  Photos by Brent Foondle and Jana Dakin The White Cloud girls track team competed at the Kent City Elite Invitational on Saturday. Seven athletes broke personal records. Three had season best times and two athletes earned medals. Justice Dixon stole the show with an impressive night. She PR’d in all four events and medaled in 2. Dixon took 7th place in the 100 with a 13.15, broke out of her heat in the 200 with a 9th place finish 27.7, ran a 1:06 in the 400 (13th of 47 runners) and anchored the 7th place 4x100 team with Dakin, Brown and Edwards for their best time of the season: 54.8. Annie Feldpausch earned a 7th place medal in the high jump (4’8), ran a season best of 2:56 in the 800, and led the 4x800 to PR with a time of 2:56. Other standouts of the night: Mariah Edwards’ SB 14.1 in the 100, Gabriella Dakin PR 29.8 in the 200, Autri Horton PR 15.9 in the 100, Hailee Brown PR 31.9 in the 200, Payten Bird PR 1:15 in the 400, Caedy Traynor PR 19.3 in the 100H, Shaylia Richardson PR 26-0 Shotput, and Brooklyn Foondle SB 3:09 in the 800. The 4x200 also shaved time off for PR 2:02 (Traynor, Brown, Dakin, Edwards)
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 Valeria Torres reverses play away from Newaygo’s net  The defense responds to the attack Story by Tara Hefferan Photos by Connelly Hefferan Nordlund At home on Friday night, Newaygo Lions Soccer picked up their third win of the season, narrowly edging out the Ravenna Bulldogs 1-0. In a relatively even match-up, the first half had the Lions and Bulldogs battling for possession, with few attacks on goal. The best chance of the half came for the Lions following a sequence of passes starting in the midfield. While on the run toward goal, Lena Wagner passed the ball to Rachel Larsen on the right side of the box. Larsen immediately crossed the ball to Luella Hilden, who fired a shot at goal. The Bulldog Keeper made an impressive diving save to keep the score even at 0-0 going into halftime. In the first half, the Lions had three shots to the Bulldog’s one.
Returning for the second half, Ravenna was newly energized, but Captain Natalie Richardson and Keeper Ella Soules successfully led Newaygo’s defensive efforts to withstand the stronger Bulldog attack. While Newaygo was outshot by the Bulldogs, the Lions were able to convert an important opportunity to get on the board. The play unfolded in the midfield, with Landry Hefferan Nordlund poking the ball away from the Bulldog player and to Larsen. Larsen quickly sent a ball through the Bulldog defense to Wagner. Wagner then slotted the ball past the talented Ravenna Keeper and into the lower right corner. This marks Wagner’s 4th goal of the season.
Ravenna fired off 10 shots in the second half, with 3 of those shots on goal. The Lions had just two shots, with one being the game winner. Keeper Soules earned her second shut-out of the season, as the Lions emerged victorious with a score of 1-0.  Natalie Richardson, supported by Aby Laurrysens and Liliana Herrera, chases down the attacker  Marcy Krysiak and Serena Jeong are happy for the win  The Lions greet their fans after the game   Tiger Tennis Cruises Photos by Melinda Zerlaut The Tiger tennis squad put on a powerful performance in their match with Muskegon Catholic Central sweeping the singles without yielding a game and dominating in doubles. Here are the results: Grant - 8, Muskegon Catholic Central - 0, Singles: No. 1 - Nadia Zerlaut, Grant def. Lily Kotecki, Muskegon Catholic Central, 6-0 , 6-0 No. 2 - Madison Brooks, Grant def. Sophia Muskovin, Muskegon Catholic Central, 6-0 , 6-0 No. 3 - Megan Zimmer, Grant def. Ella Staniforth, Muskegon Catholic Central, 6-0 , 6-0 No. 4 - Harleigh Engelhard, Grant def. Lizzy Cone, Muskegon Catholic Central, 6-0 , 6-0 Doubles: No. 1 - Ana Ovalle, Grant - Jocee Pleune, Grant def. Emily Muskovin, Muskegon Catholic Central - Mallory Rich, Muskegon Catholic Central, 6-0 , 6-2 No. 2 - Kierstyn Scarbrough, Grant - Emerson Mayra, Grant def. Briseyda Salazar, Muskegon Catholic Central - Molly Caughey, Muskegon Catholic Central, 6-3 , 6-1 No. 3 - Julia Simon, Grant - Ava Dewey, Grant def. Charla Simpson, Muskegon Catholic Central - Charllotte DeLong, Muskegon Catholic Central, 6-0 , 6-2 No. 4 - Stephanie Velasco, Grant - Violet Rybski, Grant def. Hayden Allard, Muskegon Catholic Central - Madeline VanWalsum, Muskegon Catholic Central, 6-2 , 6-2    Hailee Brown handing off to Gabriella Dakin Photos by Brent