Painter nets a pair as Lions blank Knights to move to 5-0
Photos by Tara Hefferan The Lady Lions traveled to Kenowa Hills and defeated them on their home field 3-0. Newaygo controlled the midfield with excellent defense and crisp passes from Lynnea Briones, Connelly Hefferan-Nordlund, and Emma Reyburn. The midfield successfully fed the ball to forwards Alexandra Son (1 goal, 2 assists) and Grace Painter (2 goals, 1 assist). Unlike a courtroom attorney, it’s obvious the Newaygo defense never rests as the win marked the 4th straight shutout for the team that has yielded but one goal thus far, a tally by Chip Hills in the season opener 7-1 loss to the Lions. The Lions (4-0, 5-0) share the top spot in the league with Tri County and will return home Monday to host Montague (3-2, 3-3) in a noncon match beginning at 4:30pm.
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Photos by Alexis Mercer Story by Ken De Laat A pair of Lions earned their places on the Associated Press All State Team announced this week. The accolades for Newaygo’s Jaylee Long continue to highlight her senior season with her selection to the Associated Press All State 2nd team. Long, a four year Varsity player, was the consummate leader on the floor for the team that mowed through highly ranked and highly regarded squads to reach the finals at Breslin. A trip, mind you, not made by a Newaygo team for a mere 35 years. “I'm honored to have the recognition,” she said. “It came through a lot of hard work and I'm blessed to be in this position,” The senior will be taking her hoop talents to Cornerstone University next year when she suits up for the Golden Eagles In addition to her ball handling brilliance Jaylee displays an impressive amount of courage when she takes to the court. A demon on defense, the frustration she delivers to opponents and her relentless style of play has led to a number of elbows (hopefully inadvertent) sent in her direction and often finding a landing spot. She’s been knocked to the floor given a shiner or three and frequently can be found in the middle of a scrum on the court. If it hurt or if it gave her pause, no one could tell because she simply picked herself up and went back to the business at hand. At the post game press conference after the loss to Portland she and her teammates muddled through the inevitable questions posed by the media. Then she was twice stopped on her way back to commiserate with her teammates to answer more questions, to add a bit more to the story of the loss. And struggling through frozen tears she patiently answered all queries, all the while dealing with the disappointment that comes when a magical run falls one game short. A class act. Coach Thomasma:“Very proud of Jaylee. She has an unbelievable work ethic and she was rewarded. She’d be the first to tell you this is a team award as these rewards are. She plays the game the right way. Great teammate and leader. As I said earlier, I’m still picking her first in a pickup game!! “ The second Lion (nee Bronco) named all state was Coach Nate Thomasma who led his team to the State Championship game while collecting hardware from District, Regional and Conference titles along the way. He received honorable mention for Associated Press Coach of the Year.
While Jaylee Long was the leader on the floor, Coach Thomasma was the indisputable leader on the bench. Yes, the Lions definitely put a lot of talent on the floor this season but it fell to Thomasma to forge them into a team. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Lions this season was the manner in which they operated. Despite many of them having lengthy basketball histories with each other the team truly came to fruition this year. You could see it develop toward the end of last season when they stopped losing the close ones and learned how to regroup and finish games. Then came this season and a team that refused to lose and took down a few Goliaths along the way. Thomasma guided this team like a symphony conductor. I could occasionally hear someone in the crowd questioning a move or a time out or a substitution, but Coach T. knew his team. If the decision didn’t produce the desired effect it was more than likely still the right decision for his team. And as he has all season Coach Thomasma defers to others when asked about the honors. “Definitely a team award,” he stated. “Dan (Maki) was very helpful throughout the whole year and Jason (Long) in the postseason and prior years as a JV and youth coach. This recognition is shared with them and the girls. “Any coach that is honest knows you need the horses to be super successful, we had them this year.” We asked fellow all-stater Jaylee Long about her longtime basketball mentor: ”I've had Coach Thomasma for four years and he's one of the best coaches I have ever had. He jokes and has fun with us, but is also able to get our intensity and competitiveness up during practice. Coach T. pushes us to reach our highest potential. I know that in any situation Coach Thomasma will have my back and I will have his. I know that he not only cares about me as an athlete but also as a person.” Yep. Another class act. Toth shines in goal, Son tallies twice
