Michigan: Pioneer Track Dynasty Marching On

By John Raffel
MaxPreps.com

It's a genuine girls track dynasty, and there appears to be no end in sight.

The 2008 track season in Michigan is well under way and the Ann Arbor Pioneer track team is hoping that good times will continue.

When coach Bryan Westfield's girls team won its second straight title last season, it marked the school's first back-to-back top finishes for the first time since 2001-2002. In the succeeding three seasons, Pioneer finished as state runner-up.

But it goes even farther than that.

“For 25 consecutive years, we have been first second or third in the state,” Westfield said, adding that the existence of a local track club that gave Pioneer girls athletes an outlet during the middle and late 1970s got the winning tradition going.

“It was a way for the girls to realize that track season didn't just consist of performing well in March, April and May,” Westfield said. “The girls have to condition their bodies year-round.

Ann Arbor Pioneer started its girls track program for the 1979-80 school season.

“It took a couple of years to get us going,” Westfield said.

But Pioneer kept going all the way through last season when it held back Detroit Mumford for the 2007 state championship.

But it won't be easy making it a three-peat.

“We lost a lot of talent from last year,” Westfield said. “Five of our girls went to Division I schools.”

But the open spots will provide opportunities for some of his other athletes, Westfield said.

Among Pioneer's standouts are Saisa Gailliard, a relay runner who has signed to run track at Bowling Green. Kelsey Duerksen was a state finisher in the 1,600-meter run. Hurdler and sprinter Paige Madison is also expected to score key points for Pioneer.

“They're good college prospects because of their versatility,” Westfield said. “College teams don't like one-event athletes.”

Another key athlete for Pioneer will be junior Ariel Roberts, the defending state champion in the high jump.

More Girls Track

Ubly enters the 2007 girls track season as the defending Division 4 champions with veteran coach Pat Bolda leading the way.

“We had an amazing amount of depth last season,” Bolda said. “In 25 years, I never had as much depth as we did last season.”

Ubly will go for another state title, led by junior Lindsay White in the 400 and 800 and Chelsey Kubocki in the mile. Kala Kubacki will be in the 400-meter dash and long jump. She qualified in the long jump for the state finals last year.

KaLyn Heleski returns in the hurdles while Jennifer White will look to score points in the 3,200-meter relay and the 800-meter run.



Asked if Ubly can win another state title, Bolda replied, “it's possible. We lost a lot to graduation.”

Lacrosse

Lacrosse is starting to grow in Holland on the shores of Lake Michigan, and head coach Brad Vredevoogd is hoping his Holland West Ottawa team can be a state championship contender this season.

“We're in the O-K Conference, which is one of the most competitive leagues so far,” Vredevoogd said. “Most of our schools have grown. Lacrosse is such an exciting game and it did help our school to pick it up as a varsity sport.

“At one time, Holland was not a lacrosse town. But I see us growing here. We have 16 regular-season games and at least one playoff. If we can get to .500 or better, that will be a good season for us.”

In the west side of Michigan, Forest Hills Central and East Grand Rapids will be the teams to beat, according to Vredevoogd.

Softball



Vestaburg, a Division 4 state power last season, is off to a 4-0 start this spring.

Trisha Rons graduated from last season's team and is now at the University of Toledo as a pitcher. Kassi Johnson is the No. 1 pitcher this season.

Rons' sister, Missy, a catcher and switch hitter (she batted .750 as a lefty), also set for Toledo, is back for her senior season. The team was a state quarterfinalist last year.

“We have a chance to do well again this season,” Missy Rons said.

Boys Golf

Grand Ledge, a Lansing-area school, has established itself early in the golf season for boys to be a state power after winning the 20-team Greenville Invitational on Wednesday.

Grand Ledge shot a 319, led by Tyler DeGood with a 76, to win the 18-hole tournament, defeating Rockford, which had 323 strokes and Mona Shores which had 324.



The overall medalist was Joe VandonKelaar of Mona Shores with a 74. For many golfers, it was the first match of the spring they were able to play in Michigan because of weather conditions. It was 63 degrees and very windy.

“My guys haven't played up to their potential,” said Stanton-Central Montcalm Coach Gary Buchholz. “We're still four to eight strokes higher than we should be.”