SPORTS

VARSITY VOLLEYBALL
Elk volleyball finishes season at awards banquet 

The postseason honors for varsity volleyball were given out at the Elk’s team banquet on Sunday at the high school, officially closing out the 2021 season. The Elks led the Lake Michigan All-Conference honors with three players selected out of 14 total, seniors Nevada Molby, Grace Mischel and junior Ryleigh Yocom. This was the second consecutive all-conference honor for Yocom; Molby was honorable mention last year as a junior. There were 11 players earning Honorable Mention All-Conference, including Elk senior Logan Reasoner and junior Bri Roberts. The Lake Michigan Conference for volleyball consists of teams from Kalkaska, Grayling, St. Francis, Harbor Springs, Charlevoix, Boyne City, East Jordan and Elk Rapids. 

The Elks had three players earn All-Region honors this year, Molby, Mischel and Yocom. The state is divided into 19 regions, mixing in the four divisions, with each region having a 32-member team. Elk Rapids is in Region 4, made up from the counties of Antrim, Benzie, Crawford, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, Roscommon and Wexford. The Elks as a team earned the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association (MIVCA) Team Academic All-State award, requiring a minimum 3.30 combined grade point average. Seniors Ava Knight, Alena LaPointe, Mischel and Reasoner earned the MIVCA Individual Academic All-State award, given to seniors achieving a grade point average of 3.70 throughout their high school career. The Elks were 26-19-5 this season, undefeated in conference play at 7-0, earning their first LMC title since the 2001 season. The team won the district title for the third time in school history and made it to the regional final before bowing out in the postseason. Well done to all the Lady Elk players, Coach Connie Gorno and assistant coach Dave Carney for a very exciting and successful season!

Yocom qualifies for state records list
Ryleigh Yocom played the setter position for the first time in her three-year varsity volleyball career, finishing the season with 1,159 assists. This impressive total left the junior standout just 49 assists short of the 1200 minimum required to make the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) records list. Yocom did meet the MHSAA minimum requirement of 45 assists in a single game three times during the season, tallying 50, 51 and 64 assists in three separate matches that will place her name into the state records list. Congratulations to Ryleigh and her teammates and coaches that helped make this happen. Elk Pride!

VARSITY SPORTS
Elk Rapids winter sports back on track 

Last season Covid restrictions played havoc with high school winter sports. Cancellations, postponements, non-contact practices and the threat of no sports at all finally gave way to a restricted form of a winter sports that started in early February. The 2021-22 winter sports season is nearly back to normal at this point, and players, coaches and fans can only hope that everything remains on track. Below is a quick update of the Elk Rapids winter sports coming your way!

• Elk Girls Varsity Basketball, Coach Mike Brown, first game at Kingsley (12/3).
• Elk JV Girls Basketball, Coach Megan Gregorski, first game at Kingsley (12/3).
• Elk Boys Varsity Basketball, Coach Kevin Ball, first game at Glen Lake (12/7).
• Elk JV Boys Basketball, Coach Tyler Wilson, first game at Glen Lake (12/7).
• Elk Freshmen Boys Basketball, Coach AJ Anderson, first game at Charlevoix (12/16).
• Elk Bowling, Coach Ken Hicks, first season meet at Lucky Jacks (12/11).
• Great North Alpine Boys & Girls Ski Teams, Coach Doug White, first meet at Nub’s Nob (1/6).
• Bay Reps Hockey, Coach Mike Matteucci, season has started, home games at Centre Ice.
• Elk Wrestling returns! Coach Brian Lark, season schedule pending.
• New to the Elk Rapids sports lineup is Elk Competitive Cheer, Coach Kristie Wolgamott, season schedule pending.

Team season schedules, subject to change, can be found at elkrapidshighschool.bigteams.com. Watch for all the team previews coming soon in the Elk Rapids News!