Photos by Tara Hefferan Newaygo 4 Reed City 0 The Lions were were victorious behind the stout defensive line led by Sofia Briggs and Anna Brummel. Goal Keeper Barbara Toth made a couple key saves to secure the win. Newaygo’s scoring was lead by Alexandra Son with 2 goals. Jaxi Long and Grace Painter also found the back of the net. Newaygo runs their record to 4-0 on the season and have outscored opponents 20-1 in that span. The Lions travel to Kenowa Hills on Friday to take on the Knights before returning home Monday for a 4:30 match with Montague. The Newaygo Invitational last Friday brought 15 teams from 8 schools to the track to compete in the early season meet. In the Boys Division White Cloud posted 114 points to outscore second place Kent City (97) and Mason County Central (91) to take home the hardware. Host Newaygo placed 5th and Hesperia finished 7th In the Girls Division the Cloud came up big again also adding to the trophy case by grabbing second place with 92 points trailing only Kent City (156). Newaygo finished a close third with 86 while Holton and Hesperia ended 7th and 8th respectively. On the track Tristan McHaney captured first in the 800 (2:14.92) and 1600 (4:57.73) then joined Nikolas Parks-Josephson, Kobe Canning, and Terry Trendel for a first in the 4x400 relay (3:52.36). The Boys team also excelled in the field events with Joel Bradley taking home top honors in the shot put (43-07.75) and Parks-Josephson hurling the discus 111-07 to also finish first. The Girls team took first in the 4x400 relay (4:51.25) behind the legwork of Elizabeth Compeau, Andrea Feldpausch, Carsyn Scarlavai and Jaden Gomez. Janessa Shepard (33.09.00) finished top of the pack in the shot put and Gaby Reeve did the same in discus (96.01). Other top 3 finishers for White Cloud
Girls 4x100 relay Scarlavai, Gomz, Compeau and Chesney Kooman (57.33)- 2nd 4x800 relay Compeau, Gomez, Feldpausch, and Grace Richards (12:06.31)- 3rd Shot Put Reeve 96.01- 2nd Discus Shepard (91.05.50)-2nd Pole Vault Scarlavai (6-06.00- 2nd Long Jump Gomez (14.00.00)-3rd Boys Long Jump Parks-Josephson 17-08-2nd Discus Bradley 105-10-2nd Shot Put Jace Silverthorn (40-01.50)-2nd 300 Hurdles Park-Josephson (48.60)-3rd 3200m Nathan Ciolk (11:35.07)-3rd White Cloud will host Holton on Wednesday beginning at 4pm. Photos by Tara Hefferan The Newaygo Lion Soccer squad is off to a great start as they have ripped through the early season schedule with a trio of wins including 2 shutouts. On Monday the Lions blitzed the nets getting 7 goals from 5 different players in a dominant victory over the Wildcats. Coach Painter:” It was a team effort from front to back.” Alexandra Son, McCaiden Rienstra, Grace Painter, Aby Lauryssens, and Emma Reyburn accounted for the scoring while netminder Barbara Toth, assisted by a tenacious Lion defense, blanked Lakeview. After opening with three home games the Lions (3-0 overall, 3-0 conference) hit the road beginning with a tough conference match Wednesday at Reed City (3-1, 2-0). They follow that with a non conference match with Kenowa Hills on the Knights field before returning home Monday to face the Montague Wildcats in a 4:30 start at the Middle School soccer field. Rocket Invitational Final Scores Traverse City West 163 Traverse City Central 98 Hudsonville 70 Fremont 64 Fruitport 64 Muskegon Reeths-Puffer 45 Greenville 20.5 Ludington 2.5 Athletes and relays placing in the top 6 scored points for the team. Listed below are athletes who scored and those who PR’d (personal record) 5th 4x800 Relay – Jackson Fair (Sr), Brennan Schuler (Jr), Gavin Schuler (Jr), Gary Springstead (So) PR – Daniel Romero (Fr) 110 Hurdles – 20.44 6th 100 Dash – Conner Roesler (Jr) PR – Connor Pettis (Fr) 100 Dase– 12.47 6th & SR – 4x200 – Conner Roesler, Caleb Geeting, Gabe Whittle (Jr), Case Dekryger (Sr) – 1:36.86 1st & MR - 1600 – Nathan Walker (Sr) – 4:17.96 2nd & PR – 1600 – Conor Somers (Jr) – 4:28.76 PR – John Christensen (Fr) 1600 – 4:51.48 5th – 4x100 Relay – Conner Roesler, Caleb Geeting, Connor Pettis, Wes Ekkel (Sr) 2nd & PR – 400 – Case Dekryger 53.66 5th & PR – 400 – Gabe