Season openers always exciting

Football openers are always fun. The first game of the season is always an exciting time.
Last Friday was no exception as Saline hosted Belleville in the 2010 football opener for both clubs. Hornet Stadium was literally abuzz last Friday as the crowd waited in anticipation for their beloved Blue and Gold warriors to exit the locker room and explode onto the field.
With the Saline cheerleaders forming a human tunnel, of sorts, just outside the Hornet locker room, the local gridders burst out onto the field to loud screams and applause from the partial home field crowd.
Saline players piled up upon each other at midfield before running over to their sideline to await the opening kickoff.
The Hornet Marching Band played the school fight song as the Belleville team across the field lined up for the national anthem.
Under a bright, sunny sky, the national anthem was played, a slight breeze unfurling the flag every now and then. It was a nice moment. I was almost expecting a military flyover as the Saline band finished our national song.
With the national anthem complete, both sides began preparing for the upcoming battle ahead. The band cleared the field and headed back up to the grandstands. The cheerleaders took their positions on both sides of the Saline sideline.
The fans on each side shouted encouragement to their Hornets and Tigers. Finally, each side ran out onto the field. It was kickoff time.
Both sides begin yelling and screaming, hooting and hollering. Coaches were already barking instructions to their respective players.
The referees were in position. The football was on the tee. The crowd was at a fever pitch. The referee blew his whistle.
Game time.
It was on.
Here’s the kick.
The ball is away.
It’s opening night.
Let the season begin.

Belleville's Mackson is a three-sport star

Belleville's three-star athlete JaVaunte Mackson has been so busy these last few years with three varsity sports that he almost forgot to get his driving license. But don't worry this speedster on the track and football field just passed the driving part of the test so he is now legal.Mackson is a star football player for the Tigers who also plays varsity basketball and track and was fast enough to win the Division 1 regional in the 100-meter dash last spring.Currently several schools are looking at him for football and they include Northwood, Princeton, Syracuse University and Columbia University.“I want this to be a turnaround season for us in football,” Mackson said. “I want us to beat Saline and I think if we do we can make it to the playoffs.”He said everyone on the football team is a lot more about team this season and less about doing things for themselves.“Everyone is more positive,” he said. “This team cares, we have a lot of seniors on the team and we are like a family.”For him this team has fought a lot harder this year in practice. He said they strive for perfection.“We are having more fun in the game,” he said. “And we are having more fun doing it.”He and the team want them to have a better record this season and Mackson truly believes the team could go 6-3 or maybe even 7-2.Mackson and his friend Jacques Reeves have been playing the same position for years and competing with each other.“We both play corner and I have known him since the fifth grade when we played basketball together,” he said. “We always try to push each other to the limit and we are trying to go to the same college together.”When football is over he miss playing it in high school but he will begin basketball and after basketball he will run track. He has goals this season and one is to break his own school record in the 100-meter dash and to finish better than the top six in the 100-meter dash at the state meet.Tiger coach Matt Davenport really likes the talent this athlete possess.“He is the fastest kid in the school,” Davenport said. “He is a three-year varsity player and getting better every day.”Davenport said that he is really becoming a team leader and he is a starting half-back and corner.“He is a good athlete while maintaining a good grade point average,” he said. “I am looking for JaVaunte to our 'big play' athlete.”Mackson has two sisters Moenai (12), Meeye (10) and one brother Maurice (6). His mother, Mia Robinson, and family are big supporters of his athletics.This season he will be wearing the number 21 on the football field in honor of his friend Chris King from Saline who died recently.He offers some simple advice to multiple sport athletes who want to continue in college.“You have to do your school work first and get a lot of rest,” Mackson said. “Your body can shut down if you don't take a break.” Belleville's

