SPORTS

VARSITY BOYS GOLF
Elk golfers are young but talented and hungry to win

Elk Rapids High School Varsity Boys Golf Team 2026-2027: front row: Blake Springstead, Jake Garrow, Bryce Reid, Pierce McCarty, Jonah Britton, Jackson Garrow. back row: Coach Hayden Carpenter, Luke Schulte, Henry Veith, Maddux Koch, Jacob Raddatz, Jack Morton, Carter Denoyer, Mason Hilley. Not pictured: Asst. Coach Judd Lawson, Asst. Coach Noah Kole. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography

The Elks won the first Northern Shores Conference championship last year in a tiebreaker thriller and missed qualifying for the state finals by a mere three strokes. The season was exciting under the guidance of first-year head coach Hayden Davenport, and this season holds promise for another exciting year from the Elk varsity golf team.

“I feel more comfortable in the dynamics of coaching at this level at this point in the year,” said Coach Davenport. “It helps I have excellent mentors and assistant coaches. Last year I was out of the frying pan and into the fire, but luckily I had amazing senior leaders and a team that held each other accountable.”

Helping with the coaching duties this season are Assistant Coach Judd Lawson, an Assistant Golf Professional at A-Ga-Ming Golf Resort, and Assistant Coach Noah Kole, the former Grayling Viking head golf coach.

The Elks lost three varsity players to graduation but return a solid group of four experienced veterans in Blake Springstead, a Division 3 All-State First Team honoree last year as a freshman, joined by sophomore Jack Morton, junior Bryce Reid and senior Carter Denoyer.

The 13-player roster is rounded out with senior Jackson Garrow, juniors Jake Garrow, Maddux Koch and Mason Hilley, three sophomores in Jacob Raddatz, Luke Schulte and Henry Veith and a freshman duo of Jonah Britton and Pierce McCarty.

For the last two months the team was generously given a SIM set up to use, courtesy of the Elk girls golf team assistant coach Don Smith. “We have been working with the team in small groups with the High School Simulator, and it is really helping them develop their consistency and getting an earlier start. This is a young team, but a very talented team that is very hungry to play,” said Davenport.

“This group enjoys competition, taking it seriously while having fun. They ask good questions, they have an innate desire to improve, they are very hard working and self-driven. On the course, we are strong off the tee, and the players have great touch around the greens.” 

The Elks were able to get in some outdoor practice time, courtesy of a local golf course. “We are fortunate and thankful for Elk Rapids Golf Club for putting the flags in early for the team and also offering us the practice areas. We would like to give them a big “Thank You!” The team will soon be practicing full time at A-Ga-Ming, courtesy of former long-time Elk golf coach Larry Lavely. 

The Elks have chosen the eight varsity players who will begin the season, made up of six starters and two alternates, but this roster is always subject to change. “The varsity team is all merit based. We will make changes if we feel they are needed. The varsity roster is based on performance and need, and we will shuffle things according to the schedule and how we are playing, “explained Davenport.

The Elk varsity starting squad for the season is currently led by Springstead followed by Morton, Reid, Jake Garrow, Hilley and Denoyer. The alternates are Schulte and Koch, along with an honorable mention for Veith.

The Elks plan on having scrimmages with other schools and playing in invitationals to allow the newer players to gain experience and improve their game. 

“Our team goals are to win the conference and qualify for states as a team through regionals. Individually, Springstead has a goal to bring home an individual state finals trophy, but that would be even better as a team trophy,” Davenport said. 

Elk Rapids was scheduled to open the season competing in the TC Tee Off, taking place at the Grand Traverse Resort on Friday and Saturday, but the event has been canceled. “The Tee Off is trying to reschedule, but with all the rain no one is opening early,” said Davenport. The Elks next scheduled meet is the TC West Invite taking place on Monday at the Spruce Run Course at the Grand Traverse Resort.

