 From our friends at Newaygo Fitness Club: Some of you may have heard that the federal appeals courts agreed to delay implementation of a judge's order that would have allowed indoor gyms to reopen in Michigan, because of the current growing number of COVID-19 cases. With the current ruling, we do not know what the liability has in store for us if we continue our operation, and we can’t take the risk of losing our club to fees associated with defending our position in court. Unfortunately, as much as we DO NOT want to do this, we must shut the club down once again. We will continue to monitor the ruling and update you on a new opening date. We had opened with data that showed us that cases were decreasing and made the decision to open while following all of the CDC guidelines. This decision was made because we understand the external costs of keeping our club shut down. The data shows us that suicides, drug use, and domestic violence are all on the rise because of this pandemic. We know that we are a beacon of hope for many people in the area and we will continue to support our mission to bring health and wellness to Newaygo county. We will be performing outdoor classes and group exercise programs within the guidelines of the CDC. Please follow this link to see the current schedule http://www.newaygofitnessclub.com/class-schedule.html. If you would like to freeze your account for NO COST please respond that you would like your membership frozen to this email or call us at 231-928-5013 Monday-Thursday from 8am-6pm and Friday from 8am-4pm. Thank you all for your continued support! We will make it out of this pandemic STRONGER THAN EVER!
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 New Head Coach Jason Carpenter brings a winning attitude to the 2020 Packers “The talent is here.” 1-44. That’s the record for the Fremont footballers the past 5 years. The win? A victory midway through the season in 2018 over Central Montcalm a team that finished 0-9. The following year the Hornets put together a 7-3 season and made the playoffs. The Pack went 0-9. So how does one come into a program that has struggled to stay within shouting distance much less win a game and turn it around? Infuse confidence according to new Head Coach Jason Carpenter. “Confidence comes from preparation. For these kids to believe they can win they have to compete every day not just once a week. And the preparation has to go beyond the practice field and be a part of their home life as well.” “Our practices are all about competition. Whatever the drill, whether it be one on one or in groups the players are competing against each other and no one likes to lose. Once they buy in and believe in themselves the players will be capable of taking care of business on the field.” Carpenter has brought a new attitude, a new work ethic and fostered a sense of pride in his players and he is convinced this will translate into wins on the field. “The talent is here,” he said in a recent sit down after one of the training sessions that take place twice daily 7-9am and 7-9 pm. His numbers for both conditioning get togethers has been around 40 and he expects the numbers going out for football to reach the mid 50’s by the time practices begin in earnest. No stranger to winning, Carpenter was part of Milan High School's three year run of playoff teams and conference titles ending in 2000. He went on to play at Albion College where the Britons won an MIAA championship and later he coached a high school team in Ohio taking a winless program to the state tournament in just a few years. Carpenter oozes confidence. “I hate losing.” he stated during our interview, a statement made obvious from his demeanor during out talk. The new coach is driven by not only a desire to instill a winning attitude in his players but to install a winning tradition in a school that has not visited the post season since 2013 and not advanced beyond game 10 since 2005. The biggest challenges ahead? “The players need to believe they can win and learn how to do it. I’ve seen talented teams that fall short at the end because they simply don’t know how to win. How to finish off an opponent. "This team will need to learn how to close out games. And once again that goes back to preparation. When you take the field ready to win it’s because you have already gained the confidence to do so on a daily basis in practice and preparation.” His staff includes a mix of coaches who have had experience with the team and newcomers. Jacob Tumele will be calling the plays on defense with Tom Threatt, Mack Houston, Morgan Wansten and Steve Lathrop assisting and Dale Bacon will be taking care of the all important O-line. Carpenter, of course, will be directing the offense. The coaches will all be learning a new language and the offense will undergo a major revamping as they move to more of a spread game. Strengths? “I think we’re going to catch some teams by surprise,” said the coach. “This is a whole new scheme on both sides of the ball.” We asked the coach for three things that might be key for moving forward this season. 