Whittle – 54.9 PR – Daniel Romero 300 Hurdles – 48.89 5th & PR – 800 – Gavin Schuler – 2:12.21 PR – John Christensen 800 – 2:15.37 PR – Gary Springstead 800 – 2:25.33 1st – 3200 run – Nathan Walker 3rd & PR 3200 run – Conor Somers – 9:51.74 5th & PR 3200 run – Ben Paige – 10:10.92 4th & SR 4x400 Relay – Case Dekryger, Gabe Whittle, Jackson Fair, John Christensen – 3:48.18 3rd – High Jump – Wes Ekkel PRs – Long Jump – Daniel Romero – 16’11” Christian Garbrect (Fr) – 15’10.25” Connor Pettis – 15’8.5” Friday Grant 12 Reed City 11 The visiting Coyotes were in total control heading into the 6th having built an 11-0 lead The Tigers, however, weren’t finished yet. The team rallied back posting 9 runs in the inning as Isaac Higgins, Trevor Lowry, Dalton Wagner, Cole Lesley, Kyle Bay, and Ryan Chapin each drove in runs and the teams entered the final frame with Grant trailing 11-9. To have a shot at a comeback the Tigers needed to keep the Yotes close and Coach Cheseboro called on Ryan Hether who held RC in check. The hosts kept pecking away in the 7th and tied the game with the bases jammed and 2 outs. Isaiah Powell took a strike before lacing a game winning base hit to give the Tigers the comeback win. Lesley, Bay, Lowry and Elliot Butchart each collected multiple hits for Grant Grant 5 Reed City 3 With the Tigers holding a 2 run lead and runners at the corners the game was suspended in the 3rd due to darkness Tuesday Fremont 10-3 Ludington 5-4 Fremont began the week with a split at Ludington In the opener the Packers broke open a 5-5 tie plating 4 runs in the 4th and added one in the 7th while shutting down the hosts the rest of the way. Peyton Mansfield knocked in 4 runs and Joe Kortje added 2. The O’s came back in the 5 inning second game pushing across a run with 2 outs in the 5th to gain the split. Jaxon Deur drove in 2 for the Pack. Saturday Fremont 9 Coopersville 1 Fremont 9 Ravenna 4 Saturday the Packers competed in the Kubasiak Memorial Tournament in Ravenna Drew DeBlake and Logan Nelson combined to hold the Broncos to 3 hits while the Packers took advantage of some timely hits and a few fielding miscues to race past Coopersville for the win in the first game. The final saw Mansfield clear his teammates off the bases, piling up 6 RBI’s in the Fremont win. Joey DeLong and Kortje managed to contain the Bulldogs scattering 8 hits and yielding 4 runs. Poling, Monette, Fowler team with Venema & Taylor; Fialek, Mosley & Cox are HM
Boys All Conference Silver # Name Grade School 1.Ryland Nelson 12 Morley Stanwood 2 Kyler Larson 10 Kent City 3 Wyatt Monette 11 Holton 5 Austin Fowler 11 Holton 10 Aidan Poling 12 Holton 24 Kain Magnuson 12 Lakeview 30 Sam Venema 12 White Cloud 33 Riley Taylor 12 Hesperia 40 Carter Veldkamp 12 Morley Stanwood Honorable Mention # Name Grade School 2 Brodrick Fialek 10 Holton 11 Casen Armstrong 12 Kent City 11 Maddox Mosley 11 Hesperia 13 Dexter Cox 12 White Cloud 14 Justen Cranney 12 Morley Stanwood 15 Lucas Simon 12 Lakeview Zerfas, Mortensen, Schuitema & Braiden McDonald on First Team; Jordan McDonald, Stephens & Evans gain HM Boys Gold All Conference # Name Grade School 00 Daryle Greenbay 12 Big Rapids 0 Trey Chapin 12 Central Montcalm 0 Gage Todd 11 Chippewa Hills 2 Dawson Dunn 10 Big Rapids 3 Braiden Mcdonald 12 Fremont 3 Payton Hansen 12 Reed City 5 DJ Lee 11 Big Rapids 10 Joshua Zerfas 12 Fremont 11 Wyatt Mortensen 12 Newaygo 22 Cam Friend 12 Tri-County 23 Seth Schuitema 11 Grant Honorable Mention # Name Grade School 1 Seth Jackson 10 Reed City 2 Cole Olson 12 Central Montcalm 4 Orion Evans 12 Grant 4 Ashton Stephens 12 Newaygo 21 Alex Ehnis 12 Chippewa Hills 24 Jamal Strickland 11 Big Rapids 24 Jordon McDonald 10 Fremont 33 Ty Merlington 10 Tri-County Bayle (Hesp), Strait (WC), Bosset (Hol) named to 1st team; Watson Robins and Tinkham get HM
6 seniors found themselves on the Silver all conference team joined by a pair of juniors and a talented freshman form Kent City (Maddie Geers). The HM squad also included a freshman with Red Devil Ryann Robins gaining the honors OK Silver Girls First Team # Name Grade School 4 Jenna Harrison 12 Kent City 5 Emily Bayle 12 Hesperia 5 Madison Hart 11 Lakeview 12 Madison Bosset 12 Holton 22 Madison Garbow 11 Morley Stanwood 23 Kenzie Bowers 12 Kent City 24 Maddie Geers 9 Kent City 32 Alexis Strait 12 White Cloud 34 Brooke Brauher 12 Morley Stanwood Honorable Mention All-Conference # Name Grade School 4 Jaidyn Hill 11 Lakeview 14 Braelyn Berry 11 Morley Stanwood 23 Cassie Watson 12 White Cloud 35 Ryann Robins 9 Holton 41 Emma Geers 11 Kent City 45 Emmi Tinkham 11 Hesperia |
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