Christian's Cerebrations
With the fall sports season complete and the winter season getting underway, it is time to take a quick look back at the back at the fall and opine a little about the girl's basketball season.
For the second season in a row, the Tuscola County area has been represented in Battle Creek for the volleyball semi-finals. Last year USA and North Branch lost their bid for a championship in the semi-finals. This year Marlette (after eight stright district crowns) made their way to the semi-finals before losing to Ravenna. North Branch completed the mission they started last year and won the Class B state championship by defeating Delton Kellogg. Thumb Player of the Year Jordan Fish led the charge all season for her squad. Look for Fish to show up on a lot of ballots for the 2010 Michigan Miss Volleyball.
What does all this tell us? Volleyball is alive and well in the Thumb. Most of this is because of North Branch and the program that Jim Fish has put in place, but that program only helps the rest of the Thumb as they try to be just like the best.
Tuscola County also had a football team reach the semi-finals - the Millington Cardinals. Even though the Cardinal faithful are disappointed with the loss to Clare, the result the following weekend would have been the same - a blowout loss to Jackson Lumen Christi. One of the most important things the Cardinal coaching staff can take from this playoff run was the fact that next year's varsity players received an additional four weeks of practice. Those four weeks are a crucial learning period for the sophomores from the junior varsity squad.
Speaking of the Cardinal coaching staff, there will not be any Brett Favresque actions by Tim Furno. Word for the Millington administration is that Furno bowed out very gracefully, announcing at the team's end of year banquet that he is done as the Millington coach, and retiring to Florida.
Furno's departure leaves the Tuscola County area with three varsity football vacancies. The Cass City adminstration chose not to bring Scott Cuthrell back for a tenth season. Cuthrell finished his tenure with a 38-48 (.442) record with three playoff appearances. According to the Cass City administration, it was time to go a different direction with the football program. The new coach will have a chance to choose all coaches in the program (junior high and up) as all coaches were not asked back.
One year after being elected to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Al Boydston will not be back on the sideline for the Caro Tigers. Boydston was not asked back for his 21st season with Caro. Boydston finishes his Caro career with a 109-83 (.568) record and five playoff appearances (2002 semi-finalist), but finished 13-23 (.361) in his last four years on the sidelines.
Couple these two terminations with last year dismissal of North Branch's Steve VerBurg, and there have been three dismissals in this area in the past year. VerBurg only received on year in charge and finished 2-7. North Branch wanted to move away from mediocrity, and they did with a 6-4 finish and the playoffs in Pat Forester's first year. Cass City's and Caro's programs have been mediocore over the past few years and the administrations, I believe, are tired of it. Right or wrong, I believe the culture of high school football has changed, and we will see more of these dismissals in the years to come. We may have seen the end of the Reas and Furnos, coaches who spend over 30 years at a school.
Moving on to basketball, I am really looking forward to the girl's basketball season. The county has a few very good teams, which are led by some very solid basketball players.
In my opinion Reese should be the toast of the county. With seniors Amber Gotham (2008-2009 1st team All-Thumb) and Jade Ackerman (2008-2009 1st team All-GTC-West), and junior Sarah Spiekerman (2008-2009 2nd team All-GTC-West), the Lady Rockets have a solid core for coach Denny Gruber. As evidenced by Reese's 70 points in their opening season win over Linden, they do not have problem finding the basket. I look fot Reese to score a lot of points and win a lot of game this season.
Vassar should have very solid team this year as well, not to mention probably the best "Big Men" in the area. Kayla Verbeek (2008-2009 1st team All-GTC-West) and Amberly Hauger can score and rebound inside with anyone. Hilary MacKay has not played varsity basketball since her sophomore year, after missing last year due to injury. Her quickness and ball handling will bring much needed relief to coach Bob Nowotny's squad, which struggled from the guard position last year. Throw in players from last year's undefeated junior varsity squad and the Vulcans have a winning recipe for the 2009-2010 season. Mark January 08 and February 04 in your date books, they should be great games when Vassar and Reese play each other.
Frankenmuth should be the other county area team with a dominant season. The Eagles return two 1st team All-TVCE players in Jenny McCain and Kelsey Ritter. Look for them to challenge for the TVCE title again this year.
This weeks Mix 92.1 game of the week will be USA at Mayville. Pre-game will begin aroung 6:45 p.m. with tip-off around 7:00 p.m. The game will be Mayville's opener, while USA lost to Marlette earlier in the week.
Check out "Let's Talk Sports" on Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. as Derek and I recap all of the weeks games, and give our final thoughts on the 2009 fall sports season.
For the second season in a row, the Tuscola County area has been represented in Battle Creek for the volleyball semi-finals. Last year USA and North Branch lost their bid for a championship in the semi-finals. This year Marlette (after eight stright district crowns) made their way to the semi-finals before losing to Ravenna. North Branch completed the mission they started last year and won the Class B state championship by defeating Delton Kellogg. Thumb Player of the Year Jordan Fish led the charge all season for her squad. Look for Fish to show up on a lot of ballots for the 2010 Michigan Miss Volleyball.
