COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – In Branch County high school sports from over the weekend, in volleyball, Class C first ranked Bronson finished runner-up Saturday at the Holt Invitational, losing 2-0 to Class A honorable mention DeWitt in the finals. Bronson had a 5-1 record in the tournament. In Bronson’s semifinal win over Holt, the Lady Vikings dropped the first game and were down 20-14 in game two when they scored a 26-24 comeback victory and went on to control the third game 15-4 to capture the set.
On the day, Alexa Ratkowski had 119 assists, Jill Pyles had 42 kills, and Payton Robinson had 55 digs. Bronson’s season record is 28-6-2. Their next match is Wednesday at home against Centreville for Block Out Cancer Night.
In junior varsity volleyball, Union City had an 0-3 record at the Bronson JV Invitational, being eliminated by top-seed Bronson in bracket play. Sydney Falkner and Lillian Bambacht each had 5 kills on the day.
In cross country, the Coldwater boys team brought home their second runner-up trophy of the season Saturday, taking second place in the Division Two race at the Jackson High Invitational. The Cardinals finished in a 96-96 tie with Williamston but Coldwater’s sixth man, Ethan Aerts, beat the sixth runner from Williamston to the finish line to break the tie. Medal winners for the Cardinals were Ben Fagen, Josh Evers, Jordan Parkinson, Matt Sowles, and Adam Clemens.
Also in cross country, Quincy, Bronson, and Union City competed at the Pittsford Invitational with the meet scores divided by class grades. For the boys, in the junior race, Bronson finished third and Quincy was ninth while Bronson won the sophomore race with Quincy third in the freshman race. On the girls side, Quincy took third place in the senior race with Bronson seventh. In the junior race, Quincy was second.
Top individual finishers in the boys competition included Brandon Gary of Quincy fifth in the seniors race. Grant Gay of Union City was 12th in the junior race. In the sophomore race, Quincy’s Nathan Nohr was runner-up And Quincy’s Joshua Pepper was 14th in the freshman race. For the girls, from Quincy, Katie Spalding took third place in the seniors race while Gabby Porter won the junior race and Carly Kyle was 13th for Bronson. In the sophomore race, Quincy’s Meri Michael was sixth, and in the freshman race, Union City’s Marionna Bigelow was tenth and Quincy’s Alyssa Smith 15th.
In girls Swimming & Diving, Coldwater placed fifth Saturday at the Sturgis Relays.
Coldwater won their first annual Junior Varsity Soccer Tournament presented by the Coldwater Kiwanis Club Saturday to remain undefeated on the season, beating Jackson in the semifinals and Sturgis for the title, winning both matches 7-1. In the Jackson victory, Mohamed Nagi led the scoring with 2 goals and Shuaib Aljablaly, Hamza Muflihi, Mohsen Saleh, Shadi Alisaid and Dominick Kelly added one goal each. Alex Schaale had 1 save in goal as the Cardinals outshot Jackson 17-3. In the championship win over Sturgis, Shuaib Aljabaly, Hamza Muflihi and Mohsen Saleh had 2 goals each and Shadi Alisaid added one goal. Alex Shaale had 3 saves in goal with the Cardinals outshooting the Trojans 15-4 while improving their season record to 13-0.
Coming up tonight in high school sports, there’s boys soccer with Coldwater at Battle Creek Lakeview and Quincy at Hillsdale. Coldwater has move up to #11 in the latest Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association Division 2 poll. This afternoon in boys tennis, it’s Coldwater at Pennfield.
Today on the Coaches Corner, it’s Coldwater Volleyball coach Kelsey Closson.