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VARSITY GIRLS TENNIS
New coach and players with mindset to win

Elk Rapids High School Varsity Girls Tennis Team 2026-2027: front row: Leilani Sigrah, Claire Burch, Gabby Johns, Colette Felker, Remy Croftchik, Delaney Spincich, Piper Shaffer, Mabel Clausen. back row: Head Coach Kelly Croftchik, Olivia DuCharme, LeAnn Simon, Sophia Burch, Caris Bush, Maggie Best, Isabella Williams, Myah Pescatello, Braelyn Nelson. Not pictured: Gionna Opperman, Asst Coach Brad Sullivan, Asst Coach David Best, Asst Coach Ella Croftchik. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography

The Elk varsity girls tennis team missed qualifying for a fifth consecutive trip to the state finals meet last season by a single point at the regional meet. The team was going to lose nine seniors to graduation from a roster of 21 players and Head Coach Keith Schulte announced that he would be stepping down after the season in order to spend more time with his family. The tennis team was now in need of players, and most importantly they needed a coach. The logical choice would be Kelly Croftchik, who had been an assistant coach under Schulte for several years and had also run a successful tennis club at Cherryland for a few years.
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“I really enjoyed assisting with the girls over the years but becoming head coach was never in my forethought,” Croftchik said. “When Coach Schulte told me he wasn’t coming back this season, I felt I owed it to the team and the program to apply.”

Applying merely meant that the head coach position would now belong to Croftchik. “I was a little nervous after losing so many seniors. This season is definitely a rebuilding year, but there is already a showing of much improvement, meaning this year is going to be a lot of fun to watch!”

The Elks have nine players returning this season, six played on varsity last year and three were considered JV. The team needed to recruit some new players. “Coach Schulte helped to get the word out, and at our first pre-season meeting we had nine girls confirmed. I asked them to invite their friends to join us, and the weekend before season started, our numbers doubled! So, ultimately, it was the girls who did the recruiting,” Croftchik said.

The tennis roster has grown to 17 players with varying degrees of experience, but all have a desire to learn and improve. The Elks were unable to practice outside until last week, but they were fortunate to have gotten some indoor court time at the Grand Traverse Resort prior to Spring Break. 
The eight flights will have a variety of new names this year due to the loss of nine seniors. “We just started our challenge matches last Friday and will conclude next week. I have a general idea on who could be playing where, but the girls will ultimately decide that based on their challenge match results,” Croftchik said.

“The strengths of this team begin with the energy they bring – it is refreshing and positive. They possess a willingness to grow and learn about a sport that can be more complicated than it looks. They have dedication and commitment to showing up and doing the best they can every day and have a desire to improve. We are just a month into our season, and this doesn’t feel like a team, it feels like a family.” 

The goals as a team is to get out of their comfort zone in order to improve and build confidence. “We want to get better at our sport, do well at conference and we would love to bring home the title. To qualify for states from the regionals meet, as we missed qualifying last year by one point,” added Croftchik. Aiding in the coaching duties will be a trio of assistant coaches in Brad Sullivan, David Best and Ella Croftchik. 

Elk tennis sweeps in season opener
The Elks swept TC West JV Gold on Tuesday, displaying a great start to the season and home opener with wins from new players in all eight flights. 

In singles play the winners were Remy Croftchik at first seed (6-0,6-1), Braelyn Nelson playing second seed (6-0,6-0), LeAnn Simon at the third seed (6-2,6-3) and Colette Felker handling the fourth seed (6-1, 6-3).

In doubles competition, winning first seed was Leilani Sigrah and Maggie Best (6-1,6-1), Myah Pescatello and Gabby Johns playing at second seed (6-0,6-1), Claire Burch and Caris Bush took over at the third seed (6-4, 6-0), and at the number four seed Olivia DuCharme and Mabel Clausen won the first set in a battle and took the second set for the sweep.(7-6,6-3).

“Our flights and our exhibition players did well. The courts were soaked a few hours prior to match time, but the sun peaked out and dried them quickly and we had beautiful weather,” said Croftchik.

