ATCH 4
SATURDAY, NOV. 28
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2
SATURDAY, DEC. 5
Jenison @ Manistee, 3:30 p.m.
Manistee @ Gladwin, 6 p.m.
Manistee @ Big Rapids, 1:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, DEC. 1
FRIDAY, DEC. 4
MONDAY, DEC. 7
Hesperia @ Black River, 7 p.m. Shelby @ Ludington, 7 p.m. Manistee Catholic @ Walkerville, 7:30 p.m.
Hart @ North Muskegon, 7 p.m. Shelby @ Montague, 7 p.m. Pentwater @ Big Rapids Crossroads, 7:30 p.m. Walkerville @ Bear Lake, 7:30 p.m.
Pentwater @ Hart, 6 p.m. Hesperia @ Mason Co. Eastern, 7:30 p.m. Fremont @ Shelby, 7:30 p.m.
Hockey
Girls Basketball
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Oceana's Herald-ÂJournal
HAT 2
Sports November 26, 2015
B For Hart’s Jon Studer, it’s all about the bike
Hockey
Girls Basketball
Hockey
Girls Basketball
Studer took 3rd in Iceman Cometh race Nov. 7; race is biggest in US for mountain biking By  Andy  Roberts HERALD-JOURNAL WRITER
Hart High School alum Jon Studer has never shied away from exerting himself. He ran cross-country throughout his +DUW FDUHHU ÀQLVKLQJ DV KLJK as second in the county meet, LQ DQG ÀQLVKLQJ MXVW RII WKH SDFH RI VWDWH TXDOLÀFDWLRQ before running a year of track at Division II Lake Superior State in 2011. In between runs, Studer enMR\HG RXWLQJV RQ D PRWRFURVV
bike — in fact, his father Dan said Studer had raced motocross since age four — which led him to his present pursuit: competitive mountain bike racing. Studer, now 23 years old, has EHFRPH D PDMRU SOD\HU LQ WKLV QHZ YHQWXUH UHFHQWO\ ÀQLVKing an impressive third place in his division at one of the biggest mountain bike races in the country: The Iceman Cometh race in Traverse City, which took place Nov. 7. His time was
1:50:33. The Iceman race ended Studer’s 2015 competitive season, which was highlighed by a win at the Michigan Edge Challenge at the Owasippe Boy Scout Camp near Whitehall. The Iceman race, which is nearly 30 miles in length and claims to be the largest pointto-point race in America, began this year in Kalkaska before ending in Traverse City. Over 3,700 racers competed overall
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Hart High School alum Jon Studer is the latest Oceana County athlete making waves beyond the area. Studer, pictured above (134) with a teammate prior to a race and at left (right) with supporters after one, finished third early this month (right) in the biggest mountain bike race in the country, the Bell’s Iceman Cometh race in Traverse City. Studer, who has been racing bikes since age four, has competed throughout the country and may eventually earn his pro card in the sport.
Oceana spikers reel in all-league honors By  Andy  Roberts HERALD-JOURNAL WRITER
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Manistee’s Emil Norta (right) hits Forest Hills Central’s Connor Foresman in the Chippewas’ offensive zone in the first period last Wednesday at West Shore Community Ice Arena. The Chippewas lost to the Rangers, 5-0.
Manistee hockey splits first 2 games Shoreline Media reports HUDSONVILLE — StayLQJ SHQDOW\ IUHH RYHU WKH ÀUVW two periods, a marked difference from the season opener, the Manistee High co-op ice hockey team went on the attack from the start and cruised to a 6-1 non-conference win over the Hudsonville Eagles Saturday night at the Georgetown Ice Arena. Ludington senior Josh Johnson led the Chippewas with two goals. Ludington senior captain Austin McCarthy contributed a goal and three assists for a four-point night, while Manistee senior Will Shriver had three assists. 0DQLVWHH DOVR VFRUHG LWV ÀUVW power-play goal of the season. 7KH &KLSSHZDV MXPSHG RXW to a 2-0 lead on the Eagles by WKH ÀUVW LQWHUPLVVLRQ DQG QHYHU looked back in squaring their season record at 1-1. Hudsonville scored its only goal in the third period, as the &KLSSHZDV ÀQLVKHG ZLWK D whopping 51-17 advantage in shots on goal for the game. 1HDUO\ ÀYH PLQXWHV HODSVHG LQ WKH ÀUVW SHULRG EHIRUH WKH &KLSSHZDV WRRN WKHLU ÀUVW penalty of the night, and they would be whistled for three
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Manistee’s Josh Fitzgerald looks to send a pass past Forest Hills Central’s Michael Tapp during the first period of play last Wednesday at West Shore Community Ice Arena.
