C-S freshman runner
qualifies for State Finals
By Bruce Rolfe
Climax-Scotts High School freshman cross country runner Blake Morrison chose the right meet to establish a new personal best time.
Morrison ran a personal best time of 18:13.9 and finished in eighth place out of 59 runners at the Division 4 regionals at Portage Central West Middle School October 30.
The eighth place finish qualified the C-S freshman for the Division 4 boys cross country Individual State Finals November 7 at Michigan International Speedway at 9:30 a.m.
The top 15 runners at the regionals automatically qualify for the State Finals and the top seven individuals not on a team also qualify.
Morrison is the first member of the Panther cross country team to qualify for the Division 4 Cross Country Individual State Finals since Eldon Ulsh qualified in 2013.
Ulsh, who was also league and regional champion in 2013, finished 31st at the 2013 State Finals at Michigan International Speedway, one place short of a top 30 finish that would have yielded an All-State medal.
Climax-Scotts High School freshman cross country runner Blake Morrison chose the right meet to establish a new personal best time.
Morrison ran a personal best time of 18:13.9 and finished in eighth place out of 59 runners at the Division 4 regionals at Portage Central West Middle School October 30.
The eighth place finish qualified the C-S freshman for the Division 4 boys cross country Individual State Finals November 7 at Michigan International Speedway at 9:30 a.m.
The top 15 runners at the regionals automatically qualify for the State Finals and the top seven individuals not on a team also qualify.
Morrison is the first member of the Panther cross country team to qualify for the Division 4 Cross Country Individual State Finals since Eldon Ulsh qualified in 2013.
Ulsh, who was also league and regional champion in 2013, finished 31st at the 2013 State Finals at Michigan International Speedway, one place short of a top 30 finish that would have yielded an All-State medal.
Ulsh also qualified for the Individual State Finals in 2012.
“It’s pretty cool. I didn’t think I was going to make it,” said Morrison.
“This has been a goal for two years,” adds the C-S freshman.
According to the website athletic.net, Morrison will be one of 38 freshmen that qualified for the Division 4 Individual State Finals and is among 257 overall who qualified for the Division 4 State Finals.
The top 30 finishers at the Division 4 State Finals earn an All-State medal.
C-S cross country coach Dave Lodes said based on state finals qualifier times, Morrison would have to cut about 1:30 off his personal best time to get in the area of a top 30 finish.
But Lodes feels Morrison “should just savor the moment.”
“As a freshman, just being there is a great accomplishment,” said the C-S coach.
Competing against many talented runners, the environment itself, and running at MIS can be intimidating. But Morrison said he will attempt to block it all out. He said he just doesn’t want to finish last.
“You have to zone everyone out except the runners that you’re trying to keep up with,” said Morrison.
Morrison said as far as goals for the State Finals go, he will be striving to finish under 18:00, which would be another personal record.
He also wants to embrace the moment, using the experience as a motivator to return to the State Finals again.
He also has another motivating factor to do well at the State Finals.
Lodes said Blake’s teammate, senior Zachree Roebuck’s mother passed away October 23. The C-S runners rallied at the regionals stating they were running for Zach’s mom. That’s what Blake said he will be doing as well at the State Finals.
C-S freshman Blake Morrison is pictured with C-S cross country coach Dave Lodes.
“That’s what the whole team did. I saw Blake qualified for my mom and do what he did. My mom always liked watching him (Morrison) run,” said Zachree, who closed out his cross country career by running a personal best time (23:33.3) at the regionals.
Zachree adds his mother was able to get out to a couple of meets this year to “cheer on this guy (Blake) and me.”
Lodes said Blake’s sister, Alyssa Morrison missed out qualifying for the individual state finals by one place at the regionals.
Alyssa finished 23rd out of 48 runners with a time of 24:12.6 at the regionals.
Lodes said Alyssa had been battling an injury most of the week.
Senior Eli DeWaal (21:37.3) closed out his cross country career by posting a personal best time as well.
