2023/2024 ourmidland.com
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ATHLETES OF THE WEEK |MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 2
Vance Sysak
MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2023
School: Coleman High School
Sysak passed for 220 yards and three touchdowns, ran for 72 yards and a TD, passed for three 2-point conversions, and ran for two 2-point conversions in the Comets’ win over Farwell on Sept. 8.
Vera Roberson
MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2023
School: Dow High School
Roberson won the 50 freestyle, won the 100 freestyle, was part of the winning 200 medley relay team, and was part of the second-place 400 freestyle relay team, as the Chargers upset No. 8 Fenton and No. 11 Dexter on Sept. 9.
Emily Thackery
MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2023
School: Dow High School
Thackery won the 500-yard freestyle, was a member of the winning 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay teams, and was second in the 200 freestyle in helping the Chargers beat rivals Midland High and Grand Blanc.
Katie Watkins
MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2023
School: Dow High School
Watkins finished third out of 95 runners in the Gold Division race with a time of 18:24.39 at the Cadillac Veterans Serving Veterans meet on Sept. 23.
2023
MONTH OF SEPEMBEROCTOBER
Austin King
MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2023
School: Dow High School
King remained undefeated at No. 1 singles during a week in which he went 7-0 without losing a set, including wins over fifth-ranked Forest Hills Central, seventh-ranked University of Detroit Jesuit, eighth-ranked Portage Central, and 10th-ranked Okemos.
Zane Schwartz
MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2023
School: Bullock Creek High School
Schwartz had 101 yards rushing and two touchdowns and 54 yards receiving with a third TD on offense, while finishing with nine tackles and a fumble recovery on defense in the Lancers’ win over Carrollton on Sept. 22.
Ty Fournier
MONTH OF OCTOBER 2023
School: Freeland High School
Fournier had 127 receiving yards and caught three touchdown passes, rushed for 70 yards on only four carries, and had nine tackles in the Falcons’ 52-8 win over Birch Run on Sept. 29.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK | MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 3
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2023
MONTH OF OCTOBERNOVEMBER
Landon Love
MONTH OF OCTOBER 2023
School: Beaverton High School
Love rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns and also threw for a touchdown and a 2-point conversion in an Oct. 6 win over Harrison, the Beavers’ fourth straight victory.
Logan Korson
MONTH OF OCTOBER 2023
School: Bullock Creek
Korson scored four goals in the Lancers’ 9-1 district quarterfinal win over Standish-Sterling on Oct. 11, giving him a school-record 68 goals in his prep career.
Dow High Boys’ Tennis
MONTH OF OCTOBER 2023
School: Dow High School
The Chargers capped an undefeated season Oct. 21 by winning a second consecutive Division 2 team state championship. Along the way, all four of Dow’s singles players won individual state titles
Izzy Christiansen
MONTH OF OCTOBER 2023
School: Midland High School
Christiansen won the 100-yard freestyle and helped the Chemics win both the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay in a Sept. 28 victory against Lapeer.
Sophia Lee
MONTH OF OCTOBER 2023
School: Dow High School
Lee shot a 76 at the Saginaw Valley League meet on Oct. 3 to earn medalist honors, league MVP honors, and First Team All-SVL accolades at The Fortress in Frankenmuth.
Lauren Deckrow
MONTH OF OCTOBER 2023
School: Midland High
Deckrow shot an 82 to earn meet medalist honors at an Oct. 9 regional tournament, leading the Chemics to a regional championship and a berth in the Division 2 state tournament.
Lindsey Deckrow
MONTH OF OCTOBER 2023
School: Midland High School
Deckrow ended her excellent prep career by carding a personal-best 83 in the final round of the Division 2 state tournament Oct. 21.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK |MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 4
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2023
MONTH OF NOVEMBER
Bo Schwartz
MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2023
School: Bullock Creek High School
Schwartz rushed for 246 yards and two touchdowns, threw a gamewinning26- yard TD pass with 18 seconds remaining, and had 10 tackles, as the Lancers upset Clare 2219 in an Oct. 27 district semifinal.
Nicole Giardina
MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2023
School: Midland High School
Giardina had 14 kills and 19 digs on Oct. 24 in a sweep of rival Dow High, then had 28 kills, 24 digs, and eight aces on Oct. 28 as the Chemics wonthe Silver Bracket title at the Grand Blanc tournament.
