SPORTS COLUMN by Richard Lamb and Peter Jakey
Tournament trail ends up in Kalamazoo
?continued from last week.
(by guest writer Advance Editor Richard Lamb)
The tournament trail finished for area teams in Kalamazoo, site of the MHSAA volleyball finals for all classes.
This is my 14th year of covering local sports for the Advance and each has been a unique experience, but shares some similarities. Nothing can match the thrill of a football playoff game in the chilly fall air, or a baseball or softball playoff game which hangs on each pitch. I?ve never heard crowd noise as loud as when I covered the Huron wrestling team at the team state finals in Battle Creek a few years ago. Each fan had a better idea of what the wrestler should be doing than the next guy and they were not afraid to yell their advice.
Volleyball games have their own charm and grace. They are always exciting and well-played by the Huron girls, and give a sports photographer plenty of opportunities for great pictures.
The Lamb van left Rogers City packed with my wife and daughters, and our guest, reporter Gail Maggi, who would write the story while I did the pictures. With our girls in the back, happy to get out of school for the day, Gail in the middle seat, and my wife and I in the front, we all looked forward to a good trip some six hours south.
When we arrived at the hotel in Kalamazoo Friday morning, a group of Huron parents were in the lobby, wearing their orange and black. This looked like a good sign, I thought, hoping for a good crowd of Huron boosters. Unfortunately, most of the fans who made it to the arena later that day consisted of parents or siblings of the players, which was in stark contrast to the supporters of some of the teams. Pellston, a Class D semifinalist, canceled school so students could attend the games. A pep rally sent them off and a legion of fans gave them great support in the big fieldhouse.
A large group of RC fans filled the stands last week at the quarterfinals in St. Ignace?s junior high, giving the team quite an emotional boost. Not enough, though, to get into the finals as they lost Thursday. I asked Al Smolinski, coach Kristy?s husband and assistant coach, if the team had a chance to practice on the big floor of Western Michigan University?s field house, but he said no. There were games scheduled the day before, so the gym was not available.
I hoped the vastness of the arena wouldn?t intimidate the young Hurons, most of whom were seeing it for the first time. The University Arena is a great place to watch a volleyball game, and a great place to take photos. The last time the Hurons made the trip to the ?final four? three years ago, I sat on the sidelines in the press area, but was somewhat disappointed in the photos I took. Back then, I returned the next day to watch the Class C finals and sat in the endzone area, in the second deck. Given the better angle, and the bright lighting, my photos came out great.
This time with Gail there to write the story, I could concentrate on the action. All of the photos on this page were taken from my perch up top. Other photos?some 150 in all?are available to view and purchase copies of at our office. (OK, that was a shameless plug.) I was surprised to see that there were no other newspaper photographers in the photo area during the RC vs. North Muskegon game. When I returned Saturday to watch the Class C and Class A finals, I was by myself again. The Fox Sports television crew was there, as was a radio station, but no other newspaper photographers covered the event, as far as I could tell.
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UNFORTUNATELY FOR the Huron girls and fans, their run at the title ended too soon. A 35-minute match with a well-balanced North Muskegon squad ended the season for RC. Interestingly, the Norsemen, which like the Hurons made no substitutions in the semifinal match, had a lot of trouble in the finals. They gained a 9-3 lead in the first game and looked to be in control. Then a junior for Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central took control. She played above the net, and her team kept setting her up for kills, while the coach rotated nearly everyone into the game.
The Kestrals of CC won the match in two games, 15-11, 15-8 to beat the number three-ranked Norsemen. Back at the hotel, my girls enjoyed the pool and a weekend of sunshine after so many cold days. We are ready to hop on the tournament trail again to follow the Hurons and Vikings this spring.
Now back to Pete. — RL
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ONE OTHER side note on the volleyball semis. Deb Greene, member of the Rogers City Council and Huron sports mom, said she really wanted Rogers City to win because she has relatives in Muskegon and they were all cheering for North Muskegon.
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EVEN THOUGH the local high school teams we follow have
I didn?t go to Central, or have any ties to Mt. Pleasant, I just believe the Chippewas are the team people are rallying behind in the state. Make room for me on the bandwagon.
The Spartans have been there, and have won a national championship. I don?t believe the Chippewas have a chance to win it all, but making it to the ?Sweet 16? may seem like they did.
It?s also the most CMU has had to root for since the Chips beat MSU on the football gridiron. It?s nice to see Central fans have a reason to say ?Fire Up Chips!? I?m not a Chip, but I?m fired up.