C-S freshman Topanga Fields finished 39th at the regionals.
Hackett Catholic were regional champions in both the mens and womens races with the men finishing with 25 points and the women with 29.
Division 4 Regionals
At Portage Central
Men
C-S Results
8-Blake Morrison, 18:13.9PB, 40-Eli DeWaal, 21:37.3PB, 51-Zachree Roebuck, 23:33.3PB
Women
C-S Results
23-Alyssa Morrison, 24:12.6, 39-Topanga Fields, 28:32.8
Rematch with Colon on
November 6 should be intense
By Bruce Rolfe
When Climax-Scotts and Colon clash in the regional championship game November 6 at 7 p.m. at C-S, the makeup of both squads will be different then the September 18 regular season game the two teams played against each other in a game Colon won 32-8 at Colon.
C-S, 49-40 winners over Concord in the playoff opener, will enter the regional championship game with an 8-2 record. Colon, 33-20 winners over Bridgman in the playoff opener, will enter the game with a 9-1 record.
C-S will be seeking its first regional championship trophy since 2019 while Colon will be playing for its first regional championship since 2021 when the Magi advanced to the 8-man State championship game before losing to Powers North Central.
In the regular season clash between the two rivals, C-S starters Easton VanMiddlesworth, Cooper Dinse and Maddox Wyman did not play the first half at Colon because of a discipline issue according to the C-S Athletic Department, but played the second half. C-S senior and starter Elijah Bowron did not play the entire game at Colon, also because of a discipline issue according to the C-S Athletic Department.
But Colon coach Robbie Hatten said his team was also without two starters in that game.
Hatten said his leading receiver, wide receiver and tight end Davis Lafler missed the game and middle linebacker Tucker Davis filled in as a wide receiver but got injured in the C-S game.
All four C-S players and both Magi players are expected to play in the regional championship game, setting up what C-S coach Justin Kirinovic and Hatten feel should be a competitive game.
“We’re very excited to play against Colon. Both teams are playing at a high level on both sides of the ball which should make for an outstanding playoff matchup,” said Kirinovic.
“It’s going to be a great matchup. This is what small school towns live for. They live to essentially see one of your rivals in the playoffs. I’m expecting a great matchup between the two schools,” adds Hatten.
Both teams have improved and shown growth since the September 18 clash.
“I think the biggest thing that we are improving on every day is our maturity. We have a lot of kids that are just locked in. They’re growing, they’re maturing,” said Hatten.
Davis finished the C-S game September 18 with 11 tackles before he was injured.
Colon piled up 301 yards rushing and 312 total yards in the win over C-S.
Jabari Falls, who had 204 yards on 21 carries against C-S, and quarterback Jeremiah West, who had 100 yards on eight carries, along with Lafler, are Colon’s big offensive threats.
The Colon defense held C-S to 84 yards rushing, with Maximus Wurtzel rushing for 33 yards and Alexander Wurtzel 27 yards according to the Colon stat release from that game.
C-S quarterback Alexander Wurtzel completed 12-of-22 passes for another 94 yards through the air.
Through 10 games, C-S is averaging 39.8 points a game on offense and giving up 25.1 points a game on defense. C-S has shut out one opponent so far.
Colon is averaging 38.4 points a game offensively and yielding 14.1 points a game on defense, recording three shutouts this season.
When Climax-Scotts and Colon clash in the regional championship game November 6 at 7 p.m. at C-S, the makeup of both squads will be different then the September 18 regular season game the two teams played against each other in a game Colon won 32-8 at Colon.
C-S, 49-40 winners over Concord in the playoff opener, will enter the regional championship game with an 8-2 record. Colon, 33-20 winners over Bridgman in the playoff opener, will enter the game with a 9-1 record.
C-S will be seeking its first regional championship trophy since 2019 while Colon will be playing for its first regional championship since 2021 when the Magi advanced to the 8-man State championship game before losing to Powers North Central.
