SPORTS

VARSITY SKIING
GNA skis to second place finishes

The GNA boys team had a stumble while the GNA girls showed improvement as both squads finished second overall in the second Lake Michigan Conference ski meet at Nob’s Nob last Thursday.

After edging out Harbor Springs by a single point in the conference opener last week, the boys team fell to the Rams 29-54. The boys finished second in the giant slalom as Sully Husband (2), Peters Aiden (6), Julian Ahluwalia (9) and Corbin Murphy (10) tallied 27, Harbor was first with an impressive 13.

In the slalom, the GNA top finishers were Shane Pilate (3), Murphy (4), Ahluwalia (7) and Husband (13), earning another second place 27. Harbor finished first with 16. 

The GNA girls won the slalom race as Liesel Stellin (2), Miriam Ahluwalia (4), Ellen Roggenbeck (9) and Abbey Schurg (12) combined for 27, ahead of Harbor in second with 30.

Skiing the giant slalom, Stellin (2), Roggenbeck (6), Ahluwalia (9) and Schurg (14) totaled 31 and second place; Harbor took first with 22. 

For the meet Harbor finished in first with 52 with the GNA girls close behind at 58. The meet was a big improvement from the 43-76 second place finish last week in the girl’s LMC opener.

The GNA squads next compete in the third LMC meet at Boyne Mountain on Thursday (1/21). The teams will be back on the slopes on Friday (1/22), competing in the fifth annual Hans “Peppi” Teichner Town Slalom at Hickory Hills. The annual tri-meet is a showdown between local the teams of GNA, TC Central and Traverse City West. The GNA boys have won the “Peppi” for the last three years and will be looking to keep that streak alive.

The event is held in honor of Hans Teichner, a local ski legend and U.S. Ski Hall of Fame member, who passed away in 1957.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
Elk winter sports re-boot

A change by Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) was announced last Thursday, delaying the start of competition for winter “contact” sports – basketball, hockey, wrestling and competitive cheerleading. These four sports were allowed to begin practicing last Saturday but cannot have contact practices until Monday (2/1). Elk Rapids has basketball and hockey, as a member of the Bay Reps hockey co-op, but does not offer wrestling this year. Bowling is considered to be a “non-contact” sport and was allowed to begin practicing last Saturday, with competitions scheduled to begin before the end of the month. 

An updated look at Michigan high school winter sports is as follows: The Lady Elks girls basketball teams, varsity and JV, held tryouts on Saturday, and will be allowed non-contact practices until February 1. The varsity girls basketball team will play a 16-game schedule, opening at home against Grayling on Tuesday, (2/9). The girls JV team will play a 12-game schedule, beginning with Grayling at home on before the varsity girls game (2/9). Division 3 District play is scheduled to begin on March 22 for the Lady Elks in Mancelona.

The Elk Rapids varsity boys basketball has a 17-game schedule, with the first game at home on Saturday (2/6) against Traverse City Christian. The boys held tryouts last Saturday (1/16) and will field a varsity, JV and freshmen team. All three squads will have non-contact practices until February 1. The JV team will have a 15-game schedule, opening against TC Christian ahead of the varsity boys opener (2/6). The Elk freshmen boys team will begin play at Grayling on February 9, as part of an Elks versus Vikings triple header. Division 3 District play is scheduled to begin on March 23 for the Elks at St. Francis.

The Bay Reps hockey team began non-contact practice on Saturday (1/16), with the first contact practice allowed on February 1. The Reps will host Petoskey on Wednesday, February 3 at Centre Ice, with the remainder of the schedule still being adjusted. The Division 1 regionals are scheduled for March 15, locations have not yet been posted.

The Elk bowling team got the green light to begin practicing on Saturday (1/16). The first meet is scheduled for Thursday, January 28 at Lucky Jacks in Traverse City. Regional play has been listed for March 19-20 with locations to be determined.

The GNA ski team has completed two conference meets with the third to be held this Thursday (1/21). The Division 2 regional are scheduled for Crystal Mountain in early February. 

