05/11/2006

Area sports in brief

TCJGA announces scholarship winners

FROM STAFF REPORTS

TRAVERSE CITY — The Traverse City Junior Golf Association (TCJGA) announced its scholarship recipients for 2006.

During the past 11 years the TCJGA has given over $80,000 to members towards their college education.

The special scholarship recipients include:

Traverse City Junior Golf Association Larry R. Kinney Memorial Scholarship — Traverse City West's Lucas Bogard (Michigan State University).

Traverse City Junior Golf Association Bob and Judy Lober Scholarship — Traverse City Central's Heather Brown (Florida State University)

Traverse City Junior Golf Association David L. Thompson Memorial Scholarship — St. Francis' Matt DeMerle (University of Michigan).

Traverse City Junior Golf Association Al Bostwick Memorial Scholarship — Northport's Jeff Kopchia (Ferris State University).

Traverse City Junior Golf Association Scott C. Cook Memorial Scholarship — Benzie Central's Tyler Moss (Michigan State University).

Traverse City Junior Golf Association Matt Warren Memorial Scholarship — Caledonia's Issac Mullvihill (Butler University).

Traverse City Junior Golf Association Vern Nelson Memorial Scholarship — Traverse City Central's Tom Tomaski (currently attending Tri State University).

Traverse City Junior Golf Association Bob Robinson Memorial Scholarship — Traverse City's Nick Greenman (currently attending Northwestern Michigan College).

General scholarship recipients include Traverse City's Justin Peterson, currently attending Wartburg College; Cincinnati's Scott Randall, currently attending Furman University; Suttons Bay's Paul Stowe, currently attending University of Michigan.

Ladies golf league has openings

TRAVERSE CITY — The Ladies Wednesday Night Golf League at Elmbrook has openings.

For more information, call Kathy at 947-1316.

Manton's Smart is 2nd team all-MIAA

ALBION — Albion College softball player Allison Smart, a freshman catcher/designated hitter from Manton, has been named second team all-league in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Smart batted .500 with five doubles, a triple, two home runs and 12 RBIs.

Cadillac's Lisa Anderson, who played in 27 games for the Britons, received a varsity letter.

Ufer wins state gymnastics gold

MIDLAND — Amanda Ufer of Water's Edge Gymnastics, competing in her first Level 5 Silver State meet, captured a gold medal on bars in the 10-year-old division last weekend.

Ufer scored a personal-best 9.225.

Ufer added a 12th on beam (8.35) and ninth on floor exercise (8.5) to place fifth all-around (34.425).

Eight YMCA gymnasts competed, as well, with the team scoring a its best-ever state score of 106.95.

Individual medals were earned by Kenyon McFarlane, who was 11th on bars, and Makenna Beers, 14th on vault.

Earning red ribbons in the all-around were Alex Bondy, Taylor Featherstone and Erin Weider. Rachel Carlson, Emma Davis, Macy Blackburn and Makenna Beers received blue ribbons.

Water's Edge gymnasts Sydney Vanderveer and Oliva Fought competed in the Level 7 state meet at Freeland.

Vanderveer placed fifth on bars in the 13-and-older group with a season-best 9.050 and earned three more personal bests on floor, vault and all-around.

Fought was ninth on bars (8.9) in the 14-and-older division. She added an 11th on floor (9.15) and placed eighth all-around (36.0).

Burry invited to Down Under Games

BELLAIRE — Bellaire junior Graham Burry has been invited to participate in the Down Under International Games track meet July 3-15 in Australia.

Burry will compete in the 110 hurdles against athletes from across the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

Burry is seeking contributions to defray costs. Each donation of $2 (or in increments of $2) will receive a raffle ticket for a trip for two to Australia, New Zealand or Hawaii — including air fare, hotel and meals.

Checks should be made payable to: International Sports Specialists, Inc. and mailed to Burry at 104 Court St., Bellaire, Mich. 49615.

For more information call the Burry family at (231) 533-6468.

Spring Slam 3-on-3 set for May 20

TRAVERSE CITY — Registration is under way for the YCMA "Spring Slam" 3-on-3 youth basketball tournament, which will be held Saturday, May 20.

