Win over Pittsford caps off
good regular season
By Bruce Rolfe
With the regular season complete, the Climax-Scotts varsity football team will now focus on the playoffs.
The Panthers completed the regular season with a 7-2 record after defeating Pittsford 66-22 October 23 at C-S Jr./Sr. High School on senior night.
C-S will host Concord (6-3) in the first round of the playoffs October 30 at 7 p.m.
Taking a few moments to look back on a successful regular season shouldn’t be lost in the excitement leading up to the playoffs.
C-S responded to losses against Colon and Mendon with wins.
C-S will host Concord (6-3) in the first round of the playoffs October 30 at 7 p.m.
Taking a few moments to look back on a successful regular season shouldn’t be lost in the excitement leading up to the playoffs.
C-S responded to losses against Colon and Mendon with wins.
The team often overcame early challenges or deficits with strong play later in the game, developing a pattern of having a strong second half.
C-S fell behind seven of its opponents in the first half, but outscored those seven opponents 141-64 in the second half. For the season, the Panthers outscored their opponents 177-78 over the final two quarters.
“Exponential (growth) since week one. We’ve gotten so much better every game. Every game was a must win. Two of them didn’t turn out. We’ve got momentum going into the playoffs,” said C-S junior tightend and defensive linebacker Blake Wechsler.
“We’ve seen growth on both sides of the ball. It’s the first time the kids are running a new offense and defense. They picked up on it really quickly. They’ve spent the whole season really preparing and I think we’re ready,” adds first year C-S coach Justin Kirinovic.
One area the Panthers will be striving for improvement in is cutting down on its penalties. For the season C-S was flagged 59 times for 438 yards including a season high 14 times for 133 yards against Pittsford.
The Panthers faced an early deficit against Pittsford Friday, but responded with an offensive flurry and impressive defensive effort the rest of the way to register the win.
It took Pittsford just 2:41 to get on the scoreboard.
A Hunter Peiffer to Ethan Pickford pass play covering 33 yards on the second play, followed by another pass play covering 28 yards, put the visitors on the C-S three-yard line. Three plays later, Pittsford, which finished the regular season 5-4, completed the drive on a Peiffer to Pickford 10-yard strike with 9:19 left in the quarter. Peiffer scored on the two-point conversion and Pittsford had a quick 8-0 lead.
C-S came roaring back when Alex Wurtzel found a gap and ran 12 yards for a touchdown followed by a two-point conversion run by Elijah Bowron to knot the game 8-8 with 3:59 left in the second quarter.
The two teams closed out the quarter with rapid scoring drives.
A Peiffer to Pickford touchdown pass play covering 34 yards with 3:46 left in the opening frame (the two-point conversion was successful on a Peiffer to Pickford pass) gave Pittsford a 16-8 lead.
C-S responded one play after a big kickoff return by Wyatt Deeds to the Pittsford 25-yard line on a 25-yard touchdown run by Elijah Bowron with 3:27 left in the first quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed and Pittsford led by a 16-14 count.
The tough C-S defense held Pittsford to just six yards, forcing a punt.
It took the Panther offense just over one minute to reach the endzone again. A 33-yard punt return by Bowron gave C-S the ball on the Pittsford 24-yard line.
An Alexander Wurtzel to Elijah Bowron touchdown strike covering 25-yards on a fourth and 10 play with 58.3 seconds left in the quarter (the two-point conversion was no good) gave C-S a 20-16 lead entering the second quarter.
The defenses stood tall early in the second quarter, however the Panthers struck again at the 5:20 mark of the second quarter on an Alexander Wurtzel 41-yard run to the left side. The two-point attempt failed but C-S led by a 26-16 count.
The Wildcats responded by marching 63 yards on three plays in 1:01 on a 13-yard touchdown strike from Peiffer to Keaton Saurwine pass with 4:12 left in the second quarter. The two-point conversion failed and Pittsford pulled to within 26-22.
The tough C-S defense would not allow a point the rest of the game and the offense kicked it into high gear.
A 38-yard touchdown run to the right side by Bowron followed by a point after kick by Blake Wechsler gave C-S a 33-22 lead with 2:32 left in the first half, a lead they would take into halftime.
