Rockford Independent - May 11, 2009

from Rockford Independent - May 11, 2009

16 Rockford Independent • Monday, May 11, 2009

Rams win water polo district crown

BY PATRICK KEELEY

The Rockford girls water polo team continued to improve its record with a win over East Kentwood in the last league game on May 5. Rockford followed the win by two more victories in the district championship tournament on Saturday to take the east district championship. Rockford’s record now stands at 20-8 on the season.

Rockford defeated Portage Central 14-1 and then met East Grand Rapids in the district final and topped the Pioneers 7-4.

In the final, Rockford came out swinging and won the sprint and began attacking EGR right up the middle. The Pioneers forced a couple of turnovers and blocked a couple shots, but Mary Keeley found Kelsey Vermeer open at the threeminute mark and Kelsey made it count.

The Ram play featured crisp passes and a stingy defense. The Pioneers could hardly bring the ball down without having it stolen and were frustrated to the point of taking long shots.

BY JEANNIE GREGORY

The Rockford High School varsity golf team played host for the 2009 Rockford Spring Classic on Saturday. The tournament was played at Cedar Chase Golf Club, a 72-par course located in Cedar Springs. The weather eventually cooperated after a rainy start, becoming partly

WEST RIVER CAR

Keeley and Christina Weston found Vermeer open again and the score made it 3-0. Freshman Casey Wolfer fired in the fourth goal and the Rams were up 4-0. The Pioneers scored right before the half and it was 4-1 at the break.

Keeley scored just 3 minutes into the third to bring the score to 5-1 and Weston used a spinaround hook shot from the hole to make it 6-1

sunny and 57. The Rams had a good day on the links, combining for a 334, good enough to claim first in the tournament. Grandville claimed second with a 338, and was followed by West Catholic with a 340 and Greenville High School shot a 355. Rockford’s B team tied with Grandville’s B team for fifth, with both

CARE

FULL SERVICE CENTER

Alignments, Tune-Ups, Brake Service, A/C Service General Maintenance, ASE Certified Technicians $15.95 OIL CHANGE

5484 WEST RIVER DRIVE • COMSTOCK PARK • 647-2870

Rockford Independent/Patrick Keeley

Rockford’s Molly Wooldridge breaks away down the pool in Saturday’s district action.

00115058

late in the game. The Pioneers were able to score two goals in the fourth quarter, but Rockford’s Weston buried the final score for a 7-4 Ram win.

On Friday and Saturday the Rams travel to Zeeland for the MWPA West Regional Championship. The top four teams from the region will continue on to the state championship at Jenison May 29 and 30.

Rockford Independent/Eric Cullum

The Rockford A and B golf teams take a break during the Rockford Rams Invitational. The Ram A team claimed second in that tournament, behind Forest Hills Central, who is working at a No. 1 ranking in Division I for the season. Three Rams medaled in the event.

Golf team wins own tournament

teams shooting a 380.

Ram head coach Eric Cullum is watching his team peak at the perfect time.

“We are coming together very well,” said Cullum. “I have a number of players with whom I’ve been working closely on fundamental changes and additions to their games. Those changes and adjustments are starting to truly make a big difference.”

The Rams were led by Trent Davidson, who took second in the tournament with an 80. Davidson was followed by fifth-place Eric Conroy (84), sixth-place Sam Gallup (84) and ninthplace Steven Mette (86).

Rockford’s B team was led by Robert Pierson (91). Pierson was followed by Darren Mazur (94), Jon Hughey (97) and Alex Fox (98).

The Rockford girls track team put their undefeated OK Red record on the line when they traveled to Hudsonville last week. Having narrowly defeated rival East Kentwood the previous week by a score of 70- 67, the Rams found themselves in familiar territory as they looked to defend their 2008 conference championship.

The girls came through with flying colors, topping the Eagles 103 1/2-33 1/2, to stay undefeated in the conference for the season.

Total team depth has been a strength for Rockford this season. Some of the top performers

for the Rams this season have been returning state champion pole vaulter junior Sarah Birkmeier; senior sprint trio Emma Breen, Becky Caywood and Krysten Fischer along with sophomore Abby Blanchard; the hurdle duo of senior Danielle Putterman and junior Sam Mette; returning state runner-up high jumper junior Rachel Herald; top throwers sophomore Emily Haliday, senior Hannah Readle and junior Kylie Basarabski; 400-meter runners juniors Katie Carlson and Rachel Jerrils; and distance runners senior Kelcie Severson, junior Alyssa

Rockford Independent/Courtesy Photo

Rockford varsity girl's track team with trophies won at the Don Mitchell Roosevelt Memorial Track and Field Meet in Dayton, Ohio (L-R): Front row: Rachel Jerrils, Sarah Neideck, Becky Caywood, Danielle Putterman, Emma Breen, Kelcie Severson and Krysten Fischer. Back row: Jane Hawks, Alyssa Durkin, Abby Blanchard, Sarah Birkmeier, Catie Rietsema, Rachel Herald and Katie Carlson.

