SPORTS

VARSITY TRACK AND FIELD
Elk Boys take second place at track state finals

A beautiful day is made so much better with a big MHSAA banner and displaying the Division 3 Boys Track and Field State Finals Runner-Up trophy, with Austin Tonn, Noah Liggett, Balin Selby, Gavin Hamilton, Garett Godden, Miles Prabhaker, Harlan Prabhaker, Bryce Reid and Qwynn Darnell. Courtesy photo

The Elk varsity boys track team finished up a great season with a second-place finish at the Division 3 Track State Finals held in Kent City on Saturday. The Elks brought home the runners-up trophy with a total of 32 points, finishing one point ahead of Reed City and Ann Arbor Greenhills tying for third place with 31 points and two points in front of Lansing Catholic in fourth place with 30 points. The meet state champion was Monroe St. Mary with 39 points, just seven points ahead of the Elks. 
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“This is young group, they worked hard and bought into the program to get here,” said Elk Rapids co- head track coach Cam Ward, “This means everything, and it is still a surprise! We had a great team effort, and hopefully there is more to come.”

All first through eighth-place finishers in an event or relay are awarded a medal and receive the “All-State” title honor, the first-place finishers are also named “State Champion.”

The Elks achieved the state champions honor in 4x400m relay with a first-place run of 3:23.58 by the foursome of Gavin Hamilton, Miles Prabhaker, Noah Liggett, and Garett Godden. The same quartet earned All-State honors with a second-place finish in the 4x200 relay, turning in a time of 1:30.07.

Godden earned a pair of individual medals, finishing second in the 100m (10.79) with a new school record, breaking the previous record of 10.97 set by Jeffrey Xaver in 2011 and for third place in the 200m (21.80). Godden broke his own school record for the 200m with a new record time of 21.66 set in the preliminaries.

Other strong outings for the Elks were by Hamilton for 11th place with a personal record in the 400m (50.78), Qwynn Darnell finished 19th in the 800m (2:03.57) and 16th in the 1600m (4:35.76), the 4x800m relay team of Trey Dennis, Keagan Kiel, Bryce Reed and Darnell finished 24th (8:39.16) and Conner Carlisle was 22nd in the long jump (18’9”).
 
On the Elk girls team, Anna Pray, running in her fourth state finals meet, finished 18th in the 800m (2:28.37) and Tabitha Pritchard was 21st in the 100m hurdles (17.37).

“About 12 events in, I realized that we stood a good chance to finish in second place, but I didn’t say anything,” said Coach Ward. “If Ann Arbor Greenhills had beat us in the mile relay, and they were ahead of us until our third runner, then they would have been state runners-up.”

The 2026 Elk 4x400m relay team joins an exclusive club of Elk Rapids varsity state champion honorees. The membership previously was limited to the 1997 and 1998 Division 4 boys soccer teams along with three individuals in Tracy Elliott, a three-time state champion in the 1968 Class C-D Cross Country State Finals, the 1968 Class C Two Mile Run and 1969 Class D Two Mile Run; along with Finn Husband, a three-time state champion skier in the 2018 Division 2 Slalom Ski Race and the 2019 Division 2 Slalom and Giant Slalom Ski Races; joined by Max Ward, a two- time state champion in the Division 3 Track 300m hurdles in 2024 and 2025. (Co-op state champion teams are not included in the Elk state champion history records).

Congratulations on a fantastic and history making showing by the Elk track teams and the track coaches! Elk Pride!

Proudly raising the “We are #1” sign and wearing medals is the history-making ERHS state champion 4x400 relay team of Garett Godden and Gavin Hamilton (standing) along with Miles Prabhaker and Noah Liggett (sitting). Courtesy photo

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VARSITY BASEBALL
Elk nine fall to late Ram rally in district title game

Jayden Hresko (1) fields the ball and throws to first for the out. Photo by Kim Eardley Photography

The Elk Rapids varsity baseball team went into the Division 3 Baseball Districts riding a six-game winning streak, plus they had the added benefit of hosting the district bracket that was played on Saturday at Hoover Field. 
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The Elks began postseason play with a district semifinal match-up against Boyne City, the game was also the district opener for the Ramblers after both squads drew a first round bye. The Elks came away with a 4-2 win; they never trailed in the game and extended the win streak to seven consecutive games. The victory advanced the Elks to the district championship against Harbor Springs where a three-run, sixth inning rally by the Rams handed the Elks a crushing 6-4 loss that ended both the winning streak and their season. 