It took C-S just 14 seconds to score in the second half.
Alexander Wurtzel found a big gap up the middle, cut to his left and ran 68 yards for a touchdown that was followed by a Blake Wechsler extra point kick for a 40-22 C-S lead.
With Peiffer leaving the game a short time later due to an injury, the Pittsford offense struggled.
C-S closed the quarter strong. A 32-yard touchdown run by Alexander Wurtzel (the extra point kick was no good), gave C-S a 46-22 lead. An interception by Easton VanMiddlesworth near the goal line stopped a Wildcat drive and set up C-S’ next score. An Alexander Wurtzel to Blake Wechsler pass play covering 58 yards (Wechsler kicked the extra point) gave C-S a 53-22 lead, and a long pass to an open Blake Wechsler covering 42 yards set up a 25-yard touchdown run by Bowron (the extra point kick was blocked), giving C-S a 59-22 lead after three quarters.
Peiffer, a senior playing in what was likely his last game, came back into the game for Pittsford but the Panther defense shut the visitors down the rest of the way.
A 30-yard touchdown run by freshman quarterback Gunner Wyman followed by Sattler’s extra point kick with 2:04 left established the final score.
Wurtzel finished the game with a game high 194 yards rushing on 13 attempts. He completed 5-of-10 passes for 132 yards.
Bowron added 152 yards on nine carries.
Wechsler had two catches for 100 yards.
Dane Sattler had 10 tackles including eight solo tackles.
Peiffer was 9-for-12 for 162 yards. He added 79 yards on 11 carries. Pickford caught six passes for 105 yards.
Cross country runners record
personal best times
Climax-Scotts mens and womens cross country coach Dave Lodes saw one member of each high school squad and one middle school runner record personal best times at an event hosted by Heritage Christian Academy October 20.
All C-S teams did not have enough runners to score as a team.
Delton-Kellogg won the womens high school race with 18 points, as well as the men’s race with 16 points.
Freshman Blake Morrison was the first Panther to finish for the men, running the course in 18:38.2 for a fifth place finish.
Senior Zachree Roebuck recorded a personal best time of 23:38.4
Junior Alyssa Morrison had a personal best time of 23:16.2 and finished in seventh place in the women’s race.
In the 2-mile middle school race, C-S sixth grader Ryleigh Fields finished with a personal best time of 15:57 in sixth place.
C-S 8th grader Jaxon Marlowe was the only runner for the Panther boys, finishing 27th with a time of 18:25.2
Delton-Kellogg (25) won the middle school girls race and Lawton (17) won the middle school boys race.
C-S high school runners will be attempting to qualify for the state finals at the regionals October 30 at Portage Central.
The top 15 runners automatically qualify for the State Finals and top seven individuals not on a team also qualify.
At Heritage Christian Academy
Women
C-S Results
7-Alyssa Morrison, 23:16.2PB, 20-Topanga Fields, 27:26.3
Men
C-S Results
5-Blake Morrison, 18:38.2, 28-Eli DeWaal, 22:23.5, 34-Zachree Roebuck, 23:38.4PB
2-Mile Middle School Race
Girls
C-S Results
6-Ryleigh Fields, 15:57.4PB
Boys
C-S Results
27-Jaxon Marlowe, 18:25.2
C-S will face Bellevue in
district opener; defeats Tekonsha
The Climax-Scotts varsity volleyball team will begin district tournament play November 4 against Bellevue as the number two seed.
The Lady Panthers and Bellevue will play in the second match of the evening, at approximately 7 p.m.
Marshall Academy and Tekonsha begin play November 2 at 7 p.m., and the winner will face number one seed Battle Creek St. Philip November 4 at 5:30 p.m.
The championship match is scheduled for November 5 at 7 p.m.
C-S Downs Tekonsha in 4 Sets
The Lady Panthers entered the final week of the regular season with a win over Tekonsha in four sets (25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21) October 22 in an SCAA crossover match at C-S.
Panther coach Jeanelle Pontoni felt her team played very well and inspired.