Inside the ropes: A day with the Chelsea golf team

Chelsea girls’ golf coach Trisha McKim jumps in a golf cart. But before heading over to the practice green at Reddeman Farms she fires off a few parting comments to her freshmen girls swinging away at the driving range on this warm, sunny afternoon.
"Keeping working on those shots. I can already see improvement," she says before putting her foot down on the peddle and speeding away.
Life for McKim is all of a sudden in the fast lane and she’s loving every second of it.
"I’m having a blast," she says. "I just got hired as a part-time kindergarten teacher in the Chelsea school district. What a great district to get a job in. And what a great group of girls to be coaching."
They call this a win-win.
"We looked a long time for a coach," says Don Triveline, who has been involved in Chelsea and junior golf for years and helped track down McKim through his college connections. "We got lucky with Trisha."
Again, a win-win.
And win is something this golf team is going to do plenty of before all is said and done. McKim had her young team – there is only one senior and five freshmen on the roster – out on the range and around the green on Wednesday working on their short game.
"We seem to do well off the tee, but it’s the shots from within 100 yards and especially around the greens and our putting that have cost us a lot of strokes," says McKim, a standout golfer at DeWitt High School and a three-time NCAA qualifier at Olivet College. "We lost a lot of strokes around the greens the last few days."
The Bulldogs are working in separate groups. Triveline has a few girls practicing their chipping from just in front of one of the greens. He identifies different swing flaws in each player and lets them know what they need to focus on to get better. One by one, the shots get closer and closer to the pin.
On another green, McKim is talking about the importance of eliminating three putts from the scorecard. The best way to do that is getting that first putt real close.
"We are leaving too many putts 10 feet and more from the hole," she says. "We have to get closer than that. We are working right now on our weaknesses that I’ve seen after our first few meets and I think if we can fix these we are going to do really well."
Long-distance putting is a staple of McKim’s practices.
"It’s something we work on every day," she says.
Some people might not call it work because McKim has created a fun atmosphere and the girls respond with laughter, smiles and plenty of good golf shots.
"We do a lot of games on the putting green because we want to make it fun," she says. "You can have fun and also improve at the same time."
The improvement is almost immediate. With each putt, the ball inches closer and closer.
Later in the practice, McKim puts some golf tees in a circle around the flag and has a few of her golfers chipping from off the green with an 8-iron instead of a pitching wedge. Sometimes, she says, it’s easier to bump and run, especially on the flat greens.
The balls begin to fly and fill the circle. A few however never make it to the circle.
"Look how many we left short," McKim points out. "There is no chance of these going in if you don’t at least get it to the hole."
After practice McKim passes out beads to players who got pars and birdies in the previous matches. She even gives them out to players who won the putting games and to those who played extra holes during the weekend.
The Chelsea girls remind their new coach that to experience Chelsea she must go to the Chelsea Fair. Her initiation will include a ride on the "Ring of Fire" and a visit to the demolition derby.
"We are having a lot of fun," McKim says after the players head off for the rest of their day.
Indeed. A win-win.

Manchester vs. Clinton - A Closer Look

In honor of the Big Day Prep Showdown, here is the tale of the tape between Manchester and Clinton

They have the Clinton Fall Festival. We have the Manchester Chicken Broil.

They have Dan’s Clinton Tavern and Race Track Inn. We have The Village Tap and Pleasant Lake Inn.

They have Tate Park. We have Carr Park.

Their BP gas station recently added The Coffee Beanery. Our BP gas station is getting a Subway.

They have Spencer Krauss, now starting at quarterback for Albion College. We have Nick Ross, now starting on the offensive line for Adrian College.

Their Dairy Queen has indoor seating and a drive thru. Our Dairy Queen has a view of the River Raisin.

They are near the Irish Hills and many lakes. We are near the Chrysler Proving Grounds and Pleasant Lake.

Their mascot is a reference to the tribes that settled in Lenawee County before Colonial days. Our mascot got its name from the 1938 varsity football team.

They welcome race fans passing through to MIS each year. We welcome people racing beds down Main Street every year at Oktoberfest.

Recent Battles of M-52

As of now we are under 24 hours away from the kickoff of another high school football season, and the 109th installment of the "Battle of M-52" between the Manchester Flying Dutchmen and the Clinton Redskins. Here is a look back at some of the recent matchups between the two area rivals.

Nov. 6, 2009
Manchester 11, Clinton 0:
The Dutchmen held the Redskins to negative-45 yards rushing en route to capturing the Division 6 district title at Adrian College. A 32-yard touchdown run by D.J. Hone late in the second quarter, a safety and field goal in the third quarter was all the scoring Manchester needed.

Aug. 28, 2009
Manchester 20, Clinton 14 (ot):
Logan Zigila connected with Corwin Every for a 5-yard touchdown pass on the first possession of double overtime. Clinton quarterback Hayden Craig was sacked two plays later and lost a fumble, which Manchester recovered to seal the victory. Zigila threw for three touchdowns in the game.

Aug. 28, 2008
Manchester 28, Clinton 7:
Will Rickert had 147 yards on 22 carries and three touchdowns to lead the Dutchmen to the opening nigh win at Wagner Field. Logan Zigila was 12-of-19 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown in his first varsity start.

Aug. 24, 2007
Clinton 21, Manchester 14:
Tim Snell ran for two touchdowns, intercepted a pass and converted a clinching third-down play as the Redskins snapped a four-game losing streak to the Dutchmen. Manchester was hurt by five turnovers in the home opener.

Aug. 25, 2006
Manchester 21, Clinton 10:
Ty King ran for 180 yards on 26 carries to spark the Dutchmen past Clinton at Wagner Field. The Manchester offense rolled up 227 yards on the ground for the night.

