High School Roundup: Marshall, Harper Creek cross country runners qualify for state finals

BATTLE CREEK — The Battle Creek area will be well represented at the upcoming state cross country meet, highlighted by an individual regional champ in Marshall's Jack Bidwell, as well as the overall efforts of the entire Redhawks boys squad, which qualified as a team.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association regional cross country meets were held throughout the state on Friday-Saturday with a handful of local runners advancing to the state finals.

The MHSAA State Cross Country Finals will be held at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan on Saturday.

Marshall's Bidwell, who has the second-fastest time in the state regardless of division, finished first at the Division 2 regional at Portage Central on Saturday. Bidwell was regional champ with a time of 15:17.

MORE: Lakeview holds off young Harper Creek squad to win All-City girls swim title

Marshall also won the boys team championship at the regional with 59 points, qualifying the group for the state finals. Sophomore Abraham McHugh was fourth overall in 16:11, senior Reece Davis was seventh in 16:19. The Redhawks' Clark Erwin was 16th, Ty Winchell was 35th, Cameron Weers 40th and Chase Weers 52nd.

Harper Creek finished fourth as a team in the boys meet with the Beavers' Dominic Lowrie taking second overall in 15:46. Harper Creek's Cooper Gardner and Christian Ayers also qualified for state by taking 13th and 15th, respectively.

Harper Creek and Marshall each had one individual qualify for the state finals in the girls regional. The Beavers' Julia Faber was eighth in the regional to grab a spot at state with Marshall's Leah McPartlin taking 11th.

In a Division 2 regional at Grand Rapids South Christian, Gull Lake competed with the Blue Devils' Lane Isom taking second overall in the girls race to qualify for state in a time of 18:29.

Division 1

At the Division 1 meet at Portage Central on Friday, Lakeview had two runners finish in the top 30, but neither qualified for a spot in the state meet. Senior Jonah Bills finished 18th in a time of 16:25 with freshman Karson Lewis finishing 28th in 16:47.

The Lakeview girls were led by Lilamae Frank, who took 16th overall in 19:44, but missed out on a spot at the state meet.

Division 3

The Union City boys qualified as a team in the Division 3 regional at Portage Central, taking third overall. The Chargers' Ben Gautsche led the way by taking second in a time of 16:42. Also heading to the state meet from Union City are Jason Shoop (ninth), Noah June (20th), Cohen Burdick (21st), Cullen Decker (28th), Aiden Taylor (29th) and Malachi Payne (32nd).

Galesburg-Augusta had two runners qualify individually with Landen Bouchard taking seventh and Carter Stevens placing 10th.

The Union City girls finished as regional champs, sending its entire team to the state finals. Senior Skyler Fraley was second overall in a time of 19:37. Also qualifying from Union City were Allison Gautsche (sixth), Alissa Skirka (10th), Parker Williams (16th), Elizabeth Arlt (27th), Carly Smith (32nd) and McKenzie Hawks (50th).

In a Division 3 regional at Napoleon, Homer had two runners advance in the boys race, including John Edler (11th) and Ethan Huff (18th). In the girls race, Bronson will send two runners to the state finals in Ava Hathaway (third) and Ashlynn Harris (fifth).

Division 4

The Athens boys finished fifth as a team at a Division 4 regional at Portage Central. The Indians had two runners qualify for the state meet in Ethan O'Connor, who took ninth overall in 18:13, and Jay Bronsink, who was 12th in a time of 18:20. Tekonsha's Max Barron took 13th to advance as well in a time of 18:21.

St. Philip didn't move any of its runner to the state meet and was led by senior Jerome Bastian, who was 24th overall.

In the girls regional, Athens sent two runners to the state meet as well with Maria Bronsink taking 18th in 23:52 and Sarah Stemaly at 19th in 24:08. The top runner for St. Philip was Emmy Nofs, in 27th.

Volleyball

Harper Creek repeated as champs in the Interstate 8 Conference by taking first in the league championship volleyball tournament at Hastings on Saturday. The Beavers, ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 2, went undefeated in league play in the regular season and swept the field in the tournament.

Harper Creek defeated Marshall in the semifinals, 21-25, 25-20, 15-8. The Beavers beat Parma Western in the championship match, 25-16, 25-16, 25-12.

Marshall and Coldwater tied for third in the final league standings.

Football

St. Philip lost to Burr Oak, 50-34, on Saturday at C.W. Post Field in 8-player division football. St. Philip ends the regular season at 5-4. Tiger quarterback Colt Myers had 180 yards rushing and three touchdowns and added a 75-yard kickoff return for a score. Brady Lightfoot had 95 yards receiving and a score. Myers added 18 tackles and Cris Gaona had 17 stops.

Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X /Twitter: @billbroderick

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: High School Roundup: Marshall, Harper Creek cross country runners qualify for state finals