OURSPORTS

SECTION D
Log onto our Web site
for additional stories, local
video and daily updates
on everything Ann Arbor.

Heritage Media March 24, 2011

Going for goals in A2

GENERAL
ADMISSION

Gabriel Richard hosts all Ann Arbor

lacrosse teams for first time
MIKE LARSON By Mike Larson all five of the city’s high school
A2 Journal teams have been able to play
together on the same field.

Chin up,
The season hasn’t even start-
ed yet, but the lacrosse teams
in Ann Arbor have already
accomplished something they
Although most of the
area’s coaches said the event
had been discussed before, it
wasn’t until Richard coach

UM fans, have never done before.

On Saturday, Father Gabriel
Richard High School hosted
Jim Carl got involved that it
became a reality.
“It just seemed like a lot of

it only
the city’s four other lacrosse
teams for a spring scrimmage.
Teams from Huron,
Greenhills, Pioneer and
fun,” Carl said. “As a Catholic
school, a lot of these kids have
grown up together. They’ve
competed in other sports,

gets Skyline joined the Fighting

Irish on the turf field at
Gabriel Richard to shake off
whether it’s hockey or soc-
cer, everybody wants to play
against some of their friends.

better
the winter rust and take the
first shots of the lacrosse
season.
Despite the fact that lacrosse
There are friendships that
exist and I just think it’s great
for the whole Ann Arbor com-
munity.”

L
has had a significant presence In addition to players get-
isten. in Ann Arbor for several years,
I know you’re upset this is the first time ever that PLEASE SEE GOALS/3-D
and I know a lot of you
are probably inconsolable
right now.
I know it hurts.
I saw it too.
I watched Saturday as the
University Michigan basketball
team lost a painfully close game
to Duke.
I watched the Wolverines
snarl, snap and claw their way
back into a game that Duke
had pretty much closed out in
the first several minutes of the
second half.
Michigan was down 15 points
with about 10 minutes left in the
game, but the team refused to
roll over.
Instead, I watched the
Wolverines come alive, close
the gap and cut the lead to just a
field goal.
Down two points with just
seconds left in the game, the
Wolverines put the ball into Photos by Mike Larson/A2 JOURNAL
the hands of Darius Morris, Gabriel Richard lacrosse coach Jim Carl discusses strategy with his team on Saturday. The coach organized a round-robin scrimmage that included all the
who drove the lane and put up lacrosse teams from Ann Arbor. Pioneer, Huron, Greenhills, Gabriel Richard and Skyline all participated.
a floater.
The ball went up, and then

Hardwood heaven
clanged unceremoniously off
the heel of the rim.
Michigan lost and was denied
a spot in the Sweet 16.
But you already knew all that.
Michigan’s loss on Saturday
was the latest kick in the stom-
ach for UM basketball fans. Ann Arbor is becoming a bastion “Basketball in Ann Arbor
is as strong as it’s ever been,”
It was the kind of close-but-
no-cigar moment that has the of high school basketball success Huron coach Waleed Samaha
said. “That Pioneer team is a
Wolverine faithful starting to good team. Skyline is a good
feel like fans of the Chicago By Mike Larson In boys’ basketball, the team. We’ve got a good team.”
Cubs.
A2 Journal schools of Ann Arbor took In addition to the Class A
But at least the Cubs fans Brighton by storm, dominating boys’ teams, the city has a
While there isn’t a single
have Old Style and Wrigleyville. the district tournament in the powerful presence in Class B
Michigan basketball fansAnn Arbor high school bas- city of the Bulldogs. from the Catholic High School
ketball team left alive in the
seem to have nothing but disap- Huron, Pioneer and Skyline League’s Ann Arbor Gabriel
pointment these days. MHSAA postseason tourna- took part in the district tourna- Richard.
ments, it’s hard to argue the
But I’m here to let you all in ment and were the last three After having a rough stretch
impact that prep basketball has
on a little secret. You shouldn’t teams standing. in which the team played a host
be upset. had on the city. Skyline ousted Pinckney of larger schools, Richard won
Think about it. A quick look back over the and Dexter while Pioneer took just five games during the regu-
last few weeks gives a pretty down Brighton. lar season in 2010-11.
PLEASE SEE LARSON/3-D clear picture of where Ann After a first round bye, Huron However the Fighting Irish
Arbor stands in the landscape then beat Pioneer in the semi- proved that they are still a force
We’re more than just of high school basketball, and
it’s a very pretty picture.
finals and then Skyline in the
finals. PLEASE SEE HARDWOOD/3-D
a sports section

In addition to all of the sports

stories and information found in
these pages, the A2 Journal
sports section offers even more
media online.
File Photo
Check us out on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/ Pioneer senior Kamilah Carter goes up for a layup. Carter was
A2JournalSports) for stories, recently named to the AP’s Class A All-State First Team.
photo albums video and more.

Carter named to
Follow us out on Twitter to get
up to the minute scores from
your favorite high school teams
and get updates game

All-State list
cancelations or time changes.

