Schoolcraft home football shifts to Vicksburg

By Athletic Director Bryan Applin

Schoolcraft Community Schools is continuing construction on football facilities for the 2024 season.

Schoolcraft High School football will be playing all four home games this season at Vicksburg High School. Due to scheduling, two of those games will be played on Saturdays, both starting at 6 p.m. The two are September 9 against Kalamazoo United and September 23 against Galesburg-Augusta, Schoolcraft’s Homecoming game.

Mark your calendars for our upcoming football schedule!

Thursday, August 24 / 7 p.m. at Comstock HS

Thursday, August 31 / 7:30 p.m. at Centreville HS

Saturday, September 9 / 6 p.m. vs Kalamazoo United (Vicksburg HS)

Friday, September 15 / 7 p.m. at Constantine HS

Saturday, September 23 / 6 p.m. vs Galesburg-Augusta HS (Vicksburg HS) Homecoming

Friday, September 29 / 7 p.m. vs Muskegon Catholic Central HS (Vicksburg HS)

Friday, October 6 / 7 p.m. at Lawton HS

Friday, October 13 / 7 p.m. vs Delton Kellogg HS (Vicksburg HS)

Friday, October 20 / 7 p.m. at Saugatuck HS

Schoolcraft soph breaks discus record – 3 times

Brenna McDonald with her record-breaking discus.

Brenna McDonald went into the SAC Tournament hoping for a good result, not expecting she’d be walking out that day as Schoolcraft’s newest female discus record holder, breaking a school record of 108 feet 11 inches set in 1979 by Janet Tully.

Brenna’s throw sailed 114 feet 2 inches, placing her name in the record books.

McDonald wasn’t done.

Brenna went on to the State championships. She broke her own record on her first attempt with a throw of 116 feet, 3 inches. And on her second throw at state? 122 feet, 8 inches. Her day with the discus ended with that throw.

McDonald also plays softball. Her team was also in the Districts and Brenna was needed. She made the decision to forgo her final throws and ended up in 4th place overall.

Brenna will be going into her junior year when school resumes. Brenna is an all-around athlete. Besides track and softball, she plays basketball in the winter season and is a member of the Schoolcraft marching band as the color guard captain. She also participates in indoor track with discus, shotput, hammer and javelin. In her earlier years she wrestled until 8th grade and played football until her sophomore year. Brenna also helps coach 8th grade football in the fall.

McDonald not only excels on the playing field but in the classroom is a member of the National Honor Society with a 3.84 GPA, and a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Common Bond and Student Council.

Brenna says her goal is continue breaking her current record and setting a new record that stands for years and years to come. She thanked all who have helped her, from coaches to parents. She told throwing coach Gaige Shriver, “I’m thankful for having you as a coach for the past six years. I could not have accomplished what I did without you.” She also thanked head coach Anna Kruzinga and softball coaches Becca, Katie and Len.

Bulldog girls’ tennis team wins trip to state meet

By Travis Smola

The Vicksburg varsity girls’ tennis team wrapped up its season with a trip to the state meet after finishing second in Conference and Regionals, closing what had ended up being an excellent season for the Bulldogs.

Vicksburg finished second to Otsego in the Conference meet. Grace Breitenbach made it all the way to the championship round in the number one singles. In the two singles, Scarlett Hosner won her round-one matchup before being eliminated in the semifinal to Edwardsburg. Sadie Grossman also made it to the championship round but ran into a tough matchup against her Otsego opponent. Maya Grossman was the highlight of the day for the Bulldogs in singles action as she became the four singles champion. She started her day with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Edwardsburg before facing Three Rivers in the semifinal, winning 6-3, 6-4. Maya faced Sturgis in the championship round, coming away with a hard-earned 4-6, 7-5, 3-0 victory.

In doubles action, Natalie Balkema and Avery Sands were eliminated in round one of the number one doubles. Clara Centofanti and Sydney Glerum faced tough competition against Sturgis in round one of two doubles, falling 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. Olivia Penney and Emma Vallier made it to the championship round of three doubles. But once again, the Bulldogs fell to another tough Otsego team. In the four doubles, Isabelle Hahn and Stella Reitenour made it to the semifinal round before being eliminated by Edwardsburg.

At their Regional meet, Breitenbach finished as runner-up in the number one singles after a first-round bye and round and three wins over Niles and Marshall respectively. She ultimately fell to a Parma Western opponent. Hosner had a first-round bye before winning over Three Rivers and Edwardsburg to get to the championship round. She ultimately won there 6-1, 6-0 over her Battle Creek Pennfield opponent. Sadie Grossman made it to the semifinal round in three singles but fell to Battle Creek Pennfield after she won against Niles. Maya Grossman was Regional Champion after a 6-3, 6-2 win over Parma Western. She defeated opponents from Edwardsburg and Three Rivers on her way to the win.

In the doubles portion of the tournament, Sands and Balkema had a first round one doubles bye but were eliminated in round two by Harper Creek. It was a similar situation for Centofanti and Glerum in two doubles as they drew a tough matchup against Harper Creek where they lost in round two. Vallier and Penney had a good run three doubles but had to settle for runner-up to Parma Western. Reitenour and Hahn also finished as runner-up against Parma Western in four doubles.

The runner-up finish at Regionals earned the team a trip to the state meet, which was the fulfillment of one of Head Coach Warner Offord’s major goals of the season.

“It was nice to have the girls go to state,” Offord said. “We’ve got everyone coming back next year, so we hope to do it again.”

At the state meet, Breitenbach faced a tough opponent from Grosse Ile in round one, ultimately falling 6-0, 6-1. Hosner had a round one bye in two singles before she fell 6-2, 6-4 in round two. Sadie Grossman faced off against Otsego again in number three singles after her first-round bye. She was eliminated in round two 6-2, 6-3. Maya Grossman won her round one matchup 6-3, 6-0 before being eliminated by the eventual state runner-up.

Balkema and Sands had a first-round bye in one doubles before being eliminated in round two. Glerum and Centofanti had a first-round bye before getting eliminated by Otsego 6-2, 6-3 in round two. Vallier and Penney were also eliminated in round two of three doubles. Hahn and Reitenour lost their first round matchup against Grosse Ile 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.

Offord said the girls really enjoyed the experience of competing at the state meet. He’s already looking forward to next season since the Bulldogs will return everyone. But this was one of the most memorable seasons of his coaching career.

“It was a fantastic season,” Offord said. “Our girls came to play.”