What does all this tell us? Volleyball is alive and well in the Thumb. Most of this is because of North Branch and the program that Jim Fish has put in place, but that program only helps the rest of the Thumb as they try to be just like the best.
Tuscola County also had a football team reach the semi-finals - the Millington Cardinals. Even though the Cardinal faithful are disappointed with the loss to Clare, the result the following weekend would have been the same - a blowout loss to Jackson Lumen Christi. One of the most important things the Cardinal coaching staff can take from this playoff run was the fact that next year's varsity players received an additional four weeks of practice. Those four weeks are a crucial learning period for the sophomores from the junior varsity squad.
Speaking of the Cardinal coaching staff, there will not be any Brett Favresque actions by Tim Furno. Word for the Millington administration is that Furno bowed out very gracefully, announcing at the team's end of year banquet that he is done as the Millington coach, and retiring to Florida.
Furno's departure leaves the Tuscola County area with three varsity football vacancies. The Cass City adminstration chose not to bring Scott Cuthrell back for a tenth season. Cuthrell finished his tenure with a 38-48 (.442) record with three playoff appearances. According to the Cass City administration, it was time to go a different direction with the football program. The new coach will have a chance to choose all coaches in the program (junior high and up) as all coaches were not asked back.
One year after being elected to the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Al Boydston will not be back on the sideline for the Caro Tigers. Boydston was not asked back for his 21st season with Caro. Boydston finishes his Caro career with a 109-83 (.568) record and five playoff appearances (2002 semi-finalist), but finished 13-23 (.361) in his last four years on the sidelines.
Couple these two terminations with last year dismissal of North Branch's Steve VerBurg, and there have been three dismissals in this area in the past year. VerBurg only received on year in charge and finished 2-7. North Branch wanted to move away from mediocrity, and they did with a 6-4 finish and the playoffs in Pat Forester's first year. Cass City's and Caro's programs have been mediocore over the past few years and the administrations, I believe, are tired of it. Right or wrong, I believe the culture of high school football has changed, and we will see more of these dismissals in the years to come. We may have seen the end of the Reas and Furnos, coaches who spend over 30 years at a school.
Moving on to basketball, I am really looking forward to the girl's basketball season. The county has a few very good teams, which are led by some very solid basketball players.
In my opinion Reese should be the toast of the county. With seniors Amber Gotham (2008-2009 1st team All-Thumb) and Jade Ackerman (2008-2009 1st team All-GTC-West), and junior Sarah Spiekerman (2008-2009 2nd team All-GTC-West), the Lady Rockets have a solid core for coach Denny Gruber. As evidenced by Reese's 70 points in their opening season win over Linden, they do not have problem finding the basket. I look fot Reese to score a lot of points and win a lot of game this season.
Vassar should have very solid team this year as well, not to mention probably the best "Big Men" in the area. Kayla Verbeek (2008-2009 1st team All-GTC-West) and Amberly Hauger can score and rebound inside with anyone. Hilary MacKay has not played varsity basketball since her sophomore year, after missing last year due to injury. Her quickness and ball handling will bring much needed relief to coach Bob Nowotny's squad, which struggled from the guard position last year. Throw in players from last year's undefeated junior varsity squad and the Vulcans have a winning recipe for the 2009-2010 season. Mark January 08 and February 04 in your date books, they should be great games when Vassar and Reese play each other.
Frankenmuth should be the other county area team with a dominant season. The Eagles return two 1st team All-TVCE players in Jenny McCain and Kelsey Ritter. Look for them to challenge for the TVCE title again this year.
This weeks Mix 92.1 game of the week will be USA at Mayville. Pre-game will begin aroung 6:45 p.m. with tip-off around 7:00 p.m. The game will be Mayville's opener, while USA lost to Marlette earlier in the week.
Check out "Let's Talk Sports" on Saturday morning from 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. as Derek and I recap all of the weeks games, and give our final thoughts on the 2009 fall sports season.
Comments
The volleyball finals were in Battle Creek, not Kalamazoo :)
AND - You can hear me on this week's edition of "Let's Talk Sports" as well. WE HAVE A TON OF STUFF TO TALK ABOUT!
I did not want to speak for you about being there, but yes we do have a lot to talk about.
Cass City Varsity Football Coach Scott Cuthrell...has gotten back the Head Coaching job!
ESPN
Thank you, wiser heads at Cass City, for not letting a disaster to the football program occur!
Is it possible that Al Boydston could become an assistant at Cass City?
Personally I'de like to see that.
I believe he could give the Red Hawk program that extra touch that could propel them into the upper echelon of GTW and Thumb area high school football.