1.WEALTH (Work Ethic, Accountability, Loyalty, Toughness and Honor.” 2. Alphas- We need leadership and we expect players to step up. 3. No Excuses. Of course there is the looming prospect of COVID-19 threatening to make its impact on the season. “There are going to be cases once we get into the season and that means players will be missing games and need to sit out . Like other teams we will have to learn to treat it like an injury and recognize players are going to have to be out for a period of time.” “I just hope we can have a season. These kids lost their spring in school and in sports and I’d hate to see them lose fall as well.” It’s been a long drought between winning seasons for the Fremont faithful. The fans in recent years have become less patient and more vocal as the teams have struggled. With Coach Carpenter at the helm it’s not likely he will silence the ‘experts’ who line the fence on Friday nights. But if the Pack can feed on his desire to win… They just might quiet down a bit. The Packers will start the season on the road to Ludington and Big Rapids before initiating the newly renovated field in their home debut against Central Montcalm on September 11.  Fremont taking on Newaygo last season  From Our friends at NFC: After 3 months of being closed, we are happy to tell you that we will be opening Monday June 15th with limited hours. We will be open Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10-4. We will continue the 24/7 access in the near future. We are making this decision because we know that a healthy community is needed right now, and exercise and positivity at our club is a beacon of hope for many of our citizens, myself included. However, because Covid-19 is still here, we will need to take more precautions to keep our club safe and healthy. We ask that you follow the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines while we take on this new challenge together. The CDC states, “based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.” If you are at risk, please protect yourself. If you are sick in any way, please stay home. We will monitor each person that comes into the gym, and it is our discretion on whether you will be fit to utilize the facility. We also ask that all of our members clean each piece of equipment after each use with the many sanitation bottles we will have placed around the gym. Please clean anything that you touch when you are finished, barbells, dumbbells, medicine balls, cardio equipment, mats, weights, heavy bag, jump rope, squat rack, everything. We will do our part and thoroughly sanitize the gym before and after each day. Please keep 6ft apart from each other. We will have a few treadmills taped off and some equipment staggered so that we are able to follow this guideline. On the subject of face coverings - the CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. We have situated our club so that each person will be able to keep a distance of 6ft or more. Face coverings are recommended, but not required. We will have the guidelines posted at the club and will update with any new information that the CDC puts forth. If your membership is frozen and would like it to resume, please call us at (231) 928-5013 during our staffed hours. Lastly, I want to personally thank everyone that supported us during this pandemic. Our fitness family is stronger than ever before, and we plan on continuing to build that strength. Lucas Gross Newaygo Fitness Club  Opening the doors to fitness  Fremont vs. Newaygo last year. Photo by Alexis Mercer MHSAA updates guidelines
EAST LANSING, Mich. – June 2 – The Michigan High School Athletic Association has updated its guidelines for reopening of school sports based on the lifting of her stay-at-home order and further recommendations from Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office announced Monday, June 1. Winter and Spring sports were halted April 3 to help decrease the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Following are points of likely interest from today’s update and a comment from MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl:
https://www.mhsaa.com/Portals/0/Documents/AD%20Forms/MHSAA%20Summer%20Guidance%20Update%201.pdf “We were excited and encouraged by Governor Whitmer’s announcements Monday,” said Uyl. “The opportunity for outside gatherings of up to 100 allowed us to rework a number of guidelines that we had published Friday as part of the MHSAA/NFHS reopening document. “Our schools have been cautiously eager to take this long-awaited first step. We will continue to provide updates in accordance with the Governor’s directives for reopening the state, always prioritizing safety for all involved in school sports programs.” Similar advisories will accompany future updates to the “MHSAA/NFHS Guidance for Re-Opening School Sports” with complete updates found on the MHSAA Website at https://www.mhsaa.com/coronavirus.  Lessons From the Long Run
