CHEBOYGAN — It might’ve been a shortened track and field season because of poor weather this spring, but there were many superb athletes who delivered throughout the 2026 campaign.
In the Cheboygan area, we saw plenty of those athletes will their teams to successful campaigns, score plenty of points, and establish themselves as stars in their respective events.
Here’s a look at the Daily Tribune’s 2026 all-area boys track and field team, led by Inland Lakes’ Tanner Howard, the Daily Tribune’s boys track athlete of the year.
Tanner Howard, Inland Lakes, Junior – It was an epic junior campaign for Howard, who broke I-L’s school record in the 400 and captured an MHSAA Division 4 regional title. In addition, Howard was a part of three relay teams that captured regional crowns and two that won Ski Valley titles. Howard capped off his sensational season by earning all-state honors with an eighth-place finish in Hudsonville.
Zander Robinson, Inland Lakes, Sophomore – Following an impressive freshman campaign, Robinson won Ski Valley titles in the pole vault and long jump, while also being a part of a 4X400 relay team that won the Ski Valley and the regional. Overall, he was one of I-L’s top point getters throughout the spring.
Jake Feagan, Inland Lakes, Junior – One of the fastest athletes in the area, Feagan was a member of teams that won regional titles in the 4X100, 4X200 and 4X400 relays, and Ski Valley crowns in the 4X100 and 4X200 relays. Feagan finished in the 400 at the Ski Valley finals and third in the 200 at regionals.
Christian Copeland, Inland Lakes, Freshman – Delivering a solid freshman campaign was Copeland, who won a Ski Valley title in the high jump. He was also a massive leg on I-L’s 4X100 relay, which won Ski Valley and regional titles, and was a member of I-L’s Ski Valley-winning 4X400 relay squad.
Josh Grondin, Pellston, Senior – Winning a Ski Valley title in the 200 was Grondin, who qualified for states with a runner-up finish in the 300 hurdles at regionals and placed second in the Ski Valley in the 300 hurdles. Grondin was also a member of Pellston’s 4X100 relay team that qualified for states.
Brady Bonter, Pellston, Senior – Performing well in sprint relays was Bonter, who was a member of Pellston’s state-qualifying 4X100 relay, which finished second at regionals. Bonter also captured fourth at regionals and in the Ski Valley in the long jump.
Benedict Suess, Onaway, Sophomore – Establishing himself as one of the best young sprinters in the area was Suess, who finished third in the 100 at the Ski Valley finals. Suess nearly qualified for the state finals after earning third in the long jump at regionals.
Honorable Mention: Jacob Baiel (Cheboygan), Brady Lockwood (Cheboygan), Evan Fradette (Cheboygan), Troy Wichlacz (Cheboygan), Jeremy Kettel (Inland Lakes), Elijah Elliott (Inland Lakes), Pietro Giordan (Inland Lakes), Logan Holden (Inland Lakes), Matthew Marzolo (Onaway), Chris Pauly (Onaway), Phineas Benson (Onaway), Hunter Brandt (Pellston), John Sonnenberg (Pellston).
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: Looking at the Daily Tribune’s 2026 all-area boys track and field team
Reporting by Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune / Cheboygan Daily Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jared Greenleaf, Cheboygan Daily Tribune | USA TODAY Network