Senior Kendal Reitz had a team high 17 digs to go with 11 kills, Olivia Bolt led the team in kills with 16 to go with a perfect serve receive percentage, Michaella Carillo-Keegan added 13 digs, Alessandra Pontoni had a 100 percent serve percentage packaged with four aces and a team high 38 assists and senior Ona Newland had a perfect serve receive percentage, 100 percent serve percentage and seven kills.
C-S Def. Tekonsha, 25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21
C-S Stats
Kyla Etheridge: Perfect Serve percentage, 1 Kill, 8 Digs
Michaella Carillo-Keegan: 13 Digs, 1 Kill,
Kendal Reitz: 11 Kills, 17 Digs
Ona Newland: 4 Digs, 7 Kills, Perfect Serve Receive percentage, 1 Ace, 100 percent serve percentage
Alessandra Pontoni 4 Aces, 100 percent serve percentage, 38 Assists, 2 Digs
Lucy Schultz: 11 Digs, 1 Kill, 3 Aces
Olivia Bolt: 1 Ace, Top Serve Receive percentage, 16 Kills, 2 Assists, 6 Digs
Annabelle Edwards: 3 Digs, 8 Kills, Perfect Serve Receive percentage
Peytan Cogswell: 4 Aces, Perfect Serve Receive percentage, 3 Kills, 1 Assist, 2 Digs
Mia Reschner (Out Injured)
Kyla Etheridge: Perfect Serve percentage, 1 Kill, 8 Digs
Michaella Carillo-Keegan: 13 Digs, 1 Kill,
Kendal Reitz: 11 Kills, 17 Digs
Ona Newland: 4 Digs, 7 Kills, Perfect Serve Receive percentage, 1 Ace, 100 percent serve percentage
Alessandra Pontoni 4 Aces, 100 percent serve percentage, 38 Assists, 2 Digs
Lucy Schultz: 11 Digs, 1 Kill, 3 Aces
Olivia Bolt: 1 Ace, Top Serve Receive percentage, 16 Kills, 2 Assists, 6 Digs
Annabelle Edwards: 3 Digs, 8 Kills, Perfect Serve Receive percentage
Peytan Cogswell: 4 Aces, Perfect Serve Receive percentage, 3 Kills, 1 Assist, 2 Digs
Mia Reschner (Out Injured)
Kalamazoo Premier Takes C-S in 3 Sets
Kalamazoo Premier swept Climax-Scotts in three sets October 20 at C-S Jr./Sr. High School, 25-12, 25-19, 25-16.
Pontoni had a team high 11 assists, Bolt had four kills and had a perfect serve percentage, Reitz led the team in digs with 10, Kyla Etheridge had a perfect serve percentage, and Lucy Schultz had the top serve receive percentage for the match.
Kalamazoo Premier Def. C-S, 25-12, 25-19, 25-16
C-S Stats
Kyla Etheridge: Perfect serving percentage, 2 Digs
Michaella Carillo-Keegan: 4 Digs
Kendal Reitz: 1 Ace, 2 Kills, 10 Digs
Alessandra Pontoni: 1 Ace, 1 Block Assist, 11 Assists, 2 Digs
Lucy Schultz: 5 Digs, top serve receive percentage for the night, 2 Aces
Olivia Bolt: 1 Ace, perfect serve percentage, 4 Kills, 2 Solo Blocks, 3 Digs
Annabelle Edwards: 1 Kill, 1 Dig
Peytan Cogswell: 1 Ace, 3 Kills, 1 Solo Block, 1 Block Assist, 3 Digs
Mia Reschner: 1 Dig, 2 Kills
Kalamazoo Premier swept Climax-Scotts in three sets October 20 at C-S Jr./Sr. High School, 25-12, 25-19, 25-16.
Pontoni had a team high 11 assists, Bolt had four kills and had a perfect serve percentage, Reitz led the team in digs with 10, Kyla Etheridge had a perfect serve percentage, and Lucy Schultz had the top serve receive percentage for the match.
