On Monday, May 6, the varsity baseball team traveled to Fremont to play a double header against the Packers. In game one, junior Kyle Wise took the mound. With a great defense behind him, he managed to throw a one-hitter. At the plate the Hawks managed 13 hits, led by Thomas Reed and Peyton Newman who each had 3. Trevor Reed added two and Dylan Williams hit a bases-loaded triple. Bryce Marvel, Logan Kobayashi, Jarrett Hoogerhyde and Conner Ellison each had hits as well. Great defense and aggressive bats led to a 10-0 win.

In game two, the Packers game to play. Nathan Draper threw the first four innings, allowing 4 runs. Bryce Marvel finished the game on the mound and led the team at the plate with two hits. Nathan Male dropped a perfect bunt in the sixth inning to get his hit. Kobayashi, Newman, Thomas and Trevor Reed, along with Williams each scattered hits throughout the game. It came down to the bottom of the 7^th, when a couple of costly errors allowed Fremont to score the winning run. The final score was 5-4.

On May 9, Ottawa Hills came to town in a rescheduled rain out game from two weeks ago. Senior Jarrett Hoogerhyde took the mound for the Red Hawks. He threw a complete game, striking out three. At the plate, the Red Hawks totaled 13 hits, led by senior Nathan Draper with 3. Seth Biggs had a pair of hits, as did Kyle Wise who also had 4 RBI. Other Hawks with base hits were Hoogerhyde, Dylan Williams, Peyton Newman, Trevor Reed, Bryce Marvel and Aiden Brunin. The final score in the rescheduled game was 15-0.

On Saturday, May 11, the Hawks traveled to Allendale to play in a tournament. They drew Allendale in their first game. Despite a great pitching performance from Bryce Marvel, who struck out 9 in 5 innings of work, the Hawks fell to Allendale 7-3. Our boys were up 3-1 going into the bottom of the 7th and just couldn’t close it out, committing 5 errors in the inning. Peyton Newman led the team with 2 hits, while Trevor Reed, Dylan Williams, Seth Biggs, and Conner Ellison each added one hit each.

In the second game, the Red Hawks played a tough Ravenna team. Seth Biggs and Conner Ellison split the first 6 innings on the mound and Nathan Draper game in and closed out the 7th inning to earn the eleventh victory of the season in the 10-3 win. The boys pounded the ball, getting a total of 14 hits. Nathan Male, Thomas and Trevor Reed, Peyton Newman, Bryce Marvel and Jeremy Campione each had two. Dylan Williams and Seth Biggs added one hit apiece.  

With the exception of the final inning in the Allendale game, the Red Hawks played excellent defense. Nathan Male made a few eye-popping plays in right field. He threw 3 runners out at first base and used his great speed to make a full-speed diving catch. The Red Hawks are sitting at 11-9 as they enter the final two weeks of the regular season.

Girls Track to compete at Regionals

The Red Hawks traveled to Lowell last week for an OK White Tri Meet and to Houseman Field for the OK White Conference Meet . On Tuesday, May 7, the team lost to Lowell and defeated Northview 100-36. They ended the Dual meet season 2 and 4. In the Conference meet the team scored 41 points and finished 6th. They ended up tied for 5th in the league overall. Sophomore Ariana Meyers earned all conference honors while scoring 10 points for the team in the meet.

Medal Winners Friday at the Conference Meet:

Ariana Meyers 3rd Shot Put; Grace Sova 3rd Pole Vault; 400-meter relay team of Avery Rugg, Emily Neiderheide, Emma Waller, and Julia Danielson 3rd. Julia Danielson 4th Long Jump; Alyssa Detweiler 4th High Jump; Avery Rugg 4th 100 meter dash; Ariana Meyers 4th Discus; 3200 meter relay team of Izzy VanDusen, Lily Howland, Tomya Tepion, Carolanne Merlington 4th;  1600 Meter Relay team of Tonya Tepin, Paige Pierson, Carolanne Merlington, and Alyssa Washington 5th. Aubri French 6th High Jump; Izzy VanDusen 8th 3200-meter run.

This week the team travels to Forest Hills Eastern to compete in the MHSAA Regional meet. Field Events Start at 1:45 and Running Finals start at 5:00.