T.J. Hansen
MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2023
School: Freeland High School
Hansen earned Freeland’s first-ever cross country state championship on Nov. 4, winning the Division 2 boys’ race in a record-time of 14:52.8 and breaking the previous D2 state record by nearly 10 seconds.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK | MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 5
ourmidland.com Congratulations to all of our Area Athletes! Stop by McCreadie Corner S. Saginaw Rd. / Dartmouth Rd. / Cambridge St. Serving The Printwear, Promotion & Awards Industry Since 1986
2023
MONTH OF NOVEMBERDECEMBER
Sam Talaga
MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2023
School: Freeland High School
Talaga rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown and led the Falcons’ defense with seven tackles in a 21-20 loss to Goodrich in a Nov. 3 district final.
Tyler Streeter
MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2023
School: Dow High School
Streeter had eight receptions for 120 yards in a Nov. 3 district final against Saginaw Heritage.
Wilson Huckeby
MONTH OF DECEMBER 2023
School: Freeland High School
Huckeby scored a game-high 27 points in the Falcons’ key conference win over Frankenmuth on Dec. 8.
Victoria Garces
MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2023
School: Dow High School
Garces finished fifth in the Division 1 girls’ state final on Nov. 4 with a school-record time of 17:29.1, breaking the previous school record by over 37 seconds.
Emmy Sower
MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2023
School: Dow High School
Sower earned Swimmer of the Meet honors after winning the 100-yard butterfly, finishing second in the 100 backstroke, and helping the Chargers win both the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay at the Nov. 4 Saginaw Valley League Championship.
Eryn Murphy
MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2023
School: Dow High School
Murphy earned All-State honors in three events at the Division 2 state finals on Nov. 18, helping the Chargers’ 200 medley relay team finish third, while also placing sixth in the 100 breaststroke and helping the 200 freestyle relay team finish eighth.
Payton Palmer
MONTH OF DECEMBER 2023
School: Midland High School
Palmer hit six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 27 points in a Dec. 8 win over Traverse City West.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK |MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 6
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2023
MONTH OF DECEMBER
Nick Metzger
MONTH OF DECEMBER 2023
School: Meridian High School
Metzger scored 32 points with 10 rebounds in a key 63-50 win over Shepherd on Dec. 16.
Halen McLaughlin
MONTH OF DECEMBER 2023
School: Meridian High School
McLaughlin scored 30 points with 10 rebounds in a 58-30 win over Shepherd on Dec. 15.
Ian Balch
MONTH OF DECEMBER 2023
School: Dow High School
Balch scored a career-high 35 points in a 71-47 victory over rival Midland High on Dec. 20.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK | MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 7
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2023/2024
MONTH OF DECEMBERJANUARY
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Noah Anderson
MONTH OF JANUARY 2024
School: Midland High School
Anderson won an individual championship at 113 pounds at the Freeland Invitational on Dec. 28.
Zane Rastello
MONTH OF JANUARY 2024
School: Dow High School
Rastello had three goals and an assist in the Chargers’ 8-2 win over Grandville on Jan. 5.
Ayden Spencer
MONTH OF JANUARY 2024
School: Midland High School
Spencer had three goals and two assists in the Chemics’ 8-4 win over Mid Michigan on Jan. 10.
Dalton DeBoer
MONTH OF DECEMBER 2023
School: Dow High School
DeBoer scored a game-high 19 points in a 6029 victory over rival Midland High on Dec. 20
Halle Spears
MONTH OF JANUARY 2024
School: Midland High School
Spears won an individual championship at 190 pounds at the Lady Mat Cat Classic in Montague on Dec. 29.
Halen McLaughlin
MONTH OF JANUARY 2024
School: Meridian High School
McLaughlin had 34 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals in the Mustangs’ 69- 39 win over rival Beaverton on Jan. 5.
Brooke Swartz
MONTH OF JANUARY 2024
School: Bay City Western School
Swartz had 24 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and five steals in the Warriors’ win over Fenton on Jan. 9.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK |MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 8
Eli Soderberg
MONTH OF JANUARY 2024
School: Dow High School
Soderberg won both the 200-yard freestyle and the 500 freestyle and helped the Chargers win both the 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay on the way to winning the Tri-Cities Championship on Jan. 20.
Karie Keefer
MONTH OF JANUARY 2024
School: Freeland High School
Keefer scored 33 points in a Jan. 16 win over Chelsea, then had 16 points and 11 assists in a Jan. 19 win over Bay City John Glenn.
