Author: Andy Hawley | Page 11

Veterans motivated and powering East Jackson boys basketball team

January 25, 2018

By Mike Moore (Photo By Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports) Staff Writer Jackson — In 21 games last winter, the East Jackson boys basketball team managed a total of seven wins. An up-and-coming team without many seniors, but still with some veteran leadership expected more. In 10 games this winter, the Trojans entered Wednesday night’s home tilt with Grass Lake with nine wins. An established team with a roster full of seniors and experience, well, things are going almost exactly as coach Rodney Lowden had hoped. “When the season started, I think we felt we had a chance to win every game we played in,” Lowden said. “At the same time, these guys understand what it takes, and understand any team we play could beat us.” But entering Wednesday, only one had. And as Wednesday night played out, it became very apparent why that has been the case. Leading by just a single point, 17-16, after the first quarter, East Jackson shifted into high gear. Quick passing. Defensive…

Jackson United hockey establishing itself as a team to beat

January 24, 2018

By Mike Moore (Photo By Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports) Staff Writer Jackson — Andy Sinkovitz has had goal scorers before, and he’s coached the Jackson United hockey team to plenty of wins. But this year is something altogether different. And Sinkovitz has no problem with that at all. “This is probably the most prolific offensive team I’ve had, spread across several guys,” he said. “One of the main things is we have a lot of offensive power, and not just from one or two guys.” The formula has worked for the United squad, too, which was 14-2-0 following a 7-1 victory over Lumen Christi last weekend. A program that’s won 20-or-more games in each of the past three seasons, winning is nothing new. But winning 14 of the first 16 games is the best start Sinkovitz has ever had. “The skill set is so key,” Sinkovitz said. “We have five guys who’ve played together on travel teams, and they’ve really helped with the depth of…

Jackson Rec Department Daddy Daughter Dance

Daddy Daughter Dance Celebrates 20 Years

January 24, 2018

By Alex Cash (Photo Courtesy of the Jackson Rec Dept.) Jackson, MI - Soon, hundreds of young girls will be donning their best dresses, fixing their hair and painting their nails. They will be getting ready for a very special date, with the number one man in their life, their father. Friday, February 2nd and Saturday, February 3rd is the City of Jackson Parks and Recreation Daddy Daughter Dance and young ladies aged pre-K to eighth grade are invited. Two identical events take place to offer more opportunity for everyone to join. This year, the event celebrates 20 years of girls twirling their dresses. In 1998, the event was started by current director Kelli Hoover and over the years the event has grown more and more in popularity. Moving around to different locations over the years, it is now held at Gene Davis and Sons Banquet Hall. Special Events and Youth Program Supervisor, Erika Borck says they are thankful to have such a large space to accommodate all of their guests. They are expecting 400 guests each night of the dance. For $15.00 per person, guests receive snacks…

Spring Arbor’s Jason Crist Named 2017 Select Sport America-NAIA Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year

January 19, 2018

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – For the second time in three years, Spring Arbor University’s Jason Crist has been named the 2017 Select Sport America-NAIA Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year, the NAIA announced Thursday. This past year, Crist’s Cougars took home the national championship trophy with a 2-0 defeat of Benedictine (Kan.) on Dec. 2 in Orange Beach, Alabama. The announcement occurred Thursday at the United Soccer Coaches’ National Convention in Philadelphia. Crist wrapped up his 18th season at Spring Arbor and currently stands with a 303-78-25 (.796) overall record. He is third on the NAIA all-time soccer coaching wins list, trailing Patrick Gilliam at Trinity International (Ill.) (309 wins) and Brian Harvey at Oklahoma City (360 wins). The 2017 season was a banner year for the Cougars as they went 24-1-1, taking home their second all-time national title (first was in 2015), both under the guidance of Crist. The 24 wins were not only a program record, but the most for a championship-winning program since 2008. Junior Bethany Balcer was awarded the NAIA National Championship Most Valuable Player and senior Aubrey Schierbeek was named the NAIA National Championship Offensive Player. Crist, who also directed SAU to…

Michigan Center boys hoops is a team on a mission

January 18, 2018

By Mike Moore (File Photo: Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports) Staff Writer Michigan Center — Travis Gaddy had to hit the reset button, a reality he had to face following last year’s impressive run to 23 wins in 24 games. But, after that 23-1 finish, the team graduated almost everyone on the roster, including four of the five starters. So, with a new year and a roster needing to come into its own, the simple and understandable expectation was for the Cardinals to need some time to figure things out. That’s been the case, but with a pretty cool caveat. They’ve done it while winning. “I knew after the summer we had some good players here,” Gaddy said. “But I also knew if was going to take some time for guys to figure things out and adjust to what they had to do.” The Cardinals did it quickly, and heading into tonight’s tilt against Hanover-Horton, 5-0 on the season. “We’ve shot the ball very well,” Gaddy said. “And the defense is starting to catch up. We had guys that needed to…