PRUH EHIRUH WKH Ă€QDO KRUQ “We started off how we ZDQWHG WR DQG JRW D ORW RI shots right off the bat in the Ă€UVW SHULRG Âľ 0DQLVWHH KHDG coach Mike Healy said. “We stuck with it, and kept going in the second. 0F&DUWK\ VFRUHG WKH Ă€UVW JRDO RI WKH JDPH XQGHU Ă€YH minutes in. The Chippewas didn’t score again until the 1:01 PDUN RI WKH Ă€UVW ZKHQ 0DQLVWee Catholic sophomore Mason
Callesen blistered a shot past the keeper on a power play. Ludington sophomore James Peterson provided the helper. Manistee added three more goals in the second period, bumping its lead up to 5-0. Johnson notched his second marker of the night at 11:25 of the second. The second ZDV VFRUHG E\ /XGLQJWRQ MX-
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Oceana’s three Class C schools combined to get six players honored with VSRWV RQ WKH DOO FRQIHUHQFH Ă€UVW WHDPV with Shelby receiving three such honors, Hesperia two and Hart one. The Tigers had a strong season, reachLQJ WKH Ă€QDOV RI ERWK WKH FRQIHUHQFH DQG district tournaments and also winning their home invitational. Shelby’s core trio Draper Fortier Gebhart RI 0F.HQQD 3HWHUV 6DUDMDQH )RUWLHU DQG &KORH 6LOOPDQ DOO ZHUH QDPHG Ă€UVW WHDP all-West Michigan Conference as a result. Peters was the team’s top offensive player as a sophomore, recording team leads in kills and digs. Her all-around abiities were on display all year, and she set a high standard for her two remaining years of varsity play. Peters’ performance was also impressive enough to earn all-state third team honors. “She is a very dynamic player with Sillman Peters McDonough quite an arsenal at the net,â€? Shelby coach Tom Weirich said of Peters. “Having a sophomore lead the team in both those categories gets me thinking about next year already.â€? )RUWLHU D VHQLRU ZDV WKH 7LJHUV¡ WRS server in terms of aces and was a reliable setter throughout the season. In her WKLUG \HDU RI YDUVLW\ )RUWLHU GLVSOD\HG D VWHDG\ WHPSDUDPHQW RQ WKH Ă RRU WKDW SDLG dividends throughout the season. She also SOD\HG WKURXJK D NQHH LQMXU\ WKLV VHDVRQ Stitt Thomas J. Wightman :HLULFK VDLG ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR EHLQJ Ă€UVW WHDP DOO OHDJXH )RUWLHU ZDV DFDGHPLF DOO state with a grade point average of 3.99, She also had 65 aces and was routinely among and like Peters was an all-region pick as well. the team’s digs leaders as well. ´6DUDMDQH ZDV ZLOOLQJ WR SXW LQ H[WUD WLPH LQ “She will be greatly missed by our program, WKH RIIVHDVRQ WR PDNH VXUH WKDW LQMXU\ ZDVQ¡W although she has been a great mentor for some of a factor in her game,â€? Weirich said. “Her presour freshmen this year, so I am hopeful that they HQFH RQ WKH Ă RRU DQG OHDGHUVKLS ZLOO EH VRUHO\ will be able to follow her excellent example,â€? missed.â€? Hesperia coach Monica Grimard said of Stitt. Chloe Sillman was Shelby’s third all-league Thomas, the Panthers’ setter, got tabbed for honoree, despite having her season cut short by WKH Ă€UVW WHDP DV ZHOO SRVWLQJ DVVLVWV 7KRPa stress fracture. Sillman played every rotation as was the team’s most potent server, with 83 LQ KHU MXQLRU DQG VHQLRU \HDUV SULRU WR WKH LQMXU\ aces — a total that ranked fourth in the area, and she, like teammate Peters, was a factor no Grimard said — and played solid defense too. matter where she was playing. She was also ´&HDUD KDV GRQH D JUHDW MRE Âľ *ULPDUG VDLG named academic all-state, posting a 3.83 GPA. +XVVH\ SOD\LQJ KHU Ă€UVW YDUVLW\ VHDVRQ DV D “Her intensity and quickness are what set her sophomore, displayed great ability of her own, apart from most other student-athletes,â€? Weirich totaling 161 kills and 37 blocks. Her future apsaid. pears bright as a key part of the Panthers’ front +HVSHULD KDG WZR SOD\HUV QDPHG WR WKH Ă€UVW line. team in the Central State Activities Association “We are only beginning to see her potential,â€? Silver: Mariah Stitt and Ceara Thomas. Delaney Grimard said. Hussey received honorable mention for the PanHart’s win-loss record wasn’t what it would’ve thers, who had a very solid campaign. liked, but senior Baylee Draper did her part, and Stitt, playing her third varsity season this year and her second as a captain, was the Panthers’ ALL-LEAGUE SPIKERS top attacker, recording 225 kills for the season. continued on 3b