Austin Anderson
MONTH OF JANUARY 2024
School: Midland High School 2024 MONTH OF JANUARY
Anderson won a Saginaw Valley League championship at 120 pounds on Jan. 27, defeating the third-ranked wrestler in the state along the way.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK | MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 9
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ATHLETES OF THE WEEK | MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 11
E W E E K
ARY 2024 FEBRUARY 2024 MARCH 2024 APRIL 2024 RYAN LONG BULLOCK CREEK HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ALLISON STOCKTON DOW HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL NICK METZGER MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PAYTON PALMER MIDLAND HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL LIAM HEINZ MIDLAND HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL HALLE SPEARS MIDLAND HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING MAKENNA MATZKE MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL MAY 2024 MERRICK HOCKING MIDLAND HIGH SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD KAYLA NEWMAN BEAVERTON HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK WINNERS!
2024
MONTH OF JANUARYFEBRUARY
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Jacob Batha
MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2024
School: Dow High School
Batha won a championship at 132 pounds and earned his 100th career victory in the process at the Lutheran Northwest tournament in Rochester Hills on Feb. 3.
Ryan Long
MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2024
School: Bullock Creek High School
Long tied a school single-game record for the second time this season by hitting seven 3-pointers in a win over St. Louis on Feb. 6.
Layk Woodruff
MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2024
School: Beaverton High School
Woodruff scored 29 points, including 26 in the second half, and broke the school single-season record for 3-pointers made in a Feb. 15 win over Shepherd.
Sadie Day
MONTH OF JANUARY 2024
School: Calvary Baptist Academy
Day scored 33 points in a Jan. 22 win over Atherton.
Brooklyn Sutter
MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2024
School: Midland High School
Sutter bowled a 222 on Feb. 3 to help the Chemics claim the Saginaw Valley League championship.
Emmalea TerBurgh
MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2024
School: Midland High School
TerBurgh scored a career-high 17 points and had 13 rebounds for her first career doubledouble in a Feb. 9 win over Lapeer.
Halle Spears
MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2024
School: Midland High School
Spears beat all three of her opponents by pin to claim a girls’ individual regional championship at 190 pounds on Feb. 18.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK |MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 12
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK | MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 13
2024
MONTH OF FEBRUARYMARCH
Allison Stockton
MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2024
School: Dow High School
Stockton had 22 points and seven rebounds in a key win over Flint Powers on Feb. 22, giving the Chargers an opportunity to play for an outright Saginaw Valley League title.
Andrew Partipilo
MONTH OF MARCH 2024
School: Midland High School
Partipilo made 28 saves in a 4-3 win over Traverse City Central in a Division 2 regional final on Feb. 28, then had an incredible 49 saves in a 3-2 overtime loss to Saginaw Heritage in a March 2 state quarterfinal.
Dawson Coggins
MONTH OF MARCH 2024
Sanford’s Dawson Coggins, 6, won a North East Michigan Wrestling Association state championship at Traverse City Central High School recently.
Competing at 49 pounds in the 5-6 age group, Coggins went 3-0 at the state tournament, winning his first two matches by pin, then winning the championship match 6-3 over an opponent who had beaten Coggins a week earlier in the regional title match.
Cade Sanborn
MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2024
School: Midland High School
Sanborn scored the game-winning goal with 25 seconds remaining in a Feb. 24 regional semifinal against Dow High, giving the Chemics a dramatic 3-2 win.
BROOKE SWARTZ
MONTH OF MARCH 2024
School: Bay City Western High School
Swartz scored 23 points, including 16 in the second half, to lead the Warriors to a 52-42 win over Mount Pleasant in a March 6 district semifinal.
Payton Palmer
MONTH OF MARCH 2024
School: Midland High School
Payton Palmer broke a school record with 40 points in a win over Carrollton on February 29. Her 40 points were 10 more than the previous single-game record of 30 set by Jessica Walter during the 2012-13 season.
Eli Soderberg
MONTH OF MARCH 2024
School: Dow High School
Soderberg earned All-State honors three times during the March 9 state finals, finishing sixth in the 200-yard individual medley and helping the Chargers take sixth in the 200 freestyle relay and seventh in the 400 freestyle relay.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK |MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 14
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Halen McLaughlin
MONTH OF MARCH 2024
School: Meridian High School
McLaughlin scored a team-high 23 points, including 18 in the second half, in a March 8 district final victory over defending state champion Hemlock.