Tigers have fallen

In the beginning of the season I was excited for the Detroit Tigers. We had gotten some good players and the team looked in good shape to actually make another run. I was really excited when we got Johnny Damon.
That excitement officially ended yesterday when I learned while driving home from work that he had been placed on waivers and may be picked up by the Red Sox if he so chooses by Wednesday. That did it. Now I am officially done with baseball for this season.
Some people said I should have been done shortly after the All-Star break. Maybe that is true but I am really finished with this now.
I guess all I have to look forward to is the Detroit Lions and the Red Wings in a few months. I love professional sports but sometimes high school sports are so much better because you can predict them a heck of a lot easier than the pros.
My advice to the Tigers fire Dave Dombrowski and get some new blood in the front office.

Going the distance (Week 2)

Well it finally happened.
I was hoping that it would be a lot further down the road, but I finally missed a scheduled run.
And it was a big one.
Perhaps it was even the most important run of the week.
On Sunday I was supposed do another 8-mile run. It was to be just like the one from last week that I finally conquered. I was even kind of excited for this workout, even though last week's run really took a lot out of me physically. All week I was ready. I couldn't wait to get back on the road and beat last week's time.
Unfortunately, I didn't beat last week's time. I didn't even get out to do the run.
I spent most of the weekend tracking down coaches by phone and writing stories for the fall previews. Almost all of Saturday was spent on the phone. But I still managed to get my four-mile run in.
But Sunday was another story. I was busy all week, as almost all sports reporters who cover fall sports are. It's a big time for us. If you have ever worked retail, just consider this time of year to be to sports writers what the Christmas season is to you.
There's just too much to do and not enough time to do it.
It was about 4 p.m. on Sunday when I realized there was no way I was going to get that run in. And it felt horrible because I could have run in the morning, but chose to procrastinate and put it off. I told myself, and my fiance Amanda, that I would run in the afternoon, after we got home from a friend's house.
As I walked out our front door to go to our friend's, the last thing I saw when I left were my running shoes, untouched for the day. They stared at me with the kind of contempt you get from a friend you keep postponing plans with. It was kind of like they sighed and said, " Go, have fun. We'll still be here when you get back."
But, one thing led to another, we didn't end up getting home until about 8 p.m. And I still had to go into Pontiac to do some designing this week's print edition.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not making excuses.
It was my own fault and I should have managed my time better. I managed to get in every other workout this week.
For the first time, though, I'm beginning to realize that the toughest part of the training might not have anything to do with the actual running.
This journey toward running and finishing the Detroit Half Marathon is now, and is going to continue to be, a huge, drawn-out juggling act for me.
I'll try to explain.
After our son Teigan was born in June, things for Amanda and I changed, as I'm sure they do with most new parents. The change was all-encompassing and it happened almost overnight.
Our time all of a sudden became a lot more valuable to us. And our schedules basically got split into two groups. Those groups were, to put it quite simply, time we get to spend with Teigan, and then time we spent doing everything else. We'd both prefer that all of our time went into the first category, but that's just not doable.
Working keeps a roof over our heads, so that's a must.
And on the weekends (after the work from home is done) it's really tough to have to make a choice between hanging out with the loves of my life, or going for a run.
But that is what doing this training is going to mean sometimes.
I understand that now.
When we got home from our day out, before I packed my things and headed off to Pontiac for what I was sure was going to be a long night, I saw my shoes again, still untouched for the day. They were no longer a contemptuous friend, but rather a jilted lover. I know it sounds stupid, but if a pair of shoes can look disappointed in you, that's what I saw.
So, as my journey continues, I'm making promise to myself to never have my footwear look at me like that again.

Relay for Life a memorable experience

Have you ever felt like you were called to do something? Even as crazy as it sounds, it’s something that you feel in your heart you have to do.
I guess we all have our “bucket lists,” and I’m no different. There are several things I’d like to do in my lifetime, from seeing my two favorite NFL teams, Minnesota and Pittsburgh, play in their respective stadiums (I am traveling to see a Steelers game in October) to bowling a perfect game in my league (still working on that). But there was something that I recently added to my list, and I was determined to do it. I finally had that opportunity last week.
I ventured to Adrian last Friday to participate in the Relay for Life. The event, perhaps the biggest event benefiting the American Cancer Society, took place at the Christian Family Center park and lasted 24 hours. In the weeks leading up to the event, after I committed myself to participating, everyone kept telling me that it’s a life-changing experience.
That it certainly was.
For those who are not totally familiar with the Relay for Life, the event features several teams, usually of 10 people or more, walking a track and raising money for cancer research. In theory, one person from a team must be walking the track at all times. Many other activities take place throughout the night, like sand volleyball matches, special laps that walkers participate in and various contests at the different tents around the track. Sounds simple enough, but trust me, it can be grueling.
Within a month of the Relay, I was still not a member of a team. Thankfully, the good people of West Rome Baptist Church welcomed me to their team. With our theme of “Linked in Pink,” our team of about 15 set out to walk the track and sell goodies to fellow walkers to raise money for cancer research.
After the survivors’ lap, in which cancer survivors and those battling the disease take to the track to open the Relay, my team and I, decked in black and pink, began our walking quest.
I don’t know the exact number of laps I did, but if I had to guess it was the equivalent of 15 miles. By the end, my tights were sore, my feet were blistered and I was covered in sweat. But it was worth every minute, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Why, you ask? Because cancer needs to be conquered.
Cancer can strike anyone at anytime. As our readers may know, I battled a scare last winter and got lucky. A friend of mine battled cancer for two years but lost his battle in May. That factored into my decision to enter the Relay.
To do something like this, you need to be inspired, and I found that in many forms. Seeing the cancer survivors and hearing their stories throughout the night makes you want to solider on. Walking the track all night is a test of endurance, while they are in the fight for survival. When you think of what people with cancer go through each day, one can put up with one day of muscle soreness.
You see all the luminarias dedicated to those who lost the battle or currently fighting cancer – you solider on. After lighting my luminarias dedicated to my grandmother and my friend Chad Meyer, the emotions took over, as did the urge to knock out a few more laps.