Foondle The Girls Track team showed tenacity in their dual meet at Newaygo beating the Lions and taking 2nd place to Kent City. Senior Annie Feldpausch had an impressive showing against the Lions taking 1st place in all four of her events: Discus- 75’2 (PR), high jump- 4’8, 1-mile -6:25, and 2-mile 14:10. Freshman Justice Dixon continued her winning ways with 1st place in the 100- 13.5, the 200- 28.8 (PR), and anchor in the 1st place 4x100- 54.9 (PR) with Hailee Brown, Gabriella Dakin and Mariah Edwards. Dixon also placed 3rd in the 400- 1:11. Caedy Traynor has a solid showing in the hurdles with 1st place in the 110H- 19.77 (PR), and 2nd place in the 300 H- 57.7. She is also the lead in the 4x200 with a PR time of 2:02. Gabriella Dakin placed 2nd in the long jump- 14’7 (PR), 3rd in the 200- 30.4, and was 3rd leg of the winning 4x100 team and of the 4x200. Other members of the PR 4x200 team were Hailee Brown and Mariah Edwards. Izzy Shockley took 1st in the pole vault -6’6 and 3rd in the 400- 1:16. Shaylia Richardson was strong with a 1st place finish in the shotput- 25’8 (PR) and 2nd place in the discus- 73’7 (PR). Molly Francis earned points with 3rd place finishes in the high jump- 4’4 and the 800- 3:23. Charlotte Karnes helped sweep the discus with a 3rd place finish- 70’11. Jayla Perrin took 3rd place in the shotput- 23’9.5. A warrior shout-out to Brooklyn Foondle who persevered through the 2-mile for a 3rd place finish to give her team the edge. She also finished 2nd in the 1-mile -6:45.  Caedy Traynor passing the baton to Hailee Brown  Photos by Cassie Rickert White Cloud Varsity took Tuesday's opener in dramatic fashion, with a 3-2 walk-off victory over Grant. The game was tied at two in the bottom of the eighth when Mason Cruzan singled, scoring the game winner. Cruzan also earned the victory in relief pitching. Jayson Ruether pitched a gem surrendering four hits and two runs (zero earned) over six and two-thirds innings, striking out five. Landyn McGowen provided pop in the middle of the lineup with two RBI's. Kevin Strait and Brycen Knight each collected two hits in the winning cause. In game two, Grant scored early and often to defeat White Cloud 13-0. Landyn McGowen started on the mound going four innings striking out four. The error bug struck White Cloud aiding Grant's cause. The Indians were led by Landyn McGowen and Kevin Strait with two hits apiece. White Cloud improves to 5-5 on the season.    Showing off the medals earned by sweeping the Mohawk Classic Tournament Thursday Fremont 4-3 Hastings 0-2 In a dazzling display of skill, Paxton Borgman mesmerized with 12 strikeouts, guiding the Fremont Packers to a resounding 4-0 triumph over Hastings. Borgman's mastery shone bright as he conceded only three hits across seven innings, all while keeping the scoreboard pristine, with not a single run to mar their performance. The opening act saw Fremont Varsity Packers claim the lead thanks to an error in the bottom of the first inning. Adding to their tally, Fremont Varsity Packers tacked on another run in the third inning, capitalizing on a wild pitch to extend their advantage. Johnny Keena took the spotlight with a crucial RBI, propelling the team forward. Deagan Klimek and Blake Zerlaut contributed with their hits, each a note in the symphony of victory. Ben Mellema showcased his speed with two stolen bases, adding to the Packers' four steals in the game. And in a testament to their defensive prowess, Fremont executed a flawless double play while committing no errors in the field. Luke DeLong, ever vigilant, led the charge with 12 chances in the field. In the nightcap it was impressive pitching that led Fremont to victory over Hastings in a tight 3-2 game. Owen Vanderstelt started strong for Fremont, securing 13 crucial outs. The scoring action kicked off in the bottom of the first inning when Luke DeLong's walk, combined with an error by Hastings, brought in one run apiece for Fremont. Vanderstelt earned the win, conceding only two hits and one run over four and one-third innings, with four strikeouts and four walks. Ben Mellema sealed the deal with a save. Deagan Klimek led the offensive charge with two hits, while Ben Mellema, Deagan Klimek, and Luke DeLong each contributed an RBI. Klimek also showcased his speed with two stolen bases. Fremont displayed their aggressiveness on the base paths, racking up a total of five stolen bases, and executed two double plays defensively.
