Sports

Belding’s Hannah Linebaugh makes a throw to first base. Linebaugh is one of the Redskins’ captains this season.

Belding softball looks to continue success

The Belding Redskins softball team has had an extremely successful four-year ride. Belding has won four straight district titles, three straight regional titles and even reached the Class B state semifinals during that run.

Belding’s Todd Haller takes a swing during a game last year. Haller is a senior for the Redskins this season, which is scheduled to start April 9 at Coopersville.

Belding ready for start of baseball season

The Belding Redskins baseball team is ready to begin the season. They just need the weather to cooperate. Following a season with a near .500 record (16-17-1), the Redskins return eight letterwinners and plenty of expectations

Belding senior Tyler Strevel, middle, signs his letter of intent to play for Aquinas College coach Doug Greenslave, right, as Belding coach Mike Ostrander, left, looks on.

Belding’s Strevel signs baseball letter of intent

Belding senior Tyler Strevel said playing college baseball “has been a dream for a long time.” That dream came true on Wednesday when he signed a letter of intent to play baseball for Aquinas College next season.

Belding junior Nick Price, left, brings the ball up the court during the district boys basketball tournament this season.

Youth, depth held back Belding boys basketball

Belding’s boys basketball program had some growing pains to go through this season. It started with new coach Jeff Wierzbicki, who took over the program from Brian Babbitt. He put in a new system for the Redskins to digest.

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.

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.”

Belding’s Brenden Zuver goes in for a layup during Wednesday’s district semifinal games at Shepherd.

Central Montcalm, Belding both fall in district semis

The Central Montcalm Hornets and Belding Redskins boys basketball teams have had similar seasons this year. Both the Hornets and Redskins struggled to win games, but battled hard and never gave up. Wednesday’s district semifinal games were more of the same for the two schools.

Carson City-Crystal’s Kenneth Dittenber, right, tries to keep Logan Griffin of Erie Mason on the mat during Saturday’s Division 4 state final at 112 pounds. Dittenber lost 5-4 in four overtimes.

14 wrestlers place at individual state finals

Sometimes it’s just not meant to be. That may have been the case for Carson City-Crystal senior Kenneth Dittenber, who was in search of a third straight individual wrestling state title on Saturday at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Belding’s Michael Walker, right, tangles with Lakeview’s Terry Greiser in the championship quarterfinals on Friday at the state individual wrestling finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Walker won 3-2.

Wrestling: Belding’s Walker edges Lakeview’s Greiser in quarterfinals

One wrestler was going to advance to the semifinals and the other was going to be bumped into the consolation bracket. Those were the stakes when Belding sophomore Michael Walker and Lakeview junior Terry Greiser met in the championship quarterfinals at 152 pounds on Friday at the Michigan High School Athletics Association (MHSAA) individual wrestling state tournament at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Carson City-Crystal’s Kenneth Dittenber starts his Division 4 semifinal match against Sanford Meridian’s Joe Shuler with a handshake. Dittenber won by major decision 14-3 and will be trying for his third straight state title today.

Area wrestlers take center stage for individual titles at state finals

Brighter lights. Bigger arena. That is the setting called the Palace of Auburn Hills. This weekend, it’s not the Detroit Pistons on centerstage, but the best of the best in high school wrestling.