Let's talk area spring sports

Sports editor Mike Bogan and sportswriter Paul P. Adams get you ready for what should be an interesting spring sports season in the Thumb!!!

DET: OK, so the calendar says it’s the spring sports season. But Mother Nature — once again — isn’t playing fair. It feels like the final few weeks of the fall season.

Anyway, there isn’t anything we can do about it, boys.

So, let’s get going.

DET: Let’s start with baseball in the Greater Thumb Conference. Bay City All Saints and Harbor Beach won league titles in 2010, but those two teams lost plenty of talent from last year. Are there some teams out there capable of pushing the Cougars and Pirates from the top spot?

ADAMS: I think the GTW is very open this year. I look for just about every team to be improved from last year. USA, Bad Axe, Cass City and Reese all look like they could contend, along with BCAS. EPBP is a bit of an unknown with a new coach.

In the GTE, I still think Harbor Beach is the team to beat.

BOGAN: In the GTW, Reese, to me, is the favorite. The Rockets have a bunch of all-league players returning, including a couple of top pitchers.

Bad Axe and Cass City are my Nos. 2 and 3. I think both teams are capable of creeping up and taking the league title. 

In the GTE, Harbor Beach is still my No. 1, but Brown City and Marlette have the tools to capture the crown.

The Green Devils, in fact, are state ranked this week.

DET: The North Central Thumb League gets a new team this season in Deckerville. What are the Eagles’ chances? And which teams are the top squads in the North and South divisions?

ADAMS: Deckerville should contend for the NCTL South title, but I think Memphis is still the team to beat. Also, look out for Peck, which may be the most experienced team in that division.

In the North, it's still North Huron, but I think Akron-Fairgrove and Owen-Gage are closing fast.

BOGAN: I am going with Deckerville in the South Division, mainly because the Eagles have their top two pitchers back from a season ago. I also think Memphis will push them awfully hard.

In the North, nobody has really threatened North Huron in recent years. Until someone does, it’s the Warriors’ title to take.

DET: Let’s move on to softball. The Greater Thumb Conference always produces some of the best Division 3/4 teams in the state. Who are the favorites this season?

ADAMS: USA is the top-rated team in Division 4 and for good reason. 

The Patriots returning most of their players from a team that made its fifth straight trip to Battle Creek. USA is still young, but has experience. I believe it will be another season concluding in Battle Creek. 

What I'm interested in is last year's surprise team, EPBP. In 2010, the Lakers were able to sneak up on everyone. That won't happen this year. How will they deal with expectations? I think they will handle it just fine.

BOGAN: I am going with a mini upset and picking the Lakers to stun the Patriots and win the league championship. That’s how impressed I was with the team last season. 

The Lakers won’t ‘wow’ you with their power or explosiveness. They just excel in the fundamentals — good pitching, timely hitting, solid defense — and pick up victories.

And don’t forget about Reese, which is state-ranked this week. The Rockets are loaded, which should make the GTW softball race one to watch this season.

In the GTE, I am going with Marlette, once again mainly due to experienced returning pitchers. But don’t count out Brown City or Mayville.

DET: What about softball in the NCTL?

ADAMS: In the North, Port Hope and Owen-Gage shared the title last year. I expect the same this year. Both teams have talent and experience, so it should be another good race. 

North Huron and Caseville will also play a factor in the North.

DET: Let’s switch gears to track. Adams, you’re a big track fan. Tell us what is going on this season in area track...

ADAMS: We lost a lot of good talent from 2010, including current CMU athlete and former North Huron standout Megan Heffner, who won state titles in the 300 hurdles and high jump. 

We do have one defending state champion back, though, in USA pole vaulter Tim Canfield. He said last year he wants to go over 15 feet, which I think he can and will do. 

Speaking of USA, I think the boys squad is very talented, with a decent chance at winning the GTW and a regional title. The 3,200 relay looks to be very solid, as does the distance running and field events.

In girls track, it will be interesting to see how EPBP's Gala Shivley follows up last year's breakout. I also believe the Ubly girls will contend for the GTE title.

DET: Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port, Bad Axe and Harbor Beach seem to always have strong girls soccer teams... Are they the top teams again this season?

ADAMS: I don't think there's any doubt these three will be contending again this season. 

I think Harbor Beach has just enough to come away with the crown this year.

BOGAN: I agree, those two teams should be 1-2-3 in the area this season.