I know that there have been discussions about bringing the Relay for Life to Manchester, and I would encourage having one in town. For a community that has shown how it takes care of its own, can you imagine how Manchester would come together in a Relay for Life? Just a thought.
Former North Carolina State basketball coach the late Jimmy Valvano once said that while cancer can take away physical things, “it cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart and it cannot touch my soul.” Last weekend, some 300 walkers and volunteers made it know that cancer can not take away hope or the desire to see the dreaded diseased defeated.

Well, the Lions had their first scrimmage of the season last weekend. And, as usual, they recorded their first loss. Why break the trend, right? I kid, of course. Though losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-7, the Lions actually played quite well. Yes, they had double-digit penalties and yes there were still a few dropped passes and missed tackles, but there were more than a few bright spots to dull over the glaring weaknesses, at least in Game 1 of the preseason. The starting front four was outstanding. The new players up front made an impact and rushed the Steelers' quarterback every series they were in the game. Even more promising was the second unit, which continued applying pressure and clogging up the Pittsburgh run game. Detroit definitely looked stronger in the trenches defensively. And on offense, the first team looked crisp for most of its time out on field. I don't know, it's only one game, but if the Lions can continue to play along the defensive front like they did against Pittsburgh and if the first team offense can continue to complete passes, run the football consistently and move the chains, it might just be an interesting season this year.

High school, pro football

The first day of high school football was very exciting for me this year. Not because I went out and checked out all four of my local teams (but I did send a photographer to two of them).
No, it was exciting because I went on my yearly visit to the Detroit Lions training camp in Allen Park. Granted it is near my home but I still like to get out every once in awhile and see how the professional do things.
I am not just talking about the professional players either. All the reporters from the big daily papers were on hand to chat with the players and the coaches. There were a lot of people who either work for the Detroit Lions or are employed as security guards and emergency medical personnel as well.
The Lions have a top-notch practice facility and it is definitely a thrill as a reporter to get the chance and watch them play. Granted it isn’t as fun as watching them play in person at Ford Field in a real game or even watching them on television on a Sunday afternoon but I did enjoy it.
Growing up in Detroit I have always watched the Lions and I have very fond memories of Billy Sims and Barry Sanders running the football. I can even remember when Eric Hipple was the quarterback or even Gary Danielson who was the great Dearborn Divine Child quarterback as well.
Now things have changed and Lions have new faces and an entire new outlook on the game. I was able to watch their new rookie Ndamukong Suh from Nebraska playing defensive tackle. At 6-4 and 307 pounds this is one big player. I can’t wait to see what he does at the professional level.
It is always risky paying rookies the kind of money he is getting but I think in the end things will work out good for both him and the team. Look at it this way. No one can accuse the Lions of not paying their players what they are worth.
After a good rookie season quarterback Matthew Stafford should be ready to go. I know he is making the big bucks and he showed a lot of improvement last season. Drew Stanton of Michigan State and former Farmington Hills Harrison standout will be competing for playing time.
One of the new players on the team this season is tight end Tony Scheffler who comes to the Lions via the Denver Broncos. As everyone knows he played high school ball at Chelsea and college ball at Western Michigan University. I saw him makes some catches and look forward to talking to him during the season and maybe at one of the upcoming practices.
Now that I have discussed the pros and the playing making all the money it is time to talk about the high school teams and players whom we wish will make it to the pros in the future. I am not saying that Belleville will produce any more Ian Gold or Cullen and Kris Jenkins but you never know.
Ypsi has a long storied history of players who have been to college and to the pros. I hope to cover some more of them and see that they can do.
Life isn’t easy and neither is football but if students stick to athletics and academics that know where they will end up.

