SPORTS

VARSITY VOLLEYBALL
Elks down Rayders for LMC win  

Madison Hall sets to Logan Reasoner. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography

The Lady Elks volleyball team continued to chew through the Lake Michigan Conference schedule with a three- set sweep of Charlevoix at home on Tuesday in the annual Pink Out game, promoting breast cancer awareness. The Rayders fell easily in the first two sets 25-15 and 25-12, but put up a fight in the third set, taking the score to 23 all before the Elks tallied the final two points for a 25-23 win. “I told the girls we can only control what is on our side of the court, as long as we stick to the basics, and we take care of us, we will be good,” said Elk varsity volleyball coach Connie Gorno.

The win kept the Elks undefeated in conference play and gave the team a ninth straight non-tournament victory.

Tori Wilkins had 11 kills, Logan Reasoner tallied six kills and two blocks, Anna Rottman totaled 24 digs, Madison Hall had five aces, nine digs and 34 assists.

The Elks breezed through pool play at the Mancelona Invitational on Saturday but fell in a hard-fought battle to Manton in three sets to finish runner-up in the tournament.

The Elks began the day with sweep wins over Mancelona (25-17, 25-12), Harbor Springs (25-5, 25-11) and Gaylord St. Mary JV (25-7, 25-11). Advancing to bracket play, the Elks overcame a determined Boyne City team (26-24, 25-22) for their eighth straight set win, and moved into the finals against Manton. In the first set, the Elks fell 25-23 for their first loss of the day, then bounced back to take the second set 25-20. Manton took the third set 15-12, giving the Elks second place at the invitational. Kenzie Huber had seven aces to go with 25 kills, Tori Wilkins totaled 46 kills, Reasoner had 25 kills and Rottman amassed 68 digs. 

The Elks host conference rival Boyne City on Thursday in the regular season home finale, then travel to Mancelona on Monday for a non-conference match-up.

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VARSITY TENNIS
Tennis season ends at regionals

ERHS tennis team seniors, Dominic Vasquez, Tyler Ketz, and Andrew Pearson. Courtesy photo

The Elk tennis season wrapped up at the Division 4 regionals played last Thursday at St. Elizabeth Middle School.

The lineup of teams competing at regional consists of two of the top ten ranked squads, making for a tough day on the court. The young Elk team battled in every flight but failed to win a match during regional play. The meet marked the final high school competition for three seniors on the team, Andrew Pearson, playing his fourth year on varsity, Dominic Vasquez, a two-year varsity player and Tyler Ketz, playing in his first year on the court.

“I’m not sure on the numbers that we will have coming in from the middle school, but we will return 12 of our 15 kids so that is promising,” said Elk tennis coach Luke Johnson. “If we can continue to create competition within our team, we will continue to raise the bar and I see us only getting better as time goes on.”    

“We had great numbers this year, but we were fairly inexperienced. As the season went on, we showed great progress. I give a lot of credit to our two assistant coaches Jennie Brown and Andrea Krakow; they deserve a lot of praise.”
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Congratulations to the Elk team and coaches for a well-played season!

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VARSITY FOOTBALL
LaFontaine breaks career passing record

Elk quarterback Gordie LaFontaine connected with senior receiver Marlin Starkey on a 14-yard pass completion early in the third quarter against Frankfort during the Friday night game.

The catch moved LaFontaine into first place on the Elk Rapids career passing yards list, passing Adam Trautman (ERHS 2015), who had held the spot with 3142 yards. LaFontaine finished the game with 142 yards passing, giving the junior signal caller 3225 career passing yards, with two games remaining this year, and a senior season to come!
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Congratulations to Gordie and the entire group of Elk players and coaches that contribute to make records happen! Elk Pride!

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VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY
Elks run at conference championship

The last time the Elk Rapids cross country team won the conference championship was in 2007. The Elks did not win at Lake Michigan Conference championships held on Saturday, but they took a big step toward doing so in future with two full teams competing, and no senior runners on the squad. The LMC championship meet was held at Hanson Hills Recreation Area in Grayling. 

For the girls, Sarah Zamaites (45-24:46), Adrian Noecker (52-25:27), Nevada Molby (57-25:51 PR), Sierra Molby (58-25:59 PR) and Alexandra Korsvold (76-31:20 PR) finished the race. The boys ran Brad Fitzpatrick (23-18:25), Lachlan Beebe (34-18:56), Charlie Ward (42-19:16), Caleb Kerfoot (48-19:29), Ben Vanderheide (61-20:17) and Corbin Murphy (80-22:34).

The teams have gained numbers and improved steadily all year; exactly what Coach Cam Ward hoped to see from the team. “We are improving in both numbers and our times, exactly what we need to build the program back up,” said Ward. 

A Cherryland Middle School cross country program has been successful this year, with several promising runners ready to compete at the high school level next season.


The Elks will compete Saturday in the Northern Michigan XC Championships Rotary held annually in Gaylord. The event attracts nearly 40 schools and is considered a measuring stick for the upcoming cross country regionals.

