Ryan Ringler, #24, with ball and Nick Campione, #5 take on the Wildcats. Photo by Rob and Kelly LaLone.

Local spectators travel to Northview and show off their Red Hawk pride.

On Friday, September 15th, the varsity Red Hawks of Cedar Springs took on the Wildcats of Northview in their second conference game, bringing in a win at the Wildcat’s stadium with a final score of Cedar Springs 48, Northview 20.

The game began with both teams head to head, each scoring two touchdowns within the first quarter. Northview running back Cody Tierney scored the first touchdown of the night after receiving a pass from junior Kennedy Smith and completing his run into the end zone.

The Red Hawks retaliated quickly, John Jacob Todd scoring their first touchdown with 6:01 left to play in the first quarter after a completed 22 yard run down center field. The first quarter ended with a score of Cedar Springs 14, Northview 13, due to a two point conversion  ran by halfback Ryan Ringler, completed after the Hawks’ second touchdown scored by junior Lucas Pienton. The Wildcats were able to acquire an extra point after their second touchdown as well through a PAT (point after touchdown) kicked by Collin Cromwell, but fell just short of the Hawks’ score.

In the second quarter, the two teams were neck in neck once again with additional points scored by Cedar Springs quarterbacks Darius Barnett and Nicholas Campione, as well as Northview players Cody Tierney and Collin Cromwell.

With a standing score of Cedar Springs 22, Northview 20, the Red Hawks kicked it into high gear after coming back from the second half, racking up an additional 26 points.

Nearing the end of the game, Todd made a memorable interception on a Northview attempt to score, turning the ball around and completing a 33 yard run for his third touchdown of the night.

The final touchdown of this past week’s game was run in by junior Lucas Pienton with 8:56 left to play. The Wildcats of Northview had 0 touchdowns in the second half due to the Red Hawks’ strong defensive lines.

Next week, the Cedar Springs varsity football team will face off against the varsity Eagles of Grand Rapids Christian, on Friday September 22nd. This game begins at 7pm and will take place at the Eagles’ stadium.

#2 Sydney Plummer goes up for the kill

The Lady Red Hawks fought a long and exciting battle against conference rival Greenville Thursday (9/14) evening, alternating set victories with the Hornets and coming back from a 3-9 fifth set deficit to secure the 3-2 match victory.  The final line score showed an intense first set loss 32-34, followed by three competitive sets (25-17, 21-25 and 26-24) and ending with an impressive comeback fifth set/match victory 15-12.

With the win, the Lady Red Hawks are 1-1 in conference and 3-8-2 overall.

While the final score shows a tight 3-2 win, the Red Hawks numbers revealed an outstanding night which included team totals of 47 kills, 46 assists, 12 total blocks, 12 service aces and 57 digs.

Thursday’s match began with the Red Hawks leading throughout the first set while a determined Greenville team slowly came back to tie the game at 23-23, followed by a nail biting back-and-forth 8 set point lead changes before Greenville took the set.  In the final 15 point deciding set, Cedar Springs found themselves at a 3-9 deficit and fought their way back to tie it up at 11-11 before winning 15-12.

Senior Outside hitter Sydney Plummer had a stellar double-double kill/dig night leading the Red Hawks with 27 kills (.267 hitting percentage) and 12 digs,  while also contributing 3 blocks, 4 aces and an assist. Sophomore Kyla Andres had 8 kills, 2 aces, a team leading 15 service points, 2 blocks and 10 digs.  Middle hitter Grace Pavelka tallied 6 kills and 5 blocks while Lauren Kostus added 4 kills, 2 blocks, 13 service points and 10 digs.  Setter Maddie Outwin put up 135 sets with 43 assists and 2 blocks while Libero Brighton Miller led on the night in digs (18) and serve receives (37).

“I think Thursday nights match was something that every coach hopes for their players, not only in their sports but in life- when the chips are down and you’re struggling- you find a way to pull yourself up and those around you to push through. The girls fought for every single point and didn’t give up one time. They deserved that win- and really put their whole heart in claiming that win”  said Varsity Head Coach Ashley Reynolds.

The Lady Red Hawks opened conference play Tuesday evening (9/12) with a loss at Lowell 14-25, 22-25 and 12-25.  Senior Sydney Plummer led on the night with 8 kills and 6 digs while Lauren Kostus contributed 2 kills and 4 digs.  Libero Brighton Miller put up 8 digs while setter Maddie Outwin added 10 assists.

Cedar Springs hosts Ottawa Hills for their season conference home opener on Tuesday September 19th followed by Thursday’s match (9/21) at home against Forest Hills Northern.  Freshman and JV begin at 5pm with Varsity following.

The Cedar Springs girl’s golf team had a good week finishing 6th @ the OK White Jamboree at Lowell. Michaela Tawney led the way with a 46, Audrie Davis 53, Courtney Pienta 54 and Jenna Powell a 56. “The squad has picked it up a little bit,” said Coach London. “We still have a lot of work to do on our short game though. Friday the girls competed in the Russ Johnson Tournament at Gracewil and shot a 420. Michaela Tawney was medalist with a 94, Jenna Powell a 101, Courtney Pienta and Skye Pate 113’s and Miranda Merlington a 123.

