PETOSKEY — Few programs at Petoskey High School have enjoyed the same kind of consistent success that baseball has.
When the gears of spring start rolling again – whenever that is each year – the machine that has been Northmen baseball hums smoother than anything in blue and white.
A great deal of that consistency has come out of the coaching staff, where Shawn Racignol spent over 15 years leading the Northmen.
That piece of the machine is gone at the varsity level, with Racignol stepping down as varsity coach, though Matt Henning is hoping to keep what’s been built running at its usual pace.
And he couldn’t be more thrilled for the job.
“I’m excited for it,” Henning said. “Coach Racignol and I have been talking for a few years about making this transition. I’ve been in the program now, this is my 12th year and he’s been a great mentor for me. It’s been a good transition so far. It’s a lot, but it’s been a good transition.”
It’s a program that’s won six consecutive district championships at the Division 2 level and a team that’s coming off a 10-0 Big North season.
While he might not have been in the varsity dugout the whole time, Henning has been around, from the youth level to other high school teams, to summer ball.
“I’ve coached all these guys before,” he said. “I’m a teacher at the high school, so I’ve had them in the classroom. They come with a great attitude, ready to work and that was a foundation that was laid before me with Coach Racignol and Coach (Mike) Loper.”
Henning moved to the Petoskey-Area in 2009, right away getting into coaching at the youth level.
A former GLIAC player at Northwood, Henning’s background in baseball is vast, though he’ll be the first to admit he had to learn how to teach the game in a way players could quickly take to.
“When I came here, the level of coaching these kids were getting was incredible,” Henning said. “I realized quickly then that I was a bad coach.”
He grew from watching and learning from a number of Petoskey coaches who have been heavily involved in the game, including Racignol and Loper.
“Being around these guys like Coach Racignol, Coach Loper, even Coach (Kevin) Horn, Coach (Dave) Elliott, Coach (Steven) Speigl last year. They’ve all added to the bank of knowledge. It’s been great.”
Henning will take over a program steeped in tradition and consistency, though it’ll be another big challenge this season in keeping it going.
The Northmen graduated 13 seniors from last year’s squad and will return just three varsity members from a year ago.
“One guy has a lot of experience, Tyler Pool,” Henning said. “I’ve talked with him about the importance of being that third coach as a guy that’s been here. Then Eli Young and Jonah Mattingly, they have that experience too. But, we’re young.”
Like other sports right now at PHS – notably basketball and football – the sophomore and junior classes will fill the roster. The good part is that Henning has already established a relationship with them.
Another good thing about 2026 and having a young team is that it comes in a year where the Northmen will make a spring break baseball trip.
Having made spring trips to the University of Louisville in Kentucky, Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and others in the past, this spring will come with a trip to Oxford, Miss. and the campus of Ole Miss.
“Not that we don’t love the weather here, but to get out of the snow and get down there, get some real reps on Ole Miss’ campus will be great,” Henning said. “Oxford, it’s incredible. The facilities they have. Friday night when we get down there we’ll go to an Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State game. Baseball down south, it’s an impressive experience. We’re going to learn a lot on spring break.”
It’ll be a leg up over most in northern Michigan stuck in the cold and waiting for snow to melt before taking actual reps outside.
But, you don’t get to be where the Northmen are as a program without those leg up moments. Henning is hoping to keep it that way in year No. 1.
“We’re looking to keep that tradition going, absolutely,” Henning added.
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Matt Henning excited to keep Petoskey baseball program rolling
Reporting by Drew Kochanny, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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