Odyssey of the Mind held State Finals on March 17, the second step for creative teams competing their way to the World Finals. State Finals hosts the best teams from the entire state of Michigan and Cedar Springs sent two teams this year. The teams, made up of up to seven members, choose a challenging, open ended “problem” to solve and then test their solution against other teams in the same age division. Teams must use their creativity, ingenuity, acting, artistic talents and recycle, rework, and create, using teamwork and solving solutions on the spot to advance. 

Life skills are learned in abundance here.

To earn the right to advance, teams must place first or second against the best, most creative kids in Michigan.

Placing in second and earning the right to advance to world finals is our team from Red Hawk Elementary coached by Michelle Wiles and Traci Slager.

Team members are: Aiden Lake, Brielle Sarniak, Jade Yowtz, Nate Slager, Annalise Elliot and Coryn Wiles.

The team is busy now creatively fundraising for their upcoming trip. At world finals over 16 countries and more than 35 states have teams competing! It will be an amazing memory maker for this creative team! Good Luck to you! 

If you would like to donate, you can visit their gofundme page at https://www.gofundme.com/om-world-finals.

WMP qualifiers for the state finals. Photo by B. Chong.

By Barbra Chong

West Michigan Pursuit entered 21 grapplers to wrestle at regionals last weekend, and 20 are advancing to the state finals in two weeks. Of the 20 qualifiers, 13 are Regional Champions. As a team, they are currently ranked as follows: 

#5 for Most Pins/Least Time with 27 pins in 42.11. 

#1 for most Tech Falls/Least Time with 8 tech falls in 22.16. 

#3 for most Pins/Tech Falls/Least Time with 35 in 64.27. 

#4 for Most total match points 413 points and #1 for Winning Percentage 58 wins/11 Losses 82% win ratio. 

Individual placements are as follows: 52 lb Tatianna Castillo, 7/8 age group finished 5th Place. 95 lb Blake Hammer, 2004 age group; 100 lb Isa Starr, 2007 age group and 67 lb Kamden Witte, 2007 age group finished 3rdPlace. 55 lb Kaleb Pautke,7/8 age group; 58 lb Aaiden Vasquez, 7/8 age group and 59 lb Kellen Weckesser, 2008 age group finished 2nd Place. 

2018 Regional Champions are 67 lb Evan Andrews,2008 age group; 70 lb Xavier Carpentier, 2005 age group; 63 lb Quinten Cassiday, 2008 age group; 75 lb Harper Cheng, 2007 age group; 43 lb Brody Compau, 7/8 age group; 67 lb Luke Egan, 2007 age group; 64 lb Drew Moro, 7/8 age group; 75 lb Tyler Parmeter, 2008 age group; 85 Blake Peasley, 2007 age group; 138 lb Aaron Smith, HS; 80 lb Isaiah Sostenes, 2007 age group; 65 lb Josh Vasquez, 2006 age group and 49 lb Blake Werkema, 7/8 age group. 

We also want to recognize some grapplers who have practiced with us full time all season but do not currently wrestle under WMP: 

63 lb Hunter Eek, 2008 age group finished 3rd Place; and 80 lb Alex Buskirk, 2007 age group finished 2nd Place. 

2018 Regional Champions are 55 lb Tanner Cowles, 7/8 age group; 75 lb Ian Cook, 2006 age group and 75 lb Ayden McClurken, 2007 age group. 

WMP also recognizes the hard work of the following grapplers: Quinten Cassiday and Brody Compau, who earned their back to back Regional Championships; Tyler Parmeter, Josh Vasquez and Blake Werkema earned their 3rd consecutive Regional Championship; Ayden McClurken, Drew Moro and Blake Peasley earned their 4th consecutive Regional Championship; and Luke Egan earned his 5th consecutive Regional Championship. 

“These kids continue to exceed my expectations week after week,” said head coach Dave Andrus. “They have diligently pushed themselves and each other to get where they are right now. Going into the State Finals in a few weeks, I have the highest of confidence on their performance. A very special thank you to Bill, Aaron and all of my supportive parents. We are not coaching an elite group of All Stars. We are showing them the path it takes to realize their hard work come to fruition to be recognized as an All Star. This is what I strive for.” 

Red Hawk Elementary 1st place

Saturday, February 24, rang with creativity at the regional Odyssey of the Mind tournament in Greenville, for Region 2 West Michigan teams. The halls were filled to the brim with costumed creatures ready to “hang out” at a stellar location, vehicles ready to TRI their wheels and skills at Olympic sized events, Emoji faces, and classical characters galore! Charlotte’s web? We spun it. Gulliver’s travels? We journeyed through, and down the rabbit hole with Alice, plus so much more. 