Saturday-Mohawk Classic Fremont 7 West Mich Aviation 6 Fremont 4 Morley Stanwood 0 In a gripping showdown, Fremont clinched a late-game 7-6 win against the West Michigan Aviation Academy Varsity Aviators on Saturday. The tension peaked in the bottom of the fifth inning when Blake Zerlaut's timely single broke the tie, propelling Fremont into the lead. The game's narrative unfolded with the Packers knotting the score at six in the bottom of the third, capitalizing on an error and a wild pitch. Seizing the moment, Fremont surged ahead in the fifth inning as Ben Mellema and Blake Zerlaut each delivered pivotal singles, igniting the scoreboard with a run apiece. Ben Mellema emerged as the hero on the mound, claiming the win for Fremont Varsity Packers. Across two and one-third innings, he stifled the opposition, surrendering a mere two hits and one unearned run while striking out two and issuing two walks. Johnny Keena initiated Fremont's defensive efforts, pitching with determination but yielding five runs (three earned) over two and two-thirds innings, with five strikeouts and five walks. Blake Zerlaut, Fremont's steadfast number seven hitter, led the charge with two hits in three at-bats. Ben Mellema, Blake Zerlaut, and Luke DeLong each contributed an RBI, while Brayden Crosley showcased his speed with two stolen bases. Fremont's aggressive baserunning yielded five stolen bases in total. The win set up a showdown with Morley Stanwood and the Packers responded with a decisive 4-0 triumph over the hosts. The scoring action kicked off early for Fremont as an error paved the way for their first run in the top of the first inning. Building on their lead, Fremont added another run in the third inning when Paxton Borgman's double brought a runner home. Pitching prowess was on full display as Chase Mercer commanded the mound for the Packers. The right-handed pitcher showcased his skills, allowing a mere two hits and no runs across six stellar innings, while striking out eight and issuing five walks. Ben Mellema provided solid relief, pitching one inning with zero runs conceded, striking out two batters, and walking none. At the plate, Brayden Crosley led Fremont's offensive charge, going 2-for-3. Blake Zerlaut and Paxton Borgman each contributed with an RBI, while Borgman and Crosley demonstrated their speed with multiple stolen bases. Fremont displayed their defensive prowess by not committing a single error, and Brayden Crosley led the team with an impressive 10 plays made.
Tuesday Oakridge 14-10 Fremont 0-5 After being shut out in the opener the Packers looked to earn a split with the Eagles but once again could not keep pace with Oakridge and were swept on the road snapping a 4 game win streak. Owen Vanderstelt took the loss for the Packers going two and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on three hits, striking out one and walking two. Paxton Borgman provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led Fremont with two runs batted in. They went 1-for-2 on the day. Ben Mellema, Easton Herman, Deagan Klimek, Chase Mercer, Brayden Crosley, and Paxton Borgman each collected one hit for Fremont. Fremont plays at home on Tuesday against Montague in their next game.   Photos and Story by Tara Hefferan Newaygo Lions Soccer kicked off another scoring bonanza Monday night in Remus, topping the Chippewa Hills Warriors 7-0. This marks the Lions second consecutive road victory, following Friday’s win in Muskegon. Newaygo dominated possession from the opening whistle, but it was not until just 19 minutes were left in the first half that the Lions got on the board. As the Warriors attempted to clear the ball away from goal, Landry Hefferan Nordlund intercepted it, making a line breaking pass to a sprinting Lena Wagner. From the right side of the box, Wagner sent a low ball past the Chippewa Keeper and straight into the lower left corner. The Lions were ahead 1-0. Commenting on her first goal for Newaygo, Wagner said “I was really happy to finally score first goal of the season, after a lot of missed chances in the last games. The goal gave me more confidence in the game, and I hope it will result in more goals and good plays for the next games.”