Ethan Draper pitched all six innings of the championship game, allowing eight hits and six runs (three unearned), walked five and struck out three. The Elks batted first and with two outs back-to-back singles from Nathan Barton and Jayden Hresko put runners at first and second, but they were left stranded as the next Elk popped up for the third out. The Rams led off the bottom of the inning with three straight singles that scored one run, then added one more run on a fielder’s choice to take a 2-0 lead after one. The Elks answered with a four run second inning, beginning with walks to Eli Zbytowski and Luke Otto, and with one out, Luciano Fortuna was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Braden Fluty came through with an RBI single, scoring Zbytowski and keeping the bases loaded.

Nathan Barton followed with a hard single to left field that scored two runs, Fluty went to third and Barton took second on the unsuccessful throw to the plate. The Rams intentionally walked Hresko to load the bases with one out, but a passed ball brought Fluty home for the Elk fourth run, Barton went to third and Hresko took second. The rally then ended with a strikeout and a fly ball to centerfield for the third out, the Elks took the field holding a 4-2 lead. The Rams scored a solo run in the bottom of the third that narrowed the Elk lead to 4-3, this would remain the score through the Elks turn at bat in the top of the sixth inning. Harbor drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth, the Ram runner stole second and went to third on a sacrifice ground ball for the first out. The next Ram tied the game with an RBI single, a walk put runners on first and second. The Ram baserunners pulled off a double steal and scored the go ahead run on the pickoff throw. The batter hit a pop-up for out number two, with a Ram remaining at second. The next batter singled, putting runners at first and third. The runner at first took second on defensive indifference and the Ram on third scored to give Harbor a 6-4 lead as the batter went down swinging for the third out. 

The Elks were by no means ready to concede the game, Fluty ripped a 2-1 count single to centerfield, Nathan Barton walked putting Elks on first and second. Hresko reached first on a fielder’s choice, then Fluty went to third with Barton out at second base. Draper popped up to first base, Hresko tagged up and ran to second, Fluty remained at third with two outs. Collin McCormack stepped up to the plate and crushed the first pitch deep to centerfield. The ball looked to have the distance for a three-run homer, the Ram fans in attendance definitely thought so as they let out a unified groan, but the centerfielder made the catch at the fence, ending the game with the 6-4 Elk loss.  

The Elks had seven hits, drew five walks and struck out just four times in the game. Draper had two hits with a double, Fluty had two hits and an RBI, Nathan Barton had a hit and two RBIs, Otto and Hresko both had a single.

The loss was the third suffered by the Elks to the Rams this season, as they were swept in Northern Shores Conference (NSC) play in Harbor 3-0 and 5-3.

The Elks were seeking a second straight district trophy, winning the title last season in an extra inning walk-off thriller over Boyne City and breaking a 17-year district championship drought. Elk Head Coach Tim Barber took over a second stint at the helm of the Elk baseball program in 2021 and has led the Elks to the district title game in five of the last six seasons. Coach Barber was the Elk varsity baseball head coach from 2014 through 2016 before stepping down.

The Elks reached the championship game with a 4-2 win over Boyne City in the semifinal game at Hoover Field on Saturday. Nathan Barton started on the mound, throwing five innings allowing five hits, two runs (one unearned) walked three and fanned four. Fortuna pitched two no-hit innings in relief with one walk and two strikeouts. The Elks led 3-0 after batting in the bottom of the second, courtesy of an RBI single by Fortuna and Fluty with a two RBI double. The Elks added a run in the third to go up 4-0 after Zbytowski was hit by a pitch with bases loaded. The Ramblers scored twice in the top of the fourth to cut the Elk lead to 4-2, but there would be no more scoring in the game. Elk Rapids had six hits, walked twice and fanned five times. Hresko had two with a double, Fluty doubled, McCormack, Otto and Fortuna each had a single. 

