Sports

By John RaffelCorrespondent LAWRENCE — Anita Robles is volleyball coach at Lawrence and is getting excited for the season.“On Aug. 11, we will be setting up and sending reminders for tryouts,” Robles said. “The week of Aug. 11th we will…

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE — It was a fun sophomore golf season at Clare for Kolten Pung.He shot an 88 in the regional tournament for Clare.It was his first year on the varsity.“I think I made the transition (from varsity)…

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorTo say recent Saugatuck graduate Cass Stanberry stayed busy during his high school days would be an understatement.In addition to being actively involved in several leadership and service programs—including Interact Club, Be Nice, PALS and the Douglas…

The Allegan Summer Tennis Program recently wrapped up its 2025 season.And, as usual, the long-running program brought out dozens of children to learn the fundamentals of the sport at the Gary Ellis Courts on the campus of L.E. White Middle…

By John RaffelCorrespondent LAWRENCE — Lawrence senior Dillon Simpson ended his Lawrence track and field career in impressive fashion.Simpson came into the season as a high jumper, sprinter and discus thrower, hurdler and sprinter, and especially had success in the…

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE — Ethan Reeves likes what he was able to accomplish for Clare’s boys outdoor track season in 2025.He was a senior and Reeves had another strong season in the pole vault.His best performance was 14 feet,…

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorWhen she was in elementary school, recent Saugatuck High School graduate Kennedy Gustafson remembers noticing the distinct difference in crowd size for girls basketball games compared to boys basketball games.“I asked my mom why there were not…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Playing a baseball tournament in Cooperstown, N.Y.—home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame—is an amazing experience.Hitting your first ever home run there? That, as those MasterCard commercials say, is priceless.And that’s exactly what Allegan middle…

By John RaffelCorrespondent BLOOMINDALE — Rowan Hegelmann had a strong throwing season for Bloomingdale’s girls track and field team.Hegelmann threw the shot put 33-01.00 in the regionals for third place and narrowly missed qualifying for the state meet.Hegelmann was a…

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE — Only six players will be returning for Clare’s softball team next year from this season’s roster including sophomore first baseman Pamela Allen, who enjoyed a state runner-up finish in Division 3.“I’m really excited,: Allen said…

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorNathan Holley is no stranger when it comes to coaching soccer at Saugatuck.In addition to coaching both the boys and girls middle school teams, Holley has served as an assistant coach for the Saugatuck boys varsity team…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—Caleb Wesseldyk started his athletic career at Otsego High School by winning a team state championship in boys cross country. He finished it by earning All-State in diving.For those achievements, among others, Wesseldyk was named the…

By John RaffelCorrespondent SOUTH HAVEN — Zander Duncan is coming off a unique sophomore season as a South Haven athlete.He was a state qualifier in swim last year as a sophomore, Duncan was a running back for the JVs with…

By John RaffelCorrespondent HARRISON — A lot of high school coaches like to say winning programs are not built during the season but are determined by how much work they put into the summer months.That includes Ryan Carlstrom, the varsity…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Shannon Goddard and her family are deeply entrenched in the Martin community.Just how entrenched, you ask?Consider this: she’s a fourth-generation Martin High School graduate, making her children—Demetrius (class of 2020), Makala (class of 2024) and Kendra…

By John RaffelCorrespondent MATTAWAN — Among the top performers for Mattawan boys track and field in regional action this season was junior sprinter Connor O’Rourke, who was fifth in the 100-meter dash in 11.33 seconds. O’Rourke was fifth in the…

CONSTANTINE — A few Constantine baseball standouts recently received All-District honors for their performances during the season.First baseman Cooper McDonald, infielder Jack Larink, catcher Brody Godfrey and outfielder Austin Forrester were the recipients of the All-District awards for the 2025…

THREE RIVERS — The Three Rivers girls’ soccer team, as well as five individual players, were recently named Academic All-State in Division 3 by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association.The team as a whole made the list for having…

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE — One of the keys to Clare’s hitting success this season, which ended in a 39-3 record and state runner-up finish, was the productive hitting of Alissa Brandon.The Pioneer senior infielder had 64 hits to lead…

CONSTANTINE — Constantine’s softball team and players received plenty of accolades in conference, regional and state honors last week.Jozee Buglione, Olivia Ransbottom and Olivia Herlein all received Honorable Mention All-Conference from the Southwestern Athletic Conference.Buglione hit .514 on the season…