, has won the masters division in the Fifth Third River Bank 25K the last two years, and he ran a 2:42:15 in the 2016 Detroit Free Press Marathon.
“I was able to stay ahead of him in college,” said Calvin, “but I wouldn’t have a chance now. He’s a training machine. I don’t know how he keeps it up. His work ethic is second to none. He’s running phenomenal times.”
McConnell, who has his own construction company, runs with the Sacred Heart team during practice.
“On the weekends,” said Bailley, “Mom joins in.”
Rob, like Calvin, enjoys the bonding experience.
“That’s probably what got us, especially me, back into racing,” he said. “Relationship-wise, it was one of the best things we ever did – doing something with our daughters and having fun at the same time.”
There was a stretch when the girls were running in middle school, Bailley admitted, that they went through a phase and grew tired of training.
“We were like, ‘We don’t want to run. We don’t want to do this,’” she said.
But the girls, with a little coaxing, stuck with it and were rewarded.
“We realized where (training) got us,” said Bailley. “Whatever you put in, you get out.”
Sacred Heart has set the Division 4 championship meet record for the lowest score the last two years. In fact, last year’s score of 34 was the lowest since the MHSAA Finals went to divisions.
Hart has a shot at setting the Division 3 mark this season. No matter what the score, though, the Pirates would just like to end the drought.
“I want to see a green sign by the highway that says, ‘Welcome to Hart, home of the state champions,’” said Calvin, a Hart graduate. “That’s been my mantra for five years. I keep telling the middle school boys and girls that they can do this.”
The Hart boys are ranked No. 3 in the coaches poll.
“Our coach (Terry Tatro) has always said cross country would be the first sport to bring home a state title,” said Alayna. “I’ve always wanted to get that for him. I’ve been running for my coach for six years (since middle school). I want to make it happen for him, our school and for each other.”
Calvin Ackley has a vested interest in both the girls and boys teams. His nephews, Alex Enns and Andrew Whitney, were Hart’s top two finishers in Saturday’s boys Regional triumph, and Abram Enns (Alex’s brother) finished as the fourth counter on his team.
And, by the way, remember that joke a few years back about the seven girls running on the same team and winning a championship?
Well, that chapter is still not closed. Bailley is “leaning” toward joining her sister Alexis at Cornerstone next year. Alayna Ackley has Cornerstone on her short list.
Who knows what will happen?
“I joke now with Calvin that maybe we can get our daughters to go to Cornerstone and win an NAIA national championship,” said Rob. “That would be a great story in itself.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Sacred Heart’s McConnell sisters and Hart’s Ackley sisters celebrate their successes during last season’s MHSAA Finals at Michigan International Speedway; from left: Desiree McConnell, Bailley McConnell, Adelyn Ackley, Alayna Ackley, Alexis McConnell and Cammie McConnell. (Middle) There were only five sisters between the two families before Savannah and Desiree were born; from left: Alayna Ackley, holding Cammie McConnell, Bailey McConnell in the middle and Alexis McConnell holding Adelyn Ackley. (Below) From left, Desiree, Cammie, Alexis and Bailey McConnell in front and Alayna and Adelyn Ackley behind them at a middle school MEGASTAR meet in 2015. (Photos courtesy of the Ackley family.)
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Preview: 3 Racing for Individual Repeats
October 29, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
For the second straight season, many eyes at this weekend’s MHSAA Lower Peninsula Cross Country Finals will be focused on a girls race of the best from some of Michigan’s smaller schools.
Last season, the buzz was over Breckenridge’s Kirsten Olling and her pursuit of a fourth individual title. On Saturday, Macomb Lutheran North’s Gina Patterson will run for her third straight Division 3 title – but against her top rival, reigning runner-up Amber Way of Charlevoix. Patterson owns the fastest and sixth-fastest times in LP Division 3 history, but Way finished only 1.5 seconds behind in 2013 and owns the seventh-fastest finish on that all-time list.
Birmingham Seaholm’s Audrey Belf also is attempting to repeat, in Division 1, as her team tries to claim its second title in three seasons. Grand Rapids Christian, the reigning Division 2 champ, is favored again, while Cedar Springs’ Kenzie Weiler will attempt to finish her career with a second straight individual victory in that face. And Division 4 – as noted above – will have its first new individual champ since 2010.
See below for more of the stories behind the team and individual races for all four divisions, and click for a full list of qualifiers for each and information on Saturday’s event – which this fall includes 976 girls.
DIVISION 1
Reigning champion: Northville
2013 runner-up: Saline
2014 top-ranked: 1. Traverse City Central, 2. Birmingham Seaholm, 3. Northville.
Seaholm, the 2012 champion, should push to reclaim the top trophy led by last season’s individual champion, now-senior Belf. She’s joined in this season’s lineup by juniors Mary Sanders and Patty Girardot, the fourth and fifth runners for the Maples in 2013. But Traverse City Central returns four of its top seven from last season’s sixth-place finish and three of its top four – seniors Ashley Ko and Graceanne Tarsa and sophomore Emmalyne Tarsa. Ko finished 12th in the individual standings and finished second at her Regional to freshman teammate Sielle Kearney. Junior Lexa Barrott finished 13th last season for team champion Northville, which returns two more of its 2013 lineup including 22nd-place Cayla Eckenroth, now a sophomore.