A look back at our scholar-athletes

Well another summer of celebrating the Manchester scholar-athlete as come to an end. Since the middle of June until this week's edition, The Manchester Enterprise has featured Manchester student-athletes from the Class of 2010 who excelled on the field and in the classroom. We hope you the readers have enjoyed learning more about these fine young men and women, their accomplishments in school, their involvement in the community and their goals of the future. Here is a final summary of our scholar-athlete features for 2010.

JUNE 17
Stephanie Ball – Basketball, volleyball and track, 4.1 GPA, attending Washtenaw Community College with major in Radiology
Tracy Schaible – Basketball, volleyball, track, 3.822 GPA, attending Jackson Community College with major in Radiology, continuing with basketball

JUNE 24
Claire Simpson – Competitive cheerleading, sideline cheerleading, equestrian, softball, 3.5 GPA, attending Adrian College with major in Telecommunications and Sports Journalism, cheerleading in college
Taylor Heldt – Basketball, volleyball, track, 3.8 GPA, attending Ferris State with major in Architecture

JULY 1
Logan Caszatt – Volleyball, basketball, track, 3.8 GPA, attending Central Michigan with major in Music Education or International Business
Emily Werner – Basketball, volleyball, track, 4.18 GPA, attending Albion College with major in Pre-Med, playing basketball in college

JULY 8
Jenny Stautz – Softball, volleyball, basketball, 4.09 GPA, attending Grand Valley State with major in Physical Therapy, playing softball in college
Stephanie Steele – Volleyball, track, basketball, 4.108 GPA, attending Michigan State University with major in Pre-Veterinary

JULY 15
Jimmy Hamilton – Wrestling, football, baseball, awarded Mr. Dutchman, attending South Dakota State University with major in Civil Engineering, wrestling in college
Roxanne Rickert – Softball, volleyball, basketball, 4.17 GPA, awarded Ms. Dutchman attending Ferris State with major in Nursing

JULY 22
Megan Bossory – Basketball, softball, track, 4.28 GPA, President of Class of 2010, attending Michigan State with major in Business Management and Pyschology
Liz Timoszyk – Cross country and track, attending University of Michigan with major in Environmental Studies

JULY 29
Rob Carver – Football, basketball, baseball, 4.108 GPA, attending University of Michigan with major in Aero Space Engineering
Brooke Fuller – Track, cross country, volleyball, 3.5 GPA, attending Aquinas College with major in Athletic Training, running track in college
Myra Sandford – Competitive cheerleading, sideline cheerleading and track, 3.6 GPA, attending Grand Valley State with major in Exercise Science and minor in Art

AUGUST 5
Stephen Sheler – Football, wrestling, track, 4.21 GPA, attending Marshal University with major in Physics and Math and minor in German
Emily Lobbestael – Basketball, softball, track, 3.8 GPA, attending Central Michigan with major in Business

AUGUST 12
Amanda Barker – Softball, basketball, volleyball, 3.8 GPA, attending Hope College with major in Biology/Pre-Med, playing softball in college
Ryan Ernst – Football and track, 3.7 GPA, attending Washtenaw Community College and transferring to Michigan State with major in Agricultural Science

AUGUST 19
Sarah Barnett – Competitive and sideline cheerleading, named senior co-captain of sideline team, 3.7 GPA, attending Eastern Michigan with major in Nursing

Matt Johnson – Cross country and track, also played basketball and JV football, 4.17 GPA, Drum Major of Manchester Marching Band, attending University of Michigan with major in Math and Actuarial Science

Going the distance (Week 1)

It's Monday, and after my first week of training for the Detroit Half Marathon, I've attained my biggest goal. That, of course, was to still be alive at this point.
Mission accomplished. And outside of a little soreness in my quads, I'm no worse for the wear.
The first week went well, although my biggest challenge came on Sunday.
After doing three very pretty reasonable runs throughout the week, Sunday called for an eight-mile jaunt.
For some, that might not seem like a big deal, but for me it was huge. I've never ran for more than six miles at a time, so to add another two miles was somewhat of a psychological barrier.
However, I knew if I wanted to ever run 13 miles, I would have to stick to the plan. I knew I had to break through that wall in my head.
My running plan didn't call for the run to be fast. It just said that I had to finish at a pace of 10:30 per mile. So, as I was lacing up my Nikes I did some quick math. If I was going to finish this run at my goal pace, I would be running for 84 minutes. Almost an hour and a half of constant motion.
I could almost feel that imaginary barrier growing.
But I took off anyway, trying not to think about how much ground I had to cover.
It was about 8:45 a.m. when I left, and my fiance Amanda and I had plans for breakfast with friends at 11 a.m. So I knew there was a little pressure to finish in time for me to have a little rest and shower before our date.
The first three miles when great, and even in the heat I felt like I was moving at a good pace.
But the fourth mile was a killer.
I could feel my legs starting to get tired as I approached the halfway point. But I slugged along. At the midway point of my run I felt like quitting. I kept thinking, "If you feel like this now, how is it going to be in another mile?"
But I kept going, kept moving, kept trying to pick up the pace.
And then things started to get easier.
After the fifth mile, I started thinking, "Hey, I've only got three miles left. I can do three miles."
And then I felt my legs starting to move a litter faster and a little stronger. Things seemed to be going a little quicker as I passed by.
After seven miles I was not only feeling good because the run was almost over, but because I had now run longer than I had ever run before. I could almost taste that delicious breakfast we would be enjoying soon.
After that, the last mile was a breeze. And then, as I sprinted the last 100 yards or so back to my house, I felt that barrier that had taunted me before the run shatter. For a brief moment, I felt pretty unstoppable.
I'm anxious for more moments like that.
However, I still have a lot of work to do. My plan called for me to finish at about a 10:30 pace. I didn't make that. Instead, I finished with a pace of about 10:40. But I decided I could live with that as long as I continued to improve on it.
But that wasn't even my biggest problem.
Apparently our breakfast date was for 10:30 a.m., not 11.
So, when I walked into the house, dripping with sweat from head to toe, I was greeted by a smiling Amanda.
"How did it go," she asked, followed quickly by, "you know we have to be to breakfast in 14 minutes."
I might not be the fastest runner yet, but after Sunday, I think I might be in contention for fastest post-run shower.

