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Andy Hawley

This author has written 581 articles

Rolling right along

No end in sight as Napoleon girls reach 13-0 on the hardwood   By Mike Moore Staff Writer   Napoleon – There are enough opinions out there in regards to just how good his team is.   Steve Smoyer has seen his team ranked in the top 10 of one poll, a top team in the area in another.   But as he said, “those are all just opinions.”   Smoyer prefers to stick with the facts, namely the facts of the scoreboard when games come to an end.   And there’s no refuting what his Napoleon girls basketball team have done so far this winter.   Thirteen games. Thirteen wins.   “Not much has changed from the way we approached things earlier in the season,” Smoyer said. “So far it’s worked pretty well. Our focus is on having the biggest number on the scoreboard when that horn goes off. And we’ve done a good job of that.”   The Pirates have had another good week or so, too.   In a highly anticipated matchup with Manchester Jan. 22 — the Flying Dutchmen had just one conference loss all year, to Napoleon, at that — the Pirates rolled to a…

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Albion’s Jake Burris makes a splash with MIAA award

The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association recognized Albion College’s Jake Burris as the Men’s Swimmer/Diver of the Week for his performance in the Jan. 23 dual meet against Hope College.   A first-year student-athlete from Chelsea, Mich., Burris competed against two of the top divers in the league in teammate Henry Swett and Hope’s Jean Luc Miralda, and he finished with first-place performances in the 1- and 3-meter events.   In fact, Burris was awarded 66 points on his final 3-meter dive and he finished with a school-record total of 340.55. He achieved a score of 296.40 on 1-meter.   “We knew coming in that Hope's diver was a national caliber guy and those boards could have gone either way,” Albion Head Coach Jake Taber said. “Jake’s performance on the high board was as complete a round that we've had this year. (Diving Coach) Eric Burris has that group performing well at the right time.”   Albion has two meets remaining prior to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships in February. The Britons will complete the month of January with a Saturday meet against Olivet College and the College of Wooster. Swimming events will be contested at Olivet, with the diving…

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All young fans can be part of the MIS Youth FAB

BROOKLYN, Mich. (Jan. 25, 2016) — Michigan International Speedway strives to provide a memorable experience for fans of all ages. MIS is seeking knowledgeable and passionate youth to share their insight and ideas to improve NASCAR’s fastest racetrack as part of a Youth Fan Advisory Board. The Youth FAB provides a unique opportunity for young NASCAR fans to communicate directly with the MIS staff through email and conference calls about the guest experience, as well as assist in the future planning of the track. All youth ages 14-20 who attend races at MIS are encouraged to apply to be a Youth FAB member. Youth can download the application and bylaws at http://bit.ly/XxNrZn. The application must be returned to MIS by Feb. 24, 2016. MIS created the Youth FAB in 2014 to communicate directly with the countless young guests who make the track their vacation destination. The track is interested in what makes young people excited to come to NASCAR’s fastest speedway and what enhances their experience. “Engaging and attracting youth is critical for NASCAR, our sport and MIS,” MIS President Roger Curtis said. “We want to learn why and do more for kids and teens. It is important to us…

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Now, and later

Western wrestling team in good shape for this season and beyond   By Mike Moore Staff Writer   Parma – Where the desire to compete now, in the conference and in the state tournament is, the Western wrestling team has pieces at the ready.   Where there’s a desire to build the program up for the future, well, the same can be said.   Needless to say, coach Greg Hoffman is in a good spot with his Panthers right now.   “We’ve got a nice lineup, with some young kids and some great veteran leaders,” Hoffman said Thursday night. “We’ve had a lot to deal with this year, from health and injuries and so on. But we’re doing all right.”   Western was 19-9 entering the weekend, and that comes with a lineup that features eight freshmen and sophomores.   But Hoffman refused to even consider the word “rebuild.”   “Because we came into the season with too high of expectations to look at it that way,” he explained.   And many of those expectations had to do with some key guys at the top of the totem pole.   Senior Chase Veydt placed second in the state a year…