By Alexis Mercer I started running as a sport when I was in 7th grade. It was my first experience with organized sport in school since prior to that point I had participated in dance. My love for running was fueled quickly with the success of our team and that I personally encountered. We won a lot of meets. In fact our 4x200 team was undefeated that year. While it might seem like a small thing being undefeated in a 4x200 relay team for a small school in Northern Michigan, it really wasn’t. Those experiences set me up for a lifetime of seeking success through hard work and determination. Back then I was a sprinter and high jumper. The longest distance I ran was 400 meters (still my favorite distance in track thanks to the fact that it is the race that takes the most guts). My freshman year in high school I joined the cross country team in the fall. That was more of a “I think I’ll try it to get in shape for volleyball” type situation. I had no idea that joining that team would be a complete life changer. Twenty five years later distance running is a major part of my life. Though not always at the forefront of my activities (I played college volleyball, during which time I had 0.000 interest in running farther than 3 miles at a time), it has always been there. I coach cross country and middle school track and occasionally friends who want to either get into running in the first place or get back into running after years off. I am a runner myself as an adult. I have participated in races at distances including 5k, 10k, 10 miles,15k, 25k, and marathons. And I’m now looking at perhaps one day doing an ultramarathon (anywhere from 50k to 100 miles) because my perspective has changed about the barriers I set for myself with distances. Running is about the only thing that hasn’t changed in my world since Covid-19 stay-at-home hit. Granted, the marathon I signed up for in June was cancelled, and all other races between now and then have been cancelled. But the fact that I can lace up my shoes and go outside for a run is still a constant (by myself, practicing social distancing, because I am a responsible member of society who believes scientists that this is the only way to help this situation). My days have been filled with unknowns, uncertainties, confusion, and chaos like the rest of you. And then I go for a run and the world makes a little more sense. So I laced up my Mizunos and walked out the door on Sunday ready for a long, long run. I was feeling particularly unsettled when I began. By the end I was feeling completely restored and also had a list of ways that distance running and life in the Stay Home Stay Safe Covid-19 times are the same.
Maybe your long run is from your front door to the first electric pole. Everyone starts somewhere. It’s my belief that these lessons will be learned regardless of how far your distance run is as long as you keep putting on foot in front of the other and trying again the next day. Life has its twists, turns, surprises, ups, downs, highs, lows and extremes. Running does, too. But running helps to make sense of all of those extremes of life. Now, more than ever, it is comforting to have a healthy activity to help keep perspective.  Part of 'The Shrine' By Ken DeLaat In the half bath at N3 World Headquarters and Cloistering Camp one will find a bit of a shrine (as well as a throne of course).Visitors to this sanctum see a lot of baseball related paraphernalia scattered about the one room I was given to decorate all by myself. A glance around the room finds it rife with relics like a bat, a mitt and ball, several photos, player cards, and other items that reveal a keen focus on one particular player. Al Kaline. The announcement of his passing today was the latest in the ever growing roster of famous people from my youth leaving us. Al was an icon and though not Willie Mays Hank Aaron or Mickey Mantle he was ours. And he was damn good. Always a baseball fan but more importantly always a Tiger fan. I recall starting in earnest to follow the game as soon as I could read and decipher the sports pages. This was circa ‘57 or so and the beloved Tigs weren’t exactly at their best during those early years. Prior to ‘57 they had a ’6 year run of failing to finish in the top half of the 8 team American League and that first year of my baseball reckoning they finished a lofty 4th They hovered around the .500 mark mostly those years. And it was during that time a deep and personal loathing of the Yankees flourished. The Yanks crushed the Tiger hopes each year running away with the majority of the pennants and a good share of the World Series titles. Bulldog Frant Lary was a known Yankee Killer from the mound and Don Mossi gave them fits but they hammered on Jim Bunning and Paul Foytack and most of the rest of the American League those days. Even in 1961 when the Tigs ran off 101 victories their 3rd most wins ever, the Yankees finished the season 8 games in front of them. My favorite non-Tiger World Series was the ‘60 version when the Pirates upset the Bronx Bombers. Not because I was fond of Pittsburgh but because I loved seeing the Yanks