By John Raffel
MaxPreps.com
New Lothrop at it Again
New Lothrop won the football state title in Division 8 with a 14-0 record. In early February, the boys basketball team, which shares nine players with the football team, has an identical 14-0 record with hopes of going 20-0 through the regular season and going for a state title in the Class C playoffs.
"Defense has come through for us," New Lothrop Coach Joe Corkran said. "Our intensity has (been) very high this season. Our defense gets better every week. We need to improve on our free-throw shooting. We need to attack zone defenses better."
Top players for New Lothrop, located in the Flint area, include junior Ryan Proski, averaging 13 points a game. Senior Brent Ruddy is also scoring in double figures at 10 points per game, while Josh Kniper has been among the leading rebounders at nine boards a game.
"Nine of our 11 players were on the football team that won a state title," Corkran said. "We're very athletic and we can be a physical athletic team. All five players in my starting lineup can fly. This helps us beat other teams down the floor."
Unlike the football team, the basketball team won't have an easy time winning the state title.
"We have a tough district which includes Carson City-Crystal (12-1)," Corkran said.
Hockey
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood, in the Detroit area, has been a dominant state hockey power in Michigan.
Coach Andy Weidenbach's team is out to a 15-3-1 record and seems ready to contend for another state championship in March. Cranbrook-Kingswood won the state title 4-0 over Grand Rapids Catholic Central last year.
Overall, the school has won 12 state titles.
"We had an extremely good half of the season," the Cranbrook-Kingswood said. "We've had a lot of good goaltending making some great saves for us. We've had some bounces that have gone our way."
A key for the team's success has been depth, Weidenbach said.
"We've had some good balance. I wouldn't say we're an offensive or defensive team. We try to integrate our new players into the system. That has helped us out."
Andrew Miller, a senior forward, has 19 goals and 21 assists. Deran Chelius has 17 goals and 18 assists.
Weidenbach is confident he's got a team that can compete for a state title.
"I've said it in the past and I'll say it again but you win with good goaltending, good heart and with players with good heads on their shoulders," Weidenbach said. "We have a competitive team this year that can potentially do very well in the playoffs."
Volleyball
Fraser was second in the state in Class A last year and wouldn't mind winning a state title this year. The team, coached by Larry Wyatt, is off to a 13-7-1 start.
"We want to see how far we can go in the playoffs. We'd like to make it to the finals in Kalamazoo again," Wyatt said. "We'll have to get past some high quality teams to accomplish that. We'll definitely have to pick it up a few notches."
Standouts include senior middle hitter Tania Schatow, junior setter Brittany McGillis and senor libero specialist Caitlin Kelly.
There will be plenty of teams that could stand in Fraser's way for a state title.
"Defending state champion East Kentwood is the team to beat in Class A," Wyatt said. "Our biggest thing is to improve on our serve reception. Our size and power ability to hit the ball is pretty good."
Fraser lost to East Kentwood in the finals last season 21-25, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 15-9.