Wagner’s opening goal unleashed a hot streak for Newaygo, with four more goals coming in rapid succession before halftime. The first of these followed several give-and-go passing sequences, which advanced the Lions in front of goal. In their scramble to clear the ball from danger, the Warriors committed a handball infraction in the box, leading to a penalty kick. Wagner stepped up to the line, confidently taking the kick and again sending the ball into the corner of the net. The Lions were ahead 2-0 with 16 minutes left on the clock. Less than a minute later, Captain Aby Lauryssens threw in the ball to Hefferan Nordlund. From the top corner of the box, Hefferan Nordlund sent in a high-flying blast into the goal’s corner. This brought the Lions to 3-0 in a span of just four minutes.
With 11 minutes remaining, the Warriors attempted to send a ball up field from deep in the corner. Hefferan Nordlund again intercepted, dribbling toward goal. She sent a short pass to Wagner, who immediately dropped it back to her from the top of the 18. Hefferan Nordlund made a one-touch pass to Wagner, who was making a run into the center of the box. Wagner poked the ball by the Keeper and into the lower right corner. The Lions were now ahead 4-0, with Wagner earning the hat trick. The final goal of the half came with just 7 minutes remaining. After the ball bounced off a Warrior defender at the 18-yard line, Hefferan Nordlund picked it up, this time slotting it to the right for a bolting Rachel Larsen. Larsen eluded the defender guarding the right side of the box, then fired a shot past the Keeper into the top left corner. The Lions entered halftime with a 5-0 lead.
Returning from halftime, the Lions experimented by placing several players into new positions. This included moving Captain Natalie Richardson from defense into the attack. Richardson took little time getting on the board. The play unfolded with Larsen, who was midway into the Lions’ defensive zone, dispatching a perfectly placed through ball into the path of a sprinting Richardson, who picked it up on the right side of the field. With speed, Richardson raced toward goal, sending a banger past the Keeper and into the upper right corner. The Lions were ahead 6-0 with 38 minutes left to play. As the Lions continued rotating positions and players, they gained valuable experience taking chances and trying new things. This included Lion Keeper Ella Soules getting some field time, and field player Diana Hernandez working in goal. Then, with 13 minutes of game time remaining, Hefferan Nordlund sent a long ball into the box to a sprinting Larsen. With the Keeper caught out of goal, Larsen was able to make an easy pass into the net, bringing the Lions to 7 goals on the night and earning Larsen a brace.  Keeper Ella Soules makes a move while playing as a striker  Keeper Diana Hernandez celebrates her first game of the season in goal with Natalie Richardson The win against Chippewa Hills was a good team effort, with every Lion getting playing time. In the end, the Lions had 8 shots in the first half, with 7 of those on goal. They had 10 shots in the second half, with 5 on goal. Lion Keeper Soules faced just one shot in the first half, and one shot in the second. Keeper Hernandez faced one shot in the second half. The Lions play next on Wednesday, April 24 in Big Rapids.  Presley Wade smiles with her teammates  Noah Robinson competes in High Jump The White Cloud Boys’ Track and Field Team Completed Week 2 of their competitive season, going undefeated for the week, first by defeating Central Montcalm, Morley Stanwood, and Grant in CSAA action Tuesday, then by winning the 12 team Panther Small School Invitational Friday. On Tuesday, the Indian seniors shined, led by Noah Robinson, who continued his winning ways in the high jump, clearing 6’6” for the victory. Noah also anchored the winning 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 meter relay teams and finished 2nd in the 200 meter dash. Senior Carson Foondle took home victories in the 1600 meter and 3200 meter runs, setting a personal best time of 4:41.69 in the 1600. Carson also anchored the 4 x 800 relay team, who finished 2nd on the night. Finally, Senior Lloyd Sebright-Johnson won both the shot put and discus, taking the victory in discus by almost 16 feet.
