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April 15, 2010
Hornets set for state run
Perfect
By Don Richter Sports Editor
Hornets
Saline’s boys’ golf team is looking to get back where it belongs this season. Last year, the Hornets were unable to qualify for the Division 1 state match for the first time since 2000. Overall last season, Saline finished 23-1, winning the Southeastern Conference Red Division title and tying for the district championship. In the regional match, however, the Hornets placed fourth, narrowly missing the state cut. “We definitely want to get back to state,” said Saline coach Debbie Williams-Hoak, beginning her second season. “We’re judged by making it to state. It’s part of our mindset. We have very high expectations. It’s tougher and tougher to get back to state. Saline has an unbelievable tradition, though. We’re
GOLF PREVIEW planning on getting back to state and we expect to be there.” The Hornets will have to tee off for states without their two best players from last season. Lost to graduation off of last year’s squad are Phil Gieseker and Nick Areddy. Gieseker, now playing Division I college golf at Ohio University, was named the Player of the Year in the SEC a season ago, along with being honored as the All-Area Player of the Year. An All-State Super Team selection, Gieseker finished fourth overall in the state individually last season. Areddy wasn’t too far behind Gieseker at the state tournament placing 17th overall. For most teams, losing two players the caliber of Gieseker and Areddy would be catastrophic for the following year’s fortunes. At Saline, however, PLEASE SEE STATE/4-C
Hornet senior captain Alli Littlejohn scored three goals helping lead Saline to a 13-9 win over Birmingham Seaholm.
WATER POLO
Saline too much for Seaholm By Don Richter Sports Editor
Saline’s girls’ water polo team swam out to an early lead against visiting Birmingham Seaholm and withstood a late comeback by the Maples with a 13-9 win March 31. With the victory, the Hornets improved their overall record to 11-0. Saline coach Brad Silverman said his squad played well enough to earn the “W,” but that the Hornets still need to improve as the season moves forward. “It was another physical game, but our ladies really kept their heads on straight and played through it,” he said. “That’s something we’ve done very well all year.” To begin the contest, Saline opened up a 4-2 first quarter lead. At halftime, the Hornets continued piling on the goals leading 8-4. In the third quarter, Saline added another four goals, while allowing two scores for a 12-6 margin heading into the fourth period. In the fourth quarter, Seaholm rallied outscoring the Hornets 3-1 for the night’s ending tally. Individually for Saline, senior captain Alli Littlejohn and junior Stephanie Bundas each scored three goals to spark the Hornets. Junior Bailey Workman added two goals, while senior captain Lea Allen, senior captain Gabby Thornton, senior captain Kassia Zalewski, junior Noelle Jacobs and junior Jordan Rucinski each had one goal for Saline. In the JV match-up, the Hornets prevailed 16-4 over Seaholm. Abbey Wrobleski led Saline scoring three goals. McKenzie Milham, Maddy Frost, Kaitlyn Hanna, Katie Saxton and Caitlyn Sisken each added two goals for the Hornets. Ellie Brigger, Katia Koerner and Marissa Hall-Burkhart each finished with one goal for Saline. Defensively, Milham ended up with a team-high six steals for the Hornets. “The JV had a very nice game against Seaholm,” Silverman said. “We got out to a lead pretty quickly and were
Saline’s boys’ golf team will have to do without the services of graduated senior Phil Gieseker this season. Gieseker, now playing at Ohio University, was the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year last season.
Saline hopes to serve up a title By Don Richter Saline senior captain Gabby Thornton plays strong defense for the Hornets against Seaholm.
Sports Editor
A deep and talented Saline girls’ tennis team looks to improve its placing in the always rugged Southeastern Conference Red Division and at the state meet later this spring. The Hornets finished second in the SEC and second in the Division 1 regional. In both instances, Saline ended up behind national powerhouse Ann Arbor Pioneer. At the Division 1 state match, the Hornets placed fifth. “We look to improve upon
TENNIS PREVIEW that,” said Saline coach Andy BeDell, entering his fourth year as girls’ coach and 10th overall. BeDell is also Saline’s boys’ tennis head coach. The Hornets return a plethora of talent to this season’s squad. In singles play, Saline welcomes back captain and No. 1 singles performer Niki Shipman. The Hornets also return Jennifer Ho to the lineup this year. A state PLEASE SEE TITLES/4-C
Saline’s Kaitlyn Hanna scored two goals in the Hornets’ 16-4 JV win over Birmingham Seaholm. able to slow down and work on a few things we’ve been stressing offensively. We got the ball spread around to a lot of players and saw positive results from everybody.” Though after press deadline, Saline, ranked No. 2 in the state, played top-ranked Okemos Wednesday in a battle of water polo titans. Heading into the contest, Silverman said the game against the Chieftains was important, but not season altering no matter the outcome.
“We’ve felt since the offseason that Okemos was going to be the team to beat this year,” he said. “They’ve got a lot of talent and are very wellcoached. We won an awesome game against them last year in the state semifinals, so I’m sure they’ll have revenge in mind. “At the same time, we’re working hard to keep the game in perspective. Win or lose, it’s just one game with no real postseason implications. We’re likely to see them again this
year, so I think it will be a good preview of what’s to come.” Saline next travels to Chelsea for a game Thursday at 6 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, the Hornets will participate in the Gator Invitational. Also Friday and Saturday, the Saline JV squad will compete in the Maple Invitational. On Tuesday, the Hornets will host Ann Arbor Huron at 6 p.m. On April 22, Saline will visit Niki Shipman returns to the Hornets’ lineup at No. 1 singles this Grand Ledge for a contest at 6 season. Behind Shipman, Saline placed fifth in the state last year. p.m.