The home match scheduled for this Friday will not be played after Saginaw pulled out. “Our home match against Saginaw Nouvel this Friday was canceled due to the Jim Teal Invite being rescheduled from last Friday to this Friday. Nouvel had committed to play in the Teal Invite, causing them to step away from playing us at home.”

The Elks need to play in order to improve, and the sooner they can go against real competition the better.

Elk Rapids tennis will next compete at Boyne City on Thursday, then play in the TC Central Tri-Meet on Saturday.

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VARSITY BASEBALL
Elks look to repeat conference and district titles

Elk Rapids High School Varsity Baseball Team 2026-2027: front row: Asst Coach Ben Ingell, Eli Zbytowski, Matthew Barton, Braden Fluty, Landon Porteous, Luciano Fortuna, Colin McCormack. back row: Asst Coach Thomas Pettinato, Nathan Barton, Brody Turner, Ethan Draper, Luke Otto, Jayden Hresko, Head Coach Alex Barber. Not pictured: Lukas Vowels. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography

The Elk varsity baseball team had several good things happen last year for the first time in a long time, beginning with winning the inaugural Northern Shores Conference crown with a 13-1 record in conference play. This conference championship was the first for the Elks since the 2008 season. In the post-season the Elks snapped a 17-year district title drought with a walk-off 3-2 extra innings win over Boyne City in the Division 3 District Championship game. The district hardware was last won by the Elks for the 2008 season. The Elks advanced to the regional semifinal game against St. Francis and were looking to secure the first regional win in school history, but saw the season end with an 11-4 loss. The Elks finished the season with an overall record of 20-12 that included a 10-game winning streak.

The team lost five seniors to graduation but return a solid core of four veterans that include senior Braden Fluty, awarded a Division 3 all-state honorable mention for catcher last year and an All-Conference first team honoree, along with two Elks named to the All-Conference Second Team in seniors Jayden Hresko and Nathan Barton and sophomore Ethan Draper, an All-Conference Honorable Mention recipient.

The Elks have 12 players on the roster, junior Eli Zbytowski returns for a second season on varsity and is the fifth returning Elk player. The remaining seven Elks are all first-year varsity players but have played on the JV team along with several seasons of travel ball. 

“We will be competitive this year, and we are looking to defend the conference title and also bring home another district trophy,” said Elk varsity baseball coach Tim Barber.

The Elks will use Draper as the primary pitcher, along with Barton and Fluty and a few others as the season progresses. Hresko will be lodged at shortstop, with sophomore Luke Otto, freshman Luciano Fortuna and Barton and Zbytowski interchanging among the infield positions. The outfield will rotate sophomores Brody Turner and Collin McCormack along with senior Landon Porteous and freshmen Matthew Barton. 

“The key is to get out and start playing, then we can make better adjustments. These players know what it is like to win, and they have the talent and confidence to back it up,” said Coach Barber. At the plate, Fluty, Hresko and Barton are solid, with several players possessing some speed on the basepaths.

Elk Rapids was scheduled to host the Mancelona Ironmen in the season opener at home on Monday, but a soaked baseball diamond postponed the game until Tuesday. The heavy rains caused the field to remain unplayable and canceled the Tuesday game, with no plans for a make-up date.

The Elks hope to open the season at home on Thursday with a doubleheader against TC West, then go on the road for a twinbill against Freeland on Saturday and return home to play two non-conference games against St. Francis on Tuesday.

