Meyer, Szymoniak, Price lead way on list of top Cheboygan area coaches in 2023-24 year

CHEBOYGAN – We’ve talked ad nauseam about the great teams we got to watch during the 2023-24 Cheboygan area high school sports year.

But we haven’t talked as much about who guided those teams to their astounding success.

Here’s a look at my top coaching jobs of the past year.

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1. Travis Meyer (Inland Lakes Football) – Meyer’s coaching resume really speaks for itself, as he's helped lead the Bulldogs to several big-game victories and trophies since he took over the program.

But 2023 was the best year yet for Meyer, whose Bulldogs lifted a third consecutive Ski Valley Conference championship and a second regional crown since 2020.

Meyer’s Bulldogs were sensational all through the fall, going 11-2 with playoff victories over Alcona, St. Ignace and Pickford. Had it not been for an incredible fourth-quarter comeback by defending 8-Player state champion Martin, the Bulldogs would’ve hoisted their first-ever state title trophy.

But even though the Bulldogs fell agonizingly short in Marquette, Meyer did a magnificent job of leading this squad of standouts and team-first guys.

Meyer should have another talented squad in 2024, so one more magical postseason run wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility. But let’s appreciate the job the I-L head coach and his entire staff did in 2023.

2. Eddy Szymoniak (Onaway Football and Boys Basketball) – What else can be said about Szymoniak?

Last fall, Szymoniak took on the incredibly difficult task of becoming interim head coach of the football Cardinals, who saw then-coach Josh Bigby resign prior to their season opener.

Not only did Szymoniak raise the spirits of Onaway’s football players, he and his staff helped guide the Cardinals to a winning record and a memorable home triumph over Cedarville in their season finale.

In the winter, Szymoniak did what he does best – lead Onaway hoops to district titles. This time, it was a fourth straight for the Cardinals, who outlasted Inland Lakes in an exciting final at Rogers City.

I always wondered how Szymoniak found a way to take all of that on, but then again, we’re talking about Eddy Szymoniak here. Someone who’s never afraid to take on a challenge.

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3. Rick Price (Onaway Baseball) – I had a good feeling about this Onaway team when I watched them go toe-to-toe against rival Inland Lakes in their Ski Valley Conference opener back in April.

The Cardinals eventually got swept by the Bulldogs, but the two games they lost could’ve ended up being victories.

After a so-so start to the campaign, Price’s Cardinals got red hot and went on a thrilling run in the postseason, one that included payback in the form of a 3-1 win over the Bulldogs in the regional final. The Cardinals bowed out to eventual state runner-up Norway later that day, but history was already made with their win in the morning.

What also shouldn’t go unnoticed is the excellent job done by Onaway assistant Trevor Wregglesworth, whose impact on the squad was immense. Together, the Price-Wregglesworth duo lifted the Cardinals to unprecedented heights and finished off an epic season with district and regional trophies in hand.

Honorable Mentions: Darcie Mlynarchek (Cheboygan Volleyball), Sandy Safford (Cheboygan Girls Cross Country), Daryl Vizina (Inland Lakes Girls Basketball), Sarah Furman (Inland Lakes Girls Track and Field), Josh Vieau (Inland Lakes Baseball), Jake Huffman (Mackinaw City Girls Basketball), Steve Watson (Onaway Volleyball), Elijah May (Mackinaw City Baseball), Kathleen Blust (Pellston Clay Target)

Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com . Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Meyer, Szymoniak, Price lead way on list of top Cheboygan area coaches in 2023-24 year