Boys Track finish third in OK White Conference meet

The Cedar Springs boys’ track team traveled to Houseman Field on the evening of Friday, May 10, 2019, to compete the in OK White Conference meet. The Red Hawks finished third out of seven schools in the conference missing out on second place by only half a point. 

 The Red Hawks were led by sophomore Corey Bowers who won the 1600 in 4:31 and the 3200-meter run in 9:56.  Bowers was also a member of the winning 4×800 relay team. That team consisted of Dan Vermulm, Jaydon Moleski, Dilan Sargent, and Corey Bowers.

Justus Larsen was second in the discus with a personal best of 123 feet. Larsen was also 2nd in the high jump with a jump of 5 feet 11 inches.

Bowers, Vermulm, Moleski, Sargent, and Larsen each made the OK White All-Conference team.

Some of the other team members that placed in the meet were Anthony Brew, who finished 2nd at pole vault; Alex Nylaan placing 3rd in the 110 high hurdles; and the 4×200 meter relay who placed 3rd comprised of Nate Perry, Derek Egan, Ben Shaw, and Ethan West.

“It was a hard fought meet and I am very happy with the team results,” said Coach Jeffrey Brazier.

The Red Hawks travel to Forest Hills Eastern Friday afternoon, May 17, 2019, for regional action.  Good luck Red Hawks!

From the MHSAA

The addition of seeding at the District level in basketball and soccer and multiple adjustments to the process used to select the playoff field for 11-player football were among the most notable actions taken by the Representative Council of the Michigan High School Athletic Association during its annual Summer Meeting, May 5-6 in Gaylord.

The Spring Meeting of the 19-member legislative body of the Association’s more than 1,500 member schools is generally the busiest of its three sessions each year. The Council considered 26 committee proposals and dealt with a variety of eligibility rule, postseason tournament and operational issues.

Beginning with the 2019-20 school year, girls and boys basketball and soccer will employ a seeding process to place the top two teams in every District on opposite sides of that bracket, guaranteeing those two teams could not play each other before the District championship game.

The two teams to be seeded in each District will be determined using a Michigan Power Ratings computer formula based on regular-season results against other MHSAA Tournament-eligible teams and opponents’ strength of schedule. (Games against out-of-state or non-MHSAA opponents will not count in the MPR formula.) The MHSAA will draw all brackets two weeks before the start of District play. After the top seeds are determined and separated to opposite sides of the bracket, the draw process will place the remaining teams on the bracket based on a randomly selected order determined earlier in the season. However, the draw process does not guarantee the seeded teams will receive byes or serve as home teams.

The MPR is being used this spring to seed the Boys Lacrosse Tournament. Separate seeding proposals were recommended to the Council by the MHSAA committees for both soccer and basketball.

The changes to the 11-Player Football Playoffs selection process were proposed by the MHSAA Football Committee and are designed to reward teams that play more successful opponents. Beginning with the 2020 season, eight divisions will be determined before the season, and 32 playoff qualifiers from each division will be selected at the end of the regular season based on playoff-point average. There no longer will be automatic qualification based on win total. The adjusted playoff points formula will award bonus points for all opponents’ wins, regardless of whether the team beat or lost to those opponents. Currently bonus points are awarded only if the team defeated an opponent. More points also are awarded for defeating teams from larger divisions. The Football Committee proposed these changes believing the bonus points received for a “good loss”—combined with the elimination of automatic qualifiers—will be enough incentive for teams to schedule more successful opponents, easing the annual difficulty in football scheduling and taking away arguably the most cited reason for the breakup of leagues and conferences.

Also on recommendation by the Football Committee, the Council approved an enrollment limit of 215 students for teams to be eligible for the MHSAA 8-Player Playoffs. This too will take effect for the 2020 season. Currently, a school must be Class D to be eligible for the postseason, or in a one-year grace period if it grew larger than Class D for the current school year. While the Class D enrollment line changes annually, the 8-player line of 215 students will remain static year to year. The grace period also will remain for schools that might receive a one-year enrollment bump before falling back below 215 students.

The Council also approved a committee recommendation to add limited video review of scoring plays or potential scoring plays, or of turnovers or potential turnovers at MHSAA Football Finals for both the 11 and 8-player formats. This process will be available at Finals only because of the availability of camera coverage provided by broadcasts of those highest-level games of the tournament. Although all scoring and turnover plays could be reviewed, a play will be reversed only when there is indisputable video evidence showing the original call was incorrect.