Oceana’s Herald-Journal • November 26, 2015 • 3b
Jon Studer (Studer was 114th out of the whole pack), 84 of them in Studer’s men’s age 19-24 division. Why did Studer end up on a mountain bike? To hear him tell it, the mountain bike scene is the perfect mix of running and the motocross races he loved in his youth. He began his racing career with a focus on duathlons but soon discovered he enjoyed the road races the most. “You’re pounding the pavement and dodging trees,” Studer said. “Overall, mountain bike people are really nice. They’re a more relaxed crowd. You don’t need a super expensive bike to compete. It’s all abount determination and strength.” Studer’s third-place finish this year didn’t come out of nowhere. It was his fourth trip to the Iceman, and he’s bettered his finish each year. He took 66th of 96 in his division in his debut in 2012, moving up to 21st in 2013 and 15th last year before this year’s third-place run. Studer said he enjoys the Iceman because it brings some of the best riders in America to Michigan, and the atmosphere is competitive, but positive. “It brings just a high level of rider,” Studer said. “You have Olympians, and you bring it to Kalkaska. It’s easy to get exposure for Michigan riders who can’t afford to travel to national events. Everybody is at the top of their game at the end of the season, and they throw down everything they have, and party afterwards.” Studer’s racing career has also included a trip to Pennsylvania in July 2014 to ride in the USA Cycling Cross-Country Mountain Bike Nationals, another opportunity to compete against some of the best in the country. At that time, Studer finished 35th of 39 to complete the race in his age group there,
Forest Hills Central 5, Manistee 0
By Greg Gielczyk Shoreline Media
VICTORY TWP. — Things got off to a bad start for the Manistee High co-op ice hockey team in last Wednesday night’s season opener at the West Shore Community Ice Arena against the defending Division 3 regional champion Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central when the Chippewas took a five-minute penalty for checking to go with a game misconduct less than a minute into the game. The Chippewas were whistled for the 10-minute misconduct along with the five-minute major. Although they were able to kill off both penalties, keeping out of the box proved to be a nagging issue all night, and that, coupled with their inability to put the puck in the net, conspired to open the door for the Rangers, who skated to a 5-0 victory. “They were a little bit better than we expected, having 12 seniors gone,” Manistee coach Mike Healy said of the Rangers. With only five practices to get ready for the opener, Manistee coach Mike Healy anticipated some rough patches in the Chippewas’ play. It showed up in the first period, when the Chippewas had only three shots on goal as the Rangers opened up a 2-0 lead. The first was by sophomore Michael Woolston. Sophomore forward Charles Brewer netted the second marker on the pow-
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• Contributed photo
Jon Studer’s bike, shown here after being put through its paces at the Iceman Cometh race Nov. 7, is his constant companion during practice and races.