Sophomore Giuliano Venditti joined the seniors by taking the win in the 300 meter hurdles. Giuliano also finished 2nd in the 110 meter hurdles and was part of the 2nd place 4 x 400 relay team. Final scores Tuesday night were White Cloud 80 - Central Montcalm 56, White Cloud 85 - Morley Stanwood 52, and White Cloud 100 - Grant 36. White Cloud athletes had a total of 15 personal best performances on the night. Friday night, the Indians took on similar sized schools in the 1st Annual Panthers Small School Invitational in Hesperia. White Cloud easily out distanced the other schools for the win. White Cloud scored 146 points, while 2nd place Mesick finished with 87 points. Although the seniors had great performances, sophomore Giuliano Venditti stole the show for the Indians. In the 110 hurdles, Giuliano raced home to a 1st place finish with a personal best time of 17.72. He followed that up by shattering his personal best in the 300 hurdles by over a second, winning the event by over 5 seconds with a time of 45.59. Noah Robinson was a three-time winner again. Noah finished first in the high jump, again clearing 6’6”. He also teamed with Dalton Crawford, Alex Collard, and Jayden Robinson to win the 4 x 400 meter relay in 47.62, while Noah, Dalton, Jayden, and Reece Johnson combined to bring home the victory in the 4 x 200 meter relay.
Senior Lloyd Sebright Johnson won the shot put by more than 6 feet, tossing 44 '4.25 feet for the night. Lloyd also finished 2nd in the discus.
Junior Jayden Robinson and senior Degan Wawcszyk finished 1-2 in the pole vault. Degan also came home 3rd in the 110 hurdles, while Jayden ended up 3rd in the high jump. Senior Carson Foondle had another good night, finishing 2nd to Pentwater’s Abe VanDinen in both the 800 meter run and the 1600 meter run. VanDinen is ranked as one of the top distance runners in Division 4, but Carson is moving up the ranks in Division 4 with his efforts as of late. The Indians will be in competition Tuesday night in Newaygo against the Lions and Kent City, then will travel to Kent City Friday to take part in the 24-team Kent City Elite Invitational.  Captain Aby Lauryssens puts the ball into the back of the net  Landry Hefferan Nordlund and Evalyn Foster celebrate the goal Story and photos by Tara Hefferan As a young team, Newaygo Girls Soccer has had a rocky start to the 2024 season. Their fortunes changed Friday night in Muskegon, as the Lions won their first game of the year, outscoring the Big Reds 8-1. Luella Hilden kicked off the evening’s scoring bonanza, finding the back of the net in the early minutes, off a long ball sent forward by Captain Natalie Richardson. Shortly after, Captain Aby Lauryssens made a quick shot into the net, off a nicely placed pass from Rachel Larsen. This was Larsen’s first assist of the season, and she said, “It felt great to be able to help another teammate score a goal. It always does!”  Peach Thitisawat, Presley Wade, and Rachel Larsen give chase
Next, Richardson sent a high flying, curving ball into goal from outside the 18-yard line. While the Big Reds keeper saw the ball heading toward her, it curled just out of reach of her outstretched hands. Finally, with a short tap pass from Serena Jeong, Landry Hefferan Nordlund sent a low ball into the left corner, bringing the Lions to 4-0 at the half. The Lions had 17 shots in the first half, with 10 of those on goal. The Big Reds had zero shots at halftime. Shuffling several players into new positions after the break, the Lions continued to dominate possession. Scoring began early, with Richardson making a run up the right side of the field and into the box, where she drew a foul. Taking the resulting penalty kick, Hefferan Nordlund faced up against the Muskegon keeper, sending the ball into the back of the net to open the second half scoring. The next goal came after Hefferan Nordlund passed the ball to Evalyn Foster, who kicked it toward goal. The ball deflected off the defense, earning Newaygo the point but crediting it as an own goal by the Reds.