lose. But I digress. Throughout those years of pennant futility there was one constant. Al. Kaline brought respectability to a team that was often staffed on the field with a good dose of mediocrity .Lou Berberet, Milt Bolling, Steve Bilko and Coot Veal aren’t exactly household names but they were the kind of players one would see filling out a lineup that always had Big Al batting third and playing right field. When they finally got it together in the latter part of the 60’s coming oh so close in ‘67 and culminating in the ‘68 season when they won it all, Kaline was a huge part of their success. Then finally, after a decade and a half of ‘near misses’ and many ‘not even close’ seasons, he had the chance to play in his one and only World Series where he hit .379 belted two homers and two doubles scored 6 times and drove in 8 runs. Later he would move to the broadcasting booth teaming with George Kell as the two swapped stories while pointing out what was happening on the diamond below for just over 20 seasons.. TheTigers haven’t even come close in their efforts to replace the two since they departed. I’ve written before about meeting Ernie Harwell during an interview when he spoke in Fremont years ago. Ernie was the voice of my youth and he often used that voice to speak of Kaline’s accomplishments. But I never got to sit down with Kaline…though I did have a chance encounter with him once. Kind of. Back around the early 70’s the Lions and Cleveland Browns held an exhibition game at U-M stadium. My friend Jim wangled a pair of great seats about 45 yard line maybe 10-15 rows back. It was a hot August day and we had somehow brought copious amounts of beer into the stadium which we imbibed in frequently (like I said it was pretty hot) which led to a most necessary trip to the Men’s facility. My chosen destination had an unusual set up with urinals kind of facing each other in long rows. Then, right in the middle of my...uh...action, I guess, I glanced down the aisle and about 6 spots over facing the other way was Kaline. Al Freaking Kaline. I threw my free hand up and yelled “AL!” He looked over and put his hand up slightly in one of those ‘duly acknowledged but keep it down’ kind of gestures. I stared down toward him as he completed the task and walked away, then once finished I returned to my seat. I told Jim, ‘Hey, I just ran into Al Kaline in the bathroom” “Really? Did you guys talk?” “Kind of,.. “What do you mean 'kind of'?” “Well... he waved at me."   Back row (l to r): Assistant Coach Jason Long, Manager Trevir Kral, Assistant Coach Dan Maki, Anna Brummel, Madison Berwald, Sophia Frisbie, Jessica Sanchez, Riley Goff, Kendall Mathis, Kyla Rounds, Amaya Nelson, Coach Nate Thomasma Front row (l to r): Lily Ruehmeier, Emmerson Goodin, Kayla Fisk, Jaxi Long, Jaylee Long The basketball season was cancelled and the magical run by the Newaygo Lions came to an end not as a loss to a team but to a virus that shut down the season and has altered the lives of all of us. In covering local basketball over the years there have been a select few teams that have held a special place in my heart. Teams that just seemed to have the kind of personality designed to make you want to root for them. This was one. As a gift to the Lady Lions for the courtside thrills they produced it seemed fitting to speculate on what may have happened had the team been allowed to take on the highly regarded West Catholic squad in the Regional Final. And thanks again, girls. Fun ride. It was a classic. The West Cathloic victory machine that had rolled through their schedule with but one loss an early season stumble against a strong Reeths Puffer squad came into Sparta teeming with confidence after seeing the team they had long set their sights on lose to upstart Newaygo. Instead of a battle of basketball titans, a final featuring the #2 and #3 teams in D2, the Falcons would be taking on a team that finished 5 games behind their conference co-leaders. A team no one expected to be playing in the Regional finals. Except for the players themselves and their coaches. After getting past the Packers in the district opener, a team that had twice beaten them during the season they got it going with a pair of convincing wins to head to the Regionals. There they would be looking at GR Christian, the team that seemed destined for a finals matchup with WC. But Jaxi Long capped an epic performance by her team when she canned a three pointer from way way downtown and a shocked Eagle squad left the court wondering what had happened. But now they were up against a team featuring Falcon #1, sophomore sensation and D1 recruit Abbey Kimball, along with all conference teammates Maddie Smith who could light it up from outside, Chrysta Daetwiler, Mia Mileski and freshman phenom Cadence Dykstra. A lot of talent to overcome as well as a distinct advantage in size for the scrappy Lion girls. After WC’s Smith ripped a triple off the opening tip and a steal and bucket by Kimball, the Lions broke the Falcon press and got the ball into the hands of Lily