The tournament is open to boys and girls in grades 4-9. Cost is $80 per team of three or four players.

All registered participants will receive a T-shirt, and top finishers will receive individual awards.

Registration deadline is Friday, May 12.

For information call the YMCA at (231) 933-9622.

Men's hoop league has openings

TRAVERSE CITY — The YCMA men's summer basketball league is now accepting registrations.

The league, made up of two divisions, begins June 11 and is open to adult players of high school age and above. Cost is $450 per team and includes regular season and a season-ending tournament.

Registration deadline is Thursday, June 1.

For information call the YMCA at (231) 933-9622.

Gaylord Gus Macker June 17

GAYLORD — Downtown Gaylord will host its 17th annual Gus Macker basketball tournament on Saturday, June 17.

The event begins at 8 a.m. and concludes the next day.

The event has raised more than $330,000 for local charities.

Entry deadline is May 26.

For information log onto www.macker.com or call the Gaylord Information Center toll free at 1-800-345-8621.

Empire hosts 5K run on May 20

EMPIRE — The Kick Your Ass-paragus 5K run will be held Saturday, May 20 at 9 a.m. in Empire.

The course begins and ends at the lighthouse located at the Empire public beach on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Registration is free. Sign up is before the race at the start/finish area between 8 a.m. and race time There will be five different age groups. Winners of each age group will win a Aspragus Festival T-shirt. Overall male and overall female winners will also win one pound of asparagus.

For more information, check www.empirechamber.com or call Frank Skrocki @ Sleeping Bear Surf & Kayak, 326-9283.

Bay Harbor 5K set for May 20

BAY HARBOR — The Bay Harbor 5K run and walk will continue to accept registrations for a limited time for the May 20 event.

The Foundation will collaborate with Girls on the Run of Emmet and Charlevoix counties for this race that is endorsed by the Governor's Council for Physical Fitness, Health and Sports.

The run and walk course will wind through paved roads of Bay Harbor and end on Main Street. There will be a special children's course of ¼ mile in downtown Bay Harbor. The registration fee is $17 for adults and $10 for children.

Proceeds from the event provide grant support for programs in the arts, education, the environment, and health and human service in northern, lower Michigan.

For more information check www.bayharborfoundation.org, info@bayharborfoundation.org, or 231/439-2700.

Ransom Lake hike slated for May 20

TRAVERSE CITY — The local Sierra Club will offer a hike at Ransom Lake on Saturday, May 20.

The hike will be at 9 a.m. Ransom Lake is nestled within the hills of the hardwood forests near Lake Ann in Benzie County. The area includes 220 acres of wildlife habitat, forests, and wetlands, along with 3,500 feet of Ransom Creek frontage.

For information and reservations, contact Jim Stricko at 275-7596, or jstricko@glec-tc.com.

Cole elected GTASFA president

TRAVERSE CITY — Pat Cole has been elected to serve as the Grand Traverse Area Sport Fishing Association (GTASFA) president for 2006-2007.

Cole is the owner of Hill St. Charter Fishing with the Pisces group in East Grand Traverse Bay. He was installed as president by past president Jack Nowland during the Association's annual banquet on May 1 at Northwestern Michigan College's Hagerty Center.

Other officers installed were: Steve Joslin, vice president; Steve Haver, secretary; and Wendy Sak, treasurer.

The past GTASFA officers were recognized at the banquet for their service to the organization and community. Past officers include Nowland; Greg Klang, co-vice president; Jim Schopieray, co-vice president; Dan McQuade, secretary; and Adele Cermack, treasurer.

More than 125 people attended the banquet to determine the direction of the GTASFA.

Cole said he is excited to start his new role and continue the organization's mission as a strong voice for the fishing anglers and enthusiasts in the area.

Members of the GTASFA currently serve on the DNR task force and helped implement new size limits on lake trout in the Grand Traverse Bays. The size limits help protect and promote the fisheries in this region.

The GTASFA has over 150 members and was started in 1978.