SPORTS

POWERLIFTING
Powerlifters look strong at first meet 

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JV girls powerlifting team with the second-place team plaque. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography
If the first regional meet is any indication, the Elk powerlifting team is in for a great season this year. Competing in the Grandville Regional on Sunday, the JV girls powerlifting team took second place overall, the first time an Elk Rapids team has won in the team events.

“Your Elk Rapids JV Lady Elks earned a Runner-Up plaque for the second-best performance of all the women’s JV teams at the Grandville Regional Qualifier!” was immediately posted by Garrett Skurnit, the Elk powerlifting coach.

“That was a very emotional moment. When you begin to lead a program, the first thing you try to do is establish a particular culture that is geared towards success in that sport, and in life,” explained Skurnit. “It’s not always a fast process, and to see it finally come to fruition is beyond rewarding. We’ve had many individual accomplishments, but this is the first team award in my tenure, and I couldn’t be more proud of this group.”

“Because they placed in the top ten of their weight class, sophomore Violet Sumerix, freshman Malia Coronado and seventh grader Emma Eardley all earned points that contributed to the team award.” There were eight teams competing in the JV girls meet, consisting of lifters in the seventh through tenth grade, according to the Michigan High School Powerlifting Association (MHSPLA) guidelines. The varsity division includes lifters from the 9th through 12th grades. Each athlete competes in three events, the squat, bench press and dead lift, with three chances to lift in each event. The heaviest successful lift per event is combined for a grand total of pounds lifted. Medals are earned for first through third finishers. A lifter that finishes in the top two of a weight class is then qualified for the varsity or JV state final meet. 

All total the Elks had 12 Elk lifters in Grandville for their powerlifting competition opener. As the meet came to a finish, six Elks had earned medals, in addition to the JV Lady Elks runners-up honors. For the girls, a first-place medal earned by freshman Mia McCormack (105) lifting a total of 350 pounds. Second place medals went to 8th-grader Amani Canning (132) with a lift of 330 and freshman Rebecca Miracle (145) lifting a total of 475 pounds. McCormack, Miracle, and Canning each qualified for the JV State Meet, to be held in March at Henry Ford II High School in Sterling Heights. Third place medals were won by eight grader Emily Markey (123) lifting 270 pounds and seventh grader Bre Cullimore (132) lifting a total 320 pounds. In the JV boys division, 8th grader Landon Porteous (114) took home a third-place medal lifting a total of 225 pounds. 

The Elk team has 19 members, including several on varsity, but seven were unable to attend the opening meet due to Covid-related issues. Skurnit gave credit to the hard work of the team members, and also to an exhibition match held in Elk Rapids last Saturday. “The exhibition meet definitely helped,” Skurnit said, “understanding the commands and what the judges are looking for when it comes to form was crucial for them in preparation.” The Elk powerlifting team hopes to raise the bar when they next compete at Mona Shores High School on Saturday, January 29.

BOWLING
Bowlers lose close match to Bellaire

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Evan Pike concentrates on the pins in a tight match with Bellaire. Photo by David Kurtz
Looking to roll their second straight win the Elk varsity bowling team threw against Bellaire at Lucky Jack’s on Saturday, falling in a close battle 18-12.  

The teams split the baker games; Bellaire earned the extra two points by winning the total pins in a close count, squeezing by with just eight more pins than the Elks. 

In the regular matches, the Elks took total team points in the first match but lost a point in the individual match by one pin. In the second match the Elks lost in the total team points. 

“The kicker was we lost team totals by a pin, which is two points,” said Elk bowling coach Ken Hicks. “It was actually a very tight match. Three pins and it would have been a tie. The game would have been 15-15 and a two-game baker roll off would then occur.”

Earning two points was Seth Brown, earning one point were Evan Pike and Grant Darnell. Calvin Kurtz bowled the two Elk two high games of 172 and 170. Kurtz also picked up the 6-7-10 split twice. 
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The Elk JV team won by forfeit as the Traverse City Central JV had no students show up to bowl. “In a forfeit, our bowlers don’t have to be within 10 points of their average to win a point, but we told them they had to, and they did well,” Hicks said. This week Elk varsity is scheduled to face Cadillac, and the Elk JV will go against the Traverse City West JV.

