Featured Sports

08/31/2010 - 13:43

 

The Blissfield-Whiteford junior varsity football game scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 1, has been moved to a 7 p.m. start. The game was originally scheduled for 6 p.m.

"Fore the safety of the players, the time has been changed to allow for the sun (from 6 to 7 p.m. to drop and for the temperature to go down," wrote Athletic Director Steve Babbitt in an e-mail sent out Tuesday afternoon. 

With the Blissfield varsity soccer team in action behind the middle school, and the middle school holding its open house, football fans are asked to park in the high school parking lot.

08/31/2010 - 13:37

SAND CREEK -- A young Blissfield team thoroughly answered any questions anyone might have had about its readiness for the 2010 varsity football season as the Royals downed the Aggies 22-6 Friday at Sand Creek.

Running behind an offensive line that featured three and sometimes four sophomores, the Royals pounded out 362 rushing yards. Senior Dalton Goetz led the way with 192 rushing yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. Senior Eric Schmidt rushed for 76 yards on 11 carries and junior Josh Knorr rushed nine times for 56 yards. Schmidt also threw a touchdown strike to Knorr.

08/31/2010 - 13:29

Coach Sandi Porter and the Royals caught a glimpse of the team’s potential at the Blissfield Invitational Volleyball tournament Saturday.

The Royals (7-3-1) went 4-2 at the tournament, losing both matches, including the championship, to Adrian Madison.

Blissfield went 2-1 in pool play, defeating Michigan Center (25-13, 15-19) and Britton-Deerfield (15-16, 15-15) and losing to Madison (26-27, 19-25).

Sports Preview

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 23:19

 

As the 2010 Blissfield varsity football season starts, making the playoffs for a fourth straight season isn’t on the radar of coach Ron Estes. And it’s not because this year’s Royals aren’t capable of it. It’s because Estes and his team don’t look that far down the road.

“It’s a very tough, long season. That first game against Sand Creek could determine whether or not we make the playoffs at the end of the season,” Estes said. “I see no reason to worry about six games until we have five under our belt.”

This year’s team is a talented squad. But it’s a young squad. The Royals graduated 22 seniors from last year’s team, which went 8-3 (3-2 in the LCAA, 3rd Place) in a season that ended in the district final against Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central. Numbers are down a little this year, with 26 players on the team.  And there are only 11 seniors.

More Previews

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 23:07

 

Sandi Porter, the last Blissfield coach to guide a team to a state championship, has returned to coach the Lady Royals.

Porter takes over a team that went 28-16-5 last year, and 7-3 in the LCAA, finishing behind champion Ida. Blissfield’s season ended in a thrilling five-set district final match at Whiteford.       

Porter said former coach Gretchen Platzke, who was an assistant on the 2005 state championship team, left her with a group of girls who really understand the game.  Now Porter wants to use her team building skills to form a juggernaut.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 22:58

 

It’s a new era in the Whiteford football program. Jack Luettke, who coached the team for 29 years, announced his retirement to the team on the school bus ride home after the playoff loss to Reading last season. Following in his footsteps is Matt Garno, who helped Ron Estes revive the program at Blissfield. Garno’s bringing in a new look, a new offense and a new attitude.

Much of Garno’s off-season and pre-season work has been building the right attitude.

“It’s easy to play with spirit when things are going well.  We look to see who has a great attitude and is ready to step up when things are tough. I talked to the kids about our tough conditioning program in regards to adversity.  We do those things so when times are tough we have something to call on,” Garno said. 

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 22:44

 

Under first-year head coach D.J. Lutz last year, the Britton-Deerfield varsity football team won their first two games. But the Patriots ran into the Tri-County Conference and never won another game.

Entering his second year, Lutz isn’t measuring his season in wins and losses. At this point, it’s all about developing a program. 

The numbers are still on the low side, with 24 kids playing varsity and another 21 on junior varsity. It’s a young varsity team, too, with just six seniors. There aren’t many returning senior starters, so Lutz is looking from leadership from various players. 

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 16:34

 

Coach Al Navarro wants his league back. And Lauren Yates, Brittany Holdridge and a fine group of young runners might just be the girls for the job.

After winning 13 straight LCAA titles, the Blissfield girls’ team has been shut out three straight seasons. Last year’s Royals finished a solid second in the LCAA. They also qualified for the state meet for the third straight year and 18th time in 19 seasons.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 - 16:26

 

One of Whiteford’s cross country teams will need everything to go right to accomplish what they did last year. The other should be much improved.

Last year, for the first time in school history, the Bobcat boys’ team qualified for the state meet at Michigan International Speedway. But the Bobcats graduated three seniors, and one of the juniors left the team to play football.

Last year’s girls’ team also finished fourth in the TCC. But “Hoj” thinks much better things are ahead for the team this year.

As a freshman, Ashley Daniels qualified for the state meet at MIS.

One of the reasons why he’s optimistic about her improvement is because she’ll be pushed by freshman Rachel Fisher, who ran a half-marathon as an eighth grade student last year.