Wednesday was a big day for Ludington’s athletic program.
In addition to the Orioles’ boys soccer team completing an unbeaten run through the West Michigan Conference, the school’s girls golf and boys tennis squads punched tickets to their respective state finals tournaments.
In girls golf, Ludington junior Emma McKinley shot a 4-over 76 to earn medalist honors in the Division 3 regional at Ferris State University’s Katke Golf Club and lead the Orioles to a runner-up finish. McKinley also was the No. 1 player in the West Michigan Conference this season for Ludington’s league-title team.
Ludington shot 357 as a team to finish one shot behind regional champion Spring Lake. Whitehall’s girls golf team also qualified for the Division 3 state finals Oct. 14-15 at Michigan State University’s Forest Akers East by finishing third at the regional with a score of 381.
The top three teams and top three individuals who are not part of qualifying squads advance to the finals.
McKinley won regional medalist honors by five shots over Grant junior Nadia Zerlaut, who qualified for the state finals as an individual. Spring Lake junior Evie McDonald (84), Whitehall junior Ava Garcia (85) and Ludington senior Sophia Sarto (88) rounded out the top five on the leaderboard at Katke.
Whitehall’s Bill Borgman was named Regional Coach of the Year.
BOYS TENNIS: Ludington’s boys tennis team placed second in the Division 3 regional it hosted Wednesday, meaning the Orioles punched their ticket to the state finals Oct. 14-15 held at Mason, Haslett and East Lansing high schools.
Ludington finished with 15 points, three behind regional champ Petoskey.
Robby Killups and Reece Ward were flight champions for the Orioles at No. 2 singles and No. 4 singles, respectively.
Ludington’s Jack Stidham (No. 3 singles), Chaz Leonard and Andre Walden (No. 2 doubles), and Rylan Miretti and Will James (No. 3 doubles) were runners-up in their respective flights.