In the regular season clash between the two rivals, C-S starters Easton VanMiddlesworth, Cooper Dinse and Maddox Wyman did not play the first half at Colon because of a discipline issue according to the C-S Athletic Department, but played the second half. C-S senior and starter Elijah Bowron did not play the entire game at Colon, also because of a discipline issue according to the C-S Athletic Department.
But Colon coach Robbie Hatten said his team was also without two starters in that game.
Hatten said his leading receiver, wide receiver and tight end Davis Lafler missed the game and middle linebacker Tucker Davis filled in as a wide receiver but got injured in the C-S game.
All four C-S players and both Magi players are expected to play in the regional championship game, setting up what C-S coach Justin Kirinovic and Hatten feel should be a competitive game.
“We’re very excited to play against Colon. Both teams are playing at a high level on both sides of the ball which should make for an outstanding playoff matchup,” said Kirinovic.
“It’s going to be a great matchup. This is what small school towns live for. They live to essentially see one of your rivals in the playoffs. I’m expecting a great matchup between the two schools,” adds Hatten.
Both teams have improved and shown growth since the September 18 clash.
“I think the biggest thing that we are improving on every day is our maturity. We have a lot of kids that are just locked in. They’re growing, they’re maturing,” said Hatten.
Davis finished the C-S game September 18 with 11 tackles before he was injured.
Colon piled up 301 yards rushing and 312 total yards in the win over C-S.
Jabari Falls, who had 204 yards on 21 carries against C-S, and quarterback Jeremiah West, who had 100 yards on eight carries, along with Lafler, are Colon’s big offensive threats.
The Colon defense held C-S to 84 yards rushing, with Maximus Wurtzel rushing for 33 yards and Alexander Wurtzel 27 yards according to the Colon stat release from that game.
C-S quarterback Alexander Wurtzel completed 12-of-22 passes for another 94 yards through the air.
Through 10 games, C-S is averaging 39.8 points a game on offense and giving up 25.1 points a game on defense. C-S has shut out one opponent so far.
Colon is averaging 38.4 points a game offensively and yielding 14.1 points a game on defense, recording three shutouts this season.
Comeback sends Panthers into
regional championship game
By Bruce Rolfe
There just wasn’t any quit.
After falling behind by a 40-20 margin with 7:28 left in the third quarter, the Climax-Scotts varsity football team came roaring back and outscored Concord 29-0 over the final 21:09 to register a thrilling 49-40 win over the Yellow Jackets Friday at C-S Jr./Sr. High School in the playoff opener.
C-S entered a November 6 clash with Colon in the regional championship game with an 8-2 record while Colon came in with a 9-1 record.
Concord finishes the season with a 6-4 record.
A pattern of falling behind early continued for the Panthers Friday, but the team dug out and found a way to win.
C-S has now fallen behind eight opponents in the first half, but outscored those eight opponents 170-76 in the second half. For the season, the Panthers have outscored their opponents 206-90 over the final two quarters.
There just wasn’t any quit.
After falling behind by a 40-20 margin with 7:28 left in the third quarter, the Climax-Scotts varsity football team came roaring back and outscored Concord 29-0 over the final 21:09 to register a thrilling 49-40 win over the Yellow Jackets Friday at C-S Jr./Sr. High School in the playoff opener.
C-S entered a November 6 clash with Colon in the regional championship game with an 8-2 record while Colon came in with a 9-1 record.
Concord finishes the season with a 6-4 record.
A pattern of falling behind early continued for the Panthers Friday, but the team dug out and found a way to win.
C-S has now fallen behind eight opponents in the first half, but outscored those eight opponents 170-76 in the second half. For the season, the Panthers have outscored their opponents 206-90 over the final two quarters.
Concord took a 40-20 lead with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter with the help of a trick play.
