Monthly Archives: August 2023

By David Rice JTV Sports (August 20, 2023 8:00 AM ET) Manchester finished 6-5 last year and won a playoff game, but head coach Ben Pack believes they make a deeper run in this upcoming 2023 season. “We have to trust the process. Getting back into the playoffs was great, we started to put more work in and had great results”. They lost in the district final to eventual semi-finalist (and conference rival) Napoleon and look to compete with them this year on the schedule. Just 3 years ago in 2020, the now seniors had to start as freshman under Pack’s first year and have been the main part in reviving the program back into being competitive within the area.  Seven starters return on offense and eight on the defensive side. Returners include Kannon Duffing (QB, all-region last year), linemen Landon LaVigne, Cody Branner, and Nathan Fletcher. Others include Gunner Carson (RB/DB), and Luke Blumenauer (WR). Newcomers expected to make an impact include Bubba Duffing (LB), Alexander Woods (WR), Rocco Guido (OL), Tommy Johnson, and Phoenix Hulswitt. QB Kannon Duffing is looking to break many program records as well. Kannon is looking to break four including career pass completions, career…

Girls Golf  Western Invitational: Western High School finishes second to Mason at the Western Invitational at Arbor Hills Golf Club. The Bulldogs won the tournament with a score of 326, Western finished second scoring 415, East Jackson was sixth at 449, Northwest was ninth scoring 467, and Jackson was 12th tallying 523. Gabrielle Davis finished eighth with a 90 and teammate Camryn Boldt tied for 11th with Mariah Kerley of East Jackson with 98s. Concord did not have enough players to post a team score, but Grace Thorrez finished 18th with a 105.  Boys Tennis Columbia Central at Adrian Quad: Columbia Central High School finished third with a win over Adrian (6-2), but losses to Livonia Churchill and Bedford.   College Events Women’s Volleyball Spring Arbor at Big Sky Challenge: SAU defeated Warner Pacific in the opening round of the tournament, 3-0. Kendall Bollenbacher finished with 13 kills and Hayden Fortress finished with 19 assists for the Cougars in the win. The Cougars lost 3-0 to Bushnell in the second round of the day. Brooklyn Dechent finished with five blocks for SAU in the loss.  On Deck Aug. 19 Volleyball Columbia Central, Northwest at Adrian Invitational 9 a.m.  Concord at…

Key performers for Jonesville High School are expected to be, from left, Jayden Duque, Brady Stanton, Coach Frank Keller, Makinlee Packer, Connor VanBuskirk, and Fisher Potts. By Jeff Steers JTV Sports (August 19, 2023 8:00 AM ET) After making the Michigan High School Athletic Association football playoffs for three consecutive seasons, Jonesville struggled out of the gate a year ago. The Comets lost three games to start the season but rallied to win four-of-six games to end the season. It was not enough to make the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.  “We were 14 points away from being a 7-1 team last year,” Coach Frank Keller said of the 2022 season. “It put a bad taste in the mouths of our players as we expected more.” Jonesville switches from the Big Eight Conference to the Cascades Conference Western Division. “It is a new league so we will have to learn about some new schools,” Keller said during JTV Media Days. “We have played a number of Cascades Conference teams over the years and scrimmaged Columbia Central for a few seasons.” Quarterback Connor VanBuskirk will be one of the key players for the Comets in 2023. He is considered the…