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Class of 2020

Road Trip Brings Results for JHS Pitcher, Coach

Jackson High School senior Camille Wertzbar signed a letter of intent to play softball for Glen Oaks Community College last winter. She will go from a Jackson High School Viking to a Glen Oaks Viking this fall.  Courtesy photo By Jeff Steers JTV Sports A road trip that spanned two-and-a-half days and four college campuses paid off for Jackson High School pitcher Camille Wertzbar. It’s a good thing the senior didn’t wait until the spring to showcase her talents for college recruiters. Wertzbar is one of thousands of seniors who had their seasons/careers cut short when the coronavirus hit in mid-March. Schools were closed for three weeks before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer canceled school for good the first week in April. When the Michigan High School Athletic Association canceled the spring season, Wertzbar was left to wonder what if. “You have to put it all into perspective,” Camille said. “I didn’t think it would take this long for the virus to run its course. Camille was approximately 100 strikeouts away from setting the school record for strikeouts in a season, according to her mother Jeannie – also her high school coach. Being on a team with a sub .500 record can…

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Pandemic Ends Sports Careers for Four JCHS Seniors

Photos by Teague Gerweck, JTV Sports   By Jeff Steers JTV Sports (May 6, 2020 4:42 PM) Four seniors at Jackson Christian High School had their seasons/careers cut short when the coronavirus pandemic closed schools in early April. Soccer players Johanna Kegerreis and Mackenzie Stucky did not have the chance to hardly start – or finish – the 2020 high school season. Coming off a 12th-place finish in Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 4 golf, JCHS did not have a chance to back that up this season. Seniors Nate Blumenstock and Tyler Spry were members of the varsity golf squad. In 2019, JCHS finished second – by one stroke – at the Division 4 golf regional and advance to the state meet. The Royals finished 12th overall with a two-day total of 739 at The Meadows Golf Course on the campus of Grand Valley State University. Blumenstock finished fourth overall at the regional competition for Jackson Christian. He played soccer, basketball, golf, and baseball at Jackson Christian. The senior plans to study business at Cornerstone University. Spry played soccer, basketball, golf, and was a member of the school’s National Honor Society and JCHS Student Senate. Spry plans to study…

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Abbey Goes ‘All in’ for Golf Scholarship

Onsted High School senior Noah Abbey on signing day at Onsted High School, October 2019.  Courtesy photo. By Jeff Steers JTV Sports (May 3, 2020 1:04 PM) Spring Arbor University golf signee Noah Abbey once was a budding star in other high school sports. But it wasn’t golf. The Onsted High School senior is glad he made the switch a couple of years ago to pursue a golf scholarship. Abbey is one of many seniors who had his/her seasons and careers cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. Schools were shut down in mid-March and the Michigan High School Athletic Association followed suit a couple of days later cancelling the remainder of the 2019-2020 winter season and 2020 spring season. Abbey played linebacker and running back on the OHS varsity squad as a freshman. He also played basketball for two seasons in high school. But OHS boys’ golf Coach Brad Maska said he went “all in” for a chance for a golf scholarship. “Noah did everything he had to get a golf scholarship,” Maska said. “I was pleased to see the year he had in 2019. “It is hard to see his season canceled.” Abbey was the top golfer in…

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Sports Provides ‘Tool Box for Life’ – Concord Baseball Coach Says

Concord High School varsity baseball Coach Max Clark, right, congratulates a player after a win at Springport High School during the 2019 season.  Photo by  Jeff Steers, JTV Sports. By Jeff Steers JTV Sports Concord High School varsity baseball Coach Max Clark says high school sports provides a “tool box for life” for student-athletes for his football and baseball teams. The box will be a little fuller when athletics – hopefully – returns to schools following the coronavirus pandemic this fall. It may be just another lesson in life – learned off the field – for high school seniors. Concord would have been attempting to win its 10th consecutive district title in baseball this spring. Clark said the district dominance was started by longtime Coach John Ropp. “He started a tradition of taking the whole team to Florida to practice,” Clark said. “We went to Navarre Beach (in the Florida Panhandle) and had a lot of great parents who helped with the trip. “It was a great bonding trip,” Clark said. Clark said parents also played a role in the early years with student-athletes. Coaches at the Little League and other travel teams helped mold some good habits. This year’s trip…

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Tumas Making the Best of Extended Time Off

Columbia Central High School soccer player Jensen Tumas has played four years of varsity soccer for the Golden Eagles. Courtesy photo by Lynn Tyndall. By Jeff Steers JTV Sports Columbia Central High School senior Jensen Tumas is making the best of her extended time off. The CCHS soccer player has been enjoying time off, spending more time with her family, and applying for more scholarships. Tumas was one of thousands of student-athletes who missed their senior season in sports. CCHS Coach Andy Hosmer said Tumas was one of the most improved players over four years he has ever coached. The senior was scheduled to be one of the defensive stars for the Golden Eagles this season. “I came off the bench as a defensive player in my freshman season,” Tumas said. “There were three seniors on our defense at the time. “I learned a lot from these players.” Tumas has started on the defensive side of the ball ever since. She earned all-conference honorable mention honors in 2019. “Coach (Andy) Hosmer is one of the best teachers I have ever had,” Tumas said of her improved play over the years. “I miss seeing my friends on and off the soccer…