The Lakers were 12-0 in league play last year, but I don’t think they will be unbeaten again this season.

Both the Hatchets and Pirates have too much talent to not pull off at least a win or two against them this year.

DET: Area golfers and girls tennis players are getting set for their seasons. Who and what teams can we expect to have solid years?

BOGAN: Let’s start in golf.

Some of the area’s top returning players include EPBP’s Tyler Matteson and Bryan Beachy, and Bad Axe’s Cam Streussnig and Brandon Dean.

Those players could push toward making it to the state finals.

In tennis, Bad Axe has the area’s top player in Anya Odabasic, who is 41-9 for her career at No. 1 singles.

She has a chance to do very well at the state level this season.

DET: Anything else you boys want to add?

ADAMS: After a long winter of being indoors, I know I'm glad to get outside again, even if it does still feel like winter.

Lakers spring teams hoping to fly high again

PIGEON — Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port’s softball team is hoping history repeats itself in 2011.

Last season, the Lakers captured their first district championship since 1987, finishing 30-7 overall.

This year, coach Eric Wissner’s squad has all the tools to make another record-breaking run.

Topping the list of returning players are senior pitcher Erin Albrecht and junior catcher Kacy Shetler.

Albrecht was a first-team All-GTW hurler, as well as honorable mention All-State, while Shetler was an honorable mention All-GTW performer.

Wissner is expecting big things out of his ace this season.

“Erin is not overpowering, but she moves the ball around, hits her spots, changes speeds well, and does not walk a lot of people,” Wissner said.

Also back for the Lakers is senior outfielder Brooklyn Foy, a first-team All-GTW pick, and junior infielder Ashley Richmond, an honorable mention all-leaguer.

In baseball, coach Adam Grybauskas’ team should improve on last season’s 1-9-2 league mark.

On the mound, Brody Lawrence and Nathan Schulz should provide plenty of innings.

Top hitters include Tim Warack, Sam VanTifflin and Brock Shope.

In soccer, coaches Chad Craig and Shawn Orlik are blessed with plenty of talented players. The Lakers finished 12-0 in league play in 2010, earning their 10th district championship in the last 11 seasons. They finished 16-5 overall, losing to Memphis in the regionals.

Heading the list of returning players is senior Taylor Comment, a first-team All-GTC center midfielder. She’s joined by senior sweeper Katie Smith, a second-team all-leaguer.

Other returning players who earned honorable mention all-league accolades include senior outside midfielder Trisha Machowicz, senior defender Kacey Peterson, senior midfielder Andrea Schuette, and junior defensive midfielder Rebecca Schember.

In golf, coach Charlie Henry is excited about the upcoming season. The Lakers were second in the GTW in 2010.

“We have five or six solid players that have significant golf experience,” Henry said. “And we have a couple of dual sport athletes who could help.

“But we don’t have much depth and we are young, with just one senior in the top six.”

Topping the list of returning players for the Lakers is sophomore Tyler Matteson, a first-team All-GTW player. Matteson finished in the top six at districts and was 13th at the regionals.

He will get plenty of help from junior Bryan Beachy, a second-team all-league player, sophomore Adam Hazard and freshman Drew Lawrence.

“Adam gained tremendous experience as a freshman and worked hard on his game over the summer,” Henry said. “And Drew is the hardest worker on the team.”

Senior Jordan Bonke and sophomore Wade Foltz also will see plenty of match action.

“We should be able to compete for the GTW title,” Henry said.

In track, coach Shane Yoder has 14 returning letterwinners on his boys and girls teams, though both teams are still low on numbers.

“We have some returning athletes in key events and have a large influx on freshmen who I hope will fill some crucial roles,” Yoder said.

“But small numbers are always our weakness. We do well in the  events we enter, but we are not able to field an athlete in every event.”

On the girls side, Gala Shivley is back in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump, Cassie Goglin will help in the 800 and 1,600, and Kayla Deering should excel in the shot put and discus.

 For the boys, Nick Gordon will help in the 200, 400 and hurdles, Jacob Engelhardt in the 800 and 1,600, and Nick Hilborn in the 200, 400 and pole vault.

“I hope we can send some athletes to the state finals and place well at some invitationals,” Yoder said.

In tennis, coach Brenda Smith has a dozen girls on her preseason roster, including a few with some major playing experience.

