07/13/2006

Sports in brief

Six area players named All-Stars

FROM STAFF REPORTS

TRAVERSE CITY — Six northwest Michigan players and one coach have been selected to participate in the annual girls high school All-Star softball game July 22 at Michigan State University.

Seniors who will be playing in the game include Erin Sullivan and Betsie Frye of Mackinaw City, Andrea Hoeksema of Ellsworth, Sara Truckey of Bellaire, Brooke Mallory of Frankfort and Krystal Lingaur of Lake Leelanau St. Mary's.

Frankfort head coach Mike Thompson will be a member of the coaching staff.

Newhouse, Nystrom win Match Play titles

TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City's Jordan Newhouse defeated Kari Tomaski 6-and-4 Wednesday to win the Girls Division in the Traverse City Junior Golf Association's Match Play Championship at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.

In the semifinals, Newhouse defeated Brooke Rodes 4-and-2 while Tomaski downed Katy Blodgett 4-and-2.

Charlevoix's Jordan Nystrom captured the College Division with a 7-and-6 win over Cadillac's Kory Eastway.

Nystrom advanced with a 2-up semifinal win over Jason Carpenter while Eastway topped Tom Tomaski 1-up.

Charlie Olson, Tony Casciano, Nate Kelly and Dave Tropf advanced to the semifinals in the Boys Division.

Olson beat Stewart Upton 2-up and Kyle Parsons 2-up, Casciano defeated Andrew Walukonis 4-and-3 and Mike Dendrinos 4-and-3, Kelly upended Blake Knoblock 2-and-1 and Josh Schaub 1-up, and Tropf downed Ian Davis 6-and-4 and Tom Brick 1-up.

Matches were played on The Wolverine and Spruce Run.

The boys semifinals and finals will be played on The Bear at a date to be determined.

All of the champions and semifinalists will be honored at the TCJGA Championship Tournaments to be held at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa on Aug. 6-7.

Nickerson to walk-on at Lake Superior

SAULT STE. MARIE — Kingsley shooting guard Caleb Nickerson will join the Lake Superior State University basketball team as a walk-on.

The 6-foot-2 Nickerson is Kingsley's second-leading all-time scorer with 1,179 points. He had a three-year scoring average of 17.9 points per game.

Nickerson is the second Kingsley basketball player to commit to LSSU this year. He joins Laker women's basketball recruit Jill Walton, a Kingsley forward. Nickerson was also the quarterback for the Class C state champion Kingsley football team.

"Caleb brings so many positives to our team, from his shooting ability and understanding of the game to his leadership and team-first mentality," LSSU coach Mike Fitzner said. "He quarterbacked his football team to a state championship in the fall, which speaks volumes about his leadership ability and toughness. Caleb had an outstanding senior year on the court and has a great feel for the game. He played for his dad, Pete Nickerson. He is an excellent student and quality individual."

TC Waves to host Softball Spectacular

TRAVERSE CITY— The Traverse City Waves, a local girls' travel softball team, will host the Traverse City Softball Spectacular tournament this weekend at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Middle School.

Ten Michigan teams will compete in a round robin format in each of two divisions. Participating teams will play four games apiece, with the top two teams in each division facing off in the championship game at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Four games are scheduled to be played on Friday evening, twelve on Saturday, and six more on Sunday.

The Waves will field teams in the 14U and 12U divisions. Both Traverse City teams begin action on Friday at 5 p.m.

Admission is $5 per vehicle, good for the entire weekend.

State Jr. boys golf deadline is July 24

KEWADIN — Deadline is July 24 for the 34th Michigan State Junior Boys Golf Championship Aug. 2-3 at A-Ga-Ming Golf Club.

The tournament is open to all Michigan resident boys age 13-17 who have a USGA handicap index of 10.5 and under.

For entry forms and information call the Michigan State Amateur Golf Association (517) 918-2625 or send an e-mail to skillplay@aol.com.

Two area players receive MIAA honor

OLIVET — Former high school soccer standouts Marcus Matthews of Buckley and Ben Richardson of Traverse City Central were among 77 Olivet College student-athletes named to the 2005-06 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Academic Honor Roll.

The honor roll recognizes scholar-athletes who achieved a minimum 3.5 grade point average for the entire 2005-06 academic year.

Battle Creek golfer wins AJGA crown

HARBOR SPRINGS — Matthew Thompson of Battle Creek and Amie Neff of Carmel, Ind., each claimed their first American Junior Golf Association victories in the Coca-Cola Junior Championship at Boyne Highlands last week.

Thompson took the title in the Boys Division by a single-stroke, while Neff bettered the Girls Division by three-strokes.

The Coca-Cola Junior Championship at Boyne Highlands was a 54-hole tournament presented by the American Junior Golf Association. The 144-player field included 105 boys and 38 girls from 27 states and Canada.

More than 160 former AJGA juniors currently play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have compiled more than 300 wins. AJGA alumni include Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Charles Howell III, Jim Furyk, Grace Park, Cristie Kerr, Candie Kung and Paula Creamer.

Grayling's Wilson claims MPT victory

TRAVERSE CITY — Paul Wilson of Grayling won a playoff against Brandon Collier of Naples, Fla., to claim the Michigan Player's Tour event last week on The Bear at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.

Wilson and Collier both a 2-over 74. Wilson was awarded $1,350 for the victory, while Collier received $525.

Rounding out the top eight were amateur Brad Phillion of Saginaw (79), Ken Carter of Traverse City (83), amateur James Johns III of Williamsburg (86), amateur Jamie Bush of Traverse City (87), Rich Caron of Roseville (88) and Jared Gay of Burton (88).

U-19 girls hockey conducting skates

GAYLORD — The back-to-back state champion U-19 girls travel hockey team will be hold skates for prospective players Aug. 8-10.

The team, relocating from Traverse City to Gaylord for the upcoming season, will have registration and skates at the Otsego County Sportsplex in Gaylord on Aug. 8 at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 9 at 5 p.m. and Aug. 10 at 6 p.m.

There is a $30.00 non-refundable try-out fee and the players must attend 2 of the 3 skates. For more information about the team call coach Rich Bonnee at (231) 535-2604.