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FOOTBALL
Elks honor Isenhart and 2010 varsity team 

Banner displaying tribute to Reece Isenhart, 2010 ERHS varsity football captain. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography

The Elk Rapids 2010 football conference championship team was honored at halftime during Friday night’s home game against Frankfort. The team paid tribute to their football captain Reece Isenhart, who passed away from a sudden heart attack in July.

On hand were Frankfort head football coach Ed Schindler, who was the 2010 Elk head coach, joined by Steven Steinbeck, Ethan Korson, David Schaefer, Garrett Skurnit, Derek Senteri, Zeth Wheelock, Brandon Douglas, Jason Baker, Vincent Zakrajsek, Conor Cocking, Troy Huhta, former Elk assistant coach Kevin Westrick, Elk varsity football head coach Tony Moller, Nate Lee and Kyle Doran. 

Doran spoke about how Isenhart was a gentle giant off the field, but a “hulk” on the field and who was a great leader as team captain. “Reece is gone, but we will never forget him,” Doran said.
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“It was so great to see the boys again. Great men. We did well, that’s when you know it was a success, nine years later,” said Schindler.

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VARSITY FOOTBALL
Elks fall to Frankfort  

Marlin Starkey stretches for the end zone, after getting spun, for the touchdown. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography

A field goal as time expired gave the visiting Frankfort Panthers a 36-33 win over the Elks on Friday, in a game played in a wind and driving rain. The Elks turned the ball over on downs with a 1:07 remaining in the fourth quarter, and the ball on the Frankfort 25-yard line. The Panthers drove 50 yards in four plays on the ground, then competed a 21-yard pass to the Elk two-yard line with 1.3 seconds on the clock. Elk varsity coach Tony Moller called a timeout just before the field goal try, but the referees appeared to not hear in the wind and rain, and the 19-yard kick split the uprights for the Panther win.

“With the wet conditions, I wanted a time out. I knew the ball would be harder to hold, but I wasn’t heard,” said Moller.

Each team gave up big plays in the game, setting up or resulting in touchdowns. The Elks game plan switched to a run attack, due to difficulties in throwing in the wind and wet conditions.

Devon Pitawanakwat put the Elks on the scoreboard first with a 35-yard touchdown run, Kadin Patterson muscled through the extra point kick even with a Panther tipping the ball. Frankfort came back with a 49-yard scoring run, making the score at 7-6 Elks with four minutes played.

The Elks scored on a 35-yard keeper by quarterback Gordie LaFontaine, then added another TD on a 10-yard LaFontaine to Marlin Starkey pass for a 20-6 Elk lead after one quarter. The Panthers added an early second quarter TD, the Elks countered with a five-yard run for a touchdown by LaFontaine, increasing the Elk lead to 26-12. Frankfort again came back with a 28-yard pass for a touchdown, then added a final first half score as time ran down, sending the teams into halftime tied at 26-26. The third quarter was scoreless as the rain became heavier.

In the fourth, Frankfort took their first lead breaking a 30-yard run for a score, going up 33-26. The Elks responded immediately, scoring on a four-play drive ending with a 25-yard touchdown catch by Carter Veliquette, the first career TD for the freshman receiver. Patterson’s kick tied the game at 33-33, making overtime likely, but the Panther final drive ended that scenario. The loss ended the Elks chances at post season play.

“We are weakest at our linebacker positions, though we have gotten better. It is an area we are definitely going to improve on for next season,” said Moeller.

LaFontaine was 8-17 passing for 142 yards and rushed 11 times for 91 yards. Pitawanakwat carried for 17 times for 120 yards, his first game breaking the 100-yard rushing mark, and caught a pass for 40 yards. Starkey had two catches for 39 yards. Pitawanakwat led the team with seven tackles, Caleb Melton had a sack, Declan Shockley had his first career interception.

The Elks (2-5, 0-4 LDR) host Harbor Springs on Friday in the season home finale. Senior Night recognition will take place before the kickoff. The Elks will look to end the playoff hopes for the Rams. Come out to Glowicki Field for some great football and great brats!

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VARSITY SOCCER
Elks ready for post season run 

Drake Collins passes across the field. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography

The Elks are ready to play against any team they meet in Division 3 district play and beyond, but they are no match for Mother Nature. The scheduled semi-final game to be played in Kalkaska against Grayling on Tuesday was postponed until Wednesday to due rain and lightning. The early semifinal game between Boyne City and Harbor Springs was halted at halftime, with the Ramblers leading 2-0. The delay turned into a win for Boyne City and a bitter season end for Harbor, as the game is considered in the books after several delays and a two-goal lead at halftime. 

The Elks opened district competition with an 8-0 second half mercy win over Kingsley at home last Thursday, taking the first step toward a second straight district title. Drake Collins scored the first Elk goal 15 minutes into the game, followed by a goal by Mason Travis, three from Cooper Kerkhof, and goals from Landen Knight and Spencer Ball for a 7-0 Elk lead at halftime.

Josh Vandeveer scored the game ending goal early in the second half for the 8-0 mercy win. Kerkhof was credited with an assist, Vandeveer tallied two assists. Zak Bolde was in net for the shutout. The Elks (16-3-2) accepted their third straight Lake Michigan Conference champion trophy at the game. The LMC champions played Grayling on Wednesday in the rescheduled district semi-final, with a win advancing the Elks to the

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