Hatchets eager for spring seasons

BAD AXE — Entering his 30th season as Bad Axe baseball coach, Wayne Turmell has learned never to overestimate — or underestimate — his team’s finish in the league standings.

That’s why nearly every year he’s cautiously optimistic about evaluating his team’s talent level

And the 2011 season is no exception.

“We should be good defensively, and we have our top pitcher back,” Turmell said. “But our depth is questionable, and we have three sophomores on the team, which means we have some young kids.”

Turmell welcomes back six letterwinners from last season’s team which finished 25-9 overall, 6-5-1 Greater Thumb West. The Hatchets lost in the district finals to Reese last year.

Topping the list of returning players are seniors Derek Susalla, Brett Turmell and Ethan Sisco.

Susalla, a first-team All-GTW infielder, led the team in home runs while Turmell, another first-team All-GTW player, is an excellent defensive first baseman.

Sisco, who earned second-team All-GTW honors, is a four-year varsity player who has pitched in many important games for the Hatchets over the last few seasons.

“Reese, Cass City and Vassar should all be good,” Turmell said. “All Saints and USA might be at our level...”

In softball, coach Don Cieslinski’s team finished 10-22 overall, 2-10 GTW last year.

He figures his six returning letterwinners will help the Hatchets improve on that mark.

“I feel our hitting will be one of our greatest assets this year,” he said. “We are hoping our hitting, along with our defense, will keep us in the games.

“Our six returning letterwinners will play a big role in how we do this season. I feel that they are a little young, but they do have varsity level experience. Experience playing in the GTW can help greatly.”

Heading the list of returning players are senior co-captains Taylor Braun, Amanda Gentner and Julia Geiger. Braun was a second-team All-GTW infielder last year.

“Taylor will be strong at third base, Julia will handle first base, and Amanda can handle shortstop or any place in the outfield,” Cieslinski said.

“Emily Sisco and Alyssa Kociba will handle most of the pitching duties. A very dependable hitter is Tori Orban — she can play the infield or outfield and she has experience at both. I also have some very talented players that are first-year varsity players, and I will depend on them more as the season moves on.

 “We are hoping to be very competitive and try to end up in the middle of the league this year. I think that our program has improved and the girls know what it takes to be a winner in the GTW. I think the GTW is one of the toughest leagues to play in, and I also think that the number one spot is up for grabs again this season.”

In girls soccer, veteran coach Dave DeCourval has 12 returning players from a team which finished 11-4-2 overall, 8-3-1 GTC.

“We have a good group of girls who have played with each other for the past three years,” DeCourval said. “Playing together as a team is our greatest strength.”

Heading the list of returning players are seniors Justine Morneau and Samantha Janik — both first-team all-conference performers last season.

“Justine will play both defense and striker — and is equally strong at both positions,” DeCourval said. “And Samantha is coming off a solid season with 14 goals.”

Juniors Alison McVey and Shelby Fligger are back after earning honorable mention all-league last year at midfield. Senior midfielder Sami Rochefort and senior defender Morgan Messing also are back.

“As a team, we hope to compete for the league championship and continue strong into the districts,” DeCourval said.

In track, longtime coach Lee Kahler is excited about both teams this season.

On the girls side, Kahler hopes the squad can repeat as league champion, as well as build on the team’s second-place regional finish.

“We feel that we will be a strong competitor in the league meet as our youngsters grow in experience,” he said.

Kahler also gave a synopsis of this season’s team.

“We look for a great deal of improvement in the field events, especially the discus and shot with the return of Taylor Breault and Tori Batzer, both of whom qualified for many special meets last year as juniors. Cassandra Hanson offers us a strong middle distance runner this year, coming off a fine cross country season. She will be supported by Crystal Schaible and Hailey Richards, both of whom had good cross country seasons last fall. Julianna Fucinari will give us a great deal of help in the 400 and pole vault. Also, returning in the middle distance is Kaitlyn Grifka, who really showed signs of improvement last spring at the end of the season. Taylor Wolschlager, as a junior, gives us a great deal of help in the sprints and the sprint relays. We are looking to Heather Smith, Makenzie Tolin and Marianna Salcido in the hurdles. Madison Champagne will really help us in the shot and discus, giving us a very strong core there. Jordyn Studer and Rachel Breault will round out our shot and discus area. Freshman Kelsey Capling will be another strong member of the pole vault and hurdle group, as well as in the sprints.”

The boys team hopes to improve on last season’s third-place league finish and ninth-place regional showing.

