SPORTS

CMS SOFTBALL
Softball program provides spark for Elk varsity

Elk varsity softball coach Erin Merchant took over the reins of the softball program beginning with the 2011 season. “That was the first season we didn’t have a JV team, we had around 15 players total,” Merchant recalled. Spring sports offered soccer, track and tennis in addition to softball for girls, causing the number of athletes to be spread thin. “One year we had ten or 11 players, and I believe none were seniors. We had to play a lot of underclassmen that might not have been ready to play at the varsity level, but we went with what we had. So often, the regular varsity softball season was the only time our girls played the game,” Merchant said.

Struggling through nine seasons of softball that often included instruction in the basics most teams have down at the varsity level, Merchant is confident the softball program is ready to turn the corner back to the time when Elk softball was among the elite. 

This year a softball program was started at the Cherryland Middle School. The turnout was good enough for separate seventh and eighth grade teams to be formed. Josh Haggerty, Cherryland principal, was one several driving forces behind the middle school program.

“The goal of starting a new softball program at the middle school level was to develop another avenue for our students to become involved in an activity outside of the school day. Often students who are engaged in activities, clubs, and teams are able to maintain higher GPAs and are able to build positive relationships with their peers. As principal, I will always advocate for more opportunities for our students and encourage them to follow their passion,” said Haggerty. 

Merchant, along with Jason Merchant and Rob Bachi, who coached the two teams, superintendent Tom Enslen, and Elk athletic director Jim Standerfer all realized the need to get girls interested in the sport early, especially for a basic understanding of the game and skills needed at the beginners level. In addition, this season Jason Merchant coached a summer girls traveling team called Fusion, made up of several girls that will play at the varsity level next season. Merchant also coaches the Chain of Lakes softball team that will play for the championship this week. 

“Fusion travels and competes against high levels of competition. The girls won a tournament last weekend and played very well,” said Erin Merchant. “Our Chain of Lakes team is made up of many eighth-grade players from the season and are doing well. The middle school program combined with the summer teams will give us an experience of the basics before the girls get to high school. We will have enough girls this year to have tryouts and bring back the much-needed JV team. It may take a year, but we are on the right path to seeing some wins.”

The Lady Elks last district title was in 2003, the last regional win was in 2004. Softball season can’t get here soon enough for Coach Merchant!

Brown swaps basketball for boats 

Elk Rapids recent graduate Kendall Brown always planned on playing basketball at the college level. Brown finished her Elk hardwood career playing as a four-year varsity starter, a member of the Elk 1000 point club and a district championship under her belt. Brown led the team in most statistical categories each season, drawing the attention of several college basketball programs.

“I visited many schools, Denison University, Muhlenberg College, Hope College, and Grand Valley State University, to name a few,” Brown said.

Hope College in Holland was narrowed down as a primary choice, with a successful basketball program and offering a major in communications, with an eventual goal of sports broadcasting.

Then an email came to her basketball coach and father Mike Brown from the University of Michigan. “I told her I had gotten an email from U of M, and they were interested in her for the rowing team. Initially, it seemed odd, but we pursued it further,” Coach Brown said. The announcement came shortly afterwards.

 “I have made my decision on college and I will be attending the University of Michigan,” Brown said. “I will not actually be playing college basketball, in fact, I will be rowing. Before you ask, no, I have never actually rowed. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I decided to go out on a limb and take a chance.”

The Michigan women’s rowing team is a dedicated sport at the university, it is not a club. The squad won its sixth Big Ten Championship and placed third at the NCAA Championships this spring. 

“Kendall is exactly the type who we look for in our novice program,” said Dan Harrison, assistant coach University of Michigan Women’s Rowing team, and the coach of the novice program. “Our goal is to find athletes, and we teach them how to row. We need those that like being challenged, being pushed and want to compete for a Big 10 Championship. There are very few high schools that offer rowing, so we have to look for those with athletic ability that might be on the fence on where to go or what they want to do. I would say 60 percent of our rowers are walk-ons like this. For athletes like Kendall, they are able to fulfill a dream of attending Michigan, and be in a competitive college sport, although different than what they were known for in high school.”

Brown admits it was a hard choice to give up basketball. “It was a tough decision, but it’s been a dream of mine to attend U of M, so when this opportunity popped up, I knew I couldn’t pass it up,” Brown said.

There will be 20 members in the novice rowing program as the 2019-20 school year opens at the University of Michigan. It would not be a surprise to see a former Elk on the court become a Wolverine with oars.