Continuing its focus on safety in football, the Council also approved a committee recommendation to adopt revised definitions and limits on contact allowed during preseason practices and practices after games have begun. Beginning with this 2019 football season, teams will be allowed no more than six hours of full-pads collision contact per week during the preseason and no more than 30 minutes of collision contact during a week of in-season (after games begin) practice. “Collision” is defined as contact at game speed, with the execution of full tackles at a competitive pace, taking players to the ground.

However, while “collision” contact will be limited, “thud” contact will be unlimited. “Thud” is defined as full speed but above the waist only, with no player taken to the ground and no winner or loser. Thud contact is not considered collision contact. The revised definitions of “collision” and “thud” and related time limitations are products of collaboration between the MHSAA, Michigan High School Football Coaches Association and Practice Like Pros, a national movement dedicated to safety in high school football. The recommendation was brought to the Football Committee by leadership of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association and further defines the degree and amount of practice contact following similar practice safety changes approved by the Council for football in 2014 and 2017.

The new sport-specific transfer rule will take effect with the 2019-20 school year, and the Council approved a series of corresponding changes. Most notably, the Council approved a change to the athletic-related (links) rule to not grant immediate eligibility with a residential change if a student follows a coach from his or her former school to a school where the coach has been newly hired. The Council also approved a sport-specific penalty for the athletic-motivated transfer rule so that a student would not be eligible during the current school year in the sport played the previous school year if that student was confirmed to have made an athletic-motivated transfer.

The Council additionally approved clarifications under the sport-specific transfer rule for multi-school districts which have schools that are both geographical boundary schools and schools which are district-wide, for students transferring to nonpublic or charter schools and for students who have taken part in international student exchange programs and chosen to stay in Michigan.

To provide consistency for officials’ jurisdiction across all sports, the Council approved the addition of wording that allows an official to disqualify a student or coach following the conclusion of a contest—but before the official has left the facility and/or grounds—if that student or coach commits an offense worthy of ejection and disqualification against the official. (Example: A player or coach verbally berates an official while following that official to his or her vehicle.) This penalty also would include the next-day-of-competition suspension. This does not apply if the official has remained at the facility and encounters the offense while as a spectator for another event.

To read a summary of other notable actions taken by the Representative Council at the Spring Meeting, go to https://www.mhsaa.com/News/Press-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8205/MHSAA-Representative-Council-Adopts-Tournament-Changes-in-3-Sports-at-Spring-Meeting to read the entire news release.

Lucus Pienton and Dawson Wood both made their college athletic commitments on May 1 at Cedar Springs High School.  

Pictured with families and coaches, Pienton has signed to continue his wrestling career at Davenport University.  Meanwhile, Dawson Wood will be continuing his basketball career at Aquinas College next year.

Pienton has been a standout on both the mat and the gridiron for the Red Hawks the last four years. He has been an all-state athlete in multiple sports and earned numerous athletic accolades in addition to finishing in third place at the MHSAA Wrestling Championships four times.  

“I am excited about my future at Davenport University, and I want to thank all my family and friends who helped make this day possible,” said Pienton.  

He will be joining former Red Hawk teammate Jordan Ringler on the Panther wrestling squad next year.

Dawson Wood has been a varsity standout on the hardwood the past three years for the Red Hawks. An All-Conference selection, Dawson has developed into a great leader and potent offensive threat. “I’m extremely excited to be an Aquinas Saint, and to develop as a person and basketball player while also forming new friendships and memories that I’ll have forever,” he said after signing.

Numerous coaches, teammates and staff were in attendance for the signings. Lucus is the son of Julie and David Pienton.  Dawson is the son of Tracy and Shane Wood.

The Varsity Red Hawks baseball team faced off against the Northview Wildcats on April 30, and with a doubleheader on May 1 last week.

The first game of the three game series with the Northview Wildcats was a sloppy affair. With the rain causing field conditions to deteriorate rapidly as the evening wore on, the Red Hawks had their work cut out for them. Connor Ellison started the game on the mound. Though he struggled with his control, he did manage to get through the first three innings, leaving the score at a 2-2 tie. Dylan Williams came in and closed out the game, battling the rain and cold for control of his fastball.  