Nick Metzger
MONTH OF MARCH 2024
School: Meridian High School
Metzger scored a game-high 24 points and reached the 1,000-point milestone for his career in a March 5 regional semifinal against McBain.
Liam Heinz
MONTH OF APRIL 2024
School: Midland High School
Heinz allowed only one run over six innings in a 7-2 win over Traverse City West on April 6.
Grace Schloop
MONTH OF APRIL 2024
School: Midland High School
Schloop threw eight no-hit innings and struck out 16 in a 1-0 loss to Traverse City Central on April 6.
Addie Seemann
MONTH OF MARCH 2024
School: Freeland High School
Seemann had 22 points and 11 rebounds in a March 13 regional final against Flint Powers two days after notching 19 points and 14 rebounds in a March 11 regional semifinal against Frankenmuth.
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ATHLETES OF THE WEEK | MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 15 2024
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2024 MONTH OF APRIL
Merrick Hocking
MONTH OF APRIL 2024
School: Midland High School
Hocking won both the shot put (50- feet, 3-inches) and the discus (164-feet, 9-inches) at the Shake Off the Rust Invitational in Davison on April 13.
Niobe Marchalant
MONTH OF APRIL 2024
School: Midland High School
Marchalant had 12 saves on April 13, as the Chemics tied defending state champion Rochester Stoney Creek 2-2.
Halliwell threw a complete game and allowed only two runs on six hits in a key win over Mount Pleasant on April 18. Zander Halliwell
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK |MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 16
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2023/2024
MONTH OF APRILMAY
Carson Everett
MONTH OF MAY 2024
School: Dow High School
Everett earned medalist honors three times in five days for the Chargers, winning the Bobcat Invitational with a score of 73 on April 22, winning the Midland Open with a 74 on April 24, and winning the Falcon Invitational with a 77 on April 26.
Jake Szajenko
MONTH OF MAY 2024
School: Dow High School
Szajenko threw a no-hitter with two walks and five strikeouts in a May 2 win over Saginaw Heritage.
Sawyer Moloy
MONTH OF MAY 2024
School: Meridian High School
Moloy broke his own school record in the high jump for the fourth time this season, clearing 6-feet, 9-inches on May 8 to give him the best mark in the state in Division 3 this season.
Makenna Matzke
MONTH OF APRIL 2024
School: Meridian High School
Matzke went 6-for-8 with three home runs, a double, and seven runs batted in during an April 16 doubleheader against Bullock Creek.
Delaney Belding
MONTH OF MAY 2024
School: Dow High School
Belding homered twice in an April 22 sweep of Davison, making her the Chargers’ all-time home run leader with 17. Only a few days earlier, she became the school’s career leader in hits.
Kayla Newman
MONTH OF MAY 2024
School: Beaverton High School
Newman went 9-for-9, hit two home runs with seven runs batted in, and hit for the cycle during a sweep of Farwell.
Grace Schloop
MONTH OF MAY 2024
School: Midland High School
Schloop threw a two-hitter and struck out 17 batters in a 4-1 win over Lapeer on May 9, tying the Chemics’ record for career strikeouts with 666. A day earlier, Schloop threw a fiveinning no-hitter and struck out 11 in a win over Freeland.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK |MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 18
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Merrick Hocking
MONTH OF MAY 2024
School: Midland High School
Hocking won regional championships in both the shot put and the discus with throws of 53-feet, 6-inches and 163-feet, 6-inches, respectively, on May 17.
Victoria Garces
MONTH OF MAY 2024
School: Dow High School
Garces won regional championships in both the 1600-meter run and the 3200-meter run with times of 5:00.76 and 10:38.78, respectively, on May 17.
Bo Schwartz
MONTH OF MAY 2024
School: Bullock Creek High School
Schwartz had a three-run homer and four RBIs, while also pitching a complete game and striking out six in a May 21 win over Carrollton.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK | MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 19 2024
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Ella Stoney
MONTH OF MAY 2024
School: Dow High School
Stoney went 3-for-4 with a grand slam homer, five RBIs, and four runs scored in a May 22 win over Gladwin, setting a school single-season home run record and a school single-season stolen-base record in the process.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK |MIDLAND DAILY NEWS | JUNE, 2024 20 2024 MONTH OF MAY ourmidland.com