Harbor Springs reached the championship game with a 5-1 win over Mancelona in a semifinal match-up.

Last Tuesday Mancelona hosted Charlevoix in a first round game, crushing the Rayders 13-1 to advance to the semifinal game with Harbor Springs. 

The Elks finished the season with an overall record of 19-17 and were 8-6 in NSC play.

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ERHS SPORTS 
Northern Shores Conference Trophy will stay in Elk Rapids

The Northern Shores Conference All-Sports trophy will remain in Elk Rapids for another year. Courtesy photo

The first ever Northern Shores Conference All-Sports traveling trophy was won by Elk Rapids for the 2024-25 school year and has been prominently displayed front and center of the Elk Rapids trophy case.

The trophy will remain right where it sits for another year after Elk Rapids tallied a first-place 116 points and won the trophy for the second straight year.

“Back-to-Back Champions!” was proudly posted by the Elk Rapids High School Athletics page on Monday along with, “Thank you to our coaches, stud.ent athletes, families, volunteers and fans for your passion, commitment and support all year long.”

The trophy is presented to the school that earns the most points in conference sports throughout the year. There are eight teams in the NSC, and the team that wins the conference in any sport earns eight points all the way down to the last-place team that receives one point. The trophy “travels” meaning the winning school displays the hardware for a year but has to surrender the trophy to the school that wins following year.

The Elks 116 points just edged past Harbor Springs with 113 points, followed by Boyne City (102), Kingsley (86), Charlevoix (85), Cheboygan (84), Grayling (78) and Kalkaska (73). The trophy has only had one home and next year will bring the chance for a “three-peat!” Go Elks! Elk Pride!

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VARSITY SOCCER
​Harbor comeback ends Elks season in district title game

Madalynn Dean (16) blocks out a Ram defender and sends the ball soaring downfield. Photo by Pam Bellner

The pitch in Harbor Springs was the site last Thursday for the third meeting between Elk Rapids and Harbor Springs this season, but this would be the most important of the three games with the Division 3 Soccer District Championship trophy going to the winner.

This game turned out to be another close thriller with Harbor coming from behind in the second half to get a 3-2 win and claim the district hardware. The first meeting between the teams in Elk Rapids ended as a 1-1 tie and the Rams squeaked out a 2-1 win in the second contest played in Harbor Springs.

The Elks had a disadvantage in the game playing without the services of senior Sierra Boilore, a leading scorer and team leader along with junior and three-year veteran Melia Maris, after both suffered season ending injuries in the district semifinal win over Leland last Tuesday. The Elk girls soccer program will never be heard making excuses, instead they have always had the “next man up” mentality along with many talented players.

The Elks scored twice in the first half with freshman Claire Gooden scoring both goals, the first off a penalty kick and the second on a running shot that soared up and just out of reach of the Ram keeper into the back of net. The Elks went into halftime holding the 2-0 advantage but would not score again. In the second half Harbor would get on the scoreboard with a penalty kick that trimmed the Elk lead down to 2-1. The game had 11 minutes left to play in regulation when the Rams notched a rebound goal off a corner kick to tie the score at 2-2.

The teams battled back and forth unable to score thanks to some solid work by the two keepers. The Rams received another corner kick with just over three minutes left in the game. Elk keeper Natasha Beebe leapt straight up and slapped the shot away with both hands, the ball fell straight down into the box and a furious melee by both teams. Beebe swatted away a Ram attempt, but a third Ram shot squeezed into the right side of the net for a goal, giving the Rams a first lead in the game at 3-2, and minutes later became the final score. In the Elk net Beebe tallied 10 saves, Piper Smith was credited with an assist.

