Trojans notch first win
TRAVERSE CITY (Dec. 1)— Dori Lansbach scored 23 points to propel Traverse City Central to its first win girls basketball of the season, 51-47 over Cadillac.
The Trojans (1-1, 1-0 Big North Conference) trailed 11-8 at the end of the first quarter, led 24-22 at halftime and were down 34-33 at the end of the third period.
Val McNalley (13 points) and Leah Mattson (11) paced Cadillac (0-1).
Bay Area back to .500 with win
KALKASKA (Dec. 3) — It's hard to lose when the opposition can't score.
Bay Area beat Grand Rapids Christian 7-1. The Reps (2-2) allowed just one goal in beating in weekend wins over the Eagles and Manistee.
The Reps put the game away with four second-period goals, two by Grayson Myas. Tom Pritz and Ian Webb assisted on the Myas' goals.
Webb also assisted on Karl Williamson's tally in the second while Craig Miller assisted on Brandon Ferguson's power-play goal in the period.
Ferguson also scored with three seconds remaining.
Bay Area got two goals in the first period from the same line. Dan Tinkle scored 21 seconds into the contest on assists from Jake Mills and Andrew Zelinski while Mills scored later in the period from Tinkle and Zelinski.
Andrew Mills made 10 saves in net for Bay Area.
Benzie Central 2nd at Ludington Invite
LUDINGTON (Dec. 3) — A five-point loss to South Haven was the only blemish for the Benzie Central wrestling team at the Ludington Invitational.
The Huskies beat Mason County Central (48-36), TC West (48-33), Ludington (42-40) and Fruitport (45-29). Benzie lost 41-36 to South Haven to settle for runner-up honors.
Three Benzie Central wrestlers went undefeated: Scott Wixson (125 pounds), David Knudsen (152) and Jimmy Frederick (Hwt).
Turner wins debut
TRAVERSE CITY (Dec. 5) — Jeff Turner led the way on the sidelines and Steven Hastings did the same on the court as Traverse City Central opened its boys basketball season with a 53-47 win over Alma.
Turner earned his first win as Central's new coach, taking over for Jon Constant.
"We were up 12 going into the fourth and they closed within two a couple times, but we kept our composure," Turner said.
Hastings had 12 points and six rebounds, while Nick Roen added 10 points. Doug Burke added five boards.
Alma was paced by Adam Tollette's 15 points and 10 from Kyle Lark.
St. Francis girls roll in opener
TRAVERSE CITY (Dec. 6) — Traverse City St. Francis jumped out to a 35-11 halftime lead and cruised to a 62-20 victory over Lake Michigan Conference rival Grayling in its girls basketball opener.
The Gladiators led 59-18 at the end of the third quarter.
Katy Olsen and Lyndsay LaCourse each had 12 points to lead St. Francis. Cari Kendziorski had seven rebounds, while Olsen and Abby Clear added six each.
Cross-country ski trails won't be groomed
WILLIAMSBURG (Dec. 7) — John Heiam might have a tough time doing what he loves this winter.
Heiam, a Williamsburg resident and avid cross-country skier, is upset that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources won't be grooming most area trails or plowing trailhead parking lots.
He's particularly worried about dealing with unplowed lots that he said will hamper skiers and snowshoers by making it difficult to park.
Area trails such as Muncie Lakes in Grand Traverse County, Wildwood Hills in Cheboygan County, Pine Baron in Otsego County and several more across the state will remain untouched this winter.
The Vasa trail in Grand Traverse County and a handful of others around the state will continue to be maintained through grant funding, according to a DNR press release.
The state cut nearly $425,000 from the DNR's forest recreation program, said David Lemmien, DNR Traverse City Management Unit manager, and will force the department to make "tough choices."
Reps' flurry dooms Mattawan
KALKASKA (Dec. 9) — The standoff ended with a flurry of late goals as the Grand Traverse Bay Reps outlasted Mattawan 4-1 at the Kaliseum.
Almost 40 minutes into the game, it was knotted up at 1-1 before the Reps unleashed a barrage on the Wildcats over the final six and a half minutes.
Grayson Myas started off the spurt with a goal with 6:23 left, set up by Andrew Walukonis and Tom Pritz.
Ryan Farley followed that up 37 seconds later, assisted by Brandon Ferguson and Ben Videan, and Dan Tinkle finished things off with an empty-netter assisted by Andrew Zelinski with 44 ticks remaining.
