MI Sports Page | Michigan High School Sports

District title has Dennis and Lansing Eastern wrestlers feeling good

Share |

February 8, 2012 by Thad Kraus

Throughout wrestling’s regular season Elijah Dennis reminded his Lansing Eastern coach Adam Fedewa that the junior needed a team district title.

The Quaker coach replied “keep working hard and keep pushing your teammates and you’ll get a district title.”

It took Elijah Dennis (160 pounds) just 25 seconds to pin his Sexton opponent Wednesday night. Lansing Eastern defeated Sexton, 63-18 in the district final.

Dennis and his teammates worked hard and quickly Wedenesday night in posting a 63-18 district championship win over Lansing Sexton.

“It feels good,” exclaimed Dennis. “Last year we were so close. This is the first district title since I’ve been here and it feels good.”

For the Fewewa coached Quakers it was their second district title in five years and Fedewa’s third in eight years at the helm of Lansing Eastern wrestling.

“This is the most well put together, solid, balanced team of the three district champions I’ve coached at Eastern,” Fedewa said. “I had a good feeling coming into the season because of the personnel and who was returning.”

Eastern took care of business in the district semi final withÂ 68-3 blowout over Haslett. Meanwhile, its city rival, Sexton, outlasted Lansing Catholic 46-36.

In the finals, the Quakers jumped out to a 30-0 advantage with five consecutive pins from 103 through 125. Shukarani Nybenda (103) got things started with a pin a 1:00 of the first period. Antonio Garcia (112) followed with a third period pin at 5:28. Chris Janes (119) and Aaaron David (125) posted pins at 18 and 47 seconds respectively. Juaquin Sanchez (130) added six more when he won via a void.

For the second time in five years a Lansing Eastern wrestling team was crowned district champion. Eastern defeated Sexton 68-13 in the Division 2 district final.

Sexton won its only two matches on the mat at 135 and 140 pounds. Jamelle Peebles posted a pin at 4:51 of the third period and Greg Davenport followed with a pin at 1:10. The Big Reds only other win came via an Eastern void at 215 against D-Kwan Guerrero.

“The boys came out tonight and took care of business,” Fedewa said. The Quakers will travel to the Linden regional on Wednesday, Feb. 15 to face the South Lyon district champion in a regional semifinal. The other half will see the Fenton and Chelsea district champions face-off.

Eastern strung together five matches in row from 145-189. Ryan Tranthan, Guibensen Saint Jean and Elijah Dennis all recorded pins.

“Saturday’s loss in the conference final put me in my place and got me back to the basics (staying in position),” explained Saint Jean. “It was a good lesson for me.”

Jon Sarmiento (171) won via a void and Trever Keenan (189) scored on a reversal in the final five seconds to defeat Kyle Duke 3-1.

In the final match of the night, Travis Stouffer pinned Sexton’s Evan Galina at 16 seconds of the first period.

“This win tonight is special because this group has a legitimate shot at becoming regional champions,” Fedewa concluded.

Category: Lansing Eastern, Wrestling | Comments Off on District title has Dennis and Lansing Eastern wrestlers feeling good

Eastern’s Crim makes most of mat opportunity; Grand Ledge claims CAAC title

Share |

February 4, 2012 by Thad Kraus

Jerek Crim spent much of year wondering when an opportunity to wrestle would present itself.

For the Lansing Eastern sophomore, 152 pounds is his natural fit, unless of course your teammate is Guibenson St. Jean.

Jerek Crim (160), Lansing Eastern, earned his first individual league championship Saturday at Grand Ledge.

Bumping to 160 pounds would be a natural solution unless of course your teammate is Elijah Dennis.

Quaker coach Adam Fedewa cleared the path for Crim, bumping Dennis up to 171 pounds and inserting Crim at 160.

The Quaker made the most of the opportunity Saturday as he followed up a first-round bye with a pin against Grand Ledge’s Nick Cugini in 1:42 of the first period. Crim ended his day with a pin in 19 seconds of the first period against Jackson’s Roman Palumbo, earning him a Capitol Area Athletic Conference Blue championship.

“A conference title never occurred to me until today,” Crim explained afterwards. “Coach Fedewa inspired me.”

The chiseled framed Dennis wasn’t deterred a bit wrestling at 171 pounds.

“Dennis is a gamer, a full boat, he likes the spot light,” Fedewa said. “Crim is happy-go-lucky until you get him on the mat and he becomes a different kid.”