By Mike Larson to the Associated Press Girls

You can also become facebook
friends with sports writer Mike
Larson (www.facebook.com/
A2SportsGuy) and follow him in
realtime as he updates his
location using Foursquare. Track
him down in and around Ann
Arbor to get the scoop on local
sports happenings.
A2 Journal
Kamilah Carter spent her
entire high school career wow-
ing fans of the Pioneer girls’
basketball team.
This year, she celebrated her
senior season by helping the
Pioneers win their first district
File Photo
championship in 10 years.
Huron senior A.J. Mathew drives during a game against Dayton Dunbar earlier this season. Ann Now, she can celebrate again.
Arbor is quickly becoming one of the most successful basketball cities in the state. Recently, Carter was named
Basketball Class A All-State
First Team.
She was the area’s only pick.
Huron players Kelcy Barott
and Devin Talley of Ann Arbor
Huron were tapped as Class A
honorable mentions.
Carter was a force all season
for the Pioneers, averaging 19.1
points per game.
PLEASE SEE CARTER/3-D
Page 2-D  Thursday, March 24, 2011 • HERITAGE MEDIA/A2 JOURNAL

2011 LACROSSE PREVIEW

Shooting for success

By Mike Larson
A2 Journal
Team: Greenhills
Coach: Mike Costello, 2nd year
Conference: Independent
Team: Father Gabriel Richard Record last year: 7-9
Coach: Jim Carl, 2nd year Top returners: Kyle Wozniak, John Lazaserfeld, Henry Aspergren, Jon
Conference: Catholic High School League Saltzman, Mike Szocik, Alex Wozniak
Record last year: 14-6 Top newcomers: Greenhills coach Mike Costello said he had a lot of new
Top returners: Colin McMahon, Adam Kolevar, Michael Ramos, Mark players who could make an impact.
Tanski, Carl Pressprich, Max Yoas “We have a bunch,” he said. “There is a buzz about this team around the
Tom newcomers: Nick Bierley, Andrew Marino, Steven Ramos school. We have 14 to 15 new guys.”
Strength: Leadership. The Gabriel Richard lacrosse team is packed with Strength: Experience. The Greenhills team has another year under its belt,
experience this season. The team has a stud senior in Colin McMahon, who is and Costello is hoping that translates into success.
a four-year varsity player for the Fighting Irish. Other strong seniors are Carl Weakness: Communication. “All good team communicate at a really high
Pressprich and Max Yoas. The team also has a strong core of juniors who are level,” Costello said. “We aren’t doing that right now. We really need to bring
going to get more and more experience as the season wears on. that up.”
Drawback: Lost a lot of talent last year. Although the Irish will have plenty Outlook: The Greenhills team has a goal to win more games that it loses,
of experience back, there is no denying the hole that graduation left in the ros- and Costello thinks that’s possible. Improvement is also a big ambition for the
ter. Gabriel Richard last Gryphons.
13 seniors from last year, “We just want to get
and will need players to better and better every
step up in order to com- day,” Costello said.
pete in the competitive
Catholic High School Team: Pioneer
League. Coach: James Corey,
Outlook: Coach Jim 1st year
Carl said he fully expect- Conference:
ed his team to compete Southeastern Conference
for a CHSL title, despite Red Division
a difficult schedule. Record last year: 12-6
“This is the toughest Top returners: Nick
schedule we’ve ever had Mrjoian, Kevin Groupe,
here,” he said. “Of our Mike Jones
18 games, 10 of them Top newcomers:
are against top 10 oppo- Harry Hadden, Kyle
nents.” Waitz, Jesse Fernandez
The Irish will play a Strength: Midfield.
pair of games against The Pioneers return 14
both Cranbrook and seniors to its midfield
Notre Dame Prep, as from last season. The
well as games against experience will help the
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s team as it moves for-
and Okemos. ward.
The road is going to Weakness: Defense.
be long and hard for Pioneer lost 2/3 of its
the Irish, but McMahon defensive squad from last
and Adam Kolevar can year and only returns
rise to the occasion two starters. The defense
and if goalie Michael will need to step up early
Ramos can continue in the season if Pioneer
to improve, there is no wants to remain competi-
reason Gabriel Richard tive.
shouldn’t be able to have Outlook: Pioneer
a chance at that coveted coach James Corey said
Photo by Mike Larson/A2 JOURNAL
CHSL title. his team’s goal was to
Pioneer first year head coach James Corey talks with his team Saturday during a scrimmage at Gabriel make it to the Michigan
Team: Huron Richard. Pioneer, as well as the other four Ann Arbor lacrosse teams, is hoping for a successful sea- High School Athletic
Coach: Joe Koengeter, son. Association playoffs, and
3rd year make it to the final four.
Conference: Southeastern Conference Red Division With a strong group of seniors and plenty of experience, it’s a very attainable
Record last year: 9-8 goal.
Top returners: Henry Upton, Chris Welch, Zak Hilfinger, Gabe Ruel, Shaun
Greco Team: Skyline
Top newcomers: Nick Sorscher, Kyle Aaronson Coach: Nick Zoroya, 3rd year
Strength: Communication. The River Rats have found a knack for talking to Conference: Southeastern Conference Red Division
one another while on the field, a skill that coach Joe Koengeter said will serve Record last year: 4-4 (varsity teams), 7-3 (JV teams)
them well. Top returners: Don Weidner, Ben Brinkerhoff, Sam Olson, Eric Guldberg
“It’s so important right now,” the coach said of his team’s communication. Top newcomers: Seth Bear, Aaron Dziubinski
“It’s so hard to be successful if you aren’t talking.” Strength: Athleticism
The coach also said the squad’s defense will be a strength this season. Weakness: Experience. The Eagles have no seniors yet and are still working
Weakness: Clearing the ball. Huron has struggled early getting the ball out on mastering their offense.
of its own zone and limiting opponents’ scoring chances. Outlook: This season will be the first in which the Skyline team will play a
Outlook: Koengeter said he hoped his team would be atop the Southeastern full varsity schedule.
Conference standings at the end of the year. Despite that, coach Nick Zoroya has high aspirations for his team.
“This is the start of my third year,” he said. “And I think right now we are at “Realistically, I think we can win 12 games,” Zoroya said. “And I think we can
a point to contend for a conference title.” win a playoff game or two.”
Mike Larson can be reached by email at Mlarson@A2Journal.com. Check out
his page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/A2SportsGuy and follow him on
Twitter at www.twitter.com/A2JournalSports.