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SAU alum Nathan Martin U.S. Olympic Trials bound

  SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – On February 13, former Spring Arbor University student-athlete Nathan Martin (’13 / Three Rivers, MI) will be competing against the nation’s top marathoners at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Los Angeles, California for a chance to represent his country at the 2016 Summer Olympics.   Martin qualified for the trials back in October 2014 by hitting the U.S. Marathon “B” Qualifying Standard at the USA Track & Field Marathon Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He finished sixth in the event with a time of 2:15:47 – narrowly missing the “A” standard of 2:15:00 which provides athletes funding support.   The top three women and men in the trials are named to the U.S. Olympic Marathon team. The fourth finisher is considered the alternate, and is named to the team if one of the top three finishers withdraws before the race with injury.   The upcoming U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials will mark just the third marathon Martin has run in his life. His first came at the 2013 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships where the Three Rivers, Michigan native finished the 26.2-mile race in 2:19:18. His time smashed the previous national record – which…

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Clash of the unbeatens

First place on the line as Michigan Center heads to Hanover-Horton   By Mike Moore Staff Writer   A rivalry game with potential conference implications. Another meeting of two of the best teams in the Cascades Conference. Unbeaten against unbeaten?   What else could one need for a Thursday night in January?   “It’s a real big game,” Hanover-Horton boys basketball coach Chad Mortimer said of his team’s home date at 7 p.m. tonight with Michigan Center. “Being a conference game with two undefeated teams, and it’s on us to protect home court. We don’t want to fall behind knowing we still have to go there. It’s a big one.”   “You cant put too much pressure on one game this early, but it’s a great gauge of where we’re at, especially when we’re the last two unbeatens,” Center coach Travis Gaddy said. “So, for confidence, sure, this is a huge game.”   Hanover comes into tonight’s action with a 6-1 overall record and a 4-0 mark in the Cascades.   Center is 5-2 overall, and 3-0 in the conference.   One thing is certain, not much is going to come easy.   Both teams are solid on the defensive…

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Constructing a program

Birch’s goal for Hanover girls is a sustained winner for years to come   By Mike Moore Staff Writer   Horton – The loss Tuesday night was convincing, a 33-point setback on the road against Grass Lake.   After starting the season 6-1, the Hanover-Horton girls basketball team is 6-4.   And this, if you look back on the past handful of years, is a gigantic step in the right direction.   “If you would have asked me in our first 10 games to be 6-4, I’d take it,” coach Andrew Birch said. “I think we were capable of this, but not too many people expected it.”   Birch is in his second season as the sideline general at Hanover, and to put into even further perspective as to how far the Comets have come, the six wins so far equal the most a single team has had since the 2010-11 team finished 6-14.   “Right now, the focus is on establishing a winning mentality,” Birch said when asked how he hopes to transform the program. “All these girls are competitive and play competitive sports. That’s what you have to instill in them. Having the heart. Playing feisty defense. They…

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American 1 Credit Union Offers Over $15,000 in Scholarships

Jackson, MI - American 1 Credit Union is pleased to offer over 15 scholarships valued at $1,000 each to high school seniors in Michigan through the annual Community Involvement Scholarship Program.   Each student who applies for the scholarship will submit an essay, in 1,500 words or less, on the benefits of altruism and how the student has impacted his or her community through their involvement. Scholarships are funded through American 1’s Skip-a-Pay program, where credit union members can choose to skip one month’s loan payment for $25. That $25 funds the scholarship program.   Scholarship applications are available online at www.American1CU.org, under the Events tab, and then selecting Giving Back. The application deadline is Friday, February 26th 2016   American 1 Credit Union serves over 53,000 members through 13 branches in 7 counties. Based in Jackson, American 1 is proud to be Michigan, hosting more than 10 free, family-friendly events every year in the areas we serve. We strive to give back and to be a truly, local financial option for our communities. Visit our website at www.american1cu.org for more information.   Email applications to: scholarship@a1cu.org (.doc, .docx, or .pdf files only)   Mail applications to: Community Scholarship Program…

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