VARSITY HOCKEY
Bay Reps win two at hockey showcase

Centre Ice played host to the Rick Deneweth North-South Showcase this past weekend, with the event featuring 23 of the best high school hockey teams in the state.

The Bay Reps were undefeated in showcase play, bouncing back from losing two games in Marquette last weekend. The Reps rallied to defeat Lake Orion 5-3 on Friday night, followed with a 3-2 comeback win over Escanaba on Saturday.

On Friday, Lake Orion scored on a power play with 44 seconds to play in the first period. Ethan Coleman (SB) tied the game 22 seconds later with a goal that bounced off the goalkeeper into the net. The Bay Reps scored twice in the second period for the lead, then added two more in the third to secure the win. Lake Orion added a second in the third, but too late to make a difference.

Coleman had two goals, Gabe Classens (SF), Elk Rapids Grant Lucas and Zander Griffore (KL) all had solo goals. Elk Thomas Boynton-Fisher had two assists. Elk Mack Barnhard was in goal with 22 saves.
The win advanced the Reps to face the Escanaba Eskymos on Saturday at Centre Ice. The Eskymos took a 2-0 lead in the first, the Reps closed out the opening period with a goal, tied the game with a second period score, and earned the win with a final goal in the third. Elk Barnhard had 13 saves in the Rep net.
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The Bay Reps (9-8-1) went back over the .500 mark with the two wins and look to keep the streak alive as they hosted Big Rapids on Wednesday, then take to the road to face Flint Powers on Friday.

VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL
Elks thrilling comeback falls short 

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Charlie Ward (5) elevates and gets the shot off just over the outstretched hand of the St. Francis defender. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography
In a battle of Lake Michigan Conference unbeatens on Tuesday in Elk Rapids, the Elks found themselves trailing to St. Francis by 15 points, 47-32, with 2:17 left to play. Fans had already started to leave, just as the Elks mounted a furious comeback, outscoring the Gladiators 15-1 over the next two minutes to get within one point at 48-47 with 11 seconds to play. The Elks were forced to foul, St. Francis made two free throws, and Mason Travis’s half court three point try went slightly wide left as time expired, giving St. Francis the 50-47 win. 

“We made a couple shots and that helped us get into our press which we were able to create some steals and other scoring opportunities,” said Elk varsity boys coach Kevin Ball. “This team doesn’t quit. It wasn’t about whether or not we would get back into it, we needed to just keep fighting and have that never give up attitude that almost allowed us to pull it off. Our goal is to get that point where we are capable of playing 32 minutes at that pace.” 

The first quarter ended with the Elks trailing 9-7, and at halftime they were down 21-16. In the third quarter, the Elks appeared to fold. St. Francis ran off 15 unanswered points before Jack Spencer hit a three with two minutes to play in the third, Travis sank a free throw for the only other Elk point. the quarter ended with St. Francis holding a commanding 38-20 advantage. In the fourth the Glads went up as many as 19, but the score sat at 47-32 when the Elks made their run. Josh Lavely tied his career high with 21 points to go with 13 boards, Spencer had 12 points, all from behind the arc, Spencer Ball had four steals. 

“In the third quarter we just made too many mistakes and didn’t take care of the ball,” said Coach Ball “We have to do better taking care of the ball against very physical teams. We need to be more fundamentally sound. I think we learned that we are capable of competing against those teams.” 

Last Wednesday the Elks traveled to Kalkaska for a conference game with the Blazers, coming away with a 58-53 win in a battle. The first quarter changed hands twice, ending with the Elks taking an 11-10 lead. In the second quarter with the score tied at 14-14, Kalkaska put together a 17-12 run, going into halftime with a 27-23 advantage. Elk Rapids came back strong on the third outscoring the Blazers 20-10 to regain the lead 43-37 after three. Kalkaska hung around in the final quarter, coming within three points but faltered down the stretch in the Elk win. Travis tossed in 19, Ball scored 11 to go with five boards, Max Irelan added eight points. Ball broke two Elk school records in the game, tallying 11 steals to break Luke Morrison’s (ERHS 2012) previous high total of nine steals. Ball also recorded nine deflections, passing by several players that held the top spot with seven. 