Individuals: Four more top-20 finishers from 2013 join Belf, Ko and Barrot in this weekend’s lineup. Grandville junior Valerie Wierenga improved from 16th as a freshman to third last fall and should remain among the lead pack, and Oak Park senior Ersula Farrow finished 21st, eighth and then seventh her first three seasons while running for Grosse Pointe North. Saline juniors Gillian Walter and Hannah Cummings also are seeking repeat top-20 finishes. Hudsonville senior Kelli Jackson ran a Division 1-best 17:48.3 to win her Regional and finished 21st at last season’s Final. Macomb L’Anse Creuse North freshman Karenna Duffey also cleared 18 minutes last week, winning her Regional in 17:58, while Grandville freshman Madison Troy was second to Jackson at Portage in 18:14.
DIVISION 2
Reigning champion: Grand Rapids Christian
2013 runner-up: Spring Lake
2014 top-ranked: 1. Grand Rapids Christian, 2. St. Joseph, 3. Otsego.
Grand Rapids Christian has won two of the last four titles and is lined up well for a repeat with four of last season’s top six running again. Senior Rachel Warners paced the Eagles and finished 12th individually last season, and the lineup has added standout freshmen Jenna Bishop and Sarah VanDyke and junior top-10 Regional finisher Michelle Koetje. St. Joseph didn’t make the Final as a team last season – sophomore Vanessa Veersma ran as an individual qualifier – but the Bears placed five among the top 20 at their Regional and four among the top 11 paced by freshman and fifth-place finisher Kaitlin Newton. Otsego finished only four points behind St. Joseph at the Portage Regional with two freshmen, four sophomores and a junior. But those sophomores were the team’s top four placers as it finished third at last season’s Final; Megan Aalberts finished 11th individually in 2013.
Individuals: Only three of last season’s top 20 graduated – so this field should be incredibly competitive. Weiler is the reigning champion and also finished runner-up as both a freshman and sophomore, but finished less than a second ahead last season of Detroit Country Day senior Jackie Bredenberg – and she’s also back. St. Johns senior Karrigan Smith is a track champion and returns after finishing third in this race a year ago, and Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern senior Morgan Posthuma (fourth), Grand Rapids South Christian senior Alexis Miller (fifth), Gaylord junior Alexis Smith (ninth) and Owosso senior Dillon McClintock (10th) also are among top finishers back in the field.
DIVISION 3
Reigning champion: Shepherd
2013 runner-up: Benzonia Benzie Central
2014 top-ranked: 1. Ithaca, 2. Manistee, 3. Lansing Catholic.
Ithaca finished only 10th a year ago, but with five underclassmen in the line-up – and all seven runners are back this weekend. Sophomore Courtney Allen finished 11th in 2013, and the Yellowjackets placed four among the top 10 in its Regional win last weekend. Manistee returns its top five from last season’s eighth-place team, including senior Annie Fuller (sixth) and junior Ashley Lindeman (ninth) from the individual top 10. Lansing Catholic was 13th last fall with a similar story; the Cougars have five runners back from the 2013 Final including sophomore Abigail Gilmore (14th individually) and finished runner-up to Ithaca at St. Johns over the weekend.. Reigning champ Shepherd is ranked No. 4 and does return five of its top seven including three sophomores who placed among the top 50 individuals.
Individuals: Only three of the top 14 from 2013 graduated, and much of the focus will be on the rematch of Patterson and Way. In addition to those two and the Manistee pair, four more of the top 10 also will run again: Holland Black River senior Allison Vroon (third), Ida senior Ashley Sorge (fourth), Hopkins senior Rachael Weber (eighth) and Clare sophomore Jasmine Harper (10th). Five of those returning eight won their Regionals. Traverse City St. Francis junior Holly Bullough was the Division 4 runner-up in 2012 and third last fall, and should be in the mix. East Jordan senior Kayla Keane finished fifth in Division 4 last season.
DIVISION 4
Reigning champion: Beal City
2013 runner-up: Breckenridge
2014 top-ranked: 1. Kalamazoo Hackett, 2. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, 3. Beal City.
Six of Beal City’s top seven are back from last season’s championship run including top finisher Hannah Steffke, 10th individually as a junior, and senior Hayley Neyer, who was 19th. Hackett finished 14th in Division 3 but returns its top four – and senior Lucy Ankenbauer, 25th individually in Division 3, would’ve finished 13th with her time in Division 4. Hackett had the top four and five of the top seven finishers at its Regional. Sacred Heart didn’t make the Final as a team last season, but sophomore Alexis McConnell finished 15th individually. The Irish put three among the top five – with McConnell the individual champion – in scoring 35 points to beat Beal City and win their Regional over the weekend.
Individuals: There will be a new champion – Breckenridge’s Kirsten Olling graduated after becoming the seventh to win four MHSAA individual titles. Bullough and Keane running in Division 3 leaves only two others and Steffke back from last season’s top 10 – reigning runner-up Tessa Fornari, a junior for Waterford Our Lady, and seventh-place Jenna Wisner, a junior at Lutheran Westland. Fornari won her Regional in 18:19. Hackett freshman Mary Ankenbauer was 41 seconds faster than sister Lucy in winning their Regional in 18:53.3.
PHOTO: Macomb Lutheran North's Gina Patterson finished just ahead of Charlevoix's Amber Way to claim last season's LP Division 3 individual title; both will run again Saturday. Click for more this weekend from RunMichigan.com.)