Culley Sprague caught a double reverse pass play from Wyatt Mandrelle covering 42 yards that put the visitors on the C-S three-yard line. Concord completed the drive with a three-yard touchdown pass from Mandrelle to Luke Burrow. The two-point conversion failed however the Yellow Jackets built a 40-20 lead.
That was the last time Concord would score.
C-S responded just 1:33 later when quarterback Alexander Wurtzel connected with Elijah Bowron on a 41-yard strike with 7:28 left in the third quarter and the comeback started. The two-point conversion attempt was no good but C-S pulled to within 40-26.
The C-S defense came up with two take aways and the offense scored twice within a 12-second span to give C-S the lead and the momentum.
A fumble recovered by Dane Sattler at midfield with 7:19 left in the quarter continued the momentum shift C-S’ way.
C-S culminated an 11-play, 50-yard drive in 4:22 with an Alexander Wurtzel 19-yard touchdown run with 3:57 left in the third quarter.
The key play in the drive was a 10-yard run by Alex Wurtzel on a fourth and 10 play at the Yellow Jacket 35-yard line to keep the drive alive.
Bowron ran in the two-point conversion, pulling C-S to within 40-34.
Then the key play of the second half came when Bowron intercepted a pass and ran 54 yards for a touchdown at the 3:45 mark, knotting the game 40-40. Alexander Wurtzel ran in the two-point conversion for a 42-40 C-S lead after three quarters.
The C-S defense came up with a key stop, holding Concord to negative one yard on the Yellow Jackets’ next drive, including a 4th and 11 play when Mandrelle threw an incomplete pass.
C-S moved down to the Yellow Jacket 22-yard line but the visitors held the Panthers on a fourth and eight play, keeping Concord’s chances alive.
The Panther defense was close to stopping the Yellow Jackets, but a pass interference penalty on C-S on a fourth and seven play, kept Concord’s drive alive and the ball on its own 40-yard line.
However a fumble recovery by Blake Wechsler at the Concord 45-yard line that took over 40 seconds for the officials to untangle the pile of players to determine C-S had the ball with 2:48 left in the game, gave the Panthers a chance to close out the game.
That’s just what the offense did two plays later when Alexander Wurtzel found a gap and raced 37 yards for a touchdown with 2:31 remaining in the game. Blake Wechsler’s important extra point kick put the game out of reach, 49-40.
A fumble recovery by Bowron after a Concord receiver caught a pass but was hit and lost the ball, gave C-S the ball back with 2:17 left and the Panthers were able to run out the clock for the win.
After holding C-S without a first down on the Panthers’ first drive of the game, Concord started strong, scoring on a Mandrelle to Cody Sprague 31-yard pass play with 6:20 left in the opening quarter. The two-point attempt failed, but the Yellow Jackets maintained the 6-0 lead entering the second quarter.
The second quarter was filled with scoring, with the two teams combining for 42 points.
Concord extended the lead to 12-0 (the two-point attempt failed) six seconds into the second quarter on a Mandrelle to Sprague touchdown pass play that covered 30 yards.
C-S responded with a 48-yard drive that took 5:42 when Alexander Wurtzel scored from the one-yard line with 6:06 left in the second quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed, however the Panthers were on the scoreboard, trailing 12-6.
Concord responded 58 seconds later on a Mandrelle to Darrell Dean touchdown strike covering seven yards. A Mandrelle to Sprague pass on the two-point conversion gave the visitors a 20-6 lead.
C-S came right back on a 18-yard touchdown run by Bowron, who received a big block by Cooper Dinse near the one to sneak into the endzone (the two-point conversion attempt failed) with 1:21 left in the first half for a 20-12 deficit.
Concord answered with a 81-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Luke Burrow and a two-point conversion from Mandrelle to Dean with 1:09 left in the second quarter for a 28-12 lead.
The Panthers ended the first half strong by scoring a very important late touchdown with 19.4 seconds left to pull to within 28-20 at halftime.
