SPORTS

VARSITY TRACK
Regionals produce champion trio and broken records 

The Elk track team competed at the Division 3 track regionals on Friday at Mason County Central, near Ludington. The meet had 16 total teams, St. Francis finished first for the boys (126) and Hart was the winner on the girls side (131.5).

As a team the Elk girls finished in fifth place (76) with 13 points separating them from second place Manistee (89). The Elk boys came in at number 13th (9), but they competed with a smaller number of athletes than normal. The experience gained by the young Elk boys team this season will have them ready for next year.  The Elk girls had three first place finishers, each earning the title of “regional champion.” Nevada Molby blistered the 100m (13.01 PR) finishing in first, Hunter Shellenbarger owned the 200m (26.81 PR) claiming first place and Sarah Zamaites ran a perfectly paced, first place 400m (1:00.69). Zamaites not only won the event, the senior runner broke the 28-year-old 400m girls record of 1:01.24, set back in 1994 by Karoline Enss. There were more Elk qualifiers for the D3 state finals: Shellenbarger advanced for the 100m (2-13.13) as did three Elk relay teams, the 4x100 (3-51.36) and the 4x 200 (2-1:49.80), both teams consisting of Molby, Paige Fosdick, Aleah Manley and Shellenbarger. Also advancing was the 4x400 relay team (4-4:18.23) of Zamaites, Clara Leahy, Catherine Leahy and Brianne Roberts. 

Two Elk Rapids relay records fell at regionals, gone is the 43-year-old 4x200 record of 1:50 set in 1979 by Pam Beckwith, Sue Merchant, Carol Sobbry and Tracy Williams. A new record will also be in place for the 4x100 time of 52.00 set in 2010 by Kelly VanDuesen, Shelby Jenson, Austin Blackmore and J Ehling.

Athletes finishing 1-8 in an event were awarded individual medals. The Elk girls taking home hardware were Brianna Roberts, 100m hurdles (3-17.16) and 300m hurdles (5-51.33), Catherine Leahy (6-2:33.99) and Clara Leahy (7-2:34.10) for the 800m, and the 4x800 (5-10:37.42) team of the Leahy sisters, Zamaites and Hannah Janssen.

The Elk boys medal winners were in the 1600m (7-4:50.87) and 300m hurdles (4-43.63 PR) by Charlie Ward, the 300m hurdles (8-44.59 PR) by Max Ward, and the 4x800 relay (8-8:59.63) team of Max Ward, Seth Brown, Calvin Kurtz and Charlie Ward.
​
“Overall, we had a good showing, we were motivated to do better, and it showed,” said Elk track coach Cam Ward. The Elks competed in the Lake Michigan Conference Championships in Boyne City on Wednesday (5/25). On Tuesday several Elks have qualified to compete in the 48th annual John Lober Honor Roll Track Meet, bringing together area athletes that have turned in the top performances in each event for the season. The Division 3 state finals take place at Kent City High School on Saturday, June 4.

