By MIKE ECKERT
meckert@record-eagle.com
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TRAVERSE CITY — Welcome back.
For athletes across the state, summer vacation will end this week as practice gets underway for fall sports.
"One of the great things about high school sports is that you get to start fresh each school year," TC Central athletic director Cody Inglis said. "With that comes tremendous anticipation, excitement and feeling that this is going to be a great year on and off the courts, field and courses that our kids will compete on."
Here's a look at the seven fall sports set to begin this week.
CROSS COUNTRY
FIRST PRACTICE: Wednesday
FIRST CONTEST: Aug. 17
WHERE WE LEFT OFF: Benzie Central's girls won the Division 3 state title. GT Academy was fourth in Division 4 while TC Central was seventh in Division 1. TC West's boys won the Big North Conference while the Trojans were champs on the girls' side. Charlevoix swept the Lake Michigan Conference while Benzie Central took both titles in the Northwest Conference.
KEY RETURNEES: The Huskies return all but two runners from last year, led by Bryce Cutler who was 15th at the state finals. Charlevoix brings back a pair of All-Staters in Amber Way and Olivia Certa while GT Academy senior Sophie Schuetze is back.
All-Region standouts Katie Moses, Jordan Mattarella and Lauren Marsh are back for TC Central's girls, along with Cam McAuliffe and Cam Marshall on the boys' side. TC West returns Kieran Hall, Kingsley brings back Jake Keena and Benzie returns junior Andrew Hayden.
FOOTBALL
FIRST PRACTICE: Monday
FIRST CONTEST: Aug. 23
WHERE WE LEFT OFF: Nine area schools reached the playoffs, but only St. Francis moved past the second week. The Gladiators returned to dominance at the state level with a trip to the Division 7 state semifinals and won the Lake Michigan Conference title for the final time before turning into an independent.
Benzie Central won its first Northwest Conference title since 1971 while Petoskey won its first-ever outright Big North crown. And Mancelona rolled to a perfect 9-0 season and the Ski Valley Conference title.
KEY RETURNEES: Three All-Staters are back. Cadillac lineman Riley Norman and Mancelona running back Wyatt Derrer were first-teamers last season while Kingsley's Tristan Eickenroth was an honorable mention.
Among the returning All-Region players are Charlevoix wide receiver Charlie Hamilton, TC Central linebacker Nate Pupel, Mancelona lineman Dalton Sulz, TC West lineman Connor Hayes, TC Central kicker Jake Gorter, Glen Lake's Mike O'Brien, St. Francis lineman Jake Khoury, TC West linebacker Derrick Diver and St. Francis defensive back Byron Bullough.
GOLF — GIRLS
FIRST PRACTICE: Wednesday
FIRST CONTEST: Aug. 15
WHERE WE LEFT OFF: Both Traverse City Central and TC West qualified for the state finals. The Trojans finished 10th in Division 2 while the Titans were 15th in Division 1.
KEY RETURNEES: TC Central coach Lois McManus said her group is as excited to get going as she's seen in a long time. And for good reason. The Trojans bring back everyone from last year, including All-Stater Courtney Dye. She's joined by fellow seniors Ally Schultz and Nonie Tompkins.
TC West returns senior Laura Krieber, who tied for fifth in the Big North and made the Record-Eagle Dream Team.
SOCCER — BOYS
FIRST PRACTICE: Wednesday
FIRST CONTEST: Aug. 17
WHERE WE LEFT OFF: Elk Rapids reached the Division 3 state semifinals before dropping a 2-1 decision to state champ Detroit Country Day. Burt Lake NMCA reached the Division 4 regional final after claiming the Northern Michigan Soccer League. Suttons Bay won a Division 4 district crown after a 3-2 2OT win over TC Christian in the final. And with a 9-0-3 league record, TC West ruled the Big North Conference.
KEY RETURNEES: Burt Lake NMCA senior Aaron Chatfield is back after leading the state with 56 goals and 88 points. Elk Rapids returns a pair of All-Region standouts in Spencer LaPointe and Austin McMullen. TC Christian has depth as well with seniors Ian Spencer, Paul Bump, Jon Tuck and junior Jacob Rorick.
Several goalies are back, including TC Central's Colin Lesoski and Suttons Bay's Aaron Orban. TC West senior Alex Wyant is among the top returning defenders.
SWIMMING
FIRST PRACTICE: Wednesday
FIRST CONTEST: Aug. 17
WHERE WE LEFT OFF: Traverse City was well represented at the state level as Elly Maleski won the 100 backstroke at the MISCA meet and finished ninth at the state finals. She's moved on to swim at Wayne State University.
KEY RETURNEES: Headlining the returning swimmers is junior Alaina Chela, who participated in the state finals last year in the 100 butterfly. Erin Cover is also back for her senior year while Olivia Verellen is a returning junior.
TENNIS — BOYS
FIRST PRACTICE: Wednesday
FIRST CONTEST: Aug. 15
WHERE WE LEFT OFF: Thanks to a run to the championship match at No. 4 doubles from Cole Gingras and Chase Richmond, St. Francis finished sixth at the Division 4 state finals. TC Central was ninth in Division 2, TC West was 12th in D-1 in the first state finals appearance for the Titans, Petoskey finished seventh in Division 3 while Cadillac was six spots back in 13th.
KEY RETURNEES: Two All-State singles players are back in Petoskey senior Zach Phillips and Harbor Springs junior Sam Dart. TC Central returns eight players from last year, including senior Peter Pappas — a former All-State doubles player and a state semifinalist last year. Daniel Fedor also returns to singles action for the Trojans while Skyler Norgaard looks to move from doubles to singles.
VOLLEYBALL
FIRST PRACTICE: Wednesday
FIRST CONTEST: Aug. 17
WHERE WE LEFT OFF: Lake Michigan Conference champ Charlevoix made it to Battle Creek in Class C, before getting knocked off in the semifinals to eventual state champ Morley-Stanwood. Leland won its first Northwest Conference title in any sport and carried the momentum to the Class D quarterfinals. Cadillac ruled the Big North and made a run to the Class B quarterfinals while Ski Valley champion Pellson was a Class D quarterfinalist.
District champions included TC West (A), Grayling (B), Forest Area (C), Frankfort (D) and Central Lake (D).
KEY RETURNEES: Cadillac senior Katlyn Agren was a third-team All-Stater while TC West sophomore Katie Placek and Petoskey senior Megan Tompkins were honorable mentions. St. Francis senior Kaitlyn Hegewald and Benzie Central senior Madison Lutzke were All-Region honorable mentions.
