COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater girls basketball and gymnastics teams celebrated successful seasons and recognized top performers at their respective team banquets on Sunday, one day after the MHSAA crowned four state champions, including a pair of area teams, at the Girls Basketball Finals.
Coldwater freshman guard Malorie Rzepka was voted Most Valuable Player by her teammates and coaches, while for the second year in a row, senior Katie Stanton was named most improved. Sophomore Jamie Wellet was named the team’s Best Defensive Player, freshman Tyler Scheid earned the Leadership Award and Most Sportsmanlike Award, Megan Hoath received the Coach’s Award for the second consecutive year, and Madison Marsh was presented a special Dedication Award. Rzepka was the lone Cardinal named to the Interstate 8 All-Conference First Team, while Scheid and Kendall Galloway earned Honorable Mention. Hoath, Marsh, Scheid, Wellet, Stacy Guzy, and Payton Watson received I-8 Academic All-Conference recognition.
Amanda Daoud was named Outstanding Senior Gymnast at the Coldwater gymnastics team banquet amassing a season point total of 418.675 and a four-year career total of 1495.925. Five girls were named Most Improved: Claire Sheppard in the all-around, Tara Davis on the vault, Abby Swick on uneven bars, Madison Hedstrom on the balance beam, and Shelby Kahler on the floor. Claire Sheppard was named Rookie of the Year. Receiving South Central Gymnastics League All-Conference honors were Erica Rodgers on the floor, Madison Hedstrom on beam, and Amanda Daoud on the all-around; those three also received SCGL Academic All-Conference honors along with Tara Davis, Sarah Odom, Claire Sheppard, and Tina Stuzke.
At the MHSAA Girls Basketball Finals Saturday at the Breslin Center, Interstate 8 champion Marshall won the Class B title with a convincing 51-42 win over Grand Rapids South Christian. Jill Konkle had a team-high 13 points, while Taryn Long and Emily Delmotte had 10 apiece as the Redhawks finished the season with a 26-1 record. Pittford finished off a perfect 27-0 campaign by beating Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 48-30 in the Class D Final. Maddie Clark led all scorers with 10 points for the Wildcats, who have gone 75-2 over the last three seasons.
The MHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament resumes on Tuesday with the state Quarterfinals, and Coldwater will host Wyoming Tri-unity Christian and Adrian Lenawee Christian in a Class D Quarterfinal game at the Coach Floyd Eby Gymnasium.
The first competitions in the spring sports season will come this Friday, with Coldwater’s track team traveling to Eastern Michigan University’s Bowen Field House for the Huron Relays and the Lady Cardinal tennis team competing in a tournament hosted by Jenison at the Ramblewood Tennis Club in Grandville.
