Evart

from 2020 Pioneer Football & Volleyball Preview

by Hearst Midwest

Big Rapids

Evart football team eyes winning season

By John Raffel affel@pionee g oup.com

EVART – Evart football coach Pat Craven likes the gridiron talent he’ll be having for his 2020 Wildcats.

The Wildcats are coming off a 4-5 season from a year ago.

“We experienced a lot of growth throughout last season,” veteran Evart coach Pat Craven said. “We were one fourth down stop away from Brown said, adding on senior utility year,” Brown said, adding sophomore

being a playoff team. Our passing game really came into its own late in the season after we made some minor adjustments with our kids.”

Donavin Reagan, Dom Malicki-Lancaster, Cameron Brasington and Justin O’Dell were among the key graduates from a year ago.

“There are several key play

Danny Witbeck returns for his senior season at quarterback for Evart. (Pioneer file photo/John Raffel)

ers, but our most important additions will come on the offensive line,” Craven added. “We will be working to add depth and athleticism to our group that we call our ‘Buffalo.’”

Key players include seniors Kamrin Grein on both sides of the line and linebacker Reese Ransom at offensive line and linebacker; Brayden Cass and Pierce Johnson at wide receiver and defensive back, Danny Witbeck at quarterback and defensive back Kylie Dorn on the offensive and defensive line.

There’s also juniors Sam Bailey on both lines, Bryant Calderon at running back and defensive back; Donovan Balowski at tight end-offensive line-linebacker; Alex Cornell at offensive line; and Cole Hopkins at running back-linebacker.

“We expect to compete for the Highland Conference championship and improve every day,” Craven said. “We strive to exhibit outstanding character, discipline, energy and integrity in all we do. Our team’s strengths will center around our overall toughness, tenacity and team speed. We will look to play hard and fast for as long as we can.

“In order to play hard and fast and do it successfully, we will need to be very technical and discipline in all we do. We need to limit our mistakes while taking full advantage of our opponents’ mistakes.”

Evart hopes to be a factor in the Highland Conference.

“The Highland Conference continues to be a high performing league within the ranks of Division 7 and 8 in the entire state,” Craven said. “We expect to compete for the

Evart volleyball coach excited with team's potential

By John Raffel affel@pionee g oup.com

EVART – Amanda Brown returns as Evart volleyball coach and has the talent to be a force in the Highland Conference this season.

“It was a season of firsts for the girls my first year as varsity coach in Evart,” Brown said. “The girls beat teams they have never beaten before that made them feel accomplished at the end of night. They also won more conference games this last season and competed with teams they had doubts about. We took teams to four and five matches that weren’t expecting it. It was very rewarding for the girls.”

The team will be led by senior setter Deanna Conklin.

“I have the privilege to coach her all four years of her high sports,” Brown said. “She is a leader, competitor and is a hard worker.”

Senior middle hitter Kara Henry “is a hard working and very competitive player that is fun to watch. She is a strong hitter and good blocker,” player, Ryann Baumgardner “I have had her play a little bit of everything. I have also had the privilege to coach her since she was a freshmen. She is a lead-by-example type of player and a hard worker.”

Junior Katie Ruffer “is an outside hitter, hard working and her excitement is electric,” Brown said. “She is very fun to watch.”

Skylor Baumgardner is a junior setter/hitter “who is fast and energetic. She has a great serve and is very quick. I am very excited to see her play this league title.”

utility player Addy Gray “was brought here up towards the end of the season last year. She is hard working and is up for what ever is thrown her way.”

Adrianna Lowery is a senior outside hitter, “hard working and is a good passer. It will be fun to watch her this season.”