VARSITY SOCCER
Riding 10 game win streak heading into districts 

Picture
Lauren Bingham (2) lines up her kick in for a goal. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography
The Lady Elks wrapped up the regular season with two conference games on the home pitch, facing Charlevoix last Thursday, then battling Boyne City on Monday night. The Elks won both games by shutouts, downing the Rayders 8-0 and putting the Ramblers to bed with a 5-0 win. Facing Charlevoix, Lauren Bingham scored minutes into the game, Sofie Bellner notched a goal with a shot into the corner of the net, Hannah Janssen lofted the ball into the upper left corner of the net from 30 yards out for a 3-0 lead with 12 minutes left in the first half. Elizabeth Pike followed with a goal on an assist from Gabby Krakow, and less than a minute later Bingham had a breakaway goal on a lofting pass over the Rayder back line from Krakow. The Elks went into halftime ahead 5-0. Kendall Standfest started the second half scoring with a shot into the upper left corner of the goal. Bingham got her hattrick goal on a pass to Krakow, who sent the ball immediately back to Bingham. The Elk’s leading scorer then blasted a kick past the far post from 12 yards out. The final goal came from a corner kick by Krakow that the Charlevoix sweeper used her head in attempt to clear the ball, instead it went directly to Annabelle Parrish for a goal and the Elk 8-0 win with 18 minutes left on the clock. Jorja Jenema in net with zero saves, assists went to Krakow with four, Bingham tallied two and Standfest had one.
​
The regular season finale took place against Boyne City on Monday as was also “Senior Night.” “My goal was to start all 10 of my seniors after half time, after they had just been recognized with their parents,” said Elk varsity soccer coach Andrea Krakow. Bingham and Standfest both scored twice in the first half for a 4-0 Elk lead at the intermission. All 10 seniors started the second half and played for the first 10 minutes, including Jenna Greene who had surgery in March. The final goal came with seven minutes to play, Krakow sent the ball airborne over the back line of the Ramblers, Bingham raced to take control the ball, turned and shot, burying the ball into the back of the net for the final 5-0 score. The Elk seniors took the field for the final five minutes of the game. Jenema rang up three saves, Krakow and Bingham had two assists, Standfest chipped in with one. Elk Rapids (14-2, 10-0 LMC) will play the winner of St. Francis and Cheboygan on Tuesday (5/31) at Boyne Falls in a Division 3 district semi-final game, beginning at 4:00 p.m.
Picture
Senior members of the Elk Rapids High School soccer team were honored at Monday night’s game: Annabelle Parrish, Gwen Carroll, Gabby Krakow, Monika Gregorski, Mary Gregorski, Emily Eickholt, Hannah Jansen, Emma Clark, Jenna Greene and Logan Reasoner. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography

VARSITY SOFTBALL
Softball splits with Grayling

Picture
Abby Platt slides into second with a steal just ahead of the tag. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography
A schedule change gave the Elk softball team a nine-day layoff, but they finally took the field hosting Lake Michigan Conference rival Grayling on Monday, splitting with the Vikings winning game one 7-1 then dropping the nightcap 9-4. In the opener Reagann Merchant pitched 5.1 innings of no-hit softball, walking one and fanning four. In the sixth with one out a Viking homered over the leftfield fence spoiling Merchant’s no hitter, but the righthander still earned the impressive win. The Elks had just two hits but drew nine walks and played heads up ball on the basepaths to score runs. In game two Morgan Wirtz got the start on the mound, throwing 2.1 innings with four hits, five earned runs, three walks and two strikeouts. Merchant finished the game, giving up six hits with a walk and one strikeout. Grayling built a 9-0 lead after batting in the third, the Elks scored two in the third and added two more in the sixth in the loss. Violet Sumerix had two hits with a double and two RBIs, Ryleigh Yocom had a two RBI double. 
​
The Lady Elks (16-6) played a non-conference doubleheader with Central Lake at home Wednesday, then close out the season hosting the third ranked St. Francis on Thursday. The Elks will open the Division 3 post season hosting Charlevoix in a pre-district single game on Tuesday (5/31). A win would advance the Elks to the district semifinal contest against Boyne in Boyne City on Saturday, June 4.

VARSITY BASEBALL
Nine split four conference games

Picture
Alex Barber is safe after stealing second base just ahead of a close tag. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography
Four home games against Lake Michigan Conference opponents resulted in a pair of sweeps for the Elks, losing two to St. Francis 10-2 and 9-3 last Wednesday. Then bouncing back to win two from Grayling 12-2 and 15-8 on Monday.

In the opener against St. Francis, winners of their eighth straight LMC title this season, the Elks fell behind 5-0 after two innings, trimmed the lead slightly to 6-2 after four, but gave up four runs in the sixth to suffer a 10-2 loss. Dominic Fortuna started, throwing 1-1 innings, giving up two hits, five runs, two unearned, fanned one with two walks. Alex Barber came in for relief, allowed five hits and five runs, two unearned, walked three and struck out two. The Elks had three hits, and both runs scored came in the fourth inning with two outs, courtesy of four Gladiator errors, a walk and a hit batter. In the second game the Elks fell behind 7-0 by the fourth inning, and despite scoring three runs the deficit was too large to overcome. Chase DeArment went all six innings on the rubber, allowing seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts. The Elks were plagued by seven errors that led to seven unearned runs for the Gladiators. The Elks had four hits by four different players with RBIs from Nicholas Huizenga and Mack Barnhard.

