12/28/2006

TC West doubles up on first state championships

Titans win in girls skiing, boys soccer

BY DENNIS CHASE

dchase@record-eagle.com

Record-Eagle file photos
Abbey Rider (left) and the Traverse City West girls skied to a state championship while Michigan's Mr. Soccer Casey Townsend (11) led the Titans to the school's second title in the fall.

TRAVERSE CITY — Multiple banners hang on the walls in the Traverse City West gymnasium, recognizing the school's conference, district and regional champions.

In 2006, West added its first state championship banners to the collection.

In late February, the Titan girls ski team claimed the Class A state trophy at Boyne Highlands, beating runner-up Clarkston by 39 points and giving Traverse City its second girls title in as many years. Central won the crown in 2005.

In early November, West became the first Traverse City school to capture a boys state soccer title, beating Livonia Stevenson 1-0 in the Division 1 finals. Soon after the finals, West junior Casey Townsend was honored as the state's Mr. Soccer.

So, in just over eight months, West went from no state titles to two.

And it all started on the hills at Boyne Highlands.

"We had an outstanding season,” West ski coach Jerry Stanek said. "We had good athletes and they worked hard. They were on a mission to not only win a state championship, but to be the first team at West to win one. It's something they'll remember the rest of their lives.”

The Titans came out determined in the state meet, placing four skiers in the top 10 in the morning slalom to cruise to their impressive victory.

"Our team was very dominant,” Stanek said. "And they all skied well that day.

"That team was as good as any I've ever had.”

That's a strong statement considering Stanek has been part of 13 state championships.

Although the Titans had a talented lineup, Stanek said it was "poor” outing in the Traverse City Invitational that turned out to be the turning point in the season. The Titans lost that day to Clarkston.

"It wasn't even close,” Stanek said. "But it was the best thing to happen to us. As a team we skied poorly that day. We had been coasting all year. A little humble pie did us good.”

After that setback, Stanek said his team regained its focus and was "charged up and ready to go.”

The Titans are ready to defend that title, too.

"Everyone's back,” Stanek said.

The Titans' soccer team also had a defining moment. West finished an up-and-down regular season at 12-2-7, leaving coach Jason Carmien to wonder if the Titans had the chemistry to survive in the tournament.

But a dominating 4-0 win over cross-town rival Traverse City Central in the district opener erased all doubt.

"Going into that game, if our season had ended that night I would not have been overly surprised,” Carmien said. "But after winning 4-0 with a dominating performance, I think you could have asked everyone on our team afterwards and they would have told you that we're not going to lose again.”

One player actually did say that — goalie Jon Nowak. He predicted a state title — as long as the Titans continued to execute like they did that night against Central.

Carmien admitted he gave Nowak some grief about that public statement at the team's next practice.

"But the seniors looked at me and said, 'Why not?' ” Carmien recalled. "We played six ranked opponents (during the season) and we only lost to one. They were all thinking, 'We had already played supposedly the best teams in the state, so why can't we (win it all)?

"Jon is the one who said it, but I think a lot of those seniors believed it, too.

"After that, we gained momentum with every game. You could see the confidence level rise.”

The win over Central "galvanized” the team, Carmien said.

"Everyone pulled together,” he said.

With Townsend providing the scoring, the Titan defense dug in, allowing just three goals in six tournament wins. West never trailed in any of its six tournament games.

"Without a question. Casey gave us an edge other teams did not have,” Carmien said. "Other teams had great players, but Casey was the best player.

"But as a team we defended and worked extremely hard. We had a confidence about us. We responded to the pressure. Defensively, we were the strongest team in the tournament.”

Carmien said the program's success — and expectations — set the foundation for this year's team.

"We've been able to win consistently,” Carmien said. "We've won 20 games three of the last five years. We're not intimidated or nervous playing (ranked) teams.

"We've had better teams, more talented teams, but this year's team really benefitted from the past. There's a bar that's been set over the past five years. This year's team did not have the best regular season record, but they had a confidence about them. They didn't get nervous (playing in big games). We dealt with pressure better than most teams.”

Carmien said one of the most rewarding aspects to winning the state title was hearing from former players.

"They were excited,” Carmien said. "They all told me how proud they were of this year's team and how much it meant to them.

"I talked to a player who was on our first team in 1997. He was beaming with pride. This meant a lot to the people who had been through the program. It was gratifying (to the coaches) to see that all the former players still feel part of it.”

And although Traverse City has had success on the pitch, this was the city's first title in a division long been dominated by Detroit area teams.

"For a lot of people, this was something they didn't think would happen,” Carmien said. "I don't know how many years we've had soccer in Traverse City at the high school level — 25? — but to finally reach that ultimate goal gives everyone hope.”

As for Townsend, he's already verbally committed to the University of Maryland. He's the second Traverse City player to win Mr. Soocer. Anders Kelto won it in the mid-1990s.

"Casey is starting to understand his impact on the soccer community here now that he's Mr. Soccer and he's played on a state championship team,” Carmien said. "Casey proved, just like Anders did, what hard work and dedication can do. Geography doesn't limit you.”

Carmien said the 2007 Titans are already plotting strategy.

"The kids have said they want to work even harder,” Carmien said. "They want to be as successful as this team was. You're not going to win a state championship every year, but at least this (title) gives everyone the confidence it can happen.”