Week 1 Training

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: 4 miles (10:30 per mile) Actual- 9:10 per mile

Wednesday: Rest

Thursday: 5 miles (3 miles at 8:54 per mile) Actual- 2 miles at 10:31, 3 miles at 8:52 per mile

Friday: 4 miles (10:30 per mile) Actual- 9:35 per mile

Saturday: Rest

Sunday: 8 miles (10:30 per mile) Actual- 10:41

It's football season!

Well, goodbye weekends. From here on out you won't be seeing much of me on Saturdays and Sundays. From now until February I will be watching or covering football every weekend until there's snow on the ground. The start of football season is always somewhat bittersweet for me. It's almost like a personal national holiday, but at the same time, I know with the start of football comes the beginning of the cold weather. Sure, for most of the high school football season the weather is tolerable, but I know come November and December and beyond, Old Man Winter and Jack Frost await. It's a fair trade-off, however, as it really doesn't matter what the weather is like outside, I will still be watching football.

Lions camp is exciting

I love watching high school sports but last week I got the once-a-year treat of watching the Detroit Lions practice in Allen Park. It was fun and it was interesting. I got to see the new players and the veterans.
As I was taking photos (which didn't turn out so good) I was told that I had to stop taking them.
I really was glad to take that time out of my day and see some professionals play football.
On the same day all the high school football teams in Michigan started play and that includes the four I cover.
I am looking forward to Willow Run under Rufus Pipkins, Lincoln under Chris Westfall, Ypsilanti under Jason Malloy and Belleville under Matt Davenport.
Look for the action coming up and look for our season previews in a couple of weeks.

Trine picked as MIAA preseason favorite

For the second straight year, Trine University has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) football championship. The league released its preseason poll during its Fall Media Day conference call this morning.
Trine, winners of the last two MIAA championships, received six of the seven possible first-place votes by the league coaches. Albion College was picked to finish second, while Adrian College was picked third while receiving the other first-place vote. Rounding out the poll was Hope College (fourth), Alma College (fifth), Kalamazoo College (sixth) and Olivet College (seventh).
The Thunder went 10-2 overall last year, including a 6-0 mark in MIAA play. In the NCAA Division III playoffs, Trine stunned Case Western 51-38 in the opening round before falling to Wittenberg. The victory marked the first playoff win for an MIAA team since Albion captured the national championship in 1994.
Overall, Trine has won 22 of its last 25 games since a lost to Hope on Oct. 27, 2007. That is also the last MIAA loss for the Thunder, as they have won 14 straight league games.
The 2010 college football season begins for MIAA teams Sept. 2-4. Trine opens against Manchester College on Sept. 2, with the rest of the MIAA teams opening Sept. 4. The first slate of conference games will begin Oct. 2.
Check out The Manchester Enterprise and other Heritage Newspapers publications Aug. 19 for a preview of each of the MIAA teams and find out which local players are competing at league schools.