The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has allowed spectators of “100 per school gym and 250 per stadiums/arenas for all winter sports.” All the information above is subject to change as the start date for competition gets closer. The Elk Rapids News will have team previews coming soon!

ELK RAPIDS HIGH SCHOOL 
A look back in sports

1992 Lady Elks – The gold standard of Elk basketball  

Picture
Some of the Elks appear wiped out, some are all smiles as the team poses with the regional trophy. front row: Shannon Graff, Megan Graham, Holly Hockin, Leslie Harrett, Sabine Schmid. back row: Assistant Coach Lisa Lundy, Statistician Katie Meyers, Christy Lundy, Jane Bruso, Bridget O’Donnell, Jana Bruso, Statistician Lisa Szejbach, Coach Bob Schneider. Courtesy photo
When looking at the banners hanging in the Elk Rapids gym, the banner dedicated to girls basketball has a dominant streak from 1985 to 1993, with nine straight conference championships and six continuous district and regional titles. A larger banner behind the far backboard reads “Girls’ Basketball State Runner-up 1992 Elks.” The banner hangs proudly, giving recognition to one of the best girls basketball teams to play in Elk Rapids, or even northern Michigan. In 1992, girls basketball was played in the fall. The Lady Elks opened that season ranked number one in Class C basketball, and they remained there through the entire season, reeling off 20 straight wins for a perfect 20-0 season. This team did not just win, they crushed their opponents with an average margin of victory of nearly 40 points.

“I don’t think our girls understood the pressure of being No. 1,” said Elk basketball coach Bob Schneider early in the season. “It means when you beat a team by only 20 points, people in town want to know what’s wrong. It’s great to be ranked, but you have to live up to that reputation.” The girls knew. They won by as many as 68 points, several games by 50 plus points, most by 40 points. After seven wins to open the season, the Lady Elks were behind for the first time, trailing 9-8 after the first quarter against Glen Lake. “We were getting somewhat sluggish. We are capable of playing much better with the right element of competition. I guess we will have to go somewhere and scrimmage.” Schneider said. The Elks dominated the rest of the game for a 73-40 win. 

Leading the team was senior 6-foot center Holly Hockin, who would earn first team all-state honors, and be named “Captain” by the Detroit Free Press. A pair of junior twins, Jane and Jana Bruso earned special mention all-state by both the AP and the Detroit Free Press. Megan Graham, senior point guard, kept the team together on the floor, senior Leslie Harrett, known as the “best sixth man off the bench,” shared the power forward spot with junior Christy Lundy. The district opener was an ugly nail-biter 38-35 win over Benzie Central. The Elks would win seven post season games, downing Detroit Country Day 50-39 in a Friday semi-final game to earn a spot in the state final in Battle Creek. 

Michigan was blasted by a snowstorm that weekend; a large group of Elk fans arrived at the Country Day game in time to see the final quarter. Unable to get back home, the fans were put up in a local gym, staying for the championship game on Saturday. The Elks entered the final at 27-0, ranked number one since opening day, facing the 27-1 Carrollton Cavaliers. The Elks fell in that final game 63-41, down 21-10 after one and 35-21 at halftime.

“They were a terrific team, and we couldn’t hit a basket,” said Coach Schneider. “You don’t have to win everything to be a success, and these girls are a success. We are very, very proud.” The team returned to Elk Rapids disappointed but honored with a parade and cheers from a community that supported the team all season. 
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“We won because we had a total team effort whenever the girls hit the floor. They played unselfish, they moved the ball so well, and played just great defense. Parents of some of the opposing teams would come up to tell me the Elks were playing some of the best girls basketball they have ever seen,” Schneider said. The Lady Elks last won regionals in 1993, the last district win was in 2019, and 2012 before that. The glory days of the late 80s and early 90s have gone, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be back. As in any sport, success just takes dedication, teamwork, unselfish play and a big dose of Elk Pride.