Avery Rugg, a senior at Cedar Springs High School, has signed her national letter of intent for Women’s Rowing at Michigan State University. Avery has been a Junior Olympic Gymnast for R Athletics for the past 10 years, and is also a three-year Varsity track runner for Cedar Springs High School.  

“I am looking forward to my next adventure,” she said. 

Avery hopes to do something in Agriculture. 

She is the daughter of Todd and Becky Rugg, of Courtland Township.

When Governor Whitmer ended face to face school for the remainder of the year, the MHSAA followed up by announcing an end to spring sports in Michigan. That left the seniors of every sports team without a chance to compete in their final year of high school. The Cedar Springs Varsity Baseball team, led by head coach Justin Glyshaw and assisted by Matt Greenleand and Steve Reed, would like to honor each of their five seniors.

Colton Moore

Colton is a young man with a big heart. He’s what you call “a character guy.” He showed up to all off season workouts and led by example. Colton was a versatile player who pitched for the Red Hawks, along with playing second base and a little outfield. His favorite baseball memory was taking a ground ball from Coach Bob in his first all-star practice…a ball that would take a bad hop, hit him in the face, and break his nose. Colton has plans to attend Ferris State University and study Plastics and Rubber Engineering. He’s thankful to all of the adults who have influenced him throughout his life, especially his coaches and parents.

Nathan Male

Nate played on the varsity team each of his high school seasons. He was always one of the fastest players on the team and had a big arm from the outfield. On the bases he was always a threat to steal, and from the outfield he was never afraid to take a chance and try to throw runners out. His favorite baseball memory was from a tournament the boys played in Allendale last season, where he threw out three runners at first base from right field. This is something you might see once in a while, but three times in one day is a rare sight to behold. The coaches will miss Nathan’s athleticism as he pursues a career as a heavy equipment operator. 

Caden Markey-Vandenberg

Caden was able to see some time on varsity as a sophomore because of his skill as a hitter. He was also a versatile infielder, playing a majority of his time at third base. Coaches will remember him as a kid who was never afraid to dive for a ball and get dirty to prevent a ball from leaving the infield. Caden’s favorite memory came to him as an 11-year-old when his team won the CSJBL All Star Tournament. He said it was the best he ever played the game, but the moment will always stand out to him because he got to share it with his father. Caden plans to try to walk on and try out for the baseball team at either GRCC or MCC in the fall and pursue a career in sports analysis.

Connor Ellison

Connor was one of the top pitchers on the varsity team. A natural middle infielder, Connor played every single position on the field during his high school career. Injuries and illness sometimes happen and kids are forced to play out of position. Connor was always the first one to raise his hand and say, “I’ll do it coach.” Though he was a talented athlete, the program will miss his humor. Connor always has a smirk on his face and has an uncanny ability to take any situation, no matter how serious, and make everyone laugh. His favorite baseball memory came from a time as a 12-year-old, when playing for Rebels Baseball, when he traveled to Cooperstown, NY and played in their annual tournament. Connor plans to attend Michigan State University and major in accounting and finance.

Kyle Wise

Kyle was also a pitcher on the varsity team who also played third base. His favorite childhood baseball memories are playing little league in Algoma and joking around with his teammates, especially Seth Biggs (a 2019 graduate). Kyle has a laid back personality who rarely lets his emotions get the better of him. This is a great quality dealing with the ups and downs of pitching. Kyle has been attending KCTC for the past two years, studying HVAC and electrical work. After graduation he plans to attend trade school to study one or both of these skills.  

This is a group of boys who will be missed by both their coaches and teammates, and we wish them luck as they take their first steps in a life after high school.

EAST LANSING, Mich. The Michigan High School Athletic Association is seeking student-athletes to become members of its Student Advisory Council beginning with the 2020-21 school year.