Elk Rapids finished another solid season with an overall record of 15-5-1 and finished in second place in the Northern Shores Conference with 12-1-1 record in conference play. Head Coach Andrea Krakow wrapped up her 20th season at the helm of the Elk girls soccer program with a career total of 283 wins. The team will close out the season with an awards banquet. 
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Congratulations to the Elk players and to Coach Krakow and assistant coaches Sam Stites and Ethan Pike for the hard work and commitment they have put in to provide another exciting season of Lady Elk soccer!

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VARSITY SOFTBALL
Boyne defeats Elks in district championship game

The Elk varsity softball team traveled to Boyne City two weeks ago to battle the Ramblers for the Northern Shores Conference (NSC) title. The conference crown would go to Boyne City after they won both games of the regular season doubleheader, the lone conference sweep suffered by Elk Rapids this season. The Elks returned to Boyne City on Saturday for the Division 3 Softball Districts and dismantled Charlevoix 20-0 in a semifinal game. The win advanced the Elks to the district championship game against Boyne City, the Ramblers earning their spot in the title game with a 13-10 semifinal win over Cheboygan. The Elks took a 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning of the district final, but they would not score again, suffering a 5-1 season ending loss to the Ramblers.  
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Coraline Rainey pitched all seven innings for the Elks, giving up six hits and five unearned runs with two walks and 11 strikeouts. Brooke Fluty led off the bottom of the first with a single, took second on a passed ball, then came home on an RBI double by Rhielynn Skrocki. The Elks held Boyne scoreless until the fourth inning, then the Ramblers tied the game at 1-1, scoring a run without a hit after reaching base on an Elk error and coming home on a passed ball. The Ramblers took a 2-1 lead in the sixth with a leadoff single, the runner was moved to second with a sacrifice bunt, then stole third base and scored on a passed ball. In the bottom of the sixth the Elks appeared to be making a signature comeback rally after Skrocki led off with a centerfield double. Rainey beat out a bunt, moving Skrocki to third with one out. The next Elk struck out, bringing Emily Vandergriff to the plate with two outs, she quickly drew a 0-2 count while Rainey easily stole second base. Vandergriff fouled off the next two pitches, then watched two balls go by for a 2-2 count, she fouled off two more pitches, settled in and concentrated, and drew a walk watching the next two pitches go by for ball three and four. 

The Elks had bases loaded and were adrenaline fueled from Vandergriff’s battle at the plate, but the next batter went down swinging, leaving three Elks stranded and no runs scored. The Elks struggled to score, but had opportunities, they stranded two runners in the first inning and one in the second, fourth and fifth innings.
The Ramblers scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning courtesy of back to back singles, with one out, a Boyne strikeout for the second out, an Elk error allowing one run, followed by a two RBI single for a 5-1 lead.

Allie Schlicker led off the Elk final at bat with a single, and the Elk rally machine seemed ready for a thrilling win, but the next three batters went down in order ending the Elks season with the 5-1 defeat. The Elks had nine hits, walked twice and fanned seven times, Skrocki had two doubles with the RBI, Fluty had two hits, Kylee Bergquist doubled, Payton Friess, Jillian Moazeni, Rainey and Schlicker each had a hit.

The Elks reached the title game with a three inning 20-0 mercy win over Charlevoix. Moazeni pitched a three inning no hitter with two walks and four strikeouts. The Elks scored 14 runs in the first inning and added six runs in the third on 13 hits and two walks. Moazeni had three hits with a pair of doubles and three RBIs, Vandergriff had three hits with a double, triple and four RBIs, Bergquist rapped a pair of doubles with four RBIs, Skrocki doubled, tripled with three RBIs, Fluty had a triple and tallied three RBIs.

The Elks finished a thrilling season with a record of 30-12 that included a 16-game winning streak with eight straight mercy wins and a pair of tournament first-place trophies. The team hit for power, rapping nearly 40 home runs and pulled out several late innings, exciting come-from-behind wins. The Elks provided the fans with some great softball this season with a young team, meaning there is definitely more to come next season!

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