VARSITY SOCCER
Elks mix talent of veterans and rookies this season

Elk Rapids High School Varsity Girls Soccer Team 2026-2027: front row: Josie Ryan, Lily Wierema, Gwen Taylor, Sophia Goethel, Sophie McDonald, Carlee Bingham, Estelle Bellner. middle row: Sierra Boilore, Leighton Smith, Melia Maris, Julie Hawkins, Natasha Beebe, Kennedy Kuznicki, Piper Smith, Holland Reinhardt, Audrey Wardlow, Reese Fosdick. back row: Asst Coach Sam Stites, Emme Chartier, Madelyn Dean, Cora Moore, Caitlin White, Katie Vanderheide, Molly Plum, Claire Godden, Ally Hawkins, Ilah Bryan, Head Coach Andrea Krakow. Not pictured: Zee Dupuie Photo by Kim Eardley Photography

The Elks lost just two players to graduation from last season, resulting in a large number of experienced veterans coming back this year.

There are four seniors returning, starting with a trio back for a fourth season in Sierra Boilore, a third team all-state selection for the last two years; and Cora Moore and Sophie McDonald along with Julie Hawkins, playing a second year on varsity.

A group of eight juniors returning for a third varsity season include Katie Vanderheide, Melia Maris, Carlee Bingham, Estelle Bellner, Caitlin White, Zee Dupuie, Reese Fosdick and Natasha Beebe, the Elk all-conference keeper last season. 

The returnees also include three second season sophomores in Josie Ryan, Ilah Bryan and Emmelyn Chartier. The Elks tally 11 players with three-plus years on varsity and four players back for a second season for a total of 15 varsity veterans on the roster.

The team is rounded out with three first-year juniors and nine freshmen, swelling the roster to a total of 27 players. 

Elk girls soccer head coach Andrea Krakow returns to the pitch for her 20th season at the helm, with a career total of 268 wins. Assisting in the coaching duties will be Sam Stites and Ethan Pike. “Since I have 27 girls this season, we added five JV contests to the schedule and will have 13 girls who will play in all of the JV games,” said Coach Krakow. “I don’t have enough girls to have a totally separate JV team, but this way some of the less skilled players will get more experience as they play minutes on JV. The girls I am asking to play on JV may feel slighted, but this is the best way that they will get time on the field to improve their skills.

Coach Krakow will be present for all JV games along with Assistant Coach Stites and Assistant Coach Pike, when he does not have to work. The JV players will still see time in varsity games, in accordance with the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) rules.

“I will need to manage the number of games per week that the JV players are competing in as the MHSAA allows a player to compete in a maximum of three games a week and a maximum of three halves per day. Most of the JV games are on the same day as the varsity games, which will allow me to utilize the three-half rule.”  
The bad weather caused the team to have all of the tryouts in the gym this year and also canceled all of the scheduled scrimmages.

“It was great to finally get out on the field last week, despite the day being like a blizzard,” Krakow said. “The girls have a lot of work to do, they need to learn to play with each other, learn new formations and of course they all need to get into “soccer shape.”

The Elks finished second in the Northern Shores Conference last year and had a streak of three district championships snapped with a loss to Harbor Springs in the district title game. The players set team and personal goals each season and this year they want play deep into the post season as well as wanting to improve their individual skills. 

“Most of the veteran players definitely want to beat Harbor Springs. We at least have one more shot during the season and then we may see them in district play,” Krakow said.

There is large blend of veterans and talented younger players on the team this year, and finding the right mix will be a challenge for Coach Krakow. “It is always a challenge when a younger player gets time before a veteran; however, I have always been honest in that at the varsity level, we play to win and do so with great sportsmanship. There are six freshmen who have found themselves in the starting line-up, I am hoping they will grow with each game, and they and the veteran players will learn to trust each other as they play together throughout the season.”

Elks play four games in six days
The season opener at Harbor Springs was scheduled for last Tuesday but was postponed due to snow covering the turf. The game was moved to Elk Rapids on Saturday afternoon with the two conference rivals finishing in a 1-1 tie. Sierra Boilore was credited with the Elk goal off a corner kick by Molly Plum with 14 minutes to play in the first half.

Harbor scored four minutes into the second half tying the game at 1-1, and neither team would score again. Natasha Beebe was in the Elk goal and tallied three saves.