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Hosmer ‘Discouraged’ Over Loss of Senior Season

Columbia Central High School senior Anna Hosmer, right, attempts to drive past an opponent during a game earlier in her career. Courtesy photo. By Jeff Steers JTV Sports Columbia Central High School senior Anna Hosmer spent nearly 10 months preparing for her senior season of soccer. When the spring season was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, Hosmer said she was discouraged. But the senior still has college soccer to look forward to. Hosmer will play soccer for her father, Andy, at Jackson College – hopefully – in the fall. She signed to play for the Jets earlier in the year. “I thought it was a neat experience having my dad as the coach and signing (a letter of intent) with both of my parents by my side,” Hosmer said. “A lot of my friends thought it was cool. “It will be an honor to play at JC.” Hosmer should know a number of the players on the Jets’ squad. She practiced with the team last fall during their college season. Those practices helped her stay in shape and pass the time until spring. “I really like the members of our team (Jackson College),” Hosmer said. “I know a lot…

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Cooper ‘Looks to the Future’ After Softball Season Canceled

Michigan Center High School athlete Bailey Cooper poses with the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 district trophy.  Courtesy photo By Jeff Steers JTV Sports Michigan Center High School senior Bailey Cooper was fired up for her senior year of being on the mound for the Cardinals. Hours of travel softball, fall leagues, and finding locations to pitch were going to pay off for Cooper. But that all ended the first week in April when school was canceled in Michigan for the remainder of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic. A couple of days later, the Michigan High School Athletic Association followed suit and canceled the remainder of the winter tournaments and the spring sports season. Cooper said she had hoped the season would start somewhat late, but never figured everything would be canceled. But the soon-to-be graduate has taken everything in stride. “I got plans for the future,” Cooper said on Tuesday. “It is disappointing that something crazy like this happened. “I have got to move on … I have bigger things in life.” Last year Cooper signed up to be in the United State Navy. She plans to head out in mid-July and plans to be…

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Napoleon’s Owen ‘Getting Through Life’ Thanks to Sports

Napoleon High School senior Tyler Owen takes a look at a pitch during a non-conference game in 2019. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports. By Jeff Steers JTV Sports (April 24, 2020 8:36 PM) Napoleon High School senior Tyler Owen said that sports helps you get through life. That will come in handy these days. Owen is one of many high school seniors who had his/her career and season cut short due to the coronavirus. School was postponed in March and finally canceled in early April. The Michigan High School Athletic Association canceled all winter tournaments and spring sports a couple of days later. In March, Owen was a day away from joining his varsity basketball team in an MHSAA Division 3 district final at Stockbridge against Leslie. He was a week away from starting practice for his favorite sport – baseball – prior to the cancelation of the season by the MHSAA. “I thought it was going to be a short cancelation and then everything would be okay,” Owen said. “At first it was hard to believe we were going to lose our senior season of baseball.” Owen was part of one of Napoleon’s best baseball teams of all…

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Northwest Schools LightUp4Seniors

JTV Drone video produced by Teague Gerweck, JTV. (April 24, 2020 4:36 PM)  Northwest High School is honoring their 2020 graduates by lighting up Mountie Stadium last night and again next Thursday, April 30.  Each Thursday,  the stadium lights are turned on at 8:20pm (2020 hours military time) for 20 minutes and 20 seconds.  Northwest High School invites you to join by turning on your porch lights or outside lights during the same time period.  In a website post, Athletic Director Chris Galloway said, "We love and miss our all of our students but we especially feel for our Seniors that are not experiencing a traditional senior spring. Please be mindful of the Executive Order to Stay Home, Stay Safe and the gates to the stadium will be locked and people are not to be on school grounds. Our thoughts and hearts are with our Seniors. Go Mounties!!!"

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Concord Track Disappointed by Season Cancelation

Concord High School athlete Vincent Giuliano won the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 4 title in the 200-meter dash in 2019. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports. By Jeff Steers JTV Sports (April 21, 2020 6:46 PM) Back before 1975, sportscasters and statistics used to decide who was the “mythical” state champions in Michigan High School Athletic Association football. On paper, Concord High School was probably the favorite to win the MHSAA Division 4 state title in boys’ track. Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, the season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic and athletes will have to wonder “what if.” “It is a tough year to lose a season … as any year would,” CHS Coach Mike Jurasek said. “I think we would have scored in the 60s at the state meet … which would have been enough to win.” Jurasek – a state-champion track and field coach at Albion High School – is right. The highest total to win a state title in track and field in Division 4 the last five years is 66 points. The average for five seasons is 51.4 points for the winning team. The Yellow Jackets had a number of all-state returning…

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