Ferguson got things going at the 2:14 mark of the second off a Farley assist, and Mattawan drew even on a Josh Davidson score a minute into the third.
Cody Lindhorst made 16 saves in net for the Reps (3-2).
Iranian runner nearing record
TRAVERSE CITY (Dec. 11) — Reza Baluchi had a warm place to stay on a cold night.
That hasn't always been the case for the 35-year-old, who is attempting to break the world record for the longest solo run around the perimeter of the continental United States.
Baluchi, who has spent several nights sleeping in a tent after his support vehicle was involved in a crash in Minnesota one month ago, reached Traverse City this weekend.
He spent a night at his friend's house, Williamsburg's Robert Apap, before hitting the road bound for the Mackinac Bridge.
Baluchi, a former member of the Iranian National Cycling Team, has already run 9,700 miles since leaving New York City on June 17 — Father's Day. He's dedicated his journey to his father's memory. His father passed away last year.
Baluchi worked his way south to Florida, then across the southern states to California, up the Pacific Coast, then along the northernmost states.
The record Baluchi is trying to top is 10,608 miles in nine months.
Gredlein out at Elk Rapids
ELK RAPIDS (Dec. 12) — One of the area's top soccer coaches is looking for a new job.
After an Oct. 9 incident in which boys soccer coach Al Gredlein swore at players, the Elk Rapids school board voted 5-2 to accept a letter of resignation that Gredlein tried to challenge.
"I swore, they heard me, I got fired," Gredlein said on Tuesday. "Case closed."
But that wasn't the case when Gredlein tried to have his letter of resignation rescinded.
In the fall of 2003, Gredlein was suspended five games for conduct unbecoming of a coach, athletic director Jim Standerfer said. In a 1997 game against Petoskey, Gredlein was given a red card for cursing at an official, Elk Rapids superintendent Jon Hoover said.
After the 2003 incident, Standerfer said Gredlein was given a contract that included behavioral requirements.
"He used vulgar language in front of players and according to the contract, he was let go," Standerfer said.
St. Mary's still perfect after win
LAKE LEELANAU (Dec. 12) — Alyssa Korson scored 11 points as Lake Leelanau St. Mary's remained unbeaten with a 45-23 Cherryland Conference win over Traverse City Christian.
It was the league opener for the Eagles, 5-0 overall.
West tops Cadillac for victory No. 1
TRAVERSE CITY (Dec. 14) — One team came into the game without a loss, the other without a win.
Each left with one of the other.
Traverse City West earned win No. 1 of the young season, beating Cadillac 55-47 in its Big North Conference opener.
"It's big," Titans' senior guard Jake Aldrich said. "We've been working hard since the first day of tryouts. We really respect Cadillac and to get our first win in the first conference game is big.
"It's going to be a competitive league this year."
The game was certainly that way with neither team leading by more than six until West's Will Kittendorf buried a 3-pointer — the sixth of the game by the Titans — to give the hosts a seven-point edge with 5:28 remaining.
West (1-2) would lead by nine when Aldrich converted a back-door pass from Darren Keyton for a layup with 3:25 to play. The Titans held off Cadillac (3-1, 1-1) from there.
TC West wants coach by February
TRAVERSE CITY (Dec. 15) — A month ago, Traverse City West found out its only varsity football coach was retiring.
In two months, the Titans hope to have Matt Prisk's successor in place.
And there should be no shortage of candidates.
"We've had some good applicants so far," TC West athletic director Patti Tibaldi said of the coaching search. "We posted it with the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) so I think that will bring in even more.
"We've had a lot of phone calls."
Al Slamer, president of the MHSFCA and head coach at Battle Creek Central, said the opening at West has a lot of things going for it that will lead to a lot of candidates.
Krause hits 1,000 point mark
KALKASKA (Dec. 15) — It was a milestone night for Katie Krause and it ended perfectly for Kalkaska.
Krause topped the 1,000-point plateau as Kalkaska improved to 5-0 with a 55-43 Lake Michigan Conference girls basketball victory over East Jordan.
Kara Ponstein led the Blazers (2-0 LMC) with 17 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Kalkaska took a 44-22 lead into the final period.
Krause added 13 points and six rebounds, Megan Dunn 11 points and Marissa Taylor seven points and four assists.
Dunn was also the primary defender as Kalkaska held Megan Thomas to just six points.
Cassie Crick led Red Devils with 11 points.