Kahler explains:

“We feel that we will do better this year in the league and regional because of an overall larger number on the team... Returning from last year who we are counting on will be David Fucinari, who will be a great asset in the sprints and sprint relays, having gotten a lot stronger in the off-season. We will look to Jeremy Pawlowski to also be a distance threat because of his performance in cross country. We will get some new help with juniors Brett Metzger in the vault and sprints, Charlie Prich in the distance races and relays, Jordan Dorsch in shot and discus, Lad Kowalski in shot and discus, and Tyler Price and Connor Studer in the middle and distance races. 

“We have expanded the team a great deal, especially in the junior class group, and we have added some excellent field and running event people. These athletes are yet to be tested, but will have a big affect on where this team ends up this year.”

In golf, coach Scott Adams has nine players on his preseason roster.

Heading the list of returning players are first-team all-leaguer Cam Streussnig, second-team all-leaguer Brandon Dean, and honorable mention all-leaguer Jacob Kennedy.

Junior Andrew Batzer and sophomore Colburn Hanson also return.

“I think we can contend for first place this year,” Adams said.

In girls tennis, coach Mark Prescott has a big preseason roster of 19 players.

The Hatchets have one of  the top players in the area in senior Anya Odabasic, who is 41-9 for her career at No. 1 singles.

“We have six freshmen who are adding some healthy competition to the eight returning letterwinners,” Prescott said. “The strength of our lineup is our top three singles players who are all seniors — Anya, Lisa Hursin and Alyssa Steinbis. We look to win most of our dual matches.”

Spring has finally arrived!

Hey, what's that in the sky today?
The sun? WOW!
Spring sports have finally sprung in the Thumb.

I will be posting some spring sports preview stories from various area schools in the next few days.
The Tribune's Spring Sports Preview Section hits the streets Tuesday.

All-Tribune Boys Basketball Team

UPPER THUMB — Over the years, selecting the top players for the All-Huron Daily Tribune Boys Basketball Team has been relatively easy.

Usually, there are 10-12 players who are clearly a cut above the field.

Not this season.

While there were a few obvious picks, the spread between the final few spots on the first team and the first few honorable mention slots was minimal.

That’s how close it was this season.

The 2010-11 All-Huron Daily Tribune Boys Basketball Team consists of Bad Axe’s Jesse Quinn, Cass City’s Alex Varney, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port’s Chase Voelker, Harbor Beach’s Sean Sorenson and Andrew Siemen, North Huron’s Erik Dhyse, Ubly’s Marshall Leipprandt and Unionville-Sebewaing Area’s Jake Holland.

For the second consecutive season, Harbor Beach’s Ron Wruble was voted Coach of the Year.

Holland and Leipprandt were the only unanimous selections, and are the co-captains of the squad, which is voted on by area coaches and the Tribune’s sports staff.

Leipprandt, a 6-foot-6 junior forward, went from a key reserve as a sophomore for the Bearcats to arguably the best all-around player in the Greater Thumb Conference.

Leipprandt averaged 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He scored in double figures in all 22 outings, including pouring in a career-high 30 points against Sandusky late in the season.

“He just has a great work ethic,” said Ubly coach Ken Pichla. “He’s dedicated himself to basketball and it shows. He will do anything for you.”

Leipprandt also shot over 70 percent from the foul line and made 14 three-pointers.  

“Early in the year, we actually wanted him to shoot more,” Pichla said. “He was too unselfish and wanted to get everyone involved.”

Leipprandt wound up scoring 20 or more points in six of his final nine games.

Leipprandt earned special mention All-State honors, as well as first-team All-GTE accolades.

Holland, a 6-6 senior center, missed the first two games of the season for the Patriots — both losses. The Patriots then wound up winning five of their next six games, with Holland scoring in double figures in five of those contests.

For the year, Holland averaged 15.3 points and 8.0 rebounds. He had a couple of 20-plus point outings, including 26 against Bad Axe and 22 against Cass City. 

Holland, a second-team All-Tribune pick a season ago, was a first-team All-GTW selection this year.

Sorenson, a 6-foot senior forward, started slowly this season, but came on and had several big games for the Pirates down the stretch.

He averaged 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds, turning in several double digit performances late in the year and in the post-season.

“Sean gave us some offensive firepower from the perimeter this year,” said Harbor Beach coach Ron Wruble. “He also provided some good pressure defense, too.”

