Chip Burch

Central Montcalm senior Michaela Crooks backs down on a Lakeview defender this season.

Central Montcalm girls struggled early, came on late

Central Montcalm’s girls basketball team got off to a slow start under new coach Kevin Everingham. “We had a weak start to the season,” Everingham said. “I think we won the majority of the games in the second half of the season. We could have done the same type of thing in the first half if we played a little better early on.”

Belding’s Todd Haller tries to get free during the team state finals at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek in February.

Meyer: Belding wrestlers ‘selfless’

For the first time since 1988, Belding’s wrestling team went to a state quarterfinal. The trip to Battle Creek was part of the Redskins’ 20-9 season in dual meets, which coach Travis Meyer was proud of.

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Montabella girls basketball had winning season despite injuries

This was one season that Montabella’s girls basketball team would like to forget. Yes, the Mustangs finished 10-8 this season. But they did so with many girls having to sit out nursing injuries.

Belding’s McKenzie Breimayer, right, tries to drive the ball around a defender during a game this season. Breimayer earned O-K Blue all-conference honors this season.

Belding girls season a tale of two halves

If things seemed different in Belding’s girls basketball season, it’s because things changed drastically in the second half of the season. “The first half of the season went great,” Belding first-year coach Brad Wilson said. “We played really well, we progressed each week. Then about Christmas time we hit a streak where we had some injuries, we had some sickness, and one girl that had a family situation. Because of that we played shorthanded. We had some key players that missed the second half of the season.”

Central Montcalm’s Jesse Judge, left, wrestles during the individual state finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills earlier this month. Judge placed eighth in Division 3 at 189 pounds.

Central Montcalm mat coach predicting big things next season

There’s some optimism coming from Central Montcalm after this past wrestling season. That optimism is coming from coach Dan VanderVlucht after his team finished with a 24-9 record in the regular season and won a Division 3 district title.

Montabella’s Dan Davidson, right, locks up with an opponent during the individual state wrestling finals earlier this month at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Montabella’s Balhorn happy with CMAC co-championship

Even though Montabella’s wrestling team was bounced from the Division 4 district tournament by Carson City-Crystal, the Mustangs were still able to have a good season, according to their coach. Montabella went 25-5 in dual meets this season and won a share of the Central Michigan Athletic Conference title with the Eagles when they won the postseason tournament.

Lakeview’s Terry Greiser, right, battles with Belding’s Michael Walker at the individual state wrestling finals earlier this month.

Youth, numbers held down Lakeview wrestlers

Todd Barton’s first season has Lakeview wrestling head coach didn’t go the way he wanted. The Wildcats were just 6-27 on the season and youth had a part to play in that, Barton said.

Greenville’s Alec Ward positions himself to take a shot during the individual state finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Johnson had lots to like about Greenville’s year

Greenville wrestling coach Paul Johnson would have loved to get deeper into the Division 2 state finals than the Yellow Jackets did. However, their season ended in the quarterfinals to Lowell. But that didn’t diminish the year, he said.

The Carson City-Crystal wrestling team lines up during the national anthem at the team state finals in Battle Creek at Kellogg Arena.

CC-Crystal had outstanding season on wrestling mat

For the first time since 2004, Carson City-Crystal’s wrestling team brought home a conference title. Even though they ended up tied with Montabella after the Central Michigan Athletic Conference tournament, the Eagles could claim a title in the regular season.

The Fellowship Baptist Academy boys basketball team poses with the Michigan Association of Christian Schools sttae title trophy.

Fellowship Baptist boys win another MACS title

For the seventh time in the career of coach Kevin McAlvey, Fellowship Baptist Academy’s boys basketball team has won a Michigan Association of Christian Schools state title. The Falcons were winners March 2 when they beat Springfield Christian 62-47 in Clarkston.