The Wildcats managed to pull ahead in the 5th inning by taking advantage of a few walks and a few base hits. Williams was able to leave the score at 6-4 going into the bottom of the 6th inning. The final inning started by Kyle Wise getting hit by a pitch, followed by Nathan Male getting a hit to left field. Connor Ellison drew a walk to load the bases. Dylan Williams came to the plate and drove the ball into the gap for a double, scoring two runs and tying the game. Clean up hitter Peyton Newman came to the plate next. After swinging and missing at his first two strikes, he made contact on his third swing and dropped the ball into left field. Ellison scored the game-winning run with a final score of 7-6.  

“I was impressed with the perseverance of the team, battling the elements as well as a tough Northview squad,” said Coach Justin Glyshaw.

In the second of three games, Seth Biggs threw a solid first four innings, leaving the game with a 3-3 tie. Dylan Williams came in to pitch the second half of the game. It took until the 8th inning until the Red Hawks managed to get a sacrifice fly to right field from Logan Kobayashi to score the winning run.  

Thomas Reed, Seth Biggs and Nathan Draper each had two hits in the game. Trevor Reed, Dylan Williams and Conner Ellison each added a hit as well.

In the third and final game, the Red Hawks managed only three hits throughout the course of the game. Dylan Williams had two of those hits and Thomas Reed had the other. Peyton Newman and Nathan Male threw three-innings apiece on the mound but the Wildcats were not to be denied as they pounded the baseball.  This game only made it through the 6th inning and was called because of darkness. The final score was 8-1.  

The Varsity baseball record sits at a respectable 8 wins and 7 losses. Their games against Fremont, Ottawa Hills and the results of their Allendale tournament will be in next week’s issue.

With all the rain last week, the JV baseball team still was able to get their three games in with OK White Conference opponent Northview. The visiting Red Hawks traveled to Northview on Tuesday, April 30. Trenton Snoeyink took to the mound in the rain and mud and pitched a complete five-inning shutout 8-0, allowing only one hit and striking out six.  Snoeyink, Aiden Brunin, Jeremy Campione, and Gage Haywood led the team with a hit each. The Red Hawks also totaled seven walks in the contest. 

On Friday, May 3, the Red Hawks hosted Northview in a double header. In the first game of the evening, Dylan Knauf pitched really well but did not get any help from his offense, and the defense had three errors in the contest, resulting in a 7-2 loss to the Wildcats.  The Red Hawks only managed 3 hits, with one each by Jeremy Campione, Knauf and Anthony Lizardo. 

In game 2 of the double header, Aiden Brunin started on the hill and the Red Hawk offense heated up in this contest totaling 10 hits and defeated the visiting Wildcats 10-0 in 5 innings.  Brunin pitched a complete 5 inning game shutout, striking out four batters and his defense had 0 errors in the contest. Leading the team with three  hits was Trenton Snoeyink, including one that was a triple; getting two hits each was Jeremy Campione and Willy Zain; and getting one hit each was Dylan Knauf, Anthony Lizardo and Gage Haywood. 

See next week’s issue for results of games against Fremont, Saugatuck, Central Montcalm and Newaygo.

The Red Hawks hosted two meets last week. On Tuesday, April 30, the team competed against Greenville and Ottawa Hills in a steady rain. The girls lost to Greenville 61-57 and defeated Ottawa Hills 100 to 36. The team’s OK White record is 1 and 3.  

On Saturday, May 4, was the 24^th Red Hawk Invite. The team scored 682.5 points in the unique team-scoring format to place fifth out of nine teams.

Outstanding performances for the week: 

Tuesday against Greenville and Ottawa Hills

*Lily Howland first overall 800-meter run.

*Carolanne Merlington first overall and Tonya Tepin second overall in the 1600-meter run.