Sorenson’s most valuable performance might have been in the Class C district championship game against USA. He scored a team-high 16 points, including 14 and four three-pointers in the opening half, in the Pirates’ last-second win over the Patriots.

Sorenson was a second-team All-GTE pick this season.

Sorenson’s teammate, Siemen, provided Harbor Beach with an inside presence, as well as a threat from the outside. 

The 6-2 sophomore forward averaged 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds. 

“He’s really not that big, but he’s quick on his feet and quick off his feet,” Wruble said. “And he has a pretty solid jump shot from the outside, as well.”

Siemen’s biggest bucket of the year came late in the fourth quarter of the district title game against USA. With the Pirates trailing by two with 1:35 to play, Siemen buried a big three-pointer, giving his team the momentum it needed to pull out the victory.

USA coach Mark Gainforth later said if that shot does not go in, his Patriots might have won the championship.

Siemen also was a second-team All-GTE pick this season.

Voelker was under the radar for much of the season for the Lakers, who struggled by losing several close games. 

The 6-2 senior forward averaged 10.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals. He had season highs of 19 points against Ubly and 16 rebounds against Vassar.

“Chase is a relentless worker who became a great rebounder at the end of the season,” said EPBP coach Jeremy Macejewski. “His work ethic and attitude are second to none.”

Voelker also earned second-team All-GTW honors this season.

Quinn became the leader for the Hatchets this season, taking over full-time point guard duties. The 5-11 junior averaged 10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.3 steals. He also was one of the area’s top free throw shooters.

“Jesse is a good all-around player,” said Bad Axe coach Jim Quinn. “He plays good defense while handling the ball a lot. He had a couple of games with no turnovers. 

“He works hard and loves the game.”

Quinn had season highs of 26 points against Reese and Cass City, as well as 11 assists against USA and Sandusky.

Quinn, an honorable mention All-Tribune pick last season, also was a second-team All-GTW selection this season.

Varney, a 5-10 senior guard, averaged 12 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists. He teamed with fellow guard Justin Ketterer to give the Red Hawks a nifty 1-2 backcourt combination.  

“Alex is a three-year starter who always gave 100 percent,” said Cass City coach Jim Green.

Varney had a season-high 25-point outburst late in the season against Reese.

Varney, a second-team All-Tribune pick last season, also earned first-team All-GTW honors this year.

Dhyse is the lone Class D player on the squad. The 6-1 senior forward averaged 13.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.6 steals.

“Erik was our do-it-all player,” said North Huron coach Dave Toner. “He easily led the team in rebounding and scoring. His intensity and competitiveness are second to none. He was a hard worker who never quit.”

Dhyse had a couple of 20-plus point outings, including 22-point efforts against Memphis and Kingston, and a 21-point outburst against Akron-Fairgrove. He also had a 14-rebound effort against Peck.

Dhyse, a second-team All-Tribune pick a year ago, also earned first-team All-North Central Thumb League North Division honors this season.

Wruble said his team’s success was due to the overall effort his players gave this season. After missing out on the GTE championship with two league losses at the end of the regular season, the Pirates responded with three straight post-season wins to capture their second consecutive Class C district title.

“I would have been very disappointed if this team didn’t come away with at least something, with the way they have worked and the season they had,” Wruble said. “We have some talent, but these kids work their tails off — and that’s the main reason why we’ve won.”

Harbor Beach finished 17-6 overall.

The All-Tribune second team is Cass City’s Justin Ketterer and Cameron Dunnuck, Harbor Beach’s Scott Grekowicz and Eli Kraft, Ubly’s Eric Booms, USA’s Andrew Botello, Caseville’s Charlie Karafa, Owendale-Gagetown’s Hunter Champagne, North Huron’s Kevin Rice and Deckerville’s Rick Wilfong.

