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Heading the list of Indian honorees was Brooke Jastrzembowski, whose once-in-a-lifetime high school career, along with a remarkable senior season, earned her unanimous selection to the conference's First Team.

Juniors Katie Vincke and Sydney Pacek each garnered Second Team accolades while Senior Brooke Beckman and juniors Megan Newton and Whitney Pacek were accorded Honorable Mention.

Jastrzembowski set several school records on her way through an unforgettable senior season. She pumped in an average of 18.1 points per game in league competition, where she led the Indians to a 12-2 mark and sole possession of second place in the tough TVC-Central. No other player in the conference averaged better than 14.4 points a contest. Jastrzembowski also grabbed 69 rebounds, dished out 35 assists and recorded 26 steals in her team's 14 conference contests. She averaged 21.4 points in non-league games and finished with an overall scoring average of 19.2.

Jastrzembowski finished her career with 1069 points, a new school record. Other career records set by her includes most free throws made (319), highest free throw percentage (77.1%) and most varsity games played (89). This past season, Jastrzembowski twice converted 15 free throws in a game and she sank eight three-pointers in a contest, all single-season school marks.

Despite the loss of Jastrzembowski to graduation, the future still looks bright for Chesaning next year, in large part because of the return of Vincke and Pacek.

Vincke averaged 11.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.2 steals and two assists per contest in league action while Sydney Pacek joined her on the Second Team with league averages of eight points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals per game.

Beckman, the only other senior on the Chesaning squad besides Jastrzembowski, provided strong leadership for her team and was recognized by league coaches as an Honorable Mention. Newton and Whitney Pacek also received Honorable Mention. Newton set a school record last season by sinking 85% of her free throws (34-40).

Chesaning, which finished the season with a sparkling 18-3 mark, recently passed out some of its own end-of-the-season awards.

Jastrzembowski was named Most Valuable Player. Sophomore Sabrina Aguilar was named Most Improved. Beckman and Whitney Pacek won the Hustle Award. Sydney Pacek and Newton each were given the Coaches Award and will be next year's captains. The prestigious Jessica Zajdlik Teammate of the Year Award went to Chelsea Harris.

Loss in regionals ends successful cage campaign for NL guys

LESLIE - The season came to an end for New Lothrop's varsity boys basketball team last Monday as the Hornets dropped a 52-49 decision to Adrian Lenawee Christian in the regional semi-finals.

Despite the tough loss, NL can look back with pride on a 20-win season that also produced a district championship.

"Our guys played hard and we just couldn't get a break at the end," commented Hornet mentor Joe Corkran. "Lenawee won the game at the free throw line. Give them credit for stepping up and knocking them down."

New Lothrop looked to be in good shape for much of the evening against the Cougars as the Hornets took a 30-24 lead at halftime. But Lenawee closed the gap to 38-36 heading into the final eight minutes of play before outscoring NL, 16-11, in the final stanza to steal the victory.

The most glaring stat of the evening was at the free throw line, where the Cougars sank 15 of 21 freebies compared to just 2 of 4 charity tosses by New Lothrop. The Hornets outscored the Cougars from the floor, canning 16 two point field goals along with five treys to just 14 two's and three triples for their opponents. But the 13-point differential at the line proved too much to overcome.

Brian Sheridan led NL with 16 points. Ryan Praski contributed eight points, seven assists and six rebounds while Kyle Moore added eight points and four assists.

New Lothrop finishes the season with a 20-4 record.

"The boys gave a great effort tonight and I thought it was a great season for us. Getting to the regionals and winning 20 games is something to be proud of," concluded Corkran.

NL gals bomb away, streak into state semis

LANSING - New Lothrop's varsity girls basketball team has traveled down this year's post-season tournament trail farther than any other Hornet hoops team has ever gone.

The distance that Tom Kohlmann's team has journeyed this month is not a big surprise, since the team entered the Second Season with a 19-1 record and has now run off 25 straight wins since losing its first game of the year way back in November. What is a bit shocking to most observers, however, is just how smooth the path to the state semi-finals has been so far.

Last Tuesday's convincing 57-36 triumph over St. Joseph's Lake Michigan Catholic in the state quarterfinals was little more than an easy stroll in the park for the Hornets.

"Our mind-set has been to take it just one game at a time," explained Kohlmann, whose team has won its six tournament games by an average of more than 37 points per game and has recently dismantled some schools with tradition-rich basketball programs. "Tonight, we played a very good game on offense and out-rebounded them, which was a big key for us."

New Lothrop continued to use its "bombs away" approach on offense, as five different Hornets combined to hit 8 of 14 treys. The long-range sharpshooting, coupled with a 36-23 dominance on the boards provided NL with all the impetus it would need.

The Hornets jumped out to a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, then poured in 22 points in the second stanza to take a comfortable 36-21 advantage into intermission. New Lothrop was never tested in the second half en route to the 21-point victory.

Kayla Gross led the Hornets with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Amber Sammons scored 11 points while Kayla Krupp contributed 10 points and 9 boards. Monica Confer chipped in with 8 markers, 10 rebounds and 6 assists, Kayla Knieper recorded seven points and five rebounds, and Ashley Root finished with five points, four boards, three assists and three steals.