Jackson County players lead Albion to women’s basketball win

January 8, 2018

ADRIAN, Mich. – Northwest graduate Haley Nugent produced 17 points in her third game playing for Albion College as the Britons earned a 71-53 victory over Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association rival Adrian College. Albion led 36-30 at halftime and outscored the Bulldogs, 22-10, in the third quarter. The teams played even, 13-13, in the fourth quarter. Brittany Leutz (an Albion sophomore who prepped at Napoleon High School, Sam Carter and Evelyn Wischmeyer hit 3-point baskets as Albion went on an 11-4 run to build a double digit lead. Wischmeyer added two more from beyond the arc as Albion led 58-40 after three quarters. Wischmeyer, who knocked down 3-of-4 shots from three-point range, led the starting unit with 16 points and six rebounds. Brittany Leutz chipped in with 10 points. Starnisha Harris was Adrian’s only double figure scorer with 11.

Spring Arbor’s Paul Marandet claims second CL Player of the Week honor

January 2, 2018

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Spring Arbor University’s Paul Marandet (Warsaw, IN / Warsaw) claimed the Crossroads League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week award, the league announced Tuesday. The award marked Marandet’s second Player of the Week selection this season. Marandet poured in 22 points to go with six assists, three steals and two blocks in No. 16 Spring Arbor's 91-69 win over Purdue University Northwest. The sophomore guard hit 7-of-10 shots from the floor and went a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe. On the season, Marandet is averaging a team-best 16.8 points per game, which ranks top-10 in the Crossroads League. He also ranks fourth in the league in assists with 95, averaging 5.9 per contest. Spring Arbor (14-2, 2-2 CL) resumes Crossroads League play Tuesday night against Goshen College (9-7, 2-2 CL) in Goshen, Indiana. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Kyle Minder Lumen Christi JTV Player of the Year

Minder fueled Lumen’s run to title, named JTV Sports Player of the Year

December 5, 2017

By Mike Moore Photo: Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports Staff Writer Jackson — He was the pulse of things moving forward, just a piece to the grander puzzle, but integral to the foundation of what this team wanted to be, and ultimately was, in another brilliant fall season. The Lumen Christi football team ended 2017 on top yet again, a feat made possible by a roster loaded with depth, one of the most iconic high school coaches ever, and, somewhere mixed in, a humble yet dependable player in Kyle Minder. The JTV Sports Player of the Year, to be exact. “The fact he was such a great player on both sides of the ball is what made him so essential,” coach Herb Brogan said. That was one way to put it. Minder, the senior running back and linebacker was, in fact, center stage on both sides of the ball — and rarely left the field. On the offensive side of things he finished the year with 1,015 yards rushing, 23 touchdowns on the ground and another three through the air. In the state final, where…

Lumen Christi Football State Championship

Back on top, again, Lumen ends season as D-6 champs!

November 24, 2017

By Mike Moore Photo: Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports Staff Writer Detroit — He was stopped until he wasn’t, wrapped up until he was free. When Sebastian Toland took a second-down handoff early in the fourth quarter Friday night, all seemed relatively normal as a pair of defenders surrounded and slowed him down. By the time this innocent-looking play came to an end, Toland was in the end zone and Lumen Christi was on its way to a Division 6 state championship. Once again. “It feels so great,” Toland, Lumen Christ’s star running back said following the 40-34 victory over Ithaca at Ford Field in the D-6 championship. The Titans defended a previous title for the third time in program history. “Every one of these is great,” Lumen coach Herb Brogan said simply. “You have new kids and it’s a new team. This never gets old.” The game was tight early on, with each team’s defense setting the tone. Lumen got the only touchdown of the first quarter on a 72-yard run from Nick Thomas for an 8-0 lead after a successful 2-point conversion…

Titans one win from state title, set to face undefeated Ithaca squad

November 23, 2017

By Mike Moore Photo: Ryan Kerwin, JTV Sports Staff Writer Jackson — The undercards had their shot, and now, it’s the heavyweight’s turn. Games are played over the course of a playoff tournament, because, as we’ve seen, anything can happen. But roughly five weeks ago when the 2017 postseason began, predetermining the Division 6 final may have been a bit easier than many thought. On Friday afternoon, two of the best will square off at 4:30 p.m. from Ford Field. And somebody’s illustrious tradition is about to take on another glorious chapter. “The guys understand what’s on the line,” Lumen Christi football coach Herb Brogan said about his team’s final against Ithaca. The Titans are the defending D-6 champs seeking back-to-back titles for the first time since 2003-2004. “All our preparation is for right now. The goal is to close this season out on a good note.” Lumen enters the game 11-1, having won nine in a row. The offense has been on cruise control, averaging 47 points in four playoff games, while the defense has allowed more than 15…

Andy Hawley