Red Hawk Elementary 2nd place

We had primary (K-2nd grade) cooking classes and balsa wood structures holding 100s of pounds!

Creativity, teamwork, perseverance, hard work and a whole lot of fun was the common thread of the day. The best part is the students do it all by themselves. Hands off adults! If one way doesn’t work there are many other ways to try. That’s one of the best life skills of Odyssey of the Mind. 

Building confidence and leadership while embracing creativity and problem solving. Our world needs our O.M.ers! 

Cedar Springs sent three teams.

Cedar View Elemenatary 5th place

Cedar View Elementary – coached by Dena Fisk and Jennifer Redes (honorable mention 5th place) problem 3 div 1.

Red Hawk Elementary – coached by Michelle Wiles and Traci Slager (placed 1st and advancing to State FInals) problem 3 div 2

Red Hawk Elementary – coached by Rahnda Bordeaux and Matt Robb (placed 2nd and advancing  to State FInals) problem 4, div 2

Congratulations and best of luck at State Finals on March 17 at Thornapple Kellogg School.

Brandon Sawade with Coach Lett.

Cedar Springs senior Tara Tepin, junior Brandon Sawade, and senior Alex Douglas all competed at the MHSAA Division 2 State Track finals.

Coach Rob Neier, senior Tara Tepin, and Coach Covey.

On Saturday, June 3, at Zeeland Stadium, three members of the boys and girls track team competed in the MHSAA Division 2 State Finals Track Meet.

Senior Tara Tepin placed in both the 100 and 300 meter hurdles and earned all state honors. Tara lowered her school record in the 100-meter hurdles in the prelim race to 15.26 to qualify for the finals, where she placed fifth with a time of 15.34. Tara ran the 300 hurdles in 46.79, just short of her school record in that event, for eighth place. Tara also earned academic all state in both events.

Junior Brandon Sawade and senior Alex Douglas competed in the meet for the boys team. Brandon placed fourth in the pole vault with a jump of 13 feet 7 inches and earned all state honors. Alex competed in the 110-meter hurdles and ran a time of 15.52 in his preliminary race, but did not advance to the finals in the event. Alex placed 12^th overall in the event.

Three Odyssey of the Mind teams from Cedar View Elementary traveled to Thornapple Kellogg High School on Saturday, March 18, to compete in the state finals.

The team that competed in Odd-a-bot Div I (the robot problem) finished fifth.

The team that competed in the problem It’s time, OMER Div I finished 10^th.

The team that competed in Catch us if you can Div I finished 9^th.

“It was a very tough competition at this level,” remarked Michelle Wiles, one of the team coaches. “We are very proud of all their hard work, team building skills, and creative minds put to work in a new challenging way.”

Six earn all-state honors

By Barbra Chong

West Michigan Pursuit traveled to the Lansing Center for the 2017 State Finals this past weekend. There were 272 teams and just over 2900 wrestlers registered to compete. WMP is currently ranked #41 as a team. They had 16 individuals enter the tournament and six finished in the top 5, earning All State Recognition.

The following individuals wrestled tough but unfortunately fell short of making it to the placement rounds. Luke Egan won 3 matches; Carter Castillo, Chayson Eberspeaker and Kellen Weckesser all won two matches each and Logan Bennet won a match.

Final placements are as follows:

Quinten Cassiday entered the 61 lb wt class in the 7/8 age group and finished in 5^th Place. Cassiday’s season record is 48-4.

Ahmad Starr entered the 138 lb wt class in the High School division and finished 4^th Place.

Finishing in third place was 59 lb Josh Vasquez, 9/10 age group, and 46 lb Blake Werkema, 4/6 age group. Vasquez has a season record of 44-5. Werkema’s season record is 47-3, and he also made the top 100 for most pins at the State Finals. He is currently listed at #59 with 3 pins totaling 1:34.

In the 7/8 age group, 58 lb Drew Moro and 67 lb Tyler Parmeter both finished in 2^nd Place. Parmeter’s season record is 38-11 and Moro’s season record is 41-10.

State Champion is 75 lb Blake “Beast” Peasley, 9/10 age group, finishing his season with a 48-8 record. This is Peasley’s second State Title, with his first one in the 2014 season.

“A wrestling season is built on preparation, determination and heart,” said Head Coach Dave Andrus. “It is difficult to achieve personal success without the support of each wrestler’s family. Every wrestling family knows you give it your all. A season is not defined on wins and losses but rather watching your athletes move in a positive direction. For a coach, it is the greatest joy to have an athlete run off the mat and into your arms after achieving their goal.”

