As usual, the all-county hockey team is stacked with all-state talent.
2017 All-Livingston County football offense
Congratulations to our golf team for the following honors!
All-State Academic Team (the criteria for this award is awarded to girls who participated in Regionals)
Honorable Mention All-State Golfer was awarded to Sydney Bradford
All County 1st team awarded to Sydney
All County 2nd team awarded to Sammi Behen, Audrey Brown, and Violet Sinishtaj
All County Honorable Mention awarded to Savannah Grabowski
Heather Fortushniak and Annie Pietila of Brighton are Co-Golfers of the Year on the All-Livingston County team. Bill Khan
Sammi Behen, Hartland, Sr.
Audrey Brown, Hartland, Fr.
Emme Darkowski, Brighton, Sr.
Chrissy Mackie, Brighton, So.
Reece Ohmer, Pinckney, Jr.
Violet Sinishtaj, Hartland, Fr.
Brighton: Alyssa Yaggie (So.). Fowlerville: Sarah Matlock (Sr.). Hartland: Savannah Grabowski (Soph.). Howell: Anna Stocker (Sr.). Pinckney: Melissa Marsh (Jr.), Olivia Ohmer (Fr.).
Brady Walker continues to make history at Hartland High School.
For one of his last acts, the Hartland boys soccer team senior became only the second player in team history to earn First-Team All-State honors, the Michigan Interscholastic High School Soccer Coaches’ Association announcing the top-three and honorable-mention teams in Division 1 on Sunday night.
Joining Walker were four others from Livingston County, including Second-Team selections, Hartland’s Tony Rizzo and Brighton’s Keegan Gormley, with Brighton’s Charlie Sharp and Ian Sosenko making appearances on the Honorable-Mention list.
“Brady was once again the leader of our offense,” Hartland coach Andrew Kartsounes said. “Although always man-marked, his skill and work rate allowed him to still score in most games. He was consistently dangerous and capable of breaking down opposing defenses.”
Walker scored a team-high 21 goals and notched five assists for the Eagles this year, as they finished in third place (13-8-4 overall, 4-1-1 KLAA Gold) despite having to navigate through a brutal KLAA Gold Division that added powerhouses in Northville and Novi.
For Walker, the award comes one season after he garnered a Third-Team selection as a junior by posting an astounding 33 goals, leading Hartland to an 18-4-3 record and delivering the Eagles their first district championship since 1998.
Walker’s teammate, Rizzo, also made a jump, from Honorable Mention to Second Team.
Rizzo was one of our top-ranked players entering the season, and, like Walker, lived up to the billing, the senior midfielder recording a team high in assists (12) and concluding the year season on the team in goals (12).
“We relied on Tony for clutch goals and assists all season long,” Kartsounes said. “Tony’s abilities to take on defenders made him consistently dangerous, whether he was playing as a center-mid early in the season or at his preferred outside-mid.”
Of course, Brighton got some love for the MIHHSCA, too, especially after knocking off top-ranked Ann Arbor Skyline in the district semifinals and powering its way through the bracket to a second district championship in three seasons.
Gormley, the Bulldogs’ biggest breakout star in 2017, appeared highest on that list, joining Rizzo on the Second Team. Gormley’s contributions to Brighton have been well-documented, the senior scoring 17 goals and adding another 10 assists, including the game-tying score vs. No. 1 Skyline, the game-winning assists in that same tilt, and the game-winning goal in the district title match.
“Oh, I was very proud of him,” Brighton coach Mark Howell said. “He was a real consistent force for us all season, always a goal-scoring threat. … We gave him a lot of free reign to go on the field and to build on what he does, and he was definitely one of the most dangerous players in the state that every team had to account for.”
Sosenko and Sharp rounded out the group.
Sosenko, a senior, was third on the Bulldogs in goals (10) and fourth in assists (five) while providing excellent defense in the midfield. Sharp is the lone player that will be returning to his respective team next season, and his coach will sure be happy to have him, as the junior posts 12 goals and 11 assists, both second best on the squad.