The Elks (4-2, 3-1 LMC) host Harbor Springs on Thursday for a LMC game, then play at East Jordan on Tuesday in a conference matchup. The non-conference game scheduled at Leelanau St. Mary for last Friday was postponed due to weather and will be played on Friday (1/21).

Making of an Elk comeback
A four-point third quarter for the Elks gave St. Francis a 20-point lead after three. The Glads held a double-digit lead for most of the fourth quarter, then the Elks decided to make things interesting. If you left the game before the two-minute mark in the fourth quarter, here is what you missed!

2:17 St. Francis 47, Elk Rapids 32. Elks struggling with a 15-point deficit.

1:52 Josh Lavely muscles his way inside for two points off the glass. SF 47, ER 34.

1:34 Spencer Ball makes a backcourt steal, flips the ball to Lavely for a layup. SF 47, ER 36.

1:18 Lavely hauls in defensive rebound, passes to Mason Travis dribbling into the lane. Travis kicks the ball out to Jack Spencer for a three from the middle left. SF 47, ER 39.

1:17 Elk Rapids Time Out.

59.0 Ball intercepts a pass near midcourt, takes ball in for uncontested layup. SF 47, ER 41.

42.2 Glads miss a layup, Scott Russell picks up rebound and dribbles across court, passing to Spencer who misses a three. Lavely hauls down rebound, hits right hand layup off glass and is fouled. Lavely misses free throw, Travis skies for rebound, Glads appear to knock ball out of bound but ball goes to St. Francis. SF 47, ER 43 

28.3 Elks keep on full court press. Russell tips a pass at the free throw line to Spencer, who passes to Travis underneath for a lay-in. SF 47, ER 45

24.6 Elks foul on press. Spenc
er fouls out. Glads make 1-2 free throws. SF 48, ER 45

11.0 Ball brings ball up court, passes to Russell, passes to Lavely underneath for two. SF 48, ER 47  

4.2 Glads can’t get the ball inbounded, call timeout.

3.1 Glads inbound, Elks foul immediately, Glads sink 2-2 free throws. SF 50, ER 47

0.0 Travis dribbles up court, lets shot go five feet from behind the arc as time expires. Shot goes off the glass wide left close to rim. FINAL SF 50, ER 47
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Never leave early!

VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL
Lady Elks stay unbeaten in conference

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Gabby Krakow (20) and Logan Reasoner (22) gear up for some solid Elk defense. Photo by Andrea Krakow
The Lady Elks faced their toughest challenge this season in their quest for a second straight Lake Michigan Conference title on Tuesday, traveling to St. Francis for a game with the Lady Gladiators, also coming in unbeaten in the LMC. 

A wide-open Gabby Krakow hit a three from the left side of the arc, giving the Elks a 47-44 lead with 1:48 left to play in the game. The Elks added one more point on a free throw by Kendall Standfest to get the 48-44 win.

“Good game and a great win,” said Elk varsity girls coach Mike Brown. “Coming into St. Franny isn’t easy and to come out with the win is big for us.” The victory ran the Elk win streak to six straight, all LMC games. The Lady Elks have a conference winning streak of 21 games, the last LMC loss at the hands of St. Francis at home in February of 2020. 

The Elks trailed 18-15 after the first quarter, but took over the lead in the second, heading into halftime with a 30-27 advantage. After the third quarter the Elks were still leading 42-39. A 5-2 run by St. Francis tied the game, Krakow’s three broke the tie and secured the win. Standfest scored 24 with nine rebounds, Morgan Bergquist scored eight and Monica Gregorski added seven. 

The Lady Elks hosted Kalkaska last Friday, easily handling the Blazers 61-29. Standfest hit a three to open the scoring and the Elks never looked back, leading 20-2 after one and 35-6 at the half and 55-13 after three. Standfest finished with career high 29 points, Monika Gregorski chipped in 10 with nine steals, Krakow had a team high six rebounds. 
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The Lady Elks (7-1, 6-0 LMC) head to Harbor Springs on Tuesday for a conference matchup with the surprising 8-1 Rams, back home hosting Petoskey on Monday in a non-conference contest, then they entertain visiting East Jordan in a LMC contest on Tuesday.