Going the distance (Prologue)

I'm no Steve Prefontaine. But I love running.
And for the past few years I've been trying to get to a point where I could start running and competing in races longer than 5K. It's been tough. It almost seemed like every time I would get serious about improving my times and extending my distances, something would come up.
Maybe it was a new job or new relationship that took time away from my goals. In 2007 it was something a lot more serious. I was diagnosed with bone cancer in my foot which pretty much ended any fantasies I had of running for awhile.
After my treatment ended (a treatment that left me with some pretty nasty arthritis in my ankles, but still alive and kicking), my doctor told me that running, competitive or recreational, probably wasn't going to be in my future. She said that the high impact that running causes would probably result in too much pain. When I pressed her though, she said that anything was possible.
Last summer I went out and bought a new pair of running shoes with nothing but the best intentions. But my doctor was right. It just hurt too much. I got up to doing about three miles at a time before I just couldn't take it anymore. So I put the shoes away, but my dreams of running a big race were still there.
And when the snow thawed and weather started to get warmer, I decided to start again.
I started really slow. Just running about a mile a day for a whole week.
With every step I took I was waiting for that stabbing pain to come back. But it never did.
So I kept adding distance.
Before I knew it, I was going on 5-mile runs with no problems. My times were even improving.
I started to wonder if I had what it took to tackle that elusive big race I'd been thinking about for the last few years. Would I be capable of running down what had basically become my white whale of sorts? I wasn't so sure. But visions of crossing the finish line of a half-marathon kept creeping into my head.
Then, about a week ago my fiance and I were at the doctor's office for her to get a postpartum check up (we are the proud new parents of a baby boy) and in the waiting room, I came across what she later told me had to be "some kind of sign."
It was the August edition of "Runner's World" magazine. And, as luck would have it, it was the "Half-Marathon Special" issue.
It also happened that the Detroit Marathon (which also features a half marathon race) will be held on October 17.
I did the math in my head. If I started training this week, it would give me 10 weeks to prepare for the race. When I looked at the magazine a little closer, I found a training plan that looked as if it was almost tailored just for me. Guess how long it took? 10 weeks.
Maybe it was some kind of sign.
So, in the coming weeks I will be training for, registering in, and with some luck, participating in the Detroit Half Marathon in October.
I plan on checking in once a week and writing about my training, my ups and downs and anything else that might pop up along the way.
As always, any reader feedback is encouraged, so if you have any questions, tips or advice, feel free to email me at Mlarson@A2Journal.com.

Memories of Manchester football

While the warm temperatures outside will say otherwise, the end of summer is on the horizon.
Granted, the summer is enjoyable with all the community festivals and laid-back vacations. Plus, I seem to be one of the few around here that actually enjoys the hot weather (it can stay like this into the fall, only dropping into the low 70s during the winter for all I care).
However, the month of August does bring a lot of excitement. The return of high school sports is on the horizon. Can you feel the anticipation?
With football training camp scheduled to begin Monday, with the rest of the fall sports starting camp two days later, it’s time to start putting trips Up North behind us and start gearing up for Friday nights under the lights. And while training camp is usually the time to focus on a new season, I along with many other sports writers tent to think back toward some of the memorable high school football games we’ve covered in previous years.
I’ve been fortunate to have covered several memorable games, from intense rivalries between neighboring communities to down-to-the-wire playoff games. Before coming to Manchester, I covered Sand Creek’s run to the state semifinals in 2005 and Onsted’s epic upset of Jackson Lumen Christi the following year. But since arriving in Manchester in 2007, the Flying Dutchmen have provided me with many memorable moments.
Doing the math, I’ve covered 32 Manchester varsity football games as a member of The Enterprise (I know, I have no life), so it’s hard to narrow down the list for a top five. But in my list, four games came down to the final seconds, while one was a major statement victory in the playoffs. There surely will be more memories to come in the 2010 season, but for now here is a look back at some of the top Manchester football games of the previous three seasons.
Dutchmen at Grass Lake, Oct. 10, 2008
The Dutchmen entered 5-1, yet were underdogs to an undefeated Grass Lake team featuring Cascades Conference-leading running back Skyler Stoker. Yet that night at the Joe Betchel Athletic Complex, both titans lit up the scoreboard, combining for 82 points.
Stoker was as good as advertised, running in three scores and finishing with 180-plus yards. But Will Rickert was even better for Manchester, scoring five touchdowns in the Dutchmen’s 44-38 victory. The final score came with 15 seconds remaining after Rickert, Logan Zigila and Jimmy Hamilton engineered a game-winning drive. A minute before Rickert’s touchdown, Zigila hit Hamilton for a 33-yard completion on a third-and-18.
The victory propelled the Dutchmen to a share of the Cascades title.
Dutchmen vs. Clinton, Aug. 28, 2009
Last year’s season opener was the 107th installment of “The Battle of M-52,” a perhaps the most memorable. A defensive struggle in the rain saw the teams play to a 6-6 tie in regulation. After exchanging touchdowns on the first overtime session, Zigila hit Corwin Every for a touchdown during Manchester’s second possession. The Dutchmen’s defense preserved the 20-14 win two plays later when Clinton quarterback Hayden Craig was sacked and lost a fumble.
The teams would meet again in the Division 6 district final, with Manchester winning again 11-0.
Dutchmen vs. Grass Lake, Oct. 30, 2009
Manchester clashed with the Warriors in the opening round of last year’s playoffs at Saline High School and put on another memorable show. The Dutchmen carried a 10-0 lead into the fourth quarter, but Grass Lake didn’t go quietly. A touchdown and two-point conversion made it 10-8, and after making a defensive stand, the Warriors moved the ball to within field goal range with 24 seconds remaining. However, Brent Schriber blocked the 27-yard field goal attempt, allowing the Dutchmen to advance.
Dutchmen vs. Grass Lake, Oct. 5, 2007
Entering their homecoming game at 3-3, the Dutchmen needed to win out to keep their playoff hopes alive. Grass Lake appeared to end that hope when James Vuocolo’s 84-yard touchdown run gave the Warriors a 12-7 lead with 4:12 remaining. But the Dutchmen answered with a long scoring drive of their own, capped by Kyler Ritter’s touchdown run with 40 seconds left. A successful two-point try gave Manchester a 15-12 lead, and a late-second interception by Rickert preserved the win.
Dutchmen at Hudson, Oct. 31, 2008
Hudson boasts the state’s longest winning streak at 72 games (set in the 1970’s) and has a proud football tradition. Not many teams can post what Hudson coach Chris Luma called “the worst loss on this field,” but that’s what the Dutchmen did in the opening round of the 2008 state playoffs. Manchester, fresh from a 7-2 regular season, marched into Thompson Field and posted a 28-6 victory over the Tigers. The Dutchmen busted open a 14-6 game late in the final 4:12 with two Zigila touchdown passes, including a 95-yarder to Trevor Hanewald. The Manchester defense forced Hudson into three turnovers in that span to advance. The victory sparked the Dutchmen’s run to the Division 6 regional championship game.