In the final LMC matchup of the season the Elks feasted on Viking pitching in the opener, rapping out nine hits and drawing six walks to score four times in the fourth followed by a five run fifth inning as they cruised the 12-2 win. DeArment pitched all five innings, giving up two hits, two earned runs with two walks and ringing up eight Ks. Emery Rubert and DeArment both had two hits, five other Elks also recorded a hit. In the nightcap the Elks looked to be on the way to another big win, scoring five runs in the first inning. Grayling got within one scoring four runs in the fourth, the Elks countered with three fourth inning runs to cushion the lead. Grayling again scored four runs, tying the game at 8-8 after batting in the fifth. The Elks were unphased, scoring seven runs over the next two innings to cement the 15-8 victory and Viking sweep. Barnhard got the win, throwing 5.2 innings with eight hits, one walk and fanning 10. Barber came in to get the final out on a grounder to second. The Elks had 10 hits, three by Barnhard, with a double and three RBIs, two from Rubert with three RBIs and two by Huizenga including a double. The Elks committed just two errors in the game. 
​
The Elks (12-15) played a non-conference series with Central Lake at home on Wednesday, then finish the regular season schedule at Traverse City Central on Friday. The Elks (12-15) will open post season play hosting Kalkaska in a pre-district game on Tuesday (5/31) A win would advance the Elks to a district semifinal game with TC Christian next Friday (6/4) at St. Elizabeth.

VARSITY TENNIS
Team misses LMC title by one point

The Elks were undefeated in Lake Michigan Conference play at 7-0, logically meaning they would be Lake Michigan Conference champions, an honor the program last earned in 2006. The undefeated record did give the Elks the title of “regular season Lake Michigan Conference champions,” but to be recognized as the winners of the LMC title, a team has to win the Lake Michigan Conference championship tournament. The winner of the tournament, regardless of their record in the regular season, will earn the LMC title.

The Elks competed in the LMC championship tournament on Monday at St, Elizabeth, where they had won the regional trophy six days earlier. The Elks stumbled slightly, finishing second in the tournament to St. Francis by one point, the Gladiators tallying 20 for first place with Elk Rapids in second totaling 19. There was a three-way tie for third with Charlevoix, Grayling and Harbor Springs, each finishing with seven points.

Flight conference champions for the Elks in singles were one seed Avya Johnstone, second seed Ella Croftchik and third seeded Anneka Croftchik. In doubles, third seeded Kelly Minidis and Portia Beebe were the Elk flight conference champions. Despite not winning the LMC tournament, this Elk girls tennis team has done amazing things this season they will be remembered for, and there is still more to come! Go Elks – we are all behind you!

VARSITY GOLF
Golfers finish second in LMC title race

The Elks squared off with seven teams at the Lake Michigan Conference League Championship, played Saturday at Antrim Dells Golf Course with a good chance to win the LMC crown. It was not to be this season, St. Francis won the title with a first place 316, Elk Rapids trailed the Gladiators by 10, finishing in second place with 327 and Boyne City came in third shooting a 333. The top four Elks were Josh Lavely (75), Spencer Ball (79), Owen Spencer (85) and Gabe Lavely (88). Josh Lavely was second overall at the meet with a 75, Spencer Ball finished fourth overall shooting a 79. 

The Elks played in the Jim Glynn Charlevoix Rayder Classic on the Belvedere Golf Course in Charlevoix on Monday. The Elks finished in third place with Josh Lavely (72), Ball (82), Gabe Lavely (84) and Owen Spencer combining for a 328. The winner was St. Francis with a 318, Glen Lake finished in second place shooting 324. Josh Lavely was the medalist with 72. 

The Elks will have a final tune-up playing in the Big Rapids Cardinal Invite on the Katke Golf Course Thursday in Big Rapids. The Division 3 regional will open on Wednesday, June 1 at the Quest Golf Course in Houghton lake.