FROM STAFF REPORTS
TRAVERSE CITY -- Brady Fagan and Ricardo Rodriguez scored two goals apiece Tuesday as Traverse City West cruised to a 6-0 Big North Conference soccer win over Gaylord.
Sean McPherson and Jonathan Spencer also tallied for the Titans (11-4-1, 5-1-1). Rodriguez had two assists and Spencer and Marshall Cartwright one. Erik Nixon and Ben Casciano shared goaltending duties.
West, which travels to Alpena on Thursday, won the JV game 8-0.
Petoskey 2
TC Central 0
Big North Conference front-runner Petoskey picked up a 2-0 win over Traverse City Central.
Joe Keedy scored for the Northmen while the other goal came off a Trojans deflection.
TC Central (11-5, 3-4 BNC) had seven saves from Josh Lance while John Newland and Sean Fabian had strong defensive efforts.
In the JV game, TC Central earned a 4-1 win.
Brandon Busuttil celebrated his birthday with two goals and an assist for the Trojans (15-1-1) while Charley Needham and Taylor Cook also scored. Keanan Armour, Cameron Gibson and Matthew Westerman all had assists.
SWIMMING
Grand Haven sweeps West, Central
Traverse City West's Elly Maleski won the 50 freestyle (25.68), 100 backstroke (state qualifying time of 1:01.85) and was on the winning 400 freestyle relay in a meet with Grand Haven.
The host Bucs won the meet 107-79.
Maleski teamed with Kirsten Palmer, Paige Rogers and Sarah Brunner to claim the 400 freestyle relay (3:56.01). Maleski, Shelby Newhouse, Brunner and Megan Cepela took second in the 200 medley relay (state qualifying time of 1:55,68).
Brunner captured the 200 IM (2:25.39).
Grand Haven beat Traverse City Central 141-45. The Trojans were paced by Claire Wodzien, who was second in the 500 freestyle (PR of 6:05.08) and fourth in the 200 freestyle (2:13.12).
TENNIS
TC Central has one No. 1 seed
Traverse City Central's Chris Heimburger and Peter Pappas will be the No. 1 seed at No. 1 doubles in the Division I tennis regional at Midland on Thursday.
The Trojans have four No. 2 seeds -- Harry Malone at No. 3 singles, Matt Coleman and Jack Raymond at No. 2 doubles, Clark Phelps and Spencer Potter at No. 3 doubles and Mark Jones and Erik Krueger at No. 4 doubles. Hunter Bergsma at No. 1 singles, Max Lundmark at No. 2 singles and Caleb Morgan at No. 4 singles are all No. 3 seeds.
"Grand Blanc, which is ranked sixth, is the team to beat," Central coach Larry Nykerk.
Central, Midland and Traverse City West will also be in the mix. The top two teams automatically advance. Any team scoring 10 or more points qualifies for the state finals.
Central tuned up for the regionals by winning the Twin Bay Invitational on Monday. The Trojans had 39 points. St. Francis was second with 25. Central's varsity won every flight but No. 1 singles. The Traverse City Central Black's Matt Shaw captured that flight.
The Division 4 regional will be at Harbor Springs. St. Francis will be one of the favorites.
GOLF
Central Gold finishes second at Big Rapids
The Traverse City Central Gold team finished second in the Big Rapids Invitational.
The Gold fired a 394. The host Cardinals, led by medalist's Elizabeth Dawkins' 79, won the title with a 377.
Courtney Dye's 85 paced the Gold. That score was third overall. Katie Madison shot a career-best 96. Kelly White added a 105 and Ally Schultz 108.
The Central Black came in 11th with a 502. Lauren Cutler's 111 led the Black. Teagan Knowles carded a 128, Thea Bengtsson a 130 and Kelsey Ladley a 133.
The Central White was 13th with a 532. Nonie Tompkins and Maddy Ober shot 126, Karly Smith 139 and Kendra Harris 141.
Central will compete Thursday in the regional at the Sunnybrook Country Club. The top three teams advance.
"There are four teams ranked ahead of us, but if we play the way we have been playing we can be in the top three," Trojan coach Lois McManus said.
Central is led by Chelsea Guoynes. Traverse City West is paced by Gaby Muller.
EQUESTRIAN
Gladiators bound for state finals
St. Francis won a D division regional equestrian title over the weekend at Ludington.
The Gladiators finished 16 points ahead of Big Rapids Crossroads Academy. St. Francis will now move on to the state finals Oct. 15-18 in Midland.
In the B division, Traverse City Central finished behind the reserve champion team from Reed City.
Traverse City West came in fourth behind Ludington, Petoskey and Big Rapids in the A division.
In the C division, Forest Area took fourth behind Gaylord, Evart and Providence Christian.
