Sports

Local softball team 4-1 in Kentucky

Editorial StaffJul 12, 20242 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent MARION – Michigan Expos 18U team from Marion triumphed over Midwest Pride 18U in Kentucky on Wednesday in the USSSA Great Lakes Nationals tournament.
Michigan Expos 18U, coached by Ryan Raymond of Marion, took the lead late in…

Clare softball looking forward to next season

Editorial StaffJul 12, 20241 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE – Clare’s softball team came off a Division 3 state semifinal finish last month but many players are on summer teams to get ready for next year.Only two seniors graduated and standouts such as Madison Jones,…

Antkoviak reflects on Olympic Trial experience: Allegan grad competed in 400-meter hurdles

Editorial StaffJul 10, 20245 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor EUGENE, Oreg.—Be bold. Be strong. For the Lord your God is with you.Those lyrics are from the the worship song “Be Bold, Be Strong.” And those are the words that were playing in Hannah Antkoviak’s mind…

Mattawan athlete to play college golf

Editorial StaffJul 10, 20242 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent MATTAWAN – Matt Novak enjoyed his senior golf season for Mattawan High School.“It went great,” he said. “It was a good season, a fun golf season. Fortunately the team didn’t qualify for state but it was fun.…

Clare freshman posted impressive softball season

Clare freshman posted impressive softball season

Editorial StaffJul 5, 20242 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE – Clare’s softball team had a memorable season which led the Pioneers to the state Division 3 semifinals where they lost 1-0 to Ottawa Lake Whiteford.Among the key reasons for the Pioneers’ success was the play…

Former Marion athlete performs for Michigan rowing

Editorial StaffJul 5, 20243 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent MARION – Georgia Meyer was an extremely successful athlete at Marion in sports such as softball, volleyball and basketball before graduating in 2023. But this most recent season she had a unique and successful career on the…

Carlin excels in track and wrestling for Gobles

Carlin excels in track and wrestling for Gobles

Editorial StaffJul 3, 20244 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent Finn Carlin was among the four Gobles freshmen who placed at their sports respective state championships.The others were Libby Smith, Daisy Estrada, and Lauren Shaffer.Carlin placed a school best third place at the MHSAA Wrestling State Finals.1-…

Ross takes over as football coach at Otsego

Editorial StaffJul 3, 20244 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—Honesty. Trust. Accountability.Those are Damien Ross’s three core values. And those are the values he hopes to instill in the football players at Otsego.Ross was recently named head coach of the Otsego varsity football team after…

Clare baseball infielder earns All-State honors

Clare baseball infielder earns All-State honors

Editorial StaffJun 28, 20242 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE – Junior infielder Ryan Louch from Clare earned all-state honors from the Michigan High School Coaches Baseball Association and for good reason.Louch played a huge role in the Pioneers drive to district and regional baseball championships…

Local softball team stays busy

Editorial StaffJun 28, 20241 min read

By John RaffelCorespondent MARION – Marion softball coach Ryan Raymond is coaching a Michigan Expos summer team which was in action last weekend in a Traverse City tournament.Raymond’s team includes his daughter Malley Raymond and seven girls from Evart plus…

Paw Paw players stay active

Editorial StaffJun 26, 20241 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent PAW PAW – It’s the middle of summer and typically high school sport teams stay active with open gyms, camps and many other activities.Paw Paw baseball coach Derek Vanderburg is coming off a very successful spring season…

TR’s Forman named First Team All-State in softball

Editorial StaffJun 21, 20241 min read

THREE RIVERS — A key contributor to the Three Rivers softball team’s success received a glowing honor yesterday.Senior first baseman Ava Forman was named First-Team All-State in Division 2 by the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association Tuesday. She was…

Russell posts solid season for Clare soccer

Russell posts solid season for Clare soccer

Editorial StaffJun 21, 20241 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent CLARE – Ivy Russell had a solid year for a Clare soccer team which finished as runners-up this season in the Divison 3 district tournament.“The key is communication and talking to each other,” Russell said, adding after…

Marion finishes at 14-15

Editorial StaffJun 21, 20241 min read

By John Raffel MARION – Coach Ryan Raymond’s Eagles finishes the season recently at 14-15.“We had a lot of good players on the team,” he said. “We didn’t have that dominant pitching that we’re used to. We had some girls…

Rock named Saugatuck varsity boys basketball coach

Editorial StaffJun 19, 20244 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorDuring his tenure as head coach of the Fennville varsity boys basketball team, Ty Rock had a front-row seat for the rivalry between the Blackhawks and Saugatuck.Now, he’ll experience that rivalry from the other side.Rock is the…

Antkoviak qualifies for U.S. Olympic trials

Antkoviak qualifies for U.S. Olympic trials

Editorial StaffJun 19, 20245 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Have you ever dreamed of donning the red, white and blue and representing the United States in the Olympics?Allegan native Hannah Antkoviak has. And later this month, she’ll head to Eugene, Ore., for the opportunity to…

Story signs with Point University

Story signs with Point University

Editorial StaffJun 19, 20241 min read

LaFayette Bulldog, AHSAA 2A Player of the Year Award nominee Vaderrian Story signed with Point University on Monday to play college basketball.Coaches, family, students and friends came out to LaFayette High School Library to recognize and celebrate with Story.Head Basketball…

Mattawan golfers have bright future

Editorial StaffJun 19, 20242 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent For Mattawan golfers and coach Troy Pelak, the future looks very bright.Key returners next year.Griffin McClish – Pelak: “Was a freshman this year and had a tremendous season once he got comfortable playing with upper classmen. Griffin…

TR girls’ soccer earns academic team All-State; two players named Honorable Mention All-State

Editorial StaffJun 14, 20241 min read

THREE RIVERS — Three Rivers’ girls’ soccer team was honored with a few awards for their efforts on and off the field in the 2024 season.The team as a whole earned Academic Team All-State Honors for their efforts in the…