Dennis, who finished third in the conference last year wrestling at 152 pounds, advanced to the title round with a pin in 1:41 of the first period against Lansing Everett’s Tony Norris. He claimed his first league title with a 10-1 major decision over the Comets’ Joey Kolwick.

“It feels great. I’ve been working so hard in practice and have been working out after practice with Guibenson,” Dennis explained. “I’m at my best when I apply pressure and keep pounding and pounding until the opponent tires.”

The Quakers despite advancing five wrestlers into the finals and nine into the consolation round, finished second Grand Ledge. The Comets tallied 241 points. Lansing Eastern finished with 224.5 while Holt was third at 219 followed by East Lansing 114, Jackson 97.5, Okemos 27, Lansing Sexton 26, and Lansing Everett 24.

Grand ledge led Eastern by 25 going into the finals. The Comets struggled out of the gate losing its first six matches in the finals.

“It was a little struggle in the finals. It seemed like it was the conference against Grand Ledge,” said winning Comet coach Steve Delaney.

Grand Ledge crowned four CAAC Blue league champions, Dalton Kirkey (140), Curtiss Brownell (145), Nick Verran (189) and Corey Arnouts (285).

“Our kids battled all day long and in some cases wrestled above their seed,” Delaney explained.

Eastern’s St. Jean (32-5) a favorite at 152 pounds, got stuck in a headlock and was pinned in the finals against Holts’ Jeff Lyon.

“Guibenson will battle back from this just fine, you watch,” Fedewa explaimed afterwards.

Two other Eastern wrestlers lost in the title match. They were Khalil Perkins (140), and Jon Sarmiento (189).

Lansing Sexton’s Kyle Duke placed fourth in the field at 189. He lost in the consolation round to East Lansing’s Treyvon Speed.

Other CAAC wrestlers to earn titles on Saturday were Holts’ Ben Gomez, 103; Shayne Wireman, 112; Mino Trevino, 119; Dominick Trevino, 130; Drew Dyer, 135; and Lyon 152.’Five Quakers took third. They were Shukarani Nybenda (103), Aaron David (125), Juaquin Sanchez (130), Diego Molina (135), and Travis Stouffer (285).

Lansing Everett’s Jacqwese Williams was third in the 160 pound class.

Category: Lansing Eastern, Wrestling | Comments Off on Eastern’s Crim makes most of mat opportunity; Grand Ledge claims CAAC title

First-half mistakes land Sexton girls 49-38 loss to Holt

Share |

January 14, 2012 by Thad Kraus

Double digit first-half turnovers and a lengthy second-quarter scoring drought spelled doom for the winless Sexton girls basketball team Friday night in Holt.

The Rams turned a 12-9 first-quarter deficit into a 23-12 second-quarter advantage en route to a 49-38 Capital Area Activities Conference victory.

“We didn’t play Tuesday and tonight was kind of a blah, blah performance,” said Holt’s girls basketball coach Doug Harkema. “it was probably our worse game of the year. Our defense was good but we didn’t finish on the offense end.”

For the lady Big Reds, their offensive struggles continued, but despite that Sexton found a way to hang around, giving themselves a shot at victory in the final eight minutes.

A Cornesha Gund bucket with just under three minutes to play pulled the Big Reds to within seven at 43-36. Holt, however, finished the game on a 6-2 run.

“We had 11 first-quarter turnovers and 17 in the first half. Turnovers equal no shots. We struggle to make good shorts so we can’t afford to turn the ball over,” said Sexton coach Joe Wojda.

Holt led 12-9 after one quarter and extended its lead to seven at half-time, 23-16.

“I wish we would have played better, but I’m happy to get the victory,” explainedÂ Harkema.

The win improved the Rams to 3-1 in the league and 5-4 overall.

The Big Reds used a jump-out trap at the start of the third quarter, pulling to within four atÂ 25-21 (the closest they would get all night).

“The trap worked, but we were unable to reward ourselves enough at the other end. We created turnovers, got good shots but then didn’t score,” Wojda said. “These are great kids I’m coaching. They play hard and work hard. The girls have gotten much better since the start of the season. Tonight we committed too many early, silly turnovers.”

Sexton, with the loss, is now 0-8 overall and 0-4 in the league.

Category: Basketball - Girls, Lansing Sexton | Comments Off on First-half mistakes land Sexton girls 49-38 loss to Holt

Lansing Sexton blasts past Holt, 79-38

Share |

January 14, 2012 by Thad Kraus

A 20-2 run out to start the second half ignited Lansing Sexten to an easy 79-38 win over Holt Friday night.