HONORABLE MENTION

Bad Axe – Jeremy Pawlowski, Ethan Sisco;  Caseville – Tommy Kennedy, Tyler Claydon; Cass City – Cody Orban, Morgan Erla; Deckerville – Justin Asher, John Decker; EPBP – Tim Warack, Brody Lawrence; Harbor Beach – Aaron Ginther; North Huron – Evan Dhyse, Mike Schramski, Eric LesPerance, Tony Murawski; Owen-Gage – Clyde Rhodes, Andrew Fahrner, Eric Montreuil; Port Hope – Eric Koglin, Travis Phillips; Ubly – Lenny Nowicki, Josh White; USA – Dakota Gangler, Sean McBrayer, Nick Fletcher

CO-CAPTAIN – USA’s Jake Holland

CO-CAPTAIN – Ubly’s Marshall Leipprandt

EPBP’S CHASE VOELKER

NORTH HURON’S ERIK DHYSE

BAD AXE’S JESSE QUINN

HARBOR BEACH’S ANDREW SIEMEN

HARBOR BEACH’S SEAN SORENSON

CASS CITY’S ALEX VARNEY

COACH OF THE YEAR – Harbor Beach’s Ron Wruble

The Rhodes Less Traveled

As a freshman, Owen-Gage’s Clyde Rhodes had

no chance at playing college football. 4 years later,

he’s proved the critics wrong, inking with Concordia

Paul Adams has the story...

OWENDALE — Football is measured by numbers.

Number of bench press reps, 40 times and so on. Although the numbers are helpful tools used to predict how a player will fare, they don’t always tell the full story. 

When Clyde Rhodes was an underclassman for Owendale-Gagetown, he hoped to one day be a starter. Through hard work he achieved that, eventually becoming a defensive player of the year for the Bulldogs.

Even though he showed vast improvement, he never thought it would be enough to take him to the next level.

Friday, Rhodes realized his goal as he signed his letter of intent to play for Concordia University in  Ann Arbor. 

“It’s kind of unreal,” said Rhodes. “You hope and you want to do, but when you finally hear that it’s real, it feels awesome.”

Rhodes described himself as five-foot-nothing, about 120 pounds soaking wet when he was a freshman and sophomore.

He heard it all from the critics.

“People have been telling me my whole life, ‘You’re too little, you’re too slow,’ stuff like that,” he said. “Even some of my close friends told me I couldn’t do it. It just makes you work harder and harder. I used that as motivation.”

Owen-Gage coach Jason Pierce said Rhodes’ first years on the team were a little rocky, with some slight problems.

“When he was younger, he was lippy, to put it nicely,” said Pierce. “But he learned from the older kids and he tried to work harder to be with them.”

From that work with the leaders of the team, Pierce and his coaching staff began to see progress in Rhodes.

“It was his junior year that me and the other coaches knew that his heart was going to get him somewhere,” he said. “As a freshman and sophomore, he was kind of just on the team. But as a junior, he became a player. And that was because of his heart and drive.”

Pierce, a former college player at Eastern Michigan, has seen players with much more ability, but lacking the drive.

“You can bench press all you want, but you can’t measure heart,” he said. “There’s guys all over college who weren’t the best players on their teams, but they made it to college through their motor.”

Rhodes will get a chance to be part of a budding tradition at Concordia. The football program just completed its first season, going 5-2.

Concordia is a member of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, which is made up of 10 schools from Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

For Owen-Gage, Rhodes was primarily a linebacker. At Concordia, he will play a hybrid — safety/linebacker.

Rhodes is one of the few players left at Owen-Gage that played both 11-man and 8-man football. He said playing linebacker in 8-man is more challenging, and will help him in his transition to the collegiate level.

“Going from 11-man to 8-man, you can see a lot of differences,” he said. “The defense is a little harder, you have to be faster off the ball to make the right reads because you don’t have those three other players.”

Added Pierce: “Defensively for 8-man, especially at Clyde’s position of linebacker, we asked him to cover a lot more area and gaps than he would have in 11-man. He has to cover more ground with less time, so I think it has prepared him for the next level.”

Rhodes is still getting used to the idea of playing at the next level, but he thinks he’s ready for the challenge.

“My coaches have taught me and helped me through a lot of stuff,” he said. “I think I will be ready. It will be great. I think it will be pretty cool.”

Rhodes is the son of Clyde Rhodes Sr. and Lynn Rhodes. 

Owen-Gage football player Clyde Rhodes signed his letter of intent to play for Concordia University on Friday. He was joined (from left) by Owen-Gage football coach Jason Pierce, his mom Lynn Rhodes, and his dad Clyde Rhodes Sr. 