*Izzy VanDusen first overall and Paige Marsman second overall 3200-meter run

*4 x 800-relay team of Marjorie Hosking, Kristen Parker, Quinn Priolo, and Jade Yowtz first overall

*Ariana Meyers first overall Shot Put and Discus

*Alyssa Detweiler first overall High Jump

*Julia Danielson first overall Long Jump

Medal Winners Saturday:

*Julia Danielson second Long Jump

*Ariana Meyers second Shot Put

*Grace Sova third Pole Vault

*Avery Rugg fourth 100 High Jump

This week the team traveled to Lowell to compete against Lowell and Northview on Tuesday May 7, and then on Friday, May 10, thet go to historic Houseman Field for the OK White Conference Meet. Field events start at 4:15 and Running Events start at 5:00.

Boys track takes second at Red Hawk Invite

The boys from the Cedar Springs track team competed in the Red Hawk Invitational on Saturday, May 4, 2019, held at Red Hawk Stadium. The team finished second out of eight teams, with Caledonia taking first place.

 Starting off the day, the 4×800 meter relay team comprised of Daniel Vermulm, Jaydon Moleski, Dilan Sargent, and Corey Bowers finished second in a time 8:10.26, shaving 13 seconds off their previous best time. They currently hold the third fastest time in Division 2 state rankings.

Other outstanding performances throughout the day included Alex Nylaan in the 300-meter hurdles, where he finished second in a time of 43.54; and right behind him was Logan Douglas, who finished third in 43.56. Corey Bowers took second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:04.09. 

In field events, Justus Larsen placed third in the high jump at 5-10, and Anthony Brew took third in pole vault at 12-6.  

To round out the day, the 4×400-meter relay team consisting of Logan Douglas, Daniel Vermulm, Jaydon Moleski, and Corey Bowers took second with a time of 3:38.27.

In game one of a three game series with Forest Hills Central, sophomore Bryce Marvel threw a great game earning a 4-1 victory. In his brilliant complete game he struck out 5 and walked none while allowing only 2 hits.

At the plate the Hawks totaled 13 hits, led by seniors Peyton Newman and Dylan Williams who had three each. Thomas Reed and Bryce Marvel each had two each, while Trevor Reed, Nathan Draper and Connor Ellison each added one apiece.  

Game two started out with Seth Biggs throwing 2 excellent innings. However, in the third inning, the wheels came off and the Hawks committed 7 errors that allowed the Rangers to score 12 unearned runs.  

The struggles continued at the plate as the Red Hawks were only able to manage four hits. Newman led the team with two. Ellison and Trevor Reed each had one hit as well.  

In game three the boys struggled to get things going at the plate. The lackluster game totaled only four hits. Bryce Marvel had a double and a single, while both Trevor and Thomas Reed had a single. The final score was 9-0.  

Sitting at 6-6, Coach Glyshaw said he is happy with the boys’ overall attitude but they need to play clean baseball to beat good teams. 

This week they play another three game set, this time against Northview, and wrap up the week with a double header against Big Rapids.  

By Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations and Mark Uyl, Executive Director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association

We communicate on smart phones, drive smart cars, make purchases using smart cards and even drink smart water. But, really, how smart are we?

 Between college admission and Internet privacy scandals, sexual misconduct investigations, stolen trade secrets and the growing concern about how we communicate and connect with each other, technology seems to be outpacing our capacity to understand the most responsible way to use it.  

 In other words, how are tomorrow’s leaders being prepared to make decisions that provide the perspective, balance and strength of character that today’s advanced world needs?   

 The answer is by participating in high school sports like the ones offered by the high schools in Michigan. 

Most researchers agree that leaders are made, not born, through relationships with others. Human interaction and life experiences enable young men and women to develop leadership characteristics such as trust, mutual respect, integrity and accountability. These are the same values that are learned as a result of playing on a high school sports team. 

And while club sports often have only a singular focus (the participant’s athletic abilities), research documents that high school sports programs have an unparalleled positive effect on the physical, academic and emotional growth of teens, including a more mature level of character development.

In other words, high school sports have a more profound role to play in society today than you may realize.

The high school sports and activity programs in Michigan—including music, speech, theatre and debate—typically account for only about 1 to 3 percent of a school’s overall budget, making them one of the wisest investments your community makes. You can help by attending as many games and events as possible, donating to the booster club and volunteering to work in the concession stand.  

Most of all encourage your children to participate in as many sports and activities as they can. Because when they do, they will be joining a new generation of leaders who are both technologically smart and ethically responsible.

And that’s exactly the kind of leadership our hyper-intelligent world needs.