The Elks’ season and home opener was a Northern Shores Conference (NSC) matchup against Grayling last Thursday, with the Elks earning an 8-0 mercy win with 19 minutes to play in the second half. Boilore and Claire Godden both scored three goals, and solo goals went to Gwen Taylor and Carlee Bingham. In goal was Beebe and Kennedy Kuznicki sharing the keeper duties, the Vikings had zero shots on goal.

The Elks were in Kalkaska for a conference game on Monday, the Blazers fielding a girls soccer team for the first time since the 2019 season. The Elks earned an 8-0 mercy win, Bingham and Boilore both scoring twice, with solo goals coming from Melia Maris, Holland Reinhardt, Plum and Godden. The net was split between Beebe and Kuznicki in the shutout win.

The Elks suffered their first loss of the season falling 4-3 to St. Francis in a non-conference road game on Tuesday. In a competitive game the Gladiators found the net 16 minutes into the game. Two minutes later Piper Smith scored on a pass from Godden, tying the score at 1-1.

St. Francis scored on a penalty kick with eight minutes to play in the first half, then Gooden scored on a penalty kick to tie the game at 2-2. The Glads added two goals for a 4-2 lead with 13 minutes to play. Plum scored off her own corner kick, “bending the ball in” and the Elks trailed by a goal. Godden took one last shot that hit the lower part of the near post with just six seconds left and the Elk fell 4-3. 

“We missed with two other shots, and we missed on a penalty kick. It was a game of near misses for us tonight, but the girls will learn from this evening, and they will play harder in the next game,” said Coach Krakow.
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Elk Rapids (2-1-1, 2-0-1 NSC) has a pair of conference home games coming up, beginning with Charlevoix on Thursday followed by a visit from Boyne City on Monday.

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VARSITY SOFTBALL
Experience and youth

Elk Rapids High School Varsity Softball Team 2026-2027: front row: Kylee Bergquist, Jillian Moazeni, Brooke Fluty, Gemma Rupert, Emmelia Brege, Coraline Rainey. back row: Head Coach Erin Merchant, Rhielynn Skrocki, Ally Schlicker, Peyton Friess, Emily Vandergriff, Asst Coach Jason Merchant. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography

The Elks varsity softball team captured the first Northern Shores Conference crown last season with a 13-1 record in conference play. This snapped a 22-year conference title drought, the milestone was last won by the 2003 team, and they were also the last Elk squad to win a regional title. The Elks entered the post-season at 28-5, the best record in Head Coach Erin Merchant’s 15 years at the varsity softball helm. The team planned on a deep playoff run, but that quickly ended with a shocking loss to St. Francis in a district semi-final game. 
The Elks graduated three seniors from the team, but return a nucleus of six veterans, including the Division 3 All-State First Team Elk duo of senior Rhielynn Skrocki and junior Jillian Moazeni. The pair was joined by All-Conference First Team senior Brooke Fluty and an All-Conference Second Team trio of junior Payton Friess and sophomores Coraline Rainey and Emily Vandergriff. The Elks 10-player roster is rounded out with four freshmen in Ally Schlicker, Kylee Bergquist, Gemma Rupert and Emmelia Brege.

“This is a ferocious team, and these are all talented, hardworking and unselfish players,” said Coach Merchant. “We need to get in some consistent playing time and especially get outside and practice. This will be a fun season watching what this group is capable of doing.

Elks play five games in a three-day stretch
The Elks varsity softball season opener was not canceled this year, although it was one of the few times the team was able to play outdoors. The Elks traveled downstate on Saturday to play in the Hanover-Horton Tournament taking place about an hour south of Lansing on Saturday.  

The Elks finished the day at 2-1, beginning with an 8-7 loss to the Tecumseh Indians. The Elks shook off the loss and came back with a commanding 17-5 win over the Pewamo-Westphalia Pirates then rallied for 8-6 win over the Hanover-Horton Comets.