Kalamazoo Premier Def. C-S, 25-12, 25-19, 25-16
C-S Stats
Kyla Etheridge: Perfect serving percentage, 2 Digs
Michaella Carillo-Keegan: 4 Digs
Kendal Reitz: 1 Ace, 2 Kills, 10 Digs
Alessandra Pontoni: 1 Ace, 1 Block Assist, 11 Assists, 2 Digs
Lucy Schultz: 5 Digs, top serve receive percentage for the night, 2 Aces
Olivia Bolt: 1 Ace, perfect serve percentage, 4 Kills, 2 Solo Blocks, 3 Digs
Annabelle Edwards: 1 Kill, 1 Dig
Peytan Cogswell: 1 Ace, 3 Kills, 1 Solo Block, 1 Block Assist, 3 Digs
Mia Reschner: 1 Dig, 2 Kills
C-S Drops 3 in Quad
The Panthers lost three matches in a quad October 16 at Quincy.
C-S dropped all three matches in two sets, falling to Colon (18-25, 21-25), Addison (23-25, 16-25) and Quincy (15-25, 20-25).
Freshman Alessandra Pontoni totaled 40 assists and 12 digs over the three matches.
Junior Kyla Etheridge led the team in digs with 20, Olivia Bolt had a team high 15 kills, Kendal Reitz led the team with six aces to go with seven kills and 15 digs and senior Michaella Carillo-Keegan had 12 digs.
Colon Def. C-S 25-18, 25-11)
Addison Def. C-S 25-23, 25-16
Quincy Def. C-S 25-15, 25-20
C-S Stats
Kyla Etheridge: 2 Aces, 1 Kill, 20 Digs, 2 Assists
Michaella Carillo-Keegan: 12 Digs, 1 Kill
Kendal Reitz: 6 Aces, 7 Kills, 1 Block Assist, 15 Digs
Alessandra Pontoni: 40 Assists, 12 Digs, 4 Kills
Ona Newland: 1 Kill, 1 Dig
Lucy Schultz: 2 Aces, 12 Digs
Olivia Bolt: 5 Aces, 15 Kills, 1 Solo Block, 1 Block Assist, 10 Digs
Annabelle Edwards: 2 Kills, 3 Digs
Peytan Cogswell: 1 Ace, 7 Kills, 1 Solo Block, 2 Digs
Mia Reschner: 6 Kills, 7 Digs
The Panthers lost three matches in a quad October 16 at Quincy.
C-S dropped all three matches in two sets, falling to Colon (18-25, 21-25), Addison (23-25, 16-25) and Quincy (15-25, 20-25).
Freshman Alessandra Pontoni totaled 40 assists and 12 digs over the three matches.
Junior Kyla Etheridge led the team in digs with 20, Olivia Bolt had a team high 15 kills, Kendal Reitz led the team with six aces to go with seven kills and 15 digs and senior Michaella Carillo-Keegan had 12 digs.
Colon Def. C-S 25-18, 25-11)
Addison Def. C-S 25-23, 25-16
Quincy Def. C-S 25-15, 25-20
C-S Stats
Kyla Etheridge: 2 Aces, 1 Kill, 20 Digs, 2 Assists
Michaella Carillo-Keegan: 12 Digs, 1 Kill
Kendal Reitz: 6 Aces, 7 Kills, 1 Block Assist, 15 Digs
Alessandra Pontoni: 40 Assists, 12 Digs, 4 Kills
Ona Newland: 1 Kill, 1 Dig
Lucy Schultz: 2 Aces, 12 Digs
Olivia Bolt: 5 Aces, 15 Kills, 1 Solo Block, 1 Block Assist, 10 Digs
Annabelle Edwards: 2 Kills, 3 Digs
Peytan Cogswell: 1 Ace, 7 Kills, 1 Solo Block, 2 Digs
Mia Reschner: 6 Kills, 7 Digs
C-S Falls to Mendon in 3 Sets
The Lady Panthers dropped a conference match to Mendon October 13 in three sets (20-25, 16-25, 19-25) at C-S Jr./Sr. High School.
Sophomore Olivia Bolt had a strong night with a team high nine kills, a perfect serving percentage, one block and five digs. Senior Kendal Reitz led the team in digs with seven and Alessandra Pontoni had a team high 14 assists.