CS Youth Wrestlers at State Finals last weekend. L-R: Carter Falan, Ben Brunner, Trevor Marsman, Blake Falan, Tommy Stevens, Logan Troupe, Gabe Gair, Cade Troupe. Photo by J. Troupe.

By Jacquie Troupe

What an exciting weekend for CS Youth wrestlers! The competition was off the charts, the Parade of Champions was exhilarating, we had great photo ops and autographs with NCAA’s Division 1 Champions Gabe Dean and Kyle Dake and in true Red Hawk fashion we cheered on the wrestlers we’ve come to know from all over the state through this great sport.

“Making it to the State finals as a youth is one of the most gratifying accomplishments you could ever achieve,” said Coach Scott Marsman. “They will never forget this time and look back on it as the beginning of the journey they take to reach their peak potential. The pride we have as coaches and parents for these amazing kids in their sportsmanship, strength and dignity is exemplified whenever they step on a mat. It will be exciting to see where they are at this time next year.”

Out of 301 teams and a total of 2947 wrestlers, CSYWC came in 88th in pins with 10 in 19:32, 80th in Match Points with 186 and finished the weekend 28W-25L, 167th over all.

In the 2010-2012 49lb class Tucker Crystal placed 3rd after 6 matches with 3 pins in a total time of 6:11, losing one and winning two by decisions of 3-0 and 7-4. He scored 33 match points over two days.

In the 2008-2009 64lb class Blake Falan wrestled 4 matches, winning his first and third matches by decisions of 5-1 and 4-0, scoring 10 match points over the course of the day.

In the 2006-2007 55lb class Brandson Wood wrestled 2 matches scoring 6 match points. In the 80lb class Hudson Crystal had 5 matches with a pin in 2:36, winning his third and fourth matches by major decisions of 15-2 and 8-0 and scored 35 match points. In the 150lb class Wyatt Cooper wrestled 2 matches and scored 2 match points.

In the 2005 80lb class Tommy Stevens placed 6th after 6 matches with a Tech Fall in 2:40, winning his second and third matches by decisions of 6-5 and 8-6, scoring a total of 29 match points over two days.

In the 2004 105lb class Carter Falan wrestled 4 matches, had 2 pins in a total time of 4:09 and scored 15 match points. Ben Brunner wrestled 3 matches, had 1 pin in :47 and scored 2 match points. Logan Troupe wrestled 3 matches, winning his second match 6-4 and scored 8 match points for the day.

In the 2003 85lb class Trevor Marsman placed 7th, wrestled 5 matches with 2 pins in a total time of 5:12, winning his fifth match by a decision of 6-2 and scored 31 match points over two days.

In the 2002 95lb class Andreew VanGessel wrestled 2 matches and scored 7 match points.

In the 2002-2004 Girls Division, 122lb class Ashly Erxleben wrestled 2 matches, scoring 6 match points. In the150lb class Ariana Meyers placed 2nd after 2 matches, had the fastest pin for the team with :37 and scored 2 match points.

Odyssey of the Mind Team 1.

Three Odyssey of the Mind teams from Cedar View Elementary will be heading to the state finals this weekend after placing at regionals in February.

The three teams traveled to Greenville on February 25 to compete at Regionals and finished with one first place and two second places, which allowed them to move on to State Finals.

The first team that took first place at Regionals did Problem 2 Odd-a-Bot: Coryn Wiles, Ember Briggs, Brielle Sarniak, Walker Glyshaw, Nathanael Slager, Devin Jobson, and Silas Cartwright, all in 5th grade.

Odyssey of the Mind Team 2.

The second team which took second place at Regionals did Problem 3 It’s Time, OMER: Dominic Vanderhyde and Michael Stevens, 4th grade; and Emily Stevens, Kendall Fisk, Alana Wiles, Jeremiah Slager, Logan Redes, 3rd grade.

The third team took second at Regional as well and did Problem 1 Catch Us If You Can: Kyla Robinson, Derek Bordeaux, Kaden Kirkwood, Riley Robb: all in 5th grade; and Gavin Kirkwood in 4th grade.

State Finals will be held on March 18 at Thornapple Kellogg High School. By visiting the miodyssey.com website fans can see when they are performing that day.

Odyssey of the Mind Team 3.

Pictured is WMP wrestler Selena Stalker, who took 2nd Place in the 4/6 age group at Fremont. Photo by B. Chong.