Reuhmeier who got the basket and a trip to the free throw line where she converted to make it a 5-3 game. The next few minutes saw the teams going at it with wild abandon, as Kimball and Jaylee Long battled for breathing room and Mileski tossed a blanket on Jaxi Long denying her possession at every turn. In the meantime, it was Emmerson Goodin who was battling for boards and finding her way to the hoop for 6 of the Lions 15 first quarter points. Sophia Frisbie seeing the Longs tied up kept feeding Goodin and Reuhmeier to keep pace with a Falcon squad that seemed to score at will. The opening period ended with WC holding an 18-15 lead. A slow start to the second saw the Falcons jump out to an 8 point advantage and Coach Nate Thomasma called time and inserted sophomore Kayla Fisk. Fisk responded with a steal and sent a pass to a wide open Jaxi, who fired it in for three, followed by a Jaylee steal that led to her going to the line where she converted a pair and Newaygo was back in the game trailing by just 3. Falcon Coach Jill VanderEnde, who had been a member of West’s state runner-up team in ‘95, called time and her team came out employing a trapping defense once again. A couple of quick turnovers extended their lead but Frisbie buried a pair of triples and Fisk played havoc with the Falcon backcourt leading to a pair of stops. The teams hit the break with West holding a 3 point edge and the look in their eyes told it all. They knew this was a good team they were up against but the Falcons had dominated the OK Blue and were capable of holding teams down with their rugged defense. This was a Lion team that kept getting up off the canvas whenever a punch was delivered. A team that never conceded a single point and fought for everything they got. The Lions came out of intermission to the roar of a substantially pro Newaygo crowd. Their fans, particularly the student section, bellowed their approval for this team of underdogs who went through their warmups with fire in their eyes and exuding a confidence that seemed to transcend the talent of the Falcon team. The second half began like the first except this time it was the Lions who jumped ahead. Frisbie found Kendall Mathis open for a pair of quick buckets and when Fisk deflected a pass it was picked up by Jaylee who ripped a three. Jaxi and Smith twice traded a pair of triples and Goodin fought off a double team to score and draw the foul which she converted and suddenly the Lions had taken charge. Then Kimball caught fire. She scored, forced a turnover and scored again. After Mathis split a pair at the other end Kimball drove for a basket and foul, stole an inbound pass and hit again drawing yet another foul and the Falcons moved in front taking a 2 point lead into the final frame. The 4th was an all-out free for all. Scoring was a premium as the two squads were battling fatigue and yet bringing everything they had to the action taking place on the court. As time wound down Kimball fired a pass to Smith who hit a three to give WC a one point lead with less than a minute left. The Lions called time and the air in the Sparta gym grew thick with tension and apprehension. The Falcons drew back, picking up Frisbie at the half court line. She and Jaylee worked the clock down to just under 20 seconds before finding Mathis who spun to the outside and pushed it out to Jaxi. As time slipped to the 10 second mark Jaxi took the shot but a streaking Kimball leapt to deflect the shot. That’s when the ball found its way into Frisbie’s hands. The senior gathered the ball and let it fly knowing the shot would determine if she had played her final game as a Lion. The off balance toss found the backboard and banked in at the buzzer to give the Lions their 2nd major upset in three days. The Lions were heading for the quarterfinals. The team who gave up size, depth, and everything else to the teams they had just vanquished. Everything, that is, but heart. This was a team of destiny. A team that was molded on the practice floor from day one with a bench consisting of Anna Brummel, Madison Berwald, Jessica Sanchez, Riley Goff, Kyla Rounds, and Amaya Nelson more than willing to give the starters all they could handle in practice to prepare them for the games as well as standing ready when called on to take the court. A team that could overcome adversity and stare failure in the face refusing to yield to it. A team that flat out would refuse to lose. As they drank in the sweetness of victory surrounded by the fans who have embraced them this season the smiles on their faces told it all. After the game in a group interview they joked and teased each other about the game.They gave the Falcon girls a lot of credit and did the same with their coaches. Then one of them said ‘Who do we play next?” And another answered. “Doesn’t really matter does it?” And they laughed again. In unison. Ken DeLaat- N3 Sports  Billy Ostyn of Grant competing at state finals, photo by Kasi Ostyn The All Conference Wrestlers including Honorable Mention Grapplers from our coverage schools.