Four boys and four girls from the Class of 2022 will be selected to two-year terms and will meet on matters related to maintaining and promoting a proper perspective and sensible scope for high school sports in Michigan. Eight members from the Class of 2021 already are serving on the Council, while eight members of the Class of 2020 are leaving the Council this spring.

To be eligible for the committee, candidates must be a member of the Class of 2022, complete the official application including answering the three short-answer questions, submit a letter of recommendation from a school administrator, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and be available for all scheduled meetings.

In addition, candidates should show a history of leadership on athletic teams as well as with other extracurricular activities, community service projects, or in the workplace; and show an understanding of the role of school sports and have ideas for promoting a proper perspective for educational athletics.

Applications are due to the MHSAA by 4:30 p.m. on April 29. Applications can be downloaded from the Student Advisory Council page of the MHSAA Website and must be returned via e-mail. The link to the MHSAA page is https://www.mhsaa.com/Schools/Students/Student-Advisory-Council.

The Student Advisory Council meets seven times each school year, and once more for a 24-hour leadership camp. In addition to assisting in the promotion of the educational value of interscholastic athletics, the Council discusses issues dealing with the 4 S’s of educational athletics: scholarship, sportsmanship, safety (including health and nutrition) and the sensible scope of athletic programs. A fifth S – student leadership – is also a common topic. Members contribute in planning Sportsmanship Summits, Captains Clinics and other student leadership events, and assist with medal ceremonies at MHSAA championship events. The Council also judges the “Battle of the Fans,” which it created during the 2011-12 school year as a way to promote positive sportsmanship.

Newly chosen members will join the following from the Class of 2021: Pierre Brooks II, Detroit Douglass; Macy Brown, Cadillac; Lydia Davenport, Ithaca; Freddy Kopplow, Traverse City St. Francis; Colin McAuliffe, Salem; Avery Peters, Mason; Abigail Pheiffer, Novi; and Landen Thompson, Stevensville Lakeshore.

The eight new members of the Student Advisory Council will be notified by May 8. The 2020-21 meetings are tentatively scheduled for Aug. 23, Oct. 4, Dec. 6, Feb. 14, April 18 and May 16. Meetings will take place at the MHSAA Office in East Lansing. Conference call meetings will be held Jan. 10 and Jan. 24. For more information, contact Andy Frushour at the MHSAA – 517-332-5046 or afrushour@mhsaa.com.

We have a temporary change in our office routine to announce in regard to circumstances regarding the COVID-19 virus. Due to the fact that we have employees with auto-immune disorders and employees caring for vulnerable family members with breathing problems, our office will be closed to the general public until further notice. Please consider emailing us or calling us (696-3655) if you need to submit something, discuss something, or need to make a payment. We can take your payment over the phone with a credit/debit card. If you need to drop something off, we will have a mailbox outside our door that we will check often. Please do not put checks or valuables in the box. If you need to give us a check, please send through regular mail. At least one person will be in the office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday to take calls, and we will be closed on Friday. This is only temporary and we apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you for understanding!

For more contact information visit our About page http://cedarspringspost.com/about/

Girls basketball all conference:

Arianna Rau

Avery Sparling

Honorable mention:

Kaelyn Colclasure

Bowling all conference:

Omani Morales

Katelyn Paige

Chloe Fisk

Isaiah Waite

Ethan Plummer

Honorable mention:

Clifford Ranger

Competitive cheer all conference:

Paige Pierson

Zoe Castor

Sophia Dault

Sarah Adkison

Kate Roth

Honorable mention:

Naliya Clark

Abbey Salisbury

Wrestling:

Trevor Marsman

Boys basketball all conference:

Bryce Marvel

Honorable mention:

Trenton Cooper

Almas signs with Alma

Seth Almas with coach Gus Kapolka. He has signed to play football at Alma. 

Galloway to bowl at Spring Arbor

Sarah Galloway, class of ‘19, signing at Rockford Lanes to bowl at Spring Arbor next year. She is the daughter of Todd and Brenda Galloway.

