Kenzie Weiler and Austin Sargent

Two runners from the Cedar Springs Red Hawks cross country teams did something last weekend that has never been done before in Division 2—and only once before in the state’s history—a boy and girl from the same school both won the state title in Cross Country the same year.

Junior Austin Sargent finished first in the Boys Division 2 State Finals with a time of 15:42.7 and Kenzie Weiler finished first in the Girls Division 2 State Finals with a time of 17:55.1 last weekend at Michigan International Speedway.

Only one other time in state history has a boy and girl won state titles together and that was Corunna HS in 1995.

The entire girls Cross Country team also qualified for the state finals. After placing second at regionals, the girls’ team was looking for a solid performance on Saturday. The team ended up finishing 15th overall, led by Weiler, who placed first and became Cedar Springs’ first female cross country girl to win a state championship. Sophomore Kellsie Webber was 71st overall and ran her best time of her career. Senior Maddie Pekrul finished her last race, placing 90th overall, and was followed closely by Ellie Ovokaitys who placed 91st and also ran her best time. Shayne Mann (103rd) also ran her personal best time ever. Senior Caitlin McClurken also broke the 21-minute barrier and Allyson Marvel rounded out the top seven by adding a solid performance.

Austin Sargent, Cedar Springs boys only state qualifier, ran in a pack and broke away to take the lead and finish first to become the D2 state champion. Sargent becomes the third boy from Cedar to win an individual state championship. He follows Connor Mora (2012) and Landon Peacock (2005). The win also becomes the first time a school has had two different state champions in back to back years.

“This is a big moment in our school history and we are very proud of Kenzie and Austin!” remarked Autumn Mattson, Athletic Director at Cedar Springs High School. “The success of these individuals and our team is directly related to the support of our cross country parents, hard work and determination of our athletes and the countless hours our previous coaches and current coaches have put into our kids. Last Saturday was a great day to be a Red Hawk!”

Connor Mora running with the pack during the 800m run”

Last Saturday, Red Hawk junior distance runner Connor Mora finished where no other Cedar Springs track and field athlete has before. Connor was state champion in two events at the MHSAA Division 2 State Finals at Houseman Field.

Going into the meet, he was seeded as the number one runner in the 1600m and 800m runs. Mora carried out his pre-race strategy exactly as planned in the 1600m run, beating his nearest competitor from Chelsea by 1.5 seconds. His official time of 4:13.97 was the fastest from all divisions in the state Saturday.

Connor Mora breaking from the competition in the 1600m run.

After recovering and refocusing for the 800m run, he once again carried out his plan and passed a small group of runners on the backstretch of the last lap, with 250m to go, and didn’t look back. His official time was 1:56.41. Although exhausted, Connor was able to gather his thoughts for some media interviews.

“Connor showed the entire state why he is considered to be the best distance runner in the state,” remarked Coach Jeff Myers. “His hard work began after last season’s disappointing finishes right here at the state finals. He did a lot of maturing over the course of the season, became focused on his race strategies and will out work anyone. We are very excited to find out what opportunities lie ahead for him at the next level.”

Connor with All-State distance sisters Kenzie (left) and Katie Weiler.

Also competing for the Hawks last Saturday was Derek Ash, 12th in the discus at 149’ 5”; the 3200m relay team placed 17th with a time of 8:16; and Aaron Brooks in the 3200m run with a time of 9:58.

Congratulations to all Red Hawks for their season’s accomplishments.

Cody Harper, a bowler for the Cedar Springs Red Hawks, bowled his way to the state finals last weekend, finishing 8th out of 96 bowlers at Lincoln Lanes last Saturday with a 1075. State finals are at Century Lanes in Waterford, Michigan this weekend. Cody was also all-conference with a 199.3 average. Good luck at state, Cody!

It was a banner year for the Cedar Springs Cross Country teams, with both boys and girls winning regionals, and then carrying on that excellence to the state finals last weekend, where the girls finished second behind East Grand Rapids, and the boys took fourth. Three Red Hawks earned all state honors: Katie Weiler (left) took 6th, Connor Mora (Center) took 3rd, and Kenzie Weiler (right) took 2nd. Congratulations, Red Hawks! Read the complete story here.

The Cedar Springs High School Marching Band has had a great fall season, and topped it off with a finish of 7th in the MCBA state finals last Saturday.
This year’s show, “The Fall of the Wall,” was a tribute to the fall of the Berlin Wall.  It included the following songs:  Carmina Burana, Part III; Moscow 1941; Another Brick in the Wall; The Escape (from the Sound of Music); and Ode to Joy.
The band performed at every home football game and at several competitions. The first competition was the Rockford Invitational in mid-September, where the band placed third and received a caption award for best marching. Cedar Springs hosted two marching band competitions: one on Red Flannel Day and a Michigan Competing Band Association competition two weeks later. Although the band performed at both competitions, their performances were judged in exhibition only.  Cedar Springs competed at the West Shore Invitational MCBA competition on October 29 and finished in 4th place with a score of 75.56.
The Marching Band earned the chance to compete at the MCBA State Finals last Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit.  Going in at 9th place in the state in Flight III, they finished in 7th place with a score of 76.86 and represented Cedar Springs well.  When they returned to Cedar Springs late last Saturday evening, the band was thrilled to have the city’s fire trucks escort them back into town.
This year’s band has 107 members, 23 of which are seniors. Concert season has now begun and their Holiday Concert is just around the corner. Please make plans to attend it on Tuesday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The high school jazz band, symphony band and wind ensemble will all be performing that evening.

MYWAY State qualifiers and Coaches.

Over 2,000 of Michigan’s toughest youth wrestlers converged in Battle Creek, Michigan at the Kellogg Arena March 25, 26 and 27, for the fiercest competition of the year, the 10th Annual MYWAY State Finals. Most brackets, starting with as many as 30 wrestlers, whittled down to the final top eight placers.

(front row) Landon Demorest, Jordan Ringler, Allexis Gonzales, George Gonzales Jr., Ryan Ringler and Cody Averill. Back row: Coaches George Gonzales Sr and Paul Ringler.

On a weekend filled with unexpected upsets and devastating losses, some of Cedar Springs most talented wrestlers suffered their first losses of the season. Of the thirteen Cedar Springs youth wrestlers who traveled to state finals, six of them were tough enough to place in the top eight. Landon Demorest, the highest placing Red Hawk for 2011, took third in the 38lb 5/6 division. He also earned himself the coveted “national singlet,” which is only awarded to the top three wrestlers in each weight class.  Jordan Ringler took fourth in the 71lb 11/12 division.   Allexis Gonzales took fifth in the 90lb 9/10 division.  Allexis was also one of only two girls to place at state!  George Gonzales Jr. took sixth in the 127lb 11/12 division.  Cody Averill, a first year wrestler, took seventh in the 38lb 5/6 division.  Ryan Ringler took eighth in the 85lb 9/10 division.  By placing in the top eight, each of the wrestlers qualified to wrestle at NUWAY Nationals to be held in Naperville, IL on April 10, 2011.

All of Cedar Springs youth wrestlers worked very hard this year under the supervision of Head Coach George Gonzales Sr. and coaches Paul Ringler, Eric Frandsen, Bryan Goike, Jake Marsman, and Levi Whipple and deserve a big congratulations!