against a field of accomplished riders from coast to coast. It only stoked his appetite for competition. Studer didn’t race much this last year, in large part because he was working at Grace Adventures in Mears over the summer. However, he said on his blog, www.jonstuder2015. blogspot.com, that the experience, which included being able to share his knowledge of bicycles with campers, stoked his love of racing at a time he needed it. Studer also ran track for Saginaw Valley State during the indoor and outdoor seasons, which he described as “a good cross training tool, because you can get sick of being on the bike.” The lightened racing schedule combined with his experience at Grace Adventures served as a reminder for him of why he fell in love with bike racing. In the competitive mountain bike world, riders start at the bottom, as Cat 3 beginners, moving their way up to Studer’s current position, Cat 1, which is a step below turning pro. Studer gets help from a generous crew of sponsors to
help him with equipment and racing: West Michigan Coast Riders, Specialized Bicycles, Breakaway Bicycles of Muskegon, Hammer Nutrition, Esi Grips, Spy Optics and Schwalbe Tires, to name a few. He said he’s working on other potential sponsorship deals for the 2016 season, but as he has throughout his racing exploits, he’s not thinking too hard about specific yearto-year plans; rather, he’s focused on enjoying the ride. He also said his Christian faith has helped to guide him this far and his plan is to continue to rely on it to determine how far his career can go. “I have plans for next year, but I’m playing it by ear,” Studer said. “There’s no overall plan. There’s something there, as far as talent, but I enjoy doing what I do. I’m not doing it to impress anyone. “With my dad’s support, my family’s support and my sponsors’ support, I just take it race by race. If I can get my pro card, I’ll take it as far as I can. I can’t really explain it. I just take it race by race, season by season, and try to have fun.”
It was a great year for running in Oceana County, as nine runners finished among the top competitors in their respective leagues and were first team allconference. Hesperia led the county with four allconference first team runners, three on the Central State Activities Association Silver champion boys team. Senior Arik LaFave led the Panthers, completing his third straight all-state season to end his career. He was joined on the CSAA Silver boys team by Collin Nielsen and Kyle Venne, and teammates Logan Eaves, Ach Young and Connor Baird were each honorable mention. Hannah Sperry finished on the CSAA Silver first team. Walkerville had three all-league runners in the West Michigan D League. Allstate finishers Emily Merten and Perrin Kirwin led the Wildcats in the league, and Tyler Sheehy also earned a spot on the allWMD team. Pentwater’s Madi Wagner, a freshman, also made an appearance on the all-WMD roster. Hart’s Sierra Albus and Alayna Ackley almost certainly would have been allWest Michigan Conference girls runners, but their injuries prevented them from achieving those marks. Adelyn Ackley, though, was healthy throughout the season and dominated the WMC girls races to earn all-conference first team recognition. Alison Altland and Brooke Hodges were named honorable mention allWMC, and Andrew Whitney received the same recognition in the boys races.
Ad. Ackley
Kirwin
LaFave
Merten
Nielsen
Sheehy
Sperry
Venne
Wagner
All-league spikers the WMC honored her with a spot on the first team. Draper eclipsed 200 kills and 50 blocks for the season, and her athleticism was such that coach Josh Armstrong played her in all six rotations, with solid results. Falcons, Wildcats earn 3 1st team all-WMD players
By David Bossick Shoreline Media
Pentwater’s volleyball team dominated the all-conference listings from the West Michigan D League for this fall season, getting two players on the first team and two on the second team. Mason County Eastern and from Page 1b Manistee Catholic each had a player named as honorable er play with 1:05 left before the es. We outshot them. It was just mention. Pentwater senior Emfirst intermission to give the the penalties, and they’ll learn ily Gebhart and junior Linnea Rangers a 2-0 lead. that that’s not okay. “ McDonough were named to the Manistee picked up the pace in the second period, taking 17 shots, but none lit up the lamp. Manistee senior Tom Berentsen’s slap shot sailed high, and Rangers’ senior Noah Arent’s power-play goal at the 8:16 mark put the Chippewas in a 3-0 hole. Currie’s goal at 5:23 made it a 4-0 game after two periods. Forest Hills had 11 shots on goal in the second. Forest Hills junior defenseman Whitney Mackey scored the final goal of the game with 7:40 left in the third period, when the Chippewas outshot the Rangers by a 14-9 margin. One of the Chippewas’ best Large Selection Of Handcrafted Solid Hardwood opportunities came when LudBent Hickory Furniture • Custom Built Available ington junior Nick Gurizzian’s Hutches • Bedroom & Dining Room Suites • TV Stands • Computer Desks attempt at a wraparound goal Restonic Mattresses was just deflected by Rangers’ (231) 821-2409 Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 Mon., Tues., Wed., Fri., Sat. freshman keeper Carl Mielock. 