Opening against the Indians, Emily Vandergriff put the Elks up 1-0 lead with a first inning homer. Tecumseh followed with three runs in the bottom of the first for a 3-1 lead. The Elks scored twice in the top of the second to tie the game at 3-3. The Indians took back the lead at 6-3 after scoring two runs in the third and one in the fourth. The teams both scored a run in the fifth, and after a scoreless sixth inning the Elks trailed 7-4 batting in the top of the seventh. Emmelia Brege drew a walk, then a one out single by Brooke Fluty put Elks at the corners. The next Elk popped up for out number two, Rhielynn Skrocki followed with a two RBI double to centerfield, then came home on a triple by Jillian Moazeni that tied the score at 7-7. The Indians opened the seventh with a single, drew a walk and scored on an RBI double that ended the game with the 8-7 Elk loss.

Coraline Rainey pitched six innings for the Elks, giving up 10 hits and eight runs, two unearned, with eight strikeouts and walked three.

In game two Moazeni pitched all five innings, allowing two hits and five runs, four unearned, striking out six and walking five. The Elks scored five in the bottom of the first, the Pirates tied the game with five runs in the top of the second, but they would not score again. The Elks added four runs in the second, third and fourth innings on the way to the 17-5 win. Moazeni had three hits with a double and tallied four RBIs, Skrocki had three hits with a double, Vandergriff ripped a two RBI homer and Kylee Bergquist rapped out two singles with three RBIs.

In the third game the Elks trailed 6-3 after three innings but rallied with five runs in the bottom of the fourth, ignited by a three-run homer from Moazeni, to take the 8-6 lead that would be the final score. Skrocki threw all five innings, surrendering eight hits with six runs, one unearned fanning six with one walk. Payton Friess had a pair of singles and two RBIs.

The Elks split a home non-conference doubleheader with St. Francis on Monday, taking the opener 7-3 but falling 7-5 in game two. Rainey started on the mound in game one, Skrocki pitched 2.1 innings in relief, the pair combined for three hits, three runs, two unearned, with seven strikeouts and six walks. The Elks scored six times in the third inning to take a 6-2 lead, both teams scored a run in the fourth inning for the 7-3 final score. The Elks had six players with a hit, Friess ripped a double.

In the nightcap the game was tied 4-4 through five innings. St. Francis scored three runs in the top of the sixth for a 7-4 lead. The Elks managed just one run in the sixth and suffered a 7-5 loss.

Skrocki and Moazeni each pitched three innings, giving up 10 hits, seven earned runs with six strikeouts and seven walks. The Elks had just four hits, led by Bergquist with her first career homerun.

Elk Rapids (3-2) will play three non-conference doubleheaders, beginning at Traverse City West on Thursday followed with home games against Mancelona on Friday and Gaylord on Monday.

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VARSITY TRACK AND FIELD
Elk track ready with promising young talent

Elk Rapids High School Varsity Track and Field 2026-2027: front row: Brynne Martel, Elle Lavely, Brooke Fluty, Isabelle Espinoza, Maddie Nagy, Leighton Smith, Coraline Rainey, Edek Duplantis, Charlie Denherder, Harlan Prabhaker, Metei Danca, Zach Cadwell. second row: Olivia Douglas, Lotte Schleicher, Madelyn Conrad, Isthmia Smith, Brynne Schulte, Anna Pray, Elsie Thomas, Emma Eardley, Tabitha Pritchard, Keegan Kiel, Michael Macksey, Joelle Swanson, Ruby Kline. third row: Asst Coach Matthew Harkwell, Asst Coach Remmi King, Gatlin Zawora, Brody Turner, Larson Dyste, Miles Prabhaker, Bryce Reid, Conner Carlisle, Garett Godden, Balin Selby, Peyton Hill, Qwynn Darnell, Liam Crimmins, Head Girls Coach Mary Pray, Asst Coach Angel Soper, Head Boys Coach Cam Ward. Back row: back row:  Asst Coach Ken Johnston, Mason Johns, Ben Dyste, Austin Tonn, Hudson Sailor, Easton Butte, Mason Godden, Gavin Hamilton, Trey Dennis, Noah Liggett, Colin McCormack. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography

The Elk track team lost a pair of four-year star veterans to graduation in Hunter Shellenbarger and Max Ward. The Elk duo rewrote the Elk track record books in four years of competing and in Ward’s case earned a pair of state championships as well. The Elk track team still has several well-known track stars in seniors Qwynn Darnell and Connor Carlisle on the boys team along with seniors Anna Pray and Brynne Schulte competing on the girls side. The roster for the two track teams numbers around 50 athletes with the boys team slightly ahead in numbers. The “Circle of Life” in track dictates when a star athlete graduates, there is always a gifted track star waiting in the wings to step up. The newcomer’s name may not be known just yet, but it soon will be. Coach Cam Ward is in charge of the boys team and co-coach Mary Pray keeps an eye on the girls squad, but neither coach will hesitate to assist anyone in any track or field events.

Elks run at Kalkaska and Chippewa Hills
The Elks competed in the Kalkaska Conference Quad on Tuesday with the Elk boys winning the meet with 84 points, followed by Kingsley (62.5), Kalkaska (57.5) and Grayling (52). On the girls’ side Kingsley won the meet with 91 points followed by the Elks (54) and Kalkaska and Grayling finishing in a tie (46).
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Highlights on the boys’ side came from Garett Godden finishing with a first-place, personal record in the 400m (50.61) and second-place finishes from Gavin Hamilton in the 400m (52.48) and Noah Liggett in the 200m (23.76-PR). Darnell won the 1600m (4:47.09) and the 3200m (10:42.36) and was second in the 800m (2:07.50-PR). Mason Johns had a first-place run in the 100m hurdles (16.80) and Carlisle finished second in the 300m hurdles (42.98-PR).

The 4x200 relay was won by the Elk foursome of Liggett, Carlisle, Moles Prabhaker and Ben Dyste (1:35.89). In the field events Austin Toon won the discus (124’3’) and took second in the shot put (46’3’-PR), Balin Selby was second in the pole vault (10’0”).

The girls were led by Brynn Martell with a second-place run in the 200m (29.26-PR), Pray for a second- place finish in the 400m (1:03.88) and Shulte with a win in the 1600m (5:48.73). Brooke Fluty won the 100m hurdles (17,58), Tabitha Pritchard was second in the 300 m hurdles (18.83), Elsie Thomas won the discus throw (107’6”-PR).

The Elk track team ran in the 16th Annual Chippewa Hills Warrior Invite, held on Saturday about 30 minutes west of Mt. Pleasant. The meet had 10 teams competing, with medals going out to the top six finishers in each event and the top three teams in each relay races. The top two teams both earned a trophy at the invitational.

The Elk boys team won the second-place trophy scoring 130 points, trailing only first-place Shepherd with 170.5 points. In the girls’ meet the Elks finished in fifth place with 54 points. The meet was won by Remus Chippewa Hills (157.5), followed by Shepherd (133), Beal City (89) and Reed City (66.5).

The Elks earned a total of 27 medals, with 20 medals coming from the boys and seven medals earned by the girls. The top performers for the Elk boys were Godden with a first-place, personal record run in the 100m (11.30) and in the 200m (22.68), a second-place run by Darnell in the 3200m (10:27.64), and Harlan Prabhaker with a third-place finish in the 300m hurdles (45.00-PR). The Elk foursome of Carlisle, Dyste, Liggett and Prabhaker won the 4x200 relay (1:34.87) and Carlisle had a third-place finish in the long jump (19’2.25”). The Elks girls team highlights came from Pray for first place in the 800m (2:30.30) and Schulte coming in second place for the 400m.

The Elk Rapids track teams will compete at the Charlevoix Quad on Tuesday with Harbor Springs and Kalkaska followed by the Kent City Elite Invite on Friday and the Boyne City Invitational on Tuesday.

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