Gaylord’s Jones earns All-America honor
GAYLORD — Gaylord junior Aubrey Jones was named a first-team All-American by MaxPreps.
Jones is one of 30 players on the group’s softball All-America first team.
Jones also won Michigan’s Gatorade Player of the Year award and led Gaylord to the school’s first back-to-back state championships in any sport.
She hit 26 home runs and drove in 84 runs in 42 games this past season.
Houtteman advances at Junior State AmateurBIG RAPIDS — Michael Houtteman, a soon-to-be senior at Glen Lake, won his first-round match and advanced to the Sweet 16 at the 46th Michigan Junior State Amateur Championship at Ferris State University’s Katke Golf Course on Tuesday.
Houtteman, the No. 3 seed in the field of 32, defeated Adam Thanaporn in matchplay action by a 4-and-3 final.
The two-time Record-Eagle Golfer of the Year faced Parker Stalcup on Wednesday.
Lake Superior, Ferris State to face off Nov. 16 in TC
SAULT STE. MARIE — Lake Superior State University announced Tuesday the “2024 Superior Ice Showdown: Traverse City Takeover” set to take place Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City.
The event will feature the LSSU Lakers facing off against the Ferris State Bulldogs in a CCHA battle, marking the first time that college hockey has been played in Traverse City.
“We are incredibly excited to bring NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey to Traverse City for the very first time,” said LSSU Athletic Director Tory Lindley, a Suttons Bay native. “The Superior Ice Showdown offers a unique opportunity to showcase the talents of our student-athletes in a new setting, and we are proud to share this experience with the vibrant hockey community.”
Ticket sales will be announced on lssulakers.com later this summer.
YMCA hosts basketball fundamentals camp
TRAVERSE CITY — The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA is offering a basketball fundamentals camp for boys and girls aged 8-14 at the West Y on Aug. 6-8 from 9 a.m.-noon.
Former NCAA and high school basketball coach Rob Flaska and his staff will lead the camp.
Basketball skills and fundamentals will be highlighted. Each registrant will receive a camp t-shirt.
For cost and other information, please contact Thomas Graber at 231-933-9622 or thomas@gtbayymca.org.
O’Rourke wins Diesel Day at NMD
KALEVA — The second annual Diesel Day took place Saturday at Northern Michigan Dragway.
Jeff O’Rourke of Vanderbilt had the quickest 1/8th-mile elapsed time. His “Melvin” entry, a 2000 Peterbilt 378 made its best pass of 9.25 seconds. The top speed reading was enjoyed by Justin Richardson of Wayland, as he ran over 79 miles-per-hour in the “All Horned Up” ‘74 Dodge Big Horn with a C-15 Caterpillar for power.
In the bracket competition, Abigail Campos of Evart won with a 2019 International HV Septic Tanker truck. She ran a 13.48-second E.T. for the win in the fourth-round final. Runner-up honors went to Rod Potter of Harrietta with a 2019 Kenworth W900.
William Jeffries of Petoskey took the win in the diesel pickup category with his “Dirty Diana” 2003 Chevy Duramax. Jordan Ysseldyke of Ada took the runner-up in his “Annie” entry, also an ‘03 Duramax.
Racing action continues at NMD this weekend with a pair of events.
Friday has the season’s third “Street Night” event, starting at 5 pm. Saturday’s Bracket Race Series event begins at 1 p.m. Both events will mark the halfway point of the 2024 racing campaign for each respective series.
Shropshire, Zhang win AJGA junior titles at Boyne
HARBOR SPRINGS — International players captured both the girls and boys divisions in the AJGA Coca-Cola Junior Championship at the Highlands’ Heather course.
Mingyu Zhang of Beijing, China, won the girls division with a birdie on the second playoff hole.
She shot a 2-under par 70 in the final round and a 54-hole total of even-par 216. This was Zhang’s third AJGA win, and she has committed to playing golf at the University of Michigan.
Spencer Shropshire of Ontario, Canada, won the boys division for his first AJGA victory.
Shropshire opened the tournament with a first-round 67 (-5). He finished the event with 16 birdies and a 54-hole total of 8-under-par 208.