The scoring bonanza continued on, this time with Larsen earning the goal. Following a corner kick into the box, a free-for-all in front of net ensued. Larsen made space to pounce at just the right time, muscling the ball into the back of the net. Said Larsen, “It feels really amazing to get my first goal of the season! I’m really happy I scored, and I was able to contribute to my team’s success. I just remember thinking about how I finally scored after other missed attempts.” The final goal of the night came off a free kick issued following another Big Reds foul. Hefferan Nordlund sent a curving ball into the bottom right corner, bringing her to three goals for the night. “I didn’t realize I scored a hat-trick until after the game,” said Hefferan Nordlund. “It felt amazing! I’m really proud of how we played as a team tonight.” In the second half, Newaygo had 16 shots, with 3 on goal. The Reds had just two shots, one of which slipped by Keeper Ella Soules following a bit of mayhem in front of goal. At the buzzer, Newaygo had won their first game of the season, with a score of 8-1, and with five different Lions slotting in points.
Said Coach Painter, “Getting our first win was important. Even with a big win, some of the girls were upset that we gave up the one goal. That goal is on me due to trying something new with the line up! Sometimes changes work, other times they don’t! That being said, I believe there are lessons learned and experiences gained from every single match. Sometimes we gain soccer-related knowledge in terms of playing our positions better or operating better as a team. Sometimes there are life lessons learned. This match offered the chance for both types of learning. Tonight several of our girls faced physical and verbal interactions in a way that was unexpected for them. They had to learn to push through all of the associated emotions in order to focus on the actual game. Once they were able to do this, we saw improvements in our game performance, and they were able to enjoy their first win of the season! I am hopeful that we can build on the experiences from tonight’s game as we head into more conference play next week.” The Lions next play on Monday, April 22 at 6:00 PM. They will head to Remus Chippewa Hills for a league match against the Warriors.  Kallyn Moore eludes the defender  2024 Newaygo Lions Soccer
The White Cloud boys' track and field team traveled North to Kingsley on Saturday, April 13 to take part in the Rodes Relays. This is a unique type of meet where every event, be it a running or field event, is contested in a relay format. Even traditional individual events, such as field events, the 100 meter dash, the 110 meter hurdles, and the 3200 meter run, are scored by combining the best efforts of the three participants from each school. The Indian boys had an extremely successful day finishing third overall out of eight teams, finishing behind only the host Kingsley and Traverse City St. Francis, both division 3 powerhouses in the sport. White Cloud athletes had a total of 13 personal best efforts on the day, led by senior Noah Robinson, who, in the high jump, broke the school record which he had previously tied last year. Noah cleared 6 feet 7 inches to become the overall winner in the event. He barely scraped 6 feet 9 inches which, if he would have cleared, would have set the 36 year old meet record of a combined height of 17 feet 10 inches. Noah's brother Jaden cleared 5 feet 10 inches, while junior Reece Johnson jumped 5 feet 4 inches, a personal record for himself. Senior Carson Foondle also had a banner day. First, he lowered his 3200 meter personal best time by 31 seconds to win the race in 10 minutes, 6 seconds. Teammates Kaleb Canning and Angelo Hinson both had personal best times, but also. Kaleb lowered his time by 25 seconds and Angelo by 7 seconds. Their combined efforts gave the three the victory in the event. Next, Carson anchored the 4 x 800 team of Coleson Cruzan, Canning, Hinson, and himself to a 2nd place finish. Carson ended his day by running the 1600 meter segment of the distance medley relay. He, Cruzan (1200), David Higgs (400), and Canning (800) combined for a 3rd place finish, giving Carson and Kaleb their third medal on the day. David Higgs, Jayden Robinson, and Noah Robinson also brought home three medals apiece. The Indians took home a total of 32 medals, and helped improve the times and distances that will help them defend their Division 4 team state championship title that they earned two years ago. White Cloud will travel to Central Montcalm Tuesday for their second round of CSAA action before heading to Hesperia Friday, April 19 to participate in the 11 team Small School Invitational.   |
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