“No question they are very talented,” said Holt varsity basketball coach Matt Essell. “They can put it on you quickly as good as any basketball team in the state.”

Essell’s Rams survived a 14-2 Big Reds start to the game. Holt answered it with a 15-5 spurt to end the first quarter, pulling to within four at 19-15.

“You don’t win anything in January,” explained Sexton boys basketball coach Carlton Valentine. “We knew Holt wasn’t going to lay down at home. Give them credit for their run in the first quarter. We respect it. and expected it.”

Valentine says his club is a work in progress. “We’re working to get better. We’re playing well for about 2 1/2 quarters we need it to be fur quarters,” he said.

Along with its transition game, Sexton defended well and found the range from long distance during a couple minute stretch of the third quarter, hitting four threes in five possessions. Bryn Forbes netted two of the four baskets with Anthony Clemmons and Denzel Valentine each adding a trey.

“We’re playing better, but must continue to get better every game and operate within our philosophy,’ Valentine explained.

A basketball philosophy that demands scoring with less dribbling, movement, defense and an unselfishness in their play — all of these qualities were on display in the Big Reds dismantling of Holt.

The unselfishness is reflected in the scoring as Sexton had four players in double figures. Forbes led the way with 17 points, followed by Jalen Hayes with 16, Valentine netted 13 and grabbed 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals while Clemmons tossed in 11 points.

The win improved Sexton to 7-0 and 4-0 in the Capital Area Activities Conference.

With the scheduling of a game against Pershing on Saturday (Jan.14) their is little time to enjoy the victory.

“Over the last couple of years I’ve scheduled back-back games a couples of times each year. To reach the finals March, teams must play games an Friday and Saturday. Hopefully this helps us prepare for that,” Valentine said.

Holt was led in scoring by Calin Jones with eight points while Jordan Herron and TJ King each added six.

“Certainly Sexton was really good tonight. Their transition killed us,” Essell said. “A team that talented can certainly make its opponent question itself.”

With the loss, Holt dropped to 3-5 overall and 1-3 in the league.

Category: Basketball - Boys, Lansing Sexton | Comments Off on Lansing Sexton blasts past Holt, 79-38

Waverly boys blast Jackson, 76-40

Share |

December 17, 2011 by Thad Kraus

Lansing Waverly’s boys basketball team jumped out to a 7-0 lead and never looked back in its 76-40 rout over Jackson Northwest.

The Warriors were led in scoring byÂ Dee Roberts with 21 points, 15 of which came in the first half.

Rashaun Carroll netted 19 as Waverly outscored Jackson 38-18 in the first half andÂ 38-22 in the second half.

The win improved the Warriors overall recordÂ to 3-0.Jackson dropped to 1-3 with the loss.

Category: Basketball - Boys, Lansing Waverly | Comments Off on Waverly boys blast Jackson, 76-40

Waverly girls’ strong start takes down Jackson Northwest

Share |

December 16, 2011 by Thad Kraus

Sylvia Maxwell and Jasmine Wood brought their summer games to the winter and with itÂ have helped to heat up the hardwood for Lansing Waverly inÂ the early going of the 2011-12 high school girls basketball season.

Both Maxwell, a senior guard, and Wood a senior forward have nurturedÂ confidence into their perimeter game in leading the Warriors to 5-0 with a 2-0 start in the Gold Division of the Capital Area Activities Conference.

Sylvia Maxwell netted 12 of her team-high 17 points in the second half.

“My Dad and I worked on my shot over the summer. I was taking 1,000 shots a day,” explained Maxwell.

Now when defenses collapse on her Maxwell can shoot over them .

“I have confidence every time I shoot,” Maxwell explained. The senior netted a team-leading 17 points in Waverly’s 70-51 win over Jackson Northwest Friday night.

Wood, meanwhile working the post and displaying a touch from the perimeter tallied 16 points while grabbing 13 rebounds and swatting away six of the Mounties shots.

“I feel like I played well tonight,” Wood said with a big grin.

The senior measures her games by her hustle, ability to run the floor and rebounds. Add to that confidence in shooting from the wing and the forward can be a defensive nightmare for opponents.

Lansing Waverly jumped out to a big lead en route to a 70-51 win over Jackson Northwest.

“Waverly has depth and size and was able to push us around a little,” said Jackson coach Ryan Carroll. “Waverly can play, but I was proud of the way our girls stayed with it.

The Mounties, trailing 34-16 at the half, came out with a confidence to start the second half, along with a hot shooting hand from Taylor Moore. Jackson cut the deficit to 10 twice in the third quarter, but Warrior full-court pressure subdued the uprisings.

