CHEBOYGAN – I’m still not ready to let go of the 2023-24 Cheboygan area high school sports year just yet.
It was so much fun, the athletes, coaches and fans were great, and many of the games were incredible .
So, as I continue to conduct my version of Cheboygan’s ESPY awards, Part 2 will focus on some of the best experiences I had over the past year.
Best Atmosphere: Superior Dome in Marquette (Inland Lakes vs. Martin state football title game) – A state football championship game is always something I’ve wanted to cover, and I finally had the chance last November when Inland Lakes faced Martin an 8-Player Division 1 showdown . I was blown away by the Yooper Dome as the Clippers edged out the Bulldogs in a classic title game. The loud atmosphere, the big plays, and just being inside a venue so big was something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
BEST COACHING JOBS: Meyer, Szymoniak, Price lead way on list of top Cheboygan area coaches in 2023-24 year
BEST GAMES: Inland Lakes-St. Ignace football rematch is my 2023-24 high school game of the year
Best Upset: Cheboygan girls basketball beats St. Ignace – Going into this, I thought Cheboygan didn’t have a shot to beat this version of the Saints, even though this was far from the well-oiled machine, championship-winning squads Dorene Ingalls has yielded in the past. Still, the Saints were tough. But on this night, the Chiefs found a way in front of their home crowd, holding off the Saints, 33-30 – the first win over their rivals from across the Mackinac Bridge since 2015. What a night for a Cheboygan team that improved so much under second-year coach Walter Hanson.
Most Exciting Moment: Onaway baseball stuns Inland Lakes – It came down to one out in Harbor Springs. You could feel the excitement of the Onaway players, who were hungry for glory – and it happened. What occurred next was a wild celebration of Cardinals, who mobbed pitcher Cole Selke following a 3-1 regional championship triumph . It hasn’t been a smooth last year for Onaway athletics, but this was a feel-good moment for that entire community.
Most Heartbreaking Moment: Inland Lakes football losing in state title game – Let’s go back to last November at the Superior Dome. I thought the Bulldogs had it, holding a commanding 26-6 advantage over defending champion Martin in the fourth quarter . But somehow, the Clippers staged a remarkable rally and delivered a stunning, come-from-behind 30-26 victory that sent I-L players, coaches and supporters into devastation mode. As painful as this postgame was for Inland Lakes, I’ll say it again – it was one hell of a run by an outstanding squad.
Loudest Moment: Cheboygan boys top Onaway in hoops – I didn’t think the struggling Chiefs had much of a chance against the fast-paced Cardinals, but I was proven wrong . The best part about that clash was how loud both crowds got as things got tense. Heck, even a couple people I won’t mention were thrown out! Talk about a wild night. Either way, as the Chiefs closed in on victory, it was party time for the Cheboygan student section, which made that gym sound the loudest it's sounded in years.
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: Cheboygan area high school sports 2023-24 awards: The best experiences of the year
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