Rams track and field prepared for conference championship

BY LIZ SINKEVICS

The Rockford Rams girls’ varsity tennis team had a busy week that included four matches, with two of them rescheduled due to rain. The Rams claimed all four matches, topping West Ottawa 5-3, blanking Jenison and Grandville 8-0, and then beating Forest Hills Central 6-2.

On Monday, the Rams traveled to West Ottawa High School and brought home a 5-3 victory over the Panthers in a challenging match. Freshman Lauren Korlewitz, first singles, won 6-3, 6-4; and sophomore Alex Stembaugh finished 6-1, 6-0 at third singles. In doubles play, senior Jillian Haverkate and junior Nicole Strobel came out winners in the first flight at 6-4, 6-2; third doubles players junior Mackenzie Young and senior Michaela Young pumped out a 6-1, 6-0 win; and at fourth doubles, junior Lindsay Gauger and senior Meliah Mead swung for a win, 6-4, 6-2.

On Tuesday, the Rams hosted the Jenison High

School Wildcats after the match was rained out twice earlier in the season. The Rams delivered an 8-0 finish: Korlewitz, first singles, won 6-4, 6-3; second singles, freshman M.J. Bothma, posted a 6-0, 6-0 win; third singles, Stembaugh, finished 6-1, 6-0; and at fourth singles, Jenelle Miller won 6-1, 6-0. At first doubles, Haverkate and junior Katie Rachon won, 6-3, 6-1; senior Anna Sinkevics and junior Heather Williams scored 6-

Durkin, sophomores Catie Rietsema and Sarah Neideck and freshman Jane Hawks.

The Rams have enjoyed invitational championships at the Wyoming Frank Grimm Relays and the GRPS Track and Field Invitational from earlier this season and won the Cedar Springs Red Hawk Invitational, along with a runner-up finish at the Don Mitchell Memorial Track and Field Invitational in Dayton, Ohio.

The Rams close up the conference portion of their season on Monday, May 11 for the OK Red Conference Championships.

Tennis team enjoys successful week

Rockford Independent/Scott Mead

The Rockford’s No. 3 doubles team of Mackenzie Young and Michaela Young play against Forest Hills Central.

3, 6-3; third doubles players and sisters Young and Young pumped out a 6-3, 6- 1 win; and at fourth doubles, junior Lindsay Gauger and senior Meliah Mead delivered a 6-1, 6-0 victory.

The Rams finished the week topping Grandville and Forest Hills Central.

The regional meet is set for Thursday at Jenison. Teams that earn 18 or more points at the regional qualify for state finals, scheduled for the end of May.

Rockford Independent • Monday, May 11, 2009 17

Soccer team claims tournament

The SCOR U12 girls played in the stormy weather last weekend. The team got rained out on Saturday and ended up playing three games on Sunday. The team went on to

win the championship game 3-1 against a great team from Canada.

The road to the finals was tough, with the team winning 2-1 in the pouring rain over a

tough Lake Orion team in the semi-finals. The girls battled not only the weather, but also injury, and gutted out the wins with sheer toughness and determination.

CHECK OUT OUR NEW

WEBSITE

Shop 24 hours a day Only 10 money-saving minutes from Rockford FREE Pick-Up & Delivery Over 150 New & Used Cars, Trucks, SUVs, available 24 hrs. a day Onlne Specials Car Scout Used Car Locator Service $19.95 oil changes (up to 5 quarts)

Rockford Independent/Courtesy Photo

VANDERHYDE

FORD X

The SCOR U12 team (L-R) Front row: Alyssa Benaske, Grace Bubin, Rylie Dalton, guest player Maddie Butler, Sarah McCabe and Rachel Moore. Back row: Coach Barb Engelkes, Kadison Klausing, Holly Chapin, Lauren Engelkes, Allison DeVries, Kelsey Walters, Mackenzie Vallad, Rachel Neubecker, Alyssa Bowman and guest coach Bill DeVries. Not pictured: Tessa Powers and head coach Pat Dalton.

00119392

NORTHLAND DR.

17 MILE

ROCKFORD

345 N. Main St., Cedar Springs (616) 696-1541 Toll Free 1-866-553-3673