Mendon Def. Climax-Scotts 25-20, 25-16, 25-19
C-S Stats
Kyla Etheridge: 4 Digs, perfect serve receive percentage, perfect serve percentage
Kendal Reitz: 3 Kills, 7 Digs
Alessandra Pontoni: 1 Ace, 1 Block Assist, 14 Assists, 3 Digs
Lucy Schultz: 2 Aces, 1 Assist, 2 Digs
Olivia Bolt: 9 Kills, perfect serving percentage, 1 Block Assist, 5 Digs
Annabelle Edwards: Perfect serve receive percentage, 3 Kills, 1 Assist, 4 Digs
Peytan Cogswell: 5 Digs, 2 Kills, 1 Ace, perfect serve percentage
Mia Reschner: 3 Kills
C-S eager for rematch with Concord
By Bruce Rolfe
There’s no question the Climax-Scotts varsity football team has improved since a 24-12 win over Concord in the season opener on the way to a 7-2 regular season finish.
Concord (6-3) has likely shown growth as well, compiling a 6-2 record since that season opening loss to the Panthers.
The two teams will clash again in the first round of the playoffs October 30 at 7 p.m. at C-S.
The winner will play the winner of the Bridgman vs. Colon game November 6 or 7 in the regional championship game at the home of the team with the highest playoff point total.
Concord is enjoying its first playoff game since 2020 when all teams qualified for the postseason following the covid pandemic. The Yellow Jackets also qualified for the playoffs in 2019.
C-S is enjoying a playoff appearance for the 24th straight season.
The 12 points Concord scored against C-S was a season low.
The Panthers were able to overcome an early 6-0 deficit, two first half turnovers, four penalties and some offensive challenges in the 24-12 win over Concord.
“They’re a really good team. Obviously, any team making the playoffs is pretty solid. They gave us a fight in week one, and I expect nothing less come Friday night,” points out first year C-S coach Justin Kirinovic.
“It’s going to be a great game. Both teams have gotten way better since week one obviously. I think our offense has improved a ton, our defense has too, but I’m sure they have too. So it’s going to be a great matchup again. We’ve just got to do our best to come out and compete and have a great game and hopefully be able to play Colon or Bridgman in the second round,” adds C-S quarterback Alexander Wurtzel, who completed four of five passes for 74 yards in the season opening win over Concord.
Wurtzel feels it will be important to get off to a good start to seize early momentum.
“Just coming out hot. Scoring right away. No mistakes. And defensively, staying hot like we usually are,” said the Panther junior.
The C-S offense is averaging 38.7 points a game.
Starting quarterback Alexander Wurtzel completed 52 of 85 passes for 914 yards along with rushing for another 936 yards on 119 attempts in the regular season.
Wurtzel’s main targets this season have been senior Maddox Wyman, who has 14 receptions for 222 yards, junior Blake Wechsler, who has seven catches for 221 catches, and senior Elijah Bowron, who has nine receptions for 202 yards. Junior Dane Sattler, with six catches for 67 yards, and Maximus Wurtzel, with four catches for 46 yards, have been options as well.
Bowron has rushed for 843 yards on 76 carries. Maximus Wurtzel, who has been sidelined the last three games with an injury but is expected to return, has added 161 yards on 34 carries and Wyatt Deeds has contributed 135 yards on 14 carries.
The Panther defense is allowing 23.4 points a game entering the playoff opener.
Final defensive stats were not available from the football program as of Monday at noon.
Teams were divided into divisions before the start of play this fall. The top 16 teams per division in 8-player, based on playoff-point average, were selected to the field.
The 8-player qualifiers were divided into four regions with four teams in each.
Pairings for the first three weeks of the tournament are based on regular-season playoff-point averages, with the highest-ranked team hosting, regardless of the distance between the two schools. For 8-Player Regional Semifinal play, the top-seeded team in each bracket will host the fourth-seeded team, and the second-seeded team will host the third-seeded team.
The Lady Panthers dropped a conference match to Mendon October 13 in three sets (20-25, 16-25, 19-25) at C-S Jr./Sr. High School.
