By Butch Harmon
-Williamston’s Michael Sienko was on a mission.
After falling to Portland’s Chance Conley in No. 1 singles at last year’s Division 4 state finals, Sienko was looking to claim the title this year.
Sienko accomplished his mission with an exclamation point as he defeated Conley 6-1, 6-0 in the No. 1 singles finals this season. Sienko added the title to the No. 2 singles title he won as a freshman.
Sienko’s title helped Williamston finish 11th overall as a team. Also helping the Williamston cause were Brandon Erickson, who reached the quarterfinals at No. 2 singles, and the No. 4 doubles team of AJ Waard and Ross Allen, that also reached the quarterfinals.
Conley helped Portland to a fifth-place finish as a team. Clayton Teachout reached the semifinals at No. 4 singles, while Ricky Simon advanced to the quarterfinals at No. 2 singles.
A trio of Raiders doubles teams reached the quarterfinals, including Cameron Simon and Colin Gensterblum at No. 1 doubles, Bryce Palmiter and Nathan Goering at No. 2 doubles, and Asher Dorshimer and Chandler Ferris at No. 3 doubles.
Lansing Catholic placed 12th overall. Jake Johnson led the way for the Cougars, as he reached the semifinals at No. 3 singles, while the No. 1 doubles team of Emmett Lehman and Stevan Knape reached the quaterfinals.
In Division 2, Okemos placed sixth overall. The Chieftains were paced by the No. 4 doubles team of Kevin Hutsell and Ross Lazar, which reached the semfinals.
At the Division 3 meet, DeWitt placed 14th and Haslett finished 20th. Tristen Fox of DeWitt reached the quarterfinals round at No. 3 singles.
-In boy’s soccer, CAAC teams came away with four district titles, led by the East Lansing Trojans and Mason Bulldogs, who captured Division 2 district tournaments.
East Lansing hosted its own district and the home field had to feel good for the Trojans, who won a pair of thrillers. They opened the tournament with a 1-0 overtime win against DeWitt and then won the district title with a 2-1 win against Lansing Eastern.
Mason played near perfect defense as it won the Parma Western district by defeating three opponents by a combined margin of 11-1.
Williamston has been one of the hottest soccer teams in the area. The Hornets dominated play at the Laingsburg district as they outscored Perry, Lake Fenton, and Durand by a combined score of 11-1.
Lakewood also captured a Division 3 district.
-The East Lansing cross country teams accomplished a rare feat, as both the boys and girls won CAAC Blue championships. This was the first time both the East Lansing boys and girls won the league meet since 1982.
In the boys’ race, Dietrich Hittner took first place overall with a time of 16:40. Billy Millar placed fourth and Isayha Davis was eighth.
In the girls’ race, East Lansing had five runners finish in the top ten, led by freshman Zoe Morse, who won the race in 19:13. Sophomore Sarah Goble took third, followed by junior Mado Glew in sixth, junior Hannah Busch seventh, and freshman Stephanie Vanis 10th.
The East Lansing girls also won the Greater Lansing Invitational for the second time in school history.
-The Ionia boys’ cross country team is rounding into shape for the state tournament. It won the Division 2 title at the Chippewa Hills Invitational. Brandon Winters took first place in a time of 16:06, while Brice Brown was second in 16:22, and Dillon Braun fourth in 17:09.
-The Mason boys captured the CAAC Gold title. Mason runners took the first three spots individually, as senior Tanner Hinkle won in 15:30, followed by senior Alex Whitmer and junior Mason VanDyke.
-It is safe to say that the 2012 season has been the finest in Lansing Everett football history. For only the second time in school history, the Vikings finished with an unbeaten regular-season record as they finished 9-0. The 1954 Viking team finished 8-0. The nine wins also tied the program high for wins with the 2007 team that went 9-2.
Defense has been the name of the game for the Vikings. Led by linebacker James Mills and defensive back Jaleel Canty, the Vikings allowed an average of 7.1 points per game and recorded three shutouts.
Everett has also featured a potent offense that averaged 29.8 points per game and was led by quarterback Lucas Barner and running backs Alec Cambric and Anthony White.
Everett opens the playoffs against an East Lansing team that it defeated 6-0 during the regular season in what should be one of the premier opening-night playoff games of the tournament.
-After missing the playoffs by one win last season, the Owosso Trojans reached the magical six-win mark this season. Owosso defeated Eaton Rapids 51-7 in the final game of the season to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 2001 season.
The Trojans have a potent offense that is averaging 29.8 points per game. Quarterback Robert Goeghegan pilots the offense that has been getting big contributions from running back Brody Edington and wide receiver James Cruz.
-The football season has been one to remember at Waverly. For the first time since the 2002 season, the Warriors have qualified for the playoffs. Waverly finished the regular season with a 6-3 record and the six wins are the most since the 1982 team won eight games. The team’s potent offense is led by senior running back Alante Sims and the big-play capabilities of LeJchon Marshall.
-For the fifth season in a row, the Saint Johns Redwings have qualified for the playoffs. The Redwings stamped their playoff ticket in a big way, as they defeated Gaylord 60-7 in the final game of the season.
The Redwings have been led this year by quarterback Bryce Labar. Saint Johns also features a potent ground game led by T.J. Havens and Josh Ewart.
Saint Johns finished first in its district and will host Sault Sainte Marie in the opening round of the playoffs. If the Redwings win the opener, they would host the winner of the Cadillac/Owosso game in the second round.
-With sophomore quarterback Jacob Johnson back in the lineup, the DeWitt Panthers enter the playoffs on a roll. DeWitt capped the regular season by handing Fruitport its first defeat of the season by a 21-20 score. Johnson, who missed time earlier this season with an injury, threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the win. DeWitt wide receiver Ryan Anderson caught eight passes in the game for 108 yards and a touchdown.
-Williamston is back in the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. The Hornets picked up their sixth win of the season in week nine when they defeated Highland Park 42-0. Running back Devin Smyth led the Hornets to the win, as he rushed for 133 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
-The Cougars of Lansing Catholic are back in the playoffs for the fourth straight season. They closed out the season in dramatic fashion when they overcame a 21-0 deficit against Alma to win 26-21. Rory Liesman led the comeback with over 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while the duo of quarterback Brock Rucinski and wide receiver Jack Swain proved to be potent once again through the air.