The Panthers marched 69 yards in 49.6 seconds, with the drive culminated by a Alex Wurtzel to Bowron touchdown pass play covering 23 yards with 19.4 seconds left in the first half. Bowron’s two-point conversion run sent C-S into the lockerroom with momentum and a 28-20 deficit.
Concord seized the momentum back 40 seconds into the third quarter with a 44-yard run by Luke Burrow for a 34-30 lead (the two-point conversion failed).
A C-S fumble recovered by the Yellow Jackets on their own 47-yard line with 11:08 left in the third quarter set up the visitors’ next score for a 40-20 lead but the Panthers came roaring back to secure the win.
Unofficially, Alexander Wurtzel rushed for 157 yards on 22 carries and Elijah Bowron added 115 yards on 14 attempts.
Defensive stats were not available.
According to Hudl, C-S was 3-for-4 on fourth down plays and 5-for-12 on third down efficiency.
C-S varsity volleyball team
ends season on senior night
The Climax-Scotts varsity volleyball team ended the regular season with a three set loss to Galesburg-Augusta (11-25, 12-25, 16-25) on senior night at C-S Jr./Sr. High School October 29.
Despite being sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury, senior Mackenzie Vincent was able to make it in to serve in her final home game. She had one dig and was 100 percent serving.
Despite being sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury, senior Mackenzie Vincent was able to make it in to serve in her final home game. She had one dig and was 100 percent serving.
Senior Kendal Reitz had six kills and eight digs, Ona Newland had the top serve receive percentage at 2.0 and had a 100 percent serve percentage. Alessandra Pontoni had 13 assists and had a 100 percent serve percentage.
G-A Def. Climax-Scotts 25-11, 25-12, 25-16
C-S Stats
Kyla Etheridge: 1 Kill, 6 Digs
Mackenzie Vincent: 1 Dig, 100% serve percentage
Michaella Carillo-Keegan: 4 Digs
Kendal Reitz: 6 Kills, 8 Digs
Ona Newland: Top Serve Receive percentage with 2.0, 100 percent serve percentage
Alessandra Pontoni: 13 Assists, 3 Digs, 100 percent Serve percentage
Lucy Schultz: 1 Ace, 100 percent Serve percentage, 2 Digs
Olivia Bolt: 2 Kills, 100 percent serve percentage, 1 Block, 6 Digs
Annabelle Edwards 3 Digs, 4 Kills, 100 percent serve percentage
Peytan Cogswell: 1 Ace, 1 Kill,
Mia Reschner: Out with an injury
C-S Falls to Delton-Kellogg in 3 Sets
The Lady Panthers lost to Delton-Kellogg in three sets October 27 at Delton-Kellogg, 13-25, 14-25, 14-25.
Senior Michaella Carillo-Keegan led the team in serve receive percentage with 1.71. She added three digs.
Kyla Etheridge had a 1.69 service receive percentage and led the team with eight digs and Alessandra Pontoni had a team high seven assists.
Delton-Kellogg Def. C-S 25-13, 25-14, 25-14
C-S Stats
Michaella Carillo-Keegan: led the team in serve receive % with 1.71, 3 digs
Kyla Etheridge: 1.69 serve receive %, 8 digs, 1 Ace
Kendal Reitz: 7 digs, 1 kill
Alessandra Pontoni: 7 Assists, 2 Digs, 100% Serve percentage
Lucy Schultz: 4 Digs
Olivia Bolt: 100% Serve percentage, 2 Kills, 1 Solo Block, 2 Digs
Annabelle Edwards: 1 Kill:
Peytan Cogswell 100% Serve percentage, 3 Kills
Pictured above are the Climax-Scotts senior members of the varsity volleyball team and their parents being recognized before the match against Galesburg-Augusta at C-S Jr./Sr. High. The seniors pictured with their parents are (left to right) Michaella Carillo-Keegan, Annabelle Edwards, Ona Newland, Kendal Reitz, and Mackenzie Vincent.
(Photos by Bruce Rolfe)