Johnson sets record
TRAVERSE CITY (Dec. 16) — Traverse City West Titan bowler Eric Johnson rolled the highest game in the history of the Great Northwest High School Bowling Conference with a 285 game.
Johnson rolled games of 215 and 285 to finish with a 500 series. Despite's Johnson's record, his West Gold squad lost to West Green 27-3. The Green squad (2-0) was led by Brent Wittbrodt and Steven Turner, who rolled two-game totals of 416 and 414.
Traverse City Central (2-0) beat Elk Rapids (1-1) 28-2. Chad Rosinski's 407 series was high for the Trojans. Kaitlin Hicks rolled a 377 series in the loss.
Kingsley remains unbeaten
MESICK (Dec. 17) — Ashley Slade scored 27 points as Kingsley defeated Mesick 74-23 in a Northwest Conference girls basketball game.
Tallie Waurzyniak added 16 points, six assists and six steals. Brittany Denter chipped in 11 points for Kingsley (6-0, 4-0).
Samantha Furze's 11 points and 12 rebounds paced Mesick (1-4, 0-3).
Jason Wuerfel joins coaching staff
TRAVERSE CITY (Dec. 20) — Jason Wuerfel, the vice president and director of operations for the Traverse City Bums, will join the team's coaching staff in 2008.
Jason Wuerfel, whose parents John and Leslye own the team, will serve as the team's hitting coach.
Jason Wuerfel played for the University of Michigan from 2000-2003 and his minor league career included stints with the Elmira Pioneers, Mid-Missouri Mavericks and Ohio Valley Redcoats.
Joburg remains undefeated
JOHANNESBURG (Dec. 20) — So far, so good.
Johannesburg-Lewiston improved to 7-0 with a 66-46 Ski Valley Conference girls basketball victory over rival Bellaire.
Stephanie Fisher led a balanced attack for the Cardinals (4-0 SVC) with 20 points, seven steals and six assists.
Amanda Head added 15 points and 10 rebounds and Bridget Fisher 11 points.
Bridget Fisher was also the primary defender on Bellaire's high-scoring Molly Poel.
Poel still finished with 17 points to lead Bellaire. Logan Edgecomb added 10 points for the visiting Eagles.
Shrift picked for hockey tourney
TRAVERSE CITY (Dec. 21) — Traverse City West sophomore Alison Shrift has been selected to play in the Prospects Women's Hockey Tournament in Toronto, one of the top showcase tournaments in North America for female players. It is an invitation-only spring tournament.
Shrift, one of the top players on the three-time defending state champion Gaylord Enforcers, also plays for the AAA Grand Rapids Griffins. She was selected for this year's Team Michigan.
Early season showdown looms
TRAVERSE CITY (Dec. 24) — The pre-seasoned rank Traverse City Central Trojans and the TC West Titans girl's bowling teams improved to 3-0 on the season setting up a showdown.
TC Central downed Traverse City St. Francis 30-0.
The Trojans jumped out of the gate with a 187 in the first baker game and then had a 924 team game. Trojan Chelsea Thompson's 397 series led the match. Nicole Lally also had a 232 game for Central. Gladiator Shayna Zerbe's 307 series was high for St. Francis (2-1).
TC West (3-0) beat Glen Lake (0-3) 27-3. Taylor Pahl's 330 series led the Titans in the win.
The Benzie White beat their own Red team 19-7 to round out the girl's division.
Rangers get by Stars, 6-4
MARQUETTE (Dec. 29) — The 70s are back.
The Traverse City North Stars and Marquette combined for 70 scoring opportunities, but the Rangers were able to convert on more in a 6-4 win over TC.
Marquette — which jumped out to an early lead just 38 seconds into the contest on a Josh Bussell goal — was outshot 38-32 by TC.
Nic Weight scored the final two goals for the Rangers (18-10-2), including one assisted by former North Star Aaron Pietila.
Harrison Niemann scored two goals and Kory Kaunisto scored his first goal since returning to the Stars in November. Garrett Thompson added a goal and assists for the game went to Jarrod LaBelle, Marc Thompson, Jameson Raymond, Joe Greener, Chris Heineman and Nate Urbaniak (two).
Niemann and Kaunisto each scored on the power play, giving TC (11-13-5) two power play goals for the first time in over a month.
TC netminders Brandon Stephenson and Chris Paliafito each gave up three goals. Marquette's Matt Brooker made 34 stops to give the Rangers wins in the first two games of a three-night set.
Print this story
E-mail this story