“Tonight we came out with the most intensity to start a game then we have all season, scoring 10 of the first 12 points” said Waverly girls basketball coach Erik Kutas. “We had some mental lapses, but overall it’s the best we’ve played all year.”

Waverly also was the recipient of strong guard play from Victoria Milton. The senior tallied 14 points while dishing out six assists and grabbing seven rebounds.

“The style of offense we played tonight is what we’re looking for, now we just need t be more consistent.,” Kutas explained. “Our defense also need to be better.”

Category: Basketball - Girls, Lansing Waverly | Comments Off on Waverly girls’ strong start takes down Jackson Northwest

Division 2 Photo Gallery

Share |

November 26, 2011 by Thad Kraus

Category: Football, Lowell | Comments Off on Division 2 Photo Gallery

Dean grateful for team, coaches and opportunity

Share |

November 26, 2011 by Thad Kraus

His final one-on-one interview as a Lowell Red Arrow football player concluded, the reporters who had filled the hallway moments ago are gone.Â Now it was just Gabe Dean his thoughts,Â a few tears and waiting to walk with him back to the locker room was his friend, Uncle and coach Noel Dean.

Forty plus regular season wins, a conference championship, a quadren of district and regional championships, a state championship and a pair of near misses.

Brother Rice levied plenty of pressure on Lowell quarterback Gabe De

Quite a career by anyone’s standards, but for now the thoughts are painfully directed toward a 24-14 loss to Birmingham Brother Rice in the Division 2 state football championship. Yes, the loss hurt, but it’s apparent the reality of the game, the high school career’s finality has caught up to the senior quarterback.

“I didn’t think about this being the final game before, but afterwards, I’m s grateful and have learned so much in four years of playing football at Lowell,’ Gabe Dean explained. “I’m so proud of my senior class and just happy for the opportunity.”

Opportunity as in community service (Pink Arrow Project), playing for a stalwart, classy program,Â being coached by one of the state’s finest, and his Uncle while playing a game he loves with a group of players he respects and loves even more.

“I couldn’t ask for more. It’s disappointing now, but I proud of my team and the seniors,” Dean said. “Being the end for me here at Lowell makes this hard.”

Dean leavesÂ behind a standard for others to look up to, to measure themselves by, including his a eight-grade brother Max, and his cousins Kanon and Zeth.

But with no regrets the Lowell QB will move on. “I’ll take a week off and then start preparing for the wrestling season.,” he said. A sport that will eventually lead him to Cornell in the fall of 2012 where a wrestling scholarship awaits him..

Category: Football, Lowell | Comments Off on Dean grateful for team, coaches and opportunity

Lowell outmatched by Church, Brother Rice, 24-14

Share |

November 26, 2011 by Thad Kraus

There have been plenty of outstanding running backs Lowell football teams have had to prepare game plans for, but after Friday’s 24-14 loss to Birmingham Brother Rice in the Division 2 title tilt, a new name may have played his way to the top of the leader board.

Warrior Devin Church amassed 244 yards on the ground while scoringÂ three touchdowns in Brother Rice’s championship win over Lowell.

Warriors' Devin Church raced, juked and bull-rushed his way to 244 yards and three touchdowns.

“He’s pretty darn impressive,” said Lowell football coach Noel Dean. “I don’t want to belittle the Brother Rice team by making this about one fantastic player, but Devin is one of the better backs I’ve coached against. I’ve coached against some good ones in my day – like the Grady brothers (East Grand Rapids); and T.J. Duckett (Kalamazoo Loy Norrix).”

While the coach watched Church in action from the sideline, Lowell senior Renn Osborne experienced his speed, quickness and bull rush on the field.

“He’s an amazing runner. You’re off balance waiting for his cut back, juke or spin move. He’s so fast and has got moves that he catches you off balance and that’s what gives his bull rush so much power,” Osborne explains

Church found the end zone in three of the four quarters. The Warrior back gave Brother Rice the lead in the opening 12 minutes with a seven-yard touchdown at 5:36 of the first quarter.

Then, with less than a minute to play in the first half and the score tied at 7-7, Church got around the end and raced 54 yards for a touchdown, giving Rice a 14-7 halftime lead.

Church sealed the deal for the winning Warriors in the fourth quarter, with his club leading 17-7, the senior tailback capped a two-play, 24-yard scoring drive, following a Lowell turnover, giving Brother Rice a 24-7 advantage.

Yards were difficult to come by for Lowell's Gabe Dean against a talented defensive crew from Birmingham Brother Rice.

