CHEBOYGAN – It’s mid-September and things are escalating quickly in Cheboygan-area sports.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we saw several area athletes perform at top levels in their respective athletic competitions.
Here’s a look at the top performers in the Cheboygan area for Sept. 15-17.
For cross country, you can check out more top performances from Wednesday’s Cheboygan Invitational at the Cheboygan Golf & Country Club.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Carson Kiefer, Cheboygan – Placed 14th (19:14) and medaled at the Kalkaska Invitational on Sept. 15
Andrew Kiefer, Cheboygan – Claimed 15th (19:22) and medaled at the Kalkaska Invite.
More Cheboygan Finishers: Russell Abernathy (31st, 21:11), Carter Hudson (34th, 21:29), Duncan Spies (38th, 22:02), Alex Hudson (44th, 22:51), Jose Castro (53rd, 25:13), Taegan Custard (61st, 35:51).
Cheboygan coach Sandy Safford: “Carson had a very tough race. I think he looked the best at this meet so far is year. Andrew Kiefer had a solid race again. He was very consistent from mile to mile. Russell Abernathy continues to look stronger and stronger each week.”
Braylon Currie, Mackinaw City – Placed 18th (19:54) and medaled at the Kalkaska Invite.
Ben Strittmatter, Mackinaw City – Took 20th (20:06) and medaled at the Kalkaska Invite.
More Mackinaw City Finishers: Mikey Sullivan (26th, 21:04), Kyle Valot (30th, 21:10), Tanyon Pierce (47th, 23:24), TJ Peterson (56th, 27:02), Cecil VanOrman (59th, 31:28), Tyler Allaire (60th, 35:10).
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
Cloee Rupp, Cheboygan – Finished seventh (22:34) and earned a medal at the Kalkaska Invite.
Briahna Campbell, Cheboygan – Placed 18th (24:26) and medaled at the Kalkaska Invite.
Ella LaRcoque, Cheboygan – Took 21st (24:52) and medaled at the Kalkaska Invite.
More Cheboygan Finishers: Addison Ptasnik (26th, 25:08), Elleigh Wilson (37th, 27:45), Nadia Chandler (38th, 27:52), Mallory Ekdahl (44th, 28:51), Ava Hayden (48th, 30:07), Adelynn Schalau (53rd, 36:59).
Coach Safford: “Cloee Rupp had a great race. She looked strong for the first and second mile and beat out a girl she was battling with near the end of the race. Ella LaRocque also had a great race. She said she felt good, and she was about one minute faster than the same race in 2024.”
Rian Esper, Mackinaw City – Claimed 33rd (26:32) at the Kalkaska Invite.
More Mackinaw City Finishers: Emily Kruczynski (51st, 35:03), Cynthia Kruczynski (54th, 42:32).
VOLLEYBALL
Makaela Steiner, Cheboygan – Tallied 22 assists, 10 digs, five aces and four kills against Harbor Springs on Sept. 16.
Diem Schley, Cheboygan – Recorded eight kills, two aces and two digs against Harbor Springs.
Tessa Lake, Cheboygan – Had six kills and 10 digs against Harbor Springs.
Abi Babcock, Cheboygan – Registered five kills, five digs, three aces and two assists against Harbor Springs.
Presley Chamberlain, Cheboygan – Had nine digs and two aces against Harbor Springs.
Tuesday, Sept. 16 Result: Cheboygan def. Harbor Springs 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-11).
More Cheboygan Stats: Olivia Patrick (five kills, three digs, two aces), Kyleigh Burt (three kills, two assists), Maddie Long (two kills), Mackenzie Stockman (four digs).
Cheboygan Record as Sept. 16: 14-2-1 (3-0 Northern Shores Conference).
Jenna Stubbs, Inland Lakes – Had 10 kills, 35 digs and three aces at Bellaire on Sept. 16.
Addison Byrne, Inland Lakes – Finished with 30 assists, 15 digs, five kills and two aces at Bellaire.
Chloe Robinson, Inland Lakes – Tallied 10 kills and 15 digs at Bellaire.
Tuesday, Sept. 16 Result: Inland Lakes lost to Bellaire 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 19-25).
More Inland Lakes Stats: Myla Thompson (eight kills, two blocks), Kaylee Taglauer (three aces, 11 digs).
Inland Lakes coach Nicole Moore: “That was a very close game for the whole night. We had untimely errors at the end of sets that had us lose the first and third.”
Kerry-Ann Ming, Mackinaw City – Finished with 20 kills and 14 digs against Alanson on Sept. 17.
Alaina Brown, Mackinaw City – Recorded eight kills, eight aces, 15 digs and three assists against Alanson.
Rian Esper, Mackinaw City – Tallied 28 assists, 12 digs, three kills and two aces against Alanson.
Alaia Mendez, Mackinaw City – Had eight kills, four aces and 11 digs against Alanson.
Wednesday, Sept. 17 Result: Mackinaw City def. Alanson 3-2 (25-18, 20-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-11).
More Mackinaw City Stats: Elizabeth Kruczynski (seven kills, 17 digs, two aces), Poppy Wallace (four blocks, three digs), Julia Short (seven digs), Emily Kruczynski (13 digs).
Mackinaw City coach Jake Huffman: “We had a really tough conference match with (Alanson) tonight, taking all five sets with some huge momentum swings throughout the match. I was very proud of how we pulled together in the last two sets to win the match after falling down 2-1.”
Mackinaw City Record as of Sept. 17: 6-7-2 (3-0 Northern Lakes Conference).
Ella Lintz, Onaway – Finished with 13 kills, 17 digs and five aces at Forest Area on Sept. 16.
Amya Janusky, Onaway – Had 12 kills, four aces and two blocks at Forest Area.
Brooklyn Boughner, Onaway – Tallied 32 assists, four kills and four digs at Forest Area.
Layla Box, Onaway – Registered five kills, six aces and eight digs at Forest Area.
Tuesday, Sept. 16 Result: Onaway def. Forest Area 3-2 (25-10, 24-26, 25-7, 24-26, 15-4).
More Onaway Stats: Carley Karsten (five kills, 10 digs), Marley Szymoniak (18 digs), Greta Watson (two kills, three digs), Else Carter (two kills), Cassidy Karsten (three digs).
Onaway Coach Steve Watson: “On one hand, we’re happy that we won a close match that went five sets, but on the other hand, it should’ve never gone five sets because we need to do a better job of putting teams away and then getting out of the gym, and until we can do that, every match is going to be close and could be a struggle.”
BOYS SOCCER
Trenton LaHaie, Cheboygan – Scored two goals against Kalkaska on Sept. 15.
Monday, Sept. 15 Result: Kalkaska 6, Cheboygan 2
Wednesday, Sept. 17 Result: Grayling 5, Cheboygan 1
GIRLS GOLF
Elise Markham, Cheboygan – Finished seventh (99) in a tournament at Boyne Highlands on Sept. 17.
Gabrielle Melonas, Cheboygan – Took first (48) at a nine-hole match at Inland Lakes on Sept. 16.
Caitlin Easter, Cheboygan – Placed 14th (105) at Boyne Highlands.
Hayden Wagar, Inland Lakes – Finished second in a nine-hole event at Inland Lakes.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cross country, volleyball highlight top Cheboygan-area sports performers for Sept. 15-17
Reporting by Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
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