9/21 Tennis – Superhero

9/22 Football – Blackout

9/23 Cross Country – Redout

10/6 Football – Camo

10/10 Volleyball – Pink Game

10/13 Football – Cedar Pride

10/20 Football – Whiteout

11/3 Band – Grayout

The boys team puts their strongest foot forward at the Hill and Bale Invitational.

Captain Brin Calkins, doesn’t miss a step as she hurdles the straw bales at the Hill and Bale Invitational.

CTA’s cross country season is off to early successes for both the team and its individual athletes. The Chargers have had individuals medal in each of its first three invitationals; Baker Woods, Hill and Bale and Spartan. The Chargers boy’s team is led by Senior Captain Les Miner and Sophomore Collin Bishop. The Lady Chargers have a mix of returning runners and first time runners led by Sophomore Faith Watson and Captain Brin Calkins. The Chargers look to continue their success after a week off with a conference dual meet on 9/27 and the Falcon Invite in Allendale on 9/30. The Chargers Cross Country teams are both coached by Head Coach Todd Bowmar and Assistant Coach Ben Fredrickson.

Darius Barnett scores one of several Red Hawk touchdowns against the Yellow Jackets.

The Cedar Springs Red Hawks rolled over the Greenville Yellow Jackets 48-7 last Friday, September 8, to bring home the win in their first conference game of the season. The Red Hawks now stand at 1-0 conference, and 2-1 overall. They previously won against Battle Creek Lakeview, 60-13, and lost to Zeeland West 50-12, in their first two games of the season, which were both non-conference.

The Red Hawks hit the road this week to take on Northview (0-3) in another conference match up. Click here for details on last week’s game against Greenville.

The Red Hawks held the Yellow Jackets to only 7 points last Friday night at Red Hawk Stadium.

The Red Hawks run back out onto the field after half time, ready to take on the Yellow Jackets in the third and fourth quarters.

By Kayleigh Boomgaard

Under the Friday night lights of September 8, the Red Hawk varsity football team took on the Greenville Yellow Jackets in their third game of the season and brought in a win on their own turf 48-7.

After both the Cedar Springs freshman and junior varsity football teams defeated the Jackets on Thursday evening, the varsity boys were determined to continue the winning streak.

Senior fullback John Jacob Todd scored the first touchdown of the night with 8:30 to play in the first quarter. Todd ran up the middle for 20 yards and completed his run into the end zone, starting the game off on a good foot.

Junior halfback Ryan Ringler finished off the play with a two-point conversion, bringing the score to Cedar Springs 8, Greenville 0.

Todd scored three additional touchdowns during the game, and a two-point conversion in the second quarter, after securing a pass thrown by senior quarterback Nicholas Campione.

Senior halfback Darius Barnett, whose second touchdown consisted of a short pass by Campione and a 53-yard run, put up additional points for the Red Hawks.

Campione assisted one touchdown and two two-point conversions, and made key passes on multiple occasions to contribute to the team’s win.

In the third quarter, shortly after returning from halftime, Greenville junior Ryan Burden ran a reverse left and scored his team’s only touchdown of the night. The touchdown was followed by a PAT (point after touchdown) kicked by Greenville player Bryce Priebe.

The first conference game of the season for the Red Hawks concluded with a winning score of Cedar Springs 48, Greenville 7.

To see the results of the upcoming game, support the Cedar Springs varsity football team at the Northview Wildcat’s stadium on Friday, September 15. Game time is 7 p.m.

The Cedar Springs Girl’s Golf Team shot a season best 205 and finished 7th in their OK White Jamboree yesterday at Indian Trails.

Michaela Tawney led the way with a 48; Audrie Davis shot a 51; Courtney Pienta a 52; and Skye Pate a 54. “It was a solid day for us,” said Coach Glen London.

By Mark Uyl, Asst. Director, MHSAA

There may be no hit in football that generates more oohs and aahs than the blind side hit. It’s also one of the most dangerous hits in the game.

A defensive player in pursuit of the runner, who does not have a reasonable opportunity to see the oncoming blocker, is considered defenseless. In keeping with putting player safety first, national high school rules, now allow blocking form the blind side only when contact is initiated with the hands – achieving the same effect without all the contact.

That big blind side hit will now result in a 15-yard penalty and possible ejection form the game.

Be the Referee is a weekly message from the Michigan High School Athletics Association that is designed to help educate people on the rules in different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

Maddie Brown, a Grace Bible College sophomore from Cedar Springs, Michigan, and graduate of Mount Pleasant High School, has been named Student Athlete of the Week by the NCCAA for her performance in the Tigers’ season-opening week of women’s soccer.
Brown scored the Tigers’ first ever goal against Aquinas College to take a 1-0 lead in an eventual 3-1 defeat on Tuesday night. Brown then scored 2 goals to lead Grace Bible College in a 4-2 win over Holy Cross College. On the week, Brown had 10 shots with 8 on goal.

Maddie is the daughter of Pastor Chad and Tracy Brown, of Cedar Springs.