By John Raffel
MaxPreps.com
The last time boys golf was conducted in Michigan was the fall of 2006 and Saline, an Ann-Arbor area school, reigned supreme as Division I champions.
Now that boys golf has switched to the spring with girls golf going to the fall, coach Carol Melcher has her team geared up to go after another title.
“We had four consistent scorers who always played well,” Melcher said. “If one player had an off day, the other players would step up.”
Melcher lost two players from her state championship team. Key players are seniors Matt Ponerini and Nick Campbell.
“We're looking good so far,” she said. “We've been at two big invitationals and have won both.”
The team had an 18-hole score of 299 at Adrian and 298 at Brighton.
“They're prepared and ready to play,” Melcher said. “The problem with the fall season is that the matches are really crammed in with each other.”
Birmingham Brother Rice was runner-up to Saline in 2006. Saline was state runner-up in 2005 and 2003.
More Golf
Haslett, coached by Bill Morey, won the 2006 boys golf title in Division 2, but it won't be easy repeating.
“We had a veteran team last season,” Morey said. “We graduated four seniors off that team. They were hard workers. This year's team will be strong from top to bottom. We should have a chance to defend our state title. We have a lot of talent to be competitive.”
Standouts include seniors Chris Mory, Tyler Robinson and Don Hurlbutt, plus sophomores Trevor Rosekrans and Noah Sawyer.
Haslett was also state runners-up in 2003 and 2005.
Girls Track
Albion is defending its Division 3 girls track state championship, which will be determined at the state meet on May 31. But coach Brad Shedd is working hard with his present team in hopes of setting the tables for another championship run.
“We were talented across the total range of events,” Shedd said. “We won the short relays and did well in other events. We used all the talent that we had. Everything came together.”
Shedd has been a head coach four years and is in his 14th year with the program.
“We lost a couple of talented seniors. We have our core pretty much coming back,” Shedd said. “But we'll be good again. We don't have a lot of girls and we're not too deep.”
Standouts include junior Amelia Bannister who runs in the 800-meter (defending state champ) and 400-meter relays for Albion. She was also a state champion in the 800-meter run. Another standout is senior Juandretta Oliver in the 400-and 800-meter relay. She also set a new record in the long jump while winning the state title with a leap of 18-1.
Albion had 66 points to beat Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, which had 43 points in the 2007 state meet.
“I think this is a team that's built for individuals,” Shedd said. “We can give teams a run for their money and make things interesting.”
Boys Track
Belding has one of its best boys track teams in recent seasons and will be battling Allendale later this week for the O-K Silver Conference championship in a battle of undefeated squads.
Among standouts for Belding is senior sprinter Ryan Barger, who is among the top sprinters in the Grand Rapids-area.
“Right now, I'm at the same times I hit at the end of last season,” Barger said. “I've improved a little more. I want to win the conference in the sprints and go to the state finals.”
It's among Belding's finest track teams in many season
“I think we have a good chance to win the conference. But Allendale will be tough,” Barger said.