103 RJ Thome Fremont Joe Perez Lakeview 112 Aydan Rosely Hesperia Kaiden Pascoe Grant 119 Gavin Miller Chippewa Hills Blake Peak Central Montcalm 125 Billy Ostyn Grant Gage Breuker Fremont 130 Carson Hayes Chippewa Hills River Roberson Hesperia 135 Mack Baird Hesperia Brady Jacobs Grant 140 Craig Wernette Chippewa Hills Matthew Halasinski Fremont 145 Brenden Kurtze Lakeview Brock Ryan Central Montcalm 152 Austin Hancock Lakeview Jager Kibart Fremont 160 Trey Breuker Fremont Kellen Haney Reed City 171 Gabe Petoskey Chippewa Hills Chase Knudsen Fremont 189 Clayton Wiggins Chippewa Hills Michael Romero Fremont 215 Carl Whipple Chippewa Hills Caleb Thompon Grant 285 Colby Roosa Chippewa Hills Nick Prater Tri County Honorable Mention 112 Riley Moore Holton 119 Graham Resterhouse Holton 125 Rice Robins Holton 130 Joe Millett Grant 140 Korbin Klaus Hesperia 145 Jayden Joseph Newaygo 160 Nolan Corvers Grant 171 Joseph Crowell Holton 215 David Yoder Newaygo 215 Kyler Kolk Fremont 285 Cody Visscher Fremont  2019-2020 BOYS BASKETBALL GOLD DIVISION ALL CONFERENCE: Gunner Hill (12) Central Montcalm Trenton Shaffer (12) Central Montcalm Asher Vissman (12) Central Montcalm Carter Chase (12) Grant Diesel Rose (12) Grant Seth Schuitema (10) Grant Chris Kennedy (12) Fremont DJ Lee (10) Big Rapids Carlos Magana (12) Newaygo Zac Saez (12) Reed City Cam Friend (11) Tri County HONORABLE MENTION: Trey Chapin (11) Central Montcalm Orion Evans (11) Grant Braiden McDonald (11) Fremont Trevor Woodard (12) Big Rapids Wyatt Mortensen (11) Newaygo Payton Hansen (11) Reed City Nick Braunschneider (12) Tri County Levi Rogers (11) Chippewa Hills 2019-2020 BOYS BASKETBALL SILVER DIVISION ALL CONFERENCE: Axel Woolworth (12) Morley Stanwood Aiden McLaughlin (12) Morley Stanwood Carter Veldkamp (11) Morley Stanwood Eli Carlson (12) Kent City Max Hudson (12) Kent City Nathan Slowik (12) Holton Sam Venema (11) White Cloud Hayden Rentschler (12) Lakeview Logan Balkema (12) Hesperia HONORABLE MENTION: Jason Bialik (12) Morley Stanwood Shawn Anderson (12) Kent City Aidan Poling (11) Holton Jake Foster (12) White Cloud Noah Ritchey (12) Lakeview Kaiden Robbins (12) Hesperia  The players selected as All Conference and Honorable Mention GOLD ALL CONFERENCE: Holly McKenna (12) Big Rapids Megan Mackall (11) Big Rapids Rylie Haist (9) Big Rapids Calla Miller (11) Fremont Paige Vandenberg (12) Fremont Chloe Shriver (12) Fremont Jaxi Long (10) Newaygo Bailey Vissman (11) Central Montcalm Ashley Bialek (11) Tri County Kirstyn Throop (12) Grant Taylor Harrison (12) Reed City Taylor Neeb (12) Chippewa Hills HONORABLE MENTION: Ariana Costie (11) Big Rapids Natalie Jamieson (12) Fremont Jaylee Long (11) Newaygo London Eldridge (11) Central Montcalm Alicia Bowen (11) Tri County Kassidy Doornbos (12) Grant Paige Lofquist (10) Reed City Sydni Nelson (12) Chippewa Hills SILVER ALL CONFERENCE: Kenzie Bowers (11) Kent City Jenna Harrison (11) Kent City Mikayla Loew (12) Kent City Brooke Brauher (11) Morley Stanwood Breanna Berry (12) Morley Stanwood Alexis Strait (11) White Cloud Emily Bayle (11) Hesperia Madison Hart (10) Lakeview Ally Seiber (11) Holton HONORABLE MENTION: Taryn Preston (10) Kent City Kalee Ramsey (12) Morley Stanwood Olivia Bowman (12) White Cloud Rachel Romero (11) Hesperia Natalie Parsons (9) Lakeview Madison Bosset (11) Holton |
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