By Barbra Chong

West Michigan Pursuit had one individual enter the Eagle Claw tournament in Carson City last weekend. Logan Bennett entered the 11/12 age group in the 85 lb wt class. Bennett went 3-1 and finished for a True 2nd Place.

The rest of the team traveled to Fremont for the MYWA Greights tournament. WMP had 20 individuals enter and placed 16 in the top four.

Finishing in fourth place was 155 lb Aaiden Dowdell, 13/15 age group; 122 lb David Erxleben, High School division; 67 lb Tyler Parmeter, 7/8 age group and 80 lb Isaiah Smith, 9/10 age group.

Finishing in third place was 75 lb Carter Castillo, 11/12 age group; 67 lb Chayson Eberspeaker, 7/8 age group; and 61 lb Spencer Schoenborn, 7/8 Novice age group.

Finishing in second place was 64 lb Quinten Cassiday, 7/8 age group; 80 lb Blake Hammer, 11/12 Novice age group; and 61 lb Selena Stalker, 4/6 age group. Champions of the day were 63 lb Luke Egan, 9/10 age group; 58 lb Drew Moro, 7/8 age group; 75 lb Blake Peasley, 9/10 age group; 59 lb Josh Vasquz, 9/10 age group; 55 lb Kellen Weckesser, 7/8 age group and 46 lb Blake Werkema, 4/6 age group.

“West Michigan Pursuit and the Cedar Springs Youth Wrestling have been stepping up their training and combining practices as they head to Regionals,” said Head Coach, Dave Andrus. “These kids have been pushing each other to secure their spot for an opportunity to compete at the State Finals. I have the highest confidence in these kids to do so.”

By Barbra Chong

Last weekend the Varsity Red Hawks traveled to the Palace of Auburn Hills for the 2017 High School State Finals. Four individuals entered the three-day competition and three finished in the top 3.

Senior Jordan Ringler entered the 135 lb weight class. Jordan’s first opponent was Erik Taylor of Stevensville Lakeshore and he secured a win, 6-1. Next up was Josh Edmond of Orchard Lake and that ended with a loss, 3-4. His final match was Ricky Jefferson of Allegan, and unfortunately ended with a loss, 5-7. Austin Boone of Lowell took the Championship Title. Ringler went 1-2, ending his season with a 39-10 record.

Sophomore Lucas Pienton finished third in the state in the 145lb weight class.

Sophomore Lucus Pienton entered the 145 lb weight class. Pienton started the competition with a loss to Cross Gonzalez of St. John in overtime, 8-10. Pienton rallied and defeated Loren Mason of Jackson NW, 11-4; Hunter George of Eaton Rapids (Ranked #7), 5-4; Keff O’Connell of Warren Woods Tower, 5-0 and Jackson Rickman of Trenton (Ranked #6), 9-1. The consolation finals brought Pienton and Dawson Blank of Linden (Ranked #4) together and Pienton won, 10-8. Austin O’Hearon of Eaton Rapids took the Championship Title. Pienton went 5-1 ending his season with a 38-9 Record and securing 3^rd Place on the Podium.

Sophomore Ryan Ringler finished third in the state in the 171lb weight class. He also earned his 100th career win at state.

Sophomore, Ryan Ringler entered the 171 lb weight class. Ringler started the competition against Joe Hess of Edwardsburg and secured a win, 11-4. Unfortunately Drake Pauwels of New Boston Huron defeated Ringler in over time, 8-10. Ringler then rallied and defeated Trey Barbour of Warren Woods Tower, 14-6; Gabe Larner of Dewitt, 7-4 (also claiming his 100^th Career Win to Larner) and Connor Charping of Trenton (Ranked #1), 4-3. The consolation finals brought Ringler and Pauwels for one more match up. Ringler was determined and claimed another win, 4-3 securing his 3^rd Place spot on the Podium. Ringler went 5-1, ending his season with a 50-2 record. Nino Bastianelli of Marysville took the Championship Title.

Senior Patrick Depiazza finished second in the state in the heavyweight division at the Palace at Auburn Hills.

Senior Patrick Depiazza entered the Heavy Weight division. Depiazza started the competition against Marcus Moss of Flint Kearsley and won by fall, 1:04. He continued his winning streak to defeat Collin Lewis of Eaton Rapids, by fall 1:13 and Joe Markham of Gaylord, 7-0, which put him into the Championship Finals. The Finals match ended with a loss to Chase Beard of Allegan, 1-2. Depiazza went 3-1, ending his season with a 47-1 record.

Congratulations to these boys for making it to the Palace and earning the chance to compete at this venue. Cedar Springs has gained three more All State Wrestlers.