Have the Tigers fallen too far?

Given the recent history of the Detroit Tigers and their recent falls from near grace this is not the time the team needs to be losing games.
Detroit has several players on the team up from Toledo and that really makes it hard for them to win. They have been coming really close but losing it in the ninth inning is not the way to go.
It is this sport writers belief that Detroit will not be contending for a pennant in the near future.
Maybe I am wrong which happens more times than I like to admit (just ask my wife). But I don't think so.
Good luck to them and I hope things turn out better but I think we will be lucky to finish second and not anywhere near the wild card run.

Football season is almost upon us

This time of the year always has a certain lure to it. As vacations wind down and people get ready for the fall it is in my mind the time for high school football.
Yes, I love all sports and I love to cover them but my favorite by far has to be the lure of Friday Night Lights. I love the thrill of going to games under the light on Friday night and seeing all the action on the football field.
I know it is high school sports and not the professional sports that you see on television on Saturday or even the big time games on Sunday when teams like the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers take the field.
Granted most of these kids will not make it to the college level and even fewer of them will make it to professional ranks.
Belleville has produced quite a few professional athletes. Cullen Jenkins is still part of the Packers and a very good player as well. Kris Jenkins also plays professional football and he plays for the New York Jets. Tony Scheffler of Chelsea is now on the Detroit Lions and TJ Lange from Eastern Michigan University is still on the Packers.
I plan to go to some Detroit Lion practices this season and put out some interesting and local stories to the readers.
The part I like best about high school football is not knowing who might make the big play. Who is going to have the big interceptions, who will score the game-winning touchdown. Players of all ages and sizes can do amazing things on the football field and I like to catch that so I can put it in the paper.
I will be covering some football teams with some potential this season. The closest I came to the playoffs last season was Willow Run who missed making the playoffs on week nine. They needed a win against the Riverview Pirated to get an automatic nod. This season maybe Coach Rufus Pipkins and Company will be looking to make that happen.
The Lincoln Splitters are also looking to make some noise and grab a few more victories this season. I will miss watching start player Andrew Dillon but I have to admit I am excited about the future of football and athletics in general at Lincoln High School.
Belleville has a new coach, Matt Davenport, and I think a new attitude on the gridiron. It might take them more than one season to get things done but I feel confident is saying they will be returning to that glory in the 1990’s that made them one of the best in the area and made them feared by opponents.
Ypsilanti High under new coach Jason Malloy will be having good things happen for them. Malloy is a no-nonsense guy who will turn this program back around and I really believe move them into the playoffs if not this season than in a year or so.
I am getting excited about practices starting next week and pretty soon games will be the talk every Friday night we publish are stories at www.heritage.com every Friday night. We may even feature games of the week and I can’t wait to start getting our stats and picks of the week in the papers.
Look for our coverage and look for our insight. The best thing I can say and I know it sounds quite cliché is ‘Let’s get ready for some football.’
Let me know if you have a special player or maybe an interesting story to go along with our coverage and I will check it out. I love new articles and I love hearing from people so give me a call at 734-697-8255 or just shoot me an email at dmerchant@heritage.com and we can talk about sports, football or even life in general.