“They are a fantastic football team. We knew that coming in. We struggled matching up with them up front on both sides of the ball,” Dean said. They are athletic and very strong up front. We were outmatched in certain spots, but gave the best effort we could. At the end of the day, if you’re outmatched, you’re outmatched.”

Trailing 7-0, Lowell tied the game in the second quarter on a 13-yard pass from Gabe Dean to Luke Bigham, capping a 13 play, 71 yard drive.

The Red Arrows final score of the day came with 3:41 to play in the game on a nine-yard pass-and-catch from Dean to Bigham.

“Lowell never gave up and showed character. I was still nervous up two touchdowns and a field goal,” said Brother Rice coach Al Fracassa. “You have to be lucky to get here. To come here and then win is really something.’

It’s the seventh time a Fracassa coached Â team has experienced the “really something.”

Lowell was held to 55 yards rushing and 199 through the air, by a stout, athletic and fast Birmingham Brother Rice football team.

“I think Forest Hills Central was the best defensive team we faced this year, but this team (Brother Rice) is definitely 1-A,” Dean said. “Our strugglesÂ on offense had to do with their defense.”

This, despite, Gabe Dean separating his left shoulder in the first quarter. “It had no affect on the game. It wasn’t my throwing shoulder.,” Gabe Dean said.

Luke Bigham makes a terrific sideline grab in keeping a Lowell drive alive.

Lowell’s coach confirmed. “I guarantee that Rice’s defense had a bigger affect on ourÂ ability to move the football.”

Lowell finishes the season at 12-2, a year that marked a third straight appearance in the Division 2 championship game.

“I’m so proud of these boys (Gabe and Renn) and this class of seniors and what they’ve done for this town and the way they do things away from the feild,” Dean said. ‘They have been number one in the classroom and number one in the community. They have helped to raise $1 million for our Pink Arrow Project.”

Category: Football, Lowell | Comments Off on Lowell outmatched by Church, Brother Rice, 24-14

Oh My! High school football semi finals serve up thrillers.

Share |

November 20, 2011 by Thad Kraus

Hand picked match-ups could not have rendered better, more exciting results involving area teams than what West Michigan High School football fans witnessed Saturday across this state.

There were two overtimes, one game decided by a last-second field goal, another by a touchdown, yes, there was one laugher, Zeeland West subdued Comstock Park 30-6, but only led by 10 entering the final 12 minutes. So,Â laugher may not be appropriate in giving the Panthers their due respect.

The upset of the day came in Big Rapids where Mount Pleasant exorcised a past post-season demon, as it rallied from a 30-14 fourth-quarter deficit to derail five-time defending state champion, East Grand Rapids.

The decisive score came with 11 seconds on the clock as Oiler kicker Zac Kramer drilled a 35-yard field goal giving Mount Pleasant a 38-37 win, sending it to the Division 3 state final against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.

Pioneer coach Peter Stuursma, long considered one of the state’s top coaches, was long on class Saturday following defeat.

“We’ve had our share of breaks go our way over the last five years. They came up with huge plays and beat us fair and square. I tip my hat to Mount Pleasant,” Stuursma said.

In Battle Creek, Rockford’s Steven Mette’s 26-yard field goal in overtime wasn’t enough as the Shamrocks of Detroit Catholic Central responded with a seven-yard play-action touchdown pass from Kyle Cooper to Anthony Darkangelo. The score gave the Shamrocks a 23-20 Division 1 semi final win over the Rams.

“We didn’t get stopped. We kicked a field goal, but we needed to stop the play-action pass better,” said Rockford coach Ralph Munger. “I’m proud of the kids and how hard they played.”

A 13-yard pass from Gabe Dean to Blake Lyman in O.T was the difference in Lowell’s 42-35 win over Walled Lake Western. At least on offense. On the defensive side, the Red Arrows then stopped the Warriors from the 10-yard line, forcing four incomplete passes.

“It was the ugliest most exciting game I can remember,” said Lowell football coach Noel Dean.

Lansing Catholic broke up a see saw affair as it scored consecutive touchdowns late in the third quarter and early in the fourth quarter in posting a 42-35 win over West Catholic.

The loss snapped the Falcons’ eight-game post season winning streak.

Two area taams advance to Ford Field. Zeeland West will play Marine City in the Division 4 title game while Lowell hooks up for a second time in the Division 2 finals against Birmingham Brother Rice.

Category: Fall Sports Preview, Football | Comments Off on Oh My! High school football semi finals serve up thrillers.

« Previous Page — Next Page »