“Ian, from day one he set the tone,” Howell said. “I think you saw that with his success on the field this season playing out of our center-mid spot. He was our emotional leader who wore his heart on his sleeve and kept guys motivated.
“Charlie, I cannot say enough good things about. He started off as our center-mid, and we moved him up to give the team a different dynamic. From there, he really exploded. His work rate is second to none, and he can play any position on the field.”
The realignment of the Kensington Lakes Activities Association means the end of the KLAA West, which was home to Brighton, Hartland, Howell and Pinckney sports teams since the 2008-09 school year.
The KLAA West featured some great athletes during its nine seasons of existence. There were state champions, all-staters and others who were just outstanding all-around athletes in multiple sports.
This is part of a series on the top 10 male and female athletes in the history of the KLAA West as chosen by Livingston Daily sports reporter Bill Khan. Unlike our annual Livingston County Athlete of the Year selections, great single-sport athletes are recognized on this list.
TOP ATHLETES SO FAR
No. 2 male: Howell’s Sam Weatherly
No. 2 female: Milford’s Mallory Barrett
No. 3 male:Milford’s Brian Kettle
No. 3 female: Brighton’s Cori Crocker
No. 4 male: Howell’s Caleb Balgaard
No. 4 female: Grand Blanc’s Gabrielle Anzalone
No. 5 male: Grand Blanc’s Omar Kaddurah
No. 5 female: Brighton’s Jenna Sica
No. 6 male: Brighton’s Joey Clifford
No. 6 female: Milford’s Rachel Barrett
No. 7 male: Hartland’s Austin Eicher
No. 7 female: Brighton’s Taylor Seaman
No. 8 male: Brighton’s Luke Ready
No. 8 female: Brighton’s Julia Dean
No. 9 male: Hartland’s Matt Poches
No. 9 female: Howell’s Veronica Pezzoni
No. 10 male: Howell’s Bryce Lindberg
No. 10 female: Hartland’s Maddie Pogarch
SCHOOL: Fowlerville
CLASS: Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS: Tersigni transformed into an all-league performer in her senior season, earning the distinction while leading Fowlerville to a fourth-place finish in the CAAC White, which is solid given that the three teams coming in ahead of the Gladiators were all state qualifiers. Tersigni reversed her record from her junior season at No. 1 singles (8-13) and went 13-8, even winning a match at regionals.
COACH’S COMMENT: “She’s just a leader,” Fowlerville coach Jim Jonas said. “Our captain on the court and she has a strong presence off the court as well. She’s someone we’re really going to miss next year.”
SCHOOL: Hartland
CLASS: Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS: Spryshak was another player who transitioned from a lower-level singles (No. 3) in 2016 to the top-singles flight in 2017. And she did it with some success, going 8-12 on the year — a respectable record when matched up against an opposing team’s best player and residing in the 24-team KLAA conference. Spryshak was a four-year varsity player, who her coach said personified the old motto that hard work breeds success.
COACH’S COMMENT: “Jackie’s a really hard worker and worked all four years, all season, to improve her game to the point where she was able to play one-singles,” Hartland coach Maureen Keating said. “She continued to be motivated throughout her senior year and tried her very best at that position.”
SCHOOL: Brighton
CLASS: Freshman
ACHIEVEMENTS: Le entered Brighton with decently high expectations for her freshman campaign. However, even Brighton coach Jeff Miner was impressed by what Le accomplished in her rookie year. The ninth-grader took the position of No. 2 singles for the Bulldogs and never looked back. Of course, she had some ups and downs competing as a newcomer at one of the state’s best flights, her coach said, but her transition was inspiring, and, along with Maria Raneses, the future appears very bright for the Bulldogs.
COACH’S COMMENT: “She was a pleasant surprise,” Brighton coach Jeff Miner said. “I knew she was probably a solid player who would make varsity, but for her to jump up right into No. 2 (singles) as a freshman was really unexpected.”
SCHOOL: Brighton
CLASS: Sophomore
ACHIEVEMENTS: Raneses made the leap from No. 4 singles as a freshman to the top-singles player during her 10th-grade campaign. She made rapid improvements, and the Brighton up-and-coming basketball player became Livingston County’s best girls tennis athlete by season’s end.