Sophomore Olivia Bolt had a strong night with a team high nine kills, a perfect serving percentage, one block and five digs. Senior Kendal Reitz led the team in digs with seven and Alessandra Pontoni had a team high 14 assists.
Mendon Def. Climax-Scotts 25-20, 25-16, 25-19
C-S Stats
Kyla Etheridge: 4 Digs, perfect serve receive percentage, perfect serve percentage
Kendal Reitz: 3 Kills, 7 Digs
Alessandra Pontoni: 1 Ace, 1 Block Assist, 14 Assists, 3 Digs
Lucy Schultz: 2 Aces, 1 Assist, 2 Digs
Olivia Bolt: 9 Kills, perfect serving percentage, 1 Block Assist, 5 Digs
Annabelle Edwards: Perfect serve receive percentage, 3 Kills, 1 Assist, 4 Digs
Peytan Cogswell: 5 Digs, 2 Kills, 1 Ace, perfect serve percentage
Mia Reschner: 3 Kills
C-S eager for rematch with Concord
in playoff opener at home
By Bruce Rolfe
There’s no question the Climax-Scotts varsity football team has improved since a 24-12 win over Concord in the season opener on the way to a 7-2 regular season finish.
Concord (6-3) has likely shown growth as well, compiling a 6-2 record since that season opening loss to the Panthers.
The two teams will clash again in the first round of the playoffs October 30 at 7 p.m. at C-S.
The winner will play the winner of the Bridgman vs. Colon game November 6 or 7 in the regional championship game at the home of the team with the highest playoff point total.
Concord is enjoying its first playoff game since 2020 when all teams qualified for the postseason following the covid pandemic. The Yellow Jackets also qualified for the playoffs in 2019.
C-S is enjoying a playoff appearance for the 24th straight season.
The 12 points Concord scored against C-S was a season low.
The Panthers were able to overcome an early 6-0 deficit, two first half turnovers, four penalties and some offensive challenges in the 24-12 win over Concord.
“They’re a really good team. Obviously, any team making the playoffs is pretty solid. They gave us a fight in week one, and I expect nothing less come Friday night,” points out first year C-S coach Justin Kirinovic.
“It’s going to be a great game. Both teams have gotten way better since week one obviously. I think our offense has improved a ton, our defense has too, but I’m sure they have too. So it’s going to be a great matchup again. We’ve just got to do our best to come out and compete and have a great game and hopefully be able to play Colon or Bridgman in the second round,” adds C-S quarterback Alexander Wurtzel, who completed four of five passes for 74 yards in the season opening win over Concord.
Wurtzel feels it will be important to get off to a good start to seize early momentum.
“Just coming out hot. Scoring right away. No mistakes. And defensively, staying hot like we usually are,” said the Panther junior.
The C-S offense is averaging 38.7 points a game.
Starting quarterback Alexander Wurtzel completed 52 of 85 passes for 914 yards along with rushing for another 936 yards on 119 attempts in the regular season.
Wurtzel’s main targets this season have been senior Maddox Wyman, who has 14 receptions for 222 yards, junior Blake Wechsler, who has seven catches for 221 catches, and senior Elijah Bowron, who has nine receptions for 202 yards. Junior Dane Sattler, with six catches for 67 yards, and Maximus Wurtzel, with four catches for 46 yards, have been options as well.
Bowron has rushed for 843 yards on 76 carries. Maximus Wurtzel, who has been sidelined the last three games with an injury but is expected to return, has added 161 yards on 34 carries and Wyatt Deeds has contributed 135 yards on 14 carries.
The Panther defense is allowing 23.4 points a game entering the playoff opener.
Final defensive stats were not available from the football program as of Monday at noon.
Teams were divided into divisions before the start of play this fall. The top 16 teams per division in 8-player, based on playoff-point average, were selected to the field.
The 8-player qualifiers were divided into four regions with four teams in each.
Pairings for the first three weeks of the tournament are based on regular-season playoff-point averages, with the highest-ranked team hosting, regardless of the distance between the two schools. For 8-Player Regional Semifinal play, the top-seeded team in each bracket will host the fourth-seeded team, and the second-seeded team will host the third-seeded team.