"I thought our girls did a good job of spacing the floor and making LMC chase in their defense, and I our girls did a really nice job of taking care of the ball against their press" concluded Kohlmann, whose team committed just eight turnovers in the game.

The magical ride continued on Thursday, as the Hornets traveled to Eastern Michigan University for a semi-final match-up against Marine City Cardinal Mooney. Look elsewhere in this week's Citizen for coverage of that contest.

Four Rams garner GAC-Red basketball honors

Montrose's second-place finish in the GAC-Red basketball conference helped place four Rams on the All-League team in recent voting by the conference coaches.

Junior Preston Taylor, who was the league's top scorer, landed a berth on the league's First Team, while Senior Cody Groulx was named to the Second Team and Seniors Cory Hargraves and Adam Campbell were accorded Honorable Mention.

Taylor averaged 16.1 points per contest and shot at a 42% clip from the floor during GAC games. Taylor, playing his second year of varsity ball, also led his team in assists and steals.

"Preston was our all-around floor leader and a gifted player in all aspects of the game," praised his coach, Rick Ustishen.

Groulx pulled down a team-high 118 rebounds, was the Rams' second highest scorer with a 9.4 average and shot 48.5% from the floor this past season.

"Cody was a strong, determined player underneath, a coachable and hard-working player with a good attitude," commented Ustishen, in reference to his Second Team All-League center.

Hargraves missed three games due to injury, but still averaged 10.7 points per game in league competition. He pulled down 100 rebounds and led the team in blocked shots, with 17.

"Cory has some very good athletic tools and did a lot of good things for us on the floor this season," said Ustishen of the 6'2" forward.

Campbell shot 50% from the floor while averaging 4.6 points a game. He was second on the team in assists.

"Adam was not flashy, he simply was a tough kid who played his role on the team to perfection," commented Ustishen.

The Rams finished the season with a 9-8 record in the GAC-Red, tied with Lake Fenton for second place in the league.

NL Elementary wrestling team take second in state

BATTLE CREEK -- The New Lothrop Elementary dual wrestling team competed in the state finals at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek on Sunday, March 2.

The team is made up of 20 kids, ages 5 through 12 and grades kindergarten through sixth grade. Members are: Justin Carnahan, Jaxen DeLaGarza, Tommy Malloy, Cole Wendling, Connor Krupp, Erik Birchmeier, Cole Hersch, Johnny Robinson, Gabe Bennett, Trevor Copes, Brodie Bennett, Josh Wendling, Taylor Krupp, Patrick Carnahan, Bryce Birchmeier, Caleb Symons, Christian Hersch, Jared DeLaGarza, Cody Symons, Aaron Baumen, Dalton DeSander. All the boys are students of the New Lothrop School District.

A total of 22 teams competed at regionals with 10 of the elementary teams going to states.

The New Lothrop Elementary team placed second at the state finals, losing only to Lowell. The boys wrestled hard every step of the way, often coming back to win after falling behind.

The next step for the team is a dual meet in Wisconsin. They will go there to meet the top two teams from Minnesota, along with the Lowell team. They will wrestle to win a trophy that passes back and forth from state to state.

Minnesota is in possesion of the cup from last year. The trophy does not have an official name but has been refered to as the Paul Bunyan Trophy Cup. The team room at the Kalahari Resort in the Wisconsin Dells, Wisc. is one of their prizes. They also won water park passes. Trip is set for April 18.

This is a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity. Eight of the boys are sixth graders and will not wrestle elementary again.

The New Lothrop team is asking for donations to help off set the cost of the trip for the families. Any donations can be sent to: New Lothrop Wrestling Club, c/o J. Hersch (Treasurer), 16276 Bishop Rd., Chesaning 48616.

NL hunter safety class March 12, 13 & 15

NEW LOTHROP -- There will be a hunter safety class at the New Lothrop Elementary School cafeteria on Wednesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. The third class session will be held Saturday, March 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chesaning Area Conservation Club.

Class size is limited to 50 students. Attendance of all three class sessions is required in order to receive a certificate at the end of the course.

There is a $10 fee, which must be paid the evening of the first session. A free lunch will be provided during the Saturday session.

All graduates will receive a hunter's orange vest and t-shirt, donated by the National Wild Turkey Federation, and a hunter's orange cap, donated by Whitetails Unlimited.

To sign up, please contact John Knieper at (989) 845-2616.

Montrose AYSO benefit March 15

MONTROSE -- The Montrose AYSO U14 soccer team will hold a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Saturday, March 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Christian Faith Church, 9453 W. Vienna Road, Montrose.

The cost will be $7 per person.

The U14 team has been invited to represent Michigan at the national games in Honolulu, Hawaii July 6-13. Proceeds from the dinner will be used to fund the trip.

COHOS COMPLETE SEASON -- The Chesaning COHO Swim Club completed the season with six members competing at the state finals at Midland Dow High School. Each of them qualified some time during the season in their age category. Madison Ryan placed 12th in the 50 yard freestyle. Mateo Escamilla placed fourth in the 25 yard freestyle, fifth in the 50 yard freestyle, and seventh in the 25 yard backstroke. Garrett Bishop took fourth in the 25 yard backstroke. Taylor Murphy received eighth in the 50 yard backstroke. Anthony Edgar placed second in the 50 yard freestyle and third in the 100 yard freestyle. Abby Bates took 12th in the 25 yard backstroke.