By John Raffel
MaxPreps.com
Since winning three-straight state titles from 2001-2003, Detroit Catholic Central hasn't been able to regain the championship magic under head coach Tom Mach.
But this season could be different. Mach's team, 10-2, is in the Division 1 state semifinals this weekend, needing only two more wins to take another state championship.
It's the first time since 2003 that Catholic Central has reached the state semifinals. Catholic Central ended the regular season at 7-2 but has gone 3-0 in the playoffs.
"It's been a team that's been very dedicated and hard working and that has improved 200 percent from last year," Mach said. "They have worked four days a week since December, lifting and running. We've emphasized defense."
The team's leading rusher has been Anthony Capapina while Joe Kunville and Mike Martin spearhead the defense.
If Catholic Central wins this weekend against 12-0 Macomb Dakota, it would advance to the state title game Thanksgiving Saturday at Detroit's Ford Field.
"We're in a good position," Mach said. "We're getting better every week. I think we'll represent ourselves very well."
More Football
Kalamazoo Christian isn't one of the teams that advanced to the state semifinals this weekend, but it was still a memorable season for a KC team that was 11-0 before losing to Leslie last weekend.
"Execution was the key," Kalamazooo Christian Coach Steve Ouding said. "Leslie came out with a good game plan against us. Our defense played good football. Leslie was able to execute. Leslie took away the things that we wanted to do."
Leading players included Andy Myers at cornerback, Mitch Ruimveld at middle linebacker and Ryan VanDonselaar at nose tackle and running back.
"Those kids pretty much led us since last November when our other season ended," Ouding said. "It's the best year we've ever had in football.
Volleyball
Morley Stanwood has been to the Class C regional finals three straight seasons without advancing.
But this year, the school located 40 miles north of Grand Rapids not only won the regoinal title match but also took a quarterfinal victory against Concord on Tuesday to advance to volleyball's Final Four weekend at Battle Creek's Kellogg Arena.
"We've always had a strong offensive team," Morley Stanwood coach Robin Kozuch said. "This season, we focused on defense."
Kozuch had hopes that this could be a state championship contending team.
"I knew this team was very capable of doing well," she said. "They worked hard all season in the weight room."
College prospect Ashley Huntey sparked the Mohawks as a hitter. But the team's setter, April Emerson, had more than 1,200 assists to break a school record. Another outside hitter, Katie Spielbauer, has also has had a top-notch season.
Kozuch said her team has a chance to win a state title.
"They're all good teams in it now," she said. "But we can do it."
Cross Country
Boys cross country champions crowned this month were: Pinckney in Division A, led by medalist Brian Hankins in 15:26.9; Fremont in Division 2 with a 105-138 win over Dexter which had a second, third and fifth from Bobby April, Jason Bishop and Ben Steavenson; Williamston in Division 3 with a medalist effort from Maverick Darling of Ovid-Elsie in a time of 14:52.8, the third fastest time ever since the races were brought in 1996 to the Michigan International Speedway near Jackson, and Potterville in Division 4.
Fremont snapped Dexter's five-year winning streak in Division 2.
"We knew it was going to be close," Fremont coach Cliff Somers said. "We knew we could win it if certain things happened. The key were my fourth and fifth runners. They both had personal records."
Fremont was a state power in the 1990s.
"We've been in the top 10 the last eight years," Somers said.
But being No. 1 was extremely enjoyable for the Packers. Darling was the fastest runner in the race among all divisions.
"I was hoping for 14:50," Darling said. "I started out a little too fast. It's a good time for me."
Darling took pride in being one of three runners to clock a time of under 15 minutes.
Dan Brunk coached the championship Potterville team.
"Our first three runners were solid. That was a big difference," Brunk said. "Teams we were running against were not as strong with their top three. In fact, our top three did well. I thought we had a chance at the top five as a team."