8888 200th Ave. Holton Closed: Thurs. & Sun. “We just (had been having) ONLY 5 MINUTES wEST Of fREMONT a little issue with our defensive zone play, wingers knowing where to be,” Healy said. “But, all in all I thought we got a good practice in Tuesday night, and we were ready. Our defensive zone wasn’t too bad. Serving Silver Lake, Mears, and Stony Lake Areas “Like we talked about earlier, scoring goals was going Cable Television, Digital Cable Television, to be an issue. I didn’t think it Broadband High Speed Internet, Phone Services was going to be this big of an issue. It was mostly (a) penalty Office…8800 Ferry St, Montague MI 49437 issue. The first period we killed Hours…Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm seven of the 17 minutes. “The second period, the same thing. We came out and took two right off the bat that they scored on, and that kind of takes the wind out of the sails. Penalties (were) a big issue, and that’s what led to us spending too much time killing off those penalties and not having OCEANA’S HERALD-JOURNAL enough energy in the offensive HART zone to score goals.” 873-5602 But the Chippewas haven’t had much time to work on their penalty killing, or converting on the power play, either. Manistee couldn’t score when it had a five-on-three advantage in the waning minutes of the BULLDOZING & LAND CLEARING game. Manistee got solid goaltendREDI-MIX CONCRETE ing from first-year starter RanGRAVEL dy Schwass, a sophomore from • Mortar Sand & Fill Dirt Manistee High. • 22A Dolomite and Limestone “It was a good experience • Ag Lime for a lot of the guys,” Healy Shelby, MI Phone 231-861-2031 said. “(Schwass) in net had a really good game. All in all, I thought our five-on-five play To give your business the exposure was okay. We had some chanc-
Chips hockey nior Noah Gurizzian at 6:55, and Ludington sophomore J.T. Walunas put one in at 4:45. “We tried to keep our focus in the third, (but) it’s kind of tough when you’re up like that after the first two,” Healy said. “So, the penalties started again. (It) was not really the way we wanted to see us finish a game. We were preaching at them on trying to get through three whole periods, because further down the road we’re going to need to finish.” Hudsonville spoiled the Chippewas’ shutout bid when Chase Tuttle slipped a shot past the keeper on the power play at 8:04, but then Johnson netted his second goal of the game at 15:56 of the third.
9 county runners all-league
first team offense. “Linnea and Emily were two of the three best hitters in the conference,” Pentwater coach Kerry Newberg said. “The teams in the conference had a really hard time defending Emily and Linnea. They can hit to multiple positions and get a variety of different sets to keep the other teams guessing.” Both got their share of aces serving with Gebhart being an excellent defender, receiving serve or getting digs. Newberg said Mc-Donough played well on defense, too. “Emily knows every position on the floor inside and out. She serves as a leader to the younger players when they find themselves lost on the floor,” Newberg said. “Linnea is always upbeat. She encourages all players to be better.”
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Chyanne Smith, a senior at Pentwater, and Taylor Wilkinson, a sophomore at Pentwater, were named to the second team. “I think Chy was the best setter in the league,” Newberg said. “She gets her hands on over 90 percent of the second balls and can set a variety of tempo sets. She also plays great defense. “Taylor is also a very consistent player. She is the most consistent server on the team,” she continued. “She is also a good blocker and hitter. Taylor is a natural athlete as well.” Walkerville’s Wightman sisters, Jordan and Morgan, also received all-WMD mention. Jordan Wightman made the all-conference first team, while Morgan received honorable mention.
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