The CatchMark Catch-Up is a weekly recap of highlights from the West Michigan Conference. It’s Monday, Sept. 18, and we’re hitting some of the highlights from last week.
Before we get into them, please see this announcement, coaches:
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FOOTBALL
Whitehall keeps bell in shutout of Montague
Whitehall’s defense and senior Kyle Stratton set the tone in the Vikings’ 35-0 victory at rival Montague Friday in the latest installment of the “Battle for the Bell.”
It was an electric atmosphere at Townsend Athletic Complex.
CLICK HERE for details, photos, videos, and TikToks from the evening.
Hart wins wild one over Stockbridge at Olivet College
Hart’s football team remained unbeaten on the season with a wild 54-41 nonconference victory over Stockbridge Friday in a game played at Olivet College, the alma mater for Pirates head coach Joe Tanis.
Joseluis Andaverde ran wild for Hart, finishing with 322 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries.
CLICK HERE for more info on the game appearing in the WMC football roundup.
VOLLEYBALL
Ludington on a roll, wins Calvin Christian Invite
Ludington’s offensive game has been on display for most of the season. In winning the Calvin Christian Invite championship Saturday, the Orioles’ defense stepped up in a big way.
Ludington won five matches and split one en route to the title. In pool play, the Orioles defeated Wyoming Potter’s House (25-10, 25-10), Wyoming (25-11, 25-13), and Byron Center Zion Christian (25-13, 25-10) before they split with Spring Lake (23-25, 25-11). In bracket play, Ludington beat Spring Lake (25-21, 25-20) before knocking off Allendale (25-18, 25-19).
Maddy Vaara led Ludington (30-6-1) on the day with 59 kills, 28 digs, eight blocks, five aces, and one assist. Jordyn Anderson piled up 101 assists, 31 digs, 13 kills, nine blocks, and four aces. Other stat leaders ofr the Orioles: Karli Mesyar with 75 digs and 12 assists; Mia Voss 28 kills, Ashley McPike 25 kills and 18 digs; Jaelyn Laird 27 kills; Mia Pung 46 digs; and Mya Bryant 13 digs.
“There were a lot of tips coming our way but our defense did a great job of getting them up and putting balls away. Spring Lake battled hard and took a set from us in pool play, so the girls had to work extra hard when we met them the first game of the championship pool,” Ludington coach Liz Holden said.
“They brought that intensity into the final game against Allendale. I couldn’t be happier with how hard they played to finish the day taking first overall. It is fun watching them realize how talented they really are.”
BOYS SOCCER
Whitehall picks up two big wins
It was a big week for Whitehall’s boys soccer team.
On Monday, Whitehall upset visiting Ludington, 3-1. Mason Mulnix netted a pair of goals for the Vikings, while Ian Hinze had the other goal. Andon Palmer notched the win in goal.
Whitehall wasn’t done yet. On Wednesday, the Vikings edged rival Montague, 3-2. Evan Jud netted two goals, including the game-winner with 5:15 left. Mulnix assisted on the winning goal and he also scored one of his own, while Palmer got the win in goal.
Oakridge picks up big WMC win over Shelby
Oakridge’s boys soccer team has been playing better of late, evidenced by a 3-1 win over a talented Shelby team last Wednesday at Russell A. Erickson Stadium.
Dallas Meyers, Arturo Romero-Serrano, and Landon Meacher scored goals for the Eagles, while Romero-Serrano and Ian Thompson notched assists. Isaac Willard made eight saves in net for Oakridge.
Oakridge followed up that win with an 8-0 victory Friday at Grant. Romero-Serrano had three goals and Thompson tallied three assists.
GIRLS GOLF
Whitehall wins WMC jamboree at Excalibur
Whitehall’s girls golf team put together a solid round collectively in running away with first place in a WMC jamboree Friday at Excalibur Golf Club in Muskegon.
Whitehall shot 157, which was 11 strokes better than runner-up Ludington. Montague was third at 176, followed by North Muskegon (183) andFremont (186) in the top five.
Ludington’s Emma McKinley was the top individual finisher in the nine-hole event with a 36. Whitehall’s Ava Garcia and Grace McDowell followed with 37 and 38, respectively. Fremont’s Lena Hudson was fourth (39), follow by Ludington’s Julia Reed and Montague’s Kennedy Johnson both with 40s.
CROSS COUNTRY
Hart’s Jazwinski siblings setting the tone early
Hart’s Jessica Jazwinski is defending Division 3 state champion for cross country. By the looks of the first few races of his high school career, younger brother Bobby Jazwinski would appear to be a title contender as well.
The Jazwinski siblings are setting the tone among WMC runners in the early going this season.
Jessica Jazwinski took first place in last Tuesday’s WMC Rivers Division jamboree at Shelby with a time of 18:17.78 as the Pirates cruised to first place as a team. She followed that up with a first-place finish Friday against many larger schools at the Ottawa Hills Invitational in a time of 17:29.2.
Bobby Jazwinski turned in a first-place time of 16:33.96 in leading Hart to the top finish in the WMC Rivers jamboree Tuesday at Shelby. He followed that up with a runner-up finish and personal-best time of 15:33.1 Friday at the Ottawa Hills Invitational.
BOYS TENNIS
Whitehall, North Muskegon to square off Monday
Whitehall and North Muskegon have played some competitive matches in boys tennis over the years.
The Vikings and Norsemen will square off again in a dual match at 4 p.m. today (Monday, Sept. 18) at Whitehall.
They’ll see each other again in the upcoming Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament on Sept. 30.
GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING
Ludington posts 10 lifetime bests
Ludington lost to the visiting Traverse City Co-op team Thursday, 108-76, but the Orioles’ small team of 10 swimmers posted 10 lifetime bests and five season-bests in the Coastal Swim Conference meet.
Madison Bearup won the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. Reese Willis won both the 50 and 100 freestyle. Cora Mahler won the 100 butterfly. The 400 freestyle relay team Cora Mahler, Kylie Sailor, Izzie Lundberg, and Reese Willis finished first.