Moleski to run Cross Country at Rochester

Jaydon Moleski signed to run Cross Country at Rochester University. He is pictured here with his coach Justin Wood.

Morales to bowl for Davenport

Omani Morales has signed to continue her bowling career at Davenport University. She is pictured here with her coach Tim Jackson. Omani was four year all conference bowler. She had the highest conference average for girls three years in row. 

Omani won regionals her sophomore year; state her junior year; and regionals her senior year.

Boys Varsity won the Great Lakes 6 district championship. The boys had a great season and Coach Eric Besmer is proud of the boys as they came together to finish the season strong.

Cedar Springs Red Hawk junior Trevor Marsman stormed into Ford Field on March 6 on a mission to bring home the MHSAA State Championship. He rocketed all the way to the 119lb Division 2 State Finals match with a pin, an 11-4 decision and a thrilling sudden victory match over the #3 ranked wrestler from Lakeshore. 

“Making the finals is fun but winning in the finals is more fun,” said Head Coach Nick Emery.

“Trevor is a great kid and friend and it has been awesome watching him grow up into an awesome human being and wrestler,” added Assistant Coach Brandon Wood.

Coach Scott Marsman, who is also Trevor’s dad, remarked, “I’m proud of him. I’m not gonna tell him that but I am.”

After falling to the State Champ in the Finals, Trevor finished the season with a 52-2 record. He claimed titles at the Kent County Championship, Comstock Open, Allendale Invite, Ok White Championship and MHSAA Regional. With a 50-win season he joins Ryan Ringler and Patrick Depiazza as the only Red Hawks to do so this millenium. As already one of the most decorated Red Hawk athletes of all-time, Marsman will look to cap it off with a State Championship in 2021.

He plans on training at Ares wrestling over the summer because like he says, “If you want to get better you have to wrestle all summer.”

The Lady Red Hawks finished the 2020 season by earning 7th place at the Michigan Division 2 Competitive Cheer State Finals on March 7 at the Delta Plex in Grand Rapids.

Faced with setbacks and injuries at the beginning of state finals week, the Cedar Springs Varsity Competitive Cheer team learned that success isn’t always about winning championships, but is about finding the courage to overcome adversity through selfless giving.

Coach Anne Olszewski reflected on the season. 

“This season was different, right from the start. We lost two valuable members right when the season started. We were plagued with injuries this season—bad shoulders, dislocated elbows, blown knees. I am simply amazed how these young ladies pushed through and played with soreness and pain because you just could not quit on yourself or the team. [Despite these obstacles] we smashed all kinds of goals and made it to the big mat—what an accomplishment! These young women learned that sometimes life isn’t about what you can get, but what you give.”

Team 2020 represented the Cedar Springs community with grace, perseverance and courage and earned many accolades along the way: OK White Conference Champions—4^th year in a row; 3rd place finish at Districts and Regionals; back to back appearances at State Finals; and 7th place finish at State Finals. Congratulations Lady Red Hawks, Coach Olszewski, JV Coach Katy Hradsky and Middle School Coach Abby Olszewski.

The Lady Red Hawk bowling team competed in the state finals last weekend. They bowled against Tecumseh in the quarterfinals and lost by a series score of 1348-1181. Cedar Springs placed sixth in Division 2, and Tecumseh went on to place second. Mason won the Division 2 championship. The Lady Red Hawks had a great season, winning the OK White Conference Championship and placing second at regionals before advancing to state. Congratulations!

In the individuals bowling finals Cedar Springs had three competitors—Omani Morales, Katelyn Paige, and Isaiah Waite. Only senior Omani Morales made the top 16 cut to compete. Morales, last year’s Division 2 State Champion, made the cut at number 2, and bowled against number 15, junior Megan Timm, of Flint Kearsley. Morales lost to Timm by a score of 355 to 327. Timm went on to win the Division State 2 Championship.

Congratulations to Omani on a spectacular season, and all the Red Hawk bowlers on their success this season!