Lakers edge top-ranked Rams
Bear Lake’s Faith Moerdyk runs through a puddle during Saturday’s
Manistee National Invitational. (Matt Wenzel/News Advocate)
Matt Wenzel, Manistee News Advocate
FILER TOWNSHIP — The Bear Lake girls won’t race against
Division 4 No. 1 Harbor Springs in next weekend’s regional.
But, the Lakers have to like their chances against the
Rams in the state finals, assuming they make it there.
Bear Lake edged top-ranked Harbor Springs in the small
school division of the Manistee National Invitational on Saturday.
“It’s a pretty impressive finish for them,” said Bear
Lake coach Tony Shrum, “and it’s going to be a pretty interesting race
in two weeks.”
Benzie Central, the No. 2 team in the state in Division
3, won the small school race with 54 points, Bear Lake, which is ranked
No. 4 in Division 4, was second with 87, followed by Mason County
Central (88) and Harbor Springs (89) in the 14-school race.
So, although the Lakers didn’t take home the top team
trophy for the event they host, they were still pleased with the
results.
“It was exciting to beat Harbor Springs,” said Bear
Lake’s Kenna Gilbert, “because that was our competition.”
The Bear Lake boys finished fourth out of 14 schools with
115 points, but the schools in front were Division 3 No. 5 Benzie (44,
won with a tiebreaker) and No. 10 Mason County Central (44), and
Division 4 No. 6 Harbor Springs (97).
“Mason County Central is tough, Benzie is tough,” Shrum
said. “Overall, a great performance again.” |
Conditions were less than ideal as the race — which was
run on Manistee National’s Cutters’ Ridge — as recent rain led to a
saturated course and a finish line that resembled a Slip-N-Slide early
before a rug was laid down across the fairway.
“When the conditions are like this, it’s not about time,”
Shrum said, “it’s about placement, how you finish, and I’m very, very
pleased with how they did.”
The top four girls for Bear Lake all medaled (top 25),
led by Gilbert who took 10th in 20:44, while Faith Moerdyk (13th,
20:59), Kelly Babcock (17th, 21:14), McKaya Groenwald (20th, 21:25) and
Alycia Peterson (34th, 22:04) rounded out the score.
Taylor Anderson (37th, 22:15), Meredith Hengy (59th,
24:08), Alyson Fink (61st, 24:13) and Samantha Mullet (89th, 28:59) also
ran in the varsity race.
“It was really wet,” Gilbert said. “There were a few
puddles that you sunk your feet into.”
John Girven (12th, 17:50), Jordan Anderson (14th, 18:01)
and Alex Barto (25th, 18:23) all medaled to lead Bear Lake while John
Schoedel (29th, 18:31) and Shane Peterson (37th, 18:50) rounded out the
score.
Cole Verrett (41st, 18:55), Jared Bair (52nd, 19:15),
Michael Belinski (57th, 19:40) and Randy Pienta (79th, 20:56) also ran
for the Lakers.
“Some of the guys stepped up and ran really great races
today,” Shurm said.
Although all the teams that finished ahead of the Lakers
won’t be part of the regional competition they face next weekend at
Benzie Central, running against them Saturday didn’t hurt.
“It’s great competition,” Shrum said. “They were a little
bummed that Benzie was running in our division, but it’s great
competition — why not? That’s what it’s all about, is having that chance
to run against the best teams and that’s what’s going to make you
better.”
Matt Wenzel
News Advocate on-line
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