By Mark Blentlinger

Schoolcraft’s Lucas Hamelink went to the Division 4 Men’s Bowling State Championships. After the MHSAA made changes to the regional formats, 7 bowlers are now invited to the state competition, down from the previous 10. Lucas secured the 7 position which earned him a spot. On March 2 at Northway Lanes in Muskegon, 56 male and female bowlers competed in the qualifying round of 6 games for the top 16 positions. Those 16 move into match play. The remaining 40 head home.

Hamelink scored a solid 192 in his first game. After moving to another set of lanes, he struggled a bit, earning a score of 166. His next 4 games were 160, 182, 163 and 134, ending his day with a total of 997. The top score of the day was 1403 and the 16th qualifying place score was 1147. Hamelink is only in his 2nd year as a bowler and is hoping to return to the Division 4 State Championships next year.

By Mark Blentlinger

With an up-and-down season, the Schoolcraft girls’ basketball team made it through districts to the Regionals semifinals.

After beating the Centreville Bulldogs 49-22 in the first district game, the team headed into the district championship game against the Lawton Blue Devils. Each team wanted to take that Michigan-shaped trophy back to their school. It was a game in which neither team dominated. Once the final buzzer sounded, the Golden Eagles huddled in the middle of the Centreville court hoisting the trophy after defeating the Blue Devils 46-42.

The team next met the Comets of Kalamazoo Christian in the Regional Semi-Final game. The Golden Eagles had lost to the Comets twice during the season: 16-48 at home and 32-44 away.

Schoolcraft hoped they could top them on the third meeting. Unfortunately, the Comets were just too strong that night, ending the Golden Eagles season with a 47-30 win. The Comets then lost to Brandywine 59-42 in the championship game.

Schoolcraft finished the season in 4th place of the Valley Division of the SAC Conference with a record of 12-13. Three Golden Eagle players received honors: sophomore Addison Sziede was named Honorable Mention All-Conference and seniors Liv Ellison and Mia Mulder were named 1st team All-Conference.

By Mark Blentlinger

In the District 77 District Championship game against Kalamazoo Hackett, the Schoolcraft Golden Eagles boys’ basketball team came out on top, 59-38, and hoisted the trophy high. The team entered the Regional semi-final game against a tough Watervliet team with a 21-3 record. A win would take it to the regional championship against Brandywine. After a tough game, the Golden Eagles did come out on top 61-50, sending them onto the Regional Championship against the Bobcats. There, after a hard-fought game, the Golden Eagles fell 32-41, ending their run to the Breslin Center for another chance at a state championship.

The Golden Eagles finished the season with a 22-4 record, a Conference championship and a District championship. Along the way excitement grew as Shane Rykse inched closer and closer to breaking Schoolcraft’s all-time scoring record held by Luke Ryskamp at 1,769. Rykse broke the record on a long 3-pointer in the Galesburg game, finishing with 31 points, putting him at 1,855 at the end of the night.