New classes for some schools

Classifications for Michigan High School Athletic Association elections and post-season tournaments in traditionally classified sports (A, B, C, D) for the 2011-12 school year have been announced, as well as the enrollment breaks for post-season tournaments set up by divisions.
 Classifications for the upcoming school year are based on a second semester count date, which for MHSAA purposes was February 9.   The enrollment figure submitted for athletic classification purposes may be different from the count submitted for school aid purposes, as it does not include students ineligible for athletic competition because they reached their 19th birthday prior to September 1 of the current school year and will not include alternative education students if none are allowed athletic eligibility by the local school district.
 After all the counts are submitted, the 760 tournament-qualified member schools were ranked according to enrollment, and then split as closely into quarters as possible.  For 2011-12, there are 189 schools in Class A; 190 schools in Classes B and D; and 191 schools in Class C.

Effective with the 2011-12 school year, schools with 952 or more students are in Class A in MHSAA post-season tournament competition.  The enrollment limits for Class B are 466 to 951; Class C is 216 to 465; and schools with enrollments of 215 and under are Class D. The breaks decreased 15 students between Classes A and B, and 2 students between and Classes B and C; and Classes C and D.
 The new classification breaks will see 14 schools move up in class for 2011-12, while 23 schools will move down.
 Schools were recently notified of their classification.  MHSAA Executive Director John E. "Jack" Roberts said that schools may not subsequently lower their enrollment figure.  However, if revised enrollment figures should be higher and indicate that a school should be playing in a higher class, that school would be moved up.

Schools have the option to play at any higher classification for a minimum of two years, but must exercise the option by April 15 for fall sports, August 15 for winter sports, and October 15 for spring sports.
 MHSAA tournament sports conducted in traditional classifications for 2011-12 are Basketball and Girls Volleyball.  Football will use traditional classifications to determine playoff points.
 Sports which will compete in nearly equal divisions are:  Baseball, Bowling, Girls Competitive Cheer, Lower Peninsula Cross Country, Lower Peninsula Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Skiing, Softball, Lower Peninsula Swimming and Diving, Lower Peninsula Tennis, Lower Peninsula Track and Field, and Wrestling.   The MHSAA Representative Council voted at its March 25 meeting have Lower Peninsula soccer compete in nearly equal divisions, a change from the policy in place since 2000, where 20 percent of sponsoring schools were placed in Division 4 and the remaining schools divided equally into Divisions 1, 2 and 3.  Visit the respective sports pages on the MHSAA Website beginning Thursday (March 31) to review the divisional alignments.

The divisions and qualifiers for the MHSAA Football Playoffs will be announced on Selection Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011.

A complete list of school enrollments used to determine classifications for the 2011-12 school year can be found on Enrollment & Classification page of the MHSAA Website. (Here is a direct link to the page -- http://www.mhsaa.com/Schools/Administrators/EnrollmentClassification.aspx)

Here is a complete list of the schools changing classification for 2011-12 (Note:  This list does not include schools opting up in class/division for tournaments, which can be found on the Administrators page of the MHSAA Website):


Moving Up From Class B To Class A
Bloomfield Hills Lahser
Detroit Central
DeWitt
Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern
Milan
Richland Gull Lake

Moving Down From Class A To Class B
Adrian
Benton harbor
Detroit Kettering
Detroit Northwestern
Ferndale
Hamtramck
Hazel Park
Warren Lincoln

Moving Up From Class C To Class B
Allen Park Cabrini
Dearborn Advanced Technology Academy
Detroit Frederick Douglass
Dundee
Ferndale University

Moving Down From Class B To Class C
Delton Kellogg
Harrison
Madison Heights Madison
Morley-Stanwood
Mt. Clemens
River Rouge
Shelby
Tawas Area

Moving Up From Class D To Class C
Auburn Hills Oakland Christian
Beal City
Detroit Winans Academy

Moving Down From Class C To Class D
Pittsford
Bellevue
Eau Claire
Lawrence
Taylor Trillium Academy
Covert

New Post-Season Eligible Tournament Schools in 2011-12
Britton-Deerfield Schools (Class C)
Detroit Trombly (Class C)
Detroit Aisha Shule-WEB DuBois Prep Academy (Class D)

Schools With Double Classification
Harper Woods HEART Academy (Class C-Girls; Class D-Boys)
Detroit Michigan Health Academy (Class C-Girls; Class D-Boys)
NOTE-Both schools have 75 percent or more students of one gender

Enrollment Breaks By Classes – 2011-12
(Number of schools in parenthesis)
Class A  -- 952 and above (189)
Class B  -- 466 to 951 (190)
Class C  -- 216 to 465 (191)
Class D  -- 215 and below (190)