COACH’S COMMENT: “I thought she competed really well,” Brighton coach Jeff Miner said. “As the year went on — she just wasn’t quite ready at the start of the season for the constant, every time, playing a really good (singles) player. It took a little bit of time for her to adjust to, but she had, roughly, a .500 record, which considering the schedule we play, is very good.”
SCHOOL: Pinckney
CLASS: Senior
ACHIEVEMENTS: Flickema led Pinckney in 2017, going 8-12 at No. 1 singles, which first-year Pirates coach Nolan Hubbard called, “generally a pretty solid record for being a one-singles player.” Flickema will head to Eastern Michigan University in the fall, where she may try to join the club team to prolong her tennis career.
COACH’S COMMENT: “She was kind of the backbone of the team,” Pinckney coach Nolan Hubbard said. “It was definitely nice having her around at practices and matches, because she always led with her play. It was nice for a young team to have a one-singles player like that.”
Abby Stepanski, Fowlerville
Anna Bredin & Sam Seelinger, Hartland
Emily Vailliencourt, Brighton
Hannah Flickema, Pinckney
Julianna Ward-Brown & Jordan Jones, Howell
SCHOOL: Hartland
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Shortstop
ACHIEVEMENTS: Hartland got no love at the all-state meetings, and it can be argued both Robeson and pitcher/infielder Madelin Skene deserved it. After all, Robeson posted a .522 average this season, scattering 71 hits and stealing 12 bases while scoring 55 runs. Her 29-game hitting streak is the ninth-longest in MHSAA history. Robeson started all 29 games for the Eagles at shortstop while also serving as their leadoff hitter with a .577 OBP.
COACH’S COMMENT: “All-District, All-KLAA, team captain,” Hartland coach Bob Greene said. “She had a 71-hit season, which also places her in record books.”
SCHOOL: Hartland
CLASS: Junior
POSITION: Pitcher/Infield
ACHIEVEMENTS: The county leader in home runs (10) this year, Skene was a monster in the heart of Hartland’s lineup. She posted a .489 batting average, 60 hits, 56 RBIs and scored 42 runs while also belting 12 doubles, three triples and stealing seven bases. She was also the Eagles’ go-to girl in the circle, where she excelled with a 17-8 record, 2.88 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 141 innings. Skene’s biggest moment of the season was when she blasted three home runs — including a grand slam — in a 14-5 victory over Clarkston in April. Her nine RBIs that game tied her for third-most in state history for a single game, and her three homers were tied for second.
COACH’S COMMENT: “All-District, All-KLAA, team captain — great season at the plate and in the circle,” Hartland coach Bob Greene said. “Ten home runs two years straight, which places her in the state record books.”
Clare Minsker, Hartland
Delanie Grundman, Hartland
Hartland — Lauren Plasky, Sam Nagel
To see the Team Members from opposing schools, Visit the link below!
Meet the 2017 All-Livingston County softball team
SCHOOL: Howell CLASS: Sophomore POSITION: Outfield ACHIEVEMENTS: Militello was good for Howell as a freshman in 2016, being a second team all-county selection. But it would be an understatement to call what she did as a 10th-grader just impressive.
Brighton won every girls soccer championship that was available locally, capturing KLAA West, Lakes Conference, Association and district titles.
It wasn’t until the regional final at Portage Central against the eventual state champion that the Bulldogs’ season came to an end.
As a result, Brighton dominates the All-Livingston County team selected by the Livingston Daily Press & Argus. The Bulldogs have six of the 11 first-team picks, Hartland has four and Howell has one.
Chloe Holt, Hartland, defender, Jr.
. Hartland: Andrea Everett, Kylie Hughes.
To see additional team members, Click below!
Meet the 2017 All-Livingston County girls soccer team
It wasn’t until the regional final at Portage Central against the eventual state champion that the Bulldogs’ season came to an end. As a result, Brighton dominates the All-Livingston County team selected by the Livingston Daily Press & Argus. The Bulldogs have six of the 11 first-team picks, Hartