Welcome to Episode 6 of the CatchMark Catch-Up for the 2022-23 winter sports season in the West Michigan Conference.
It’s Monday, Feb. 13, and we’re recapping conference highlights Feb. 6-11, 2023.
BOYS BOWLING
Bowling doesn’t typically get a lot of play in the Catch-Up or much coverage at all. (If more coaches would submit results to CatchMark SportsNet at sports@catchmarkit.com, then we could rectify that. But that’s another matter.)
But you can’t help but give a huge shout-out to Oakridge sophomore Mike Hruskach, who rolled a perfect 300 game in a regional tune-up tournament Saturday at Sherman Bowling Center.
They say 13 is an unlucky number, but that was not the case at all for Hruskach, who rolled his perfect game on lane No. 13.
CLICK HERE to watch the video posted on the Oakridge High School Facebook page.
Elsewhere, Whitehall’s Phoenix Hoffmeyer rolled 231 in Whitehall’s dual win over Mason County Central and Fremont’s Kaden Johnson shot 223 in his team’s dual victory over Montague.
GIRLS BOWLING
Ravenna junior Kendra Denhof is a difference-maker for the Bulldogs’ softball team. Turns out, she’s getting pretty darn good on the bowling lanes, too.
Last Wednesday, Denhof broke her school’s single-game record by rolling a 247 in a dual match against Ludington at Stix. She also rolled a 227 last week.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
One West Michigan Conference girls basketball team locked up an outright divisional title last week, while another secured no worse than a share.
Ludington clinched the outright WMC Lakes Division championship with a 52-40 road victory over rival Manistee last Friday. The Orioles (13-5, 10-1 WMC Lakes) have only one divisional game remaining, this Thursday at Orchard View.
Also on Friday night, Hart clinched a share of the WMC Rivers Division title with a 51-32 home victory over Mason County Central. The Pirates (16-2, 10-0 WMC Rivers) can wrap up the outright divisional crown this Thursday at Hesperia.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Hart’s boys basketball team continues to run roughshod over the competition and remains perfect at 16-0, but the Pirates face one of their toughest remaining regular-season contests this Friday when North Muskegon comes to town. Hart is 7-0 in the WMC Rivers Division, while North Muskegon is two games back in the loss column at 7-2. Next Thursday (Feb. 23), the Pirates host Mason County Central (6-2 WMC Rivers).
In the WMC Lakes Division, the title appears to be coming down to Ludington and Whitehall. The Orioles (15-1, 8-0 WMC Lakes) are in the driver’s seat and beat Whitehall in the teams’ first meeting this season (63-52 on Jan. 6), but the Vikings (12-5, 6-1) visit Hawley Gym this Friday. Whitehall will be looking to settle the score in the CatchMark SportsNet WMC Game of the Week, but Ludington is tough in its home gym.
WRESTLING
Team and individual districts are in the rearview mirror now for WMC wrestlers.
On Saturday, dozens of wrestlers from the conference punched their tickets to this week’s individual regionals with top-four finishes at the individual districts. CLICK HERE for photos and more details.
Last Wednesday, Whitehall captured a Division 3 team district title at Montague, while Hart and Ravenna won district crowns in Divisions 3 and 4, respectively.
Below are the team regional schedules for this Wednesday. Regional champions advance to the team state finals (quarterfinals-finals) at Wings Event Center Feb. 24-25 in Kalamazoo.
DIVISION 3 AT KENT CITY
Semifinals: Whitehall vs. Kent City, 5:30 p.m.; Howard City Tri County vs. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 5:30 p.m.
Finals: Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.
DIVISION 3 AT REMUS CHIPPEWA HILLS
Semifinals: Hart vs. Remus Chippewa Hills, 6 p.m.; Clare vs. Beaverton, 6 p.m.
Finals: Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.
DIVISION 4 AT ITHACA
Semifinals: Ravenna vs. Ithaca, 6 p.m.; Lakeview vs. St. Louis, 6 p.m.
Finals: Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.
PLEASE REPORT YOUR RESULTS!
CatchMark SportsNet does its best to report results for all West Michigan Conference varsity sports and all teams. We love to spotlight athletes from every school in the league.
But we need your help, coaches.
Please make sure you’re reporting scores/results, stats, highlights and anything else you can share from your contests. We’d like the results the day or night of the contest sent to sports@catchmarkit.com.
Many coaches are already doing a good job reporting, but we’re seeking participation from those who are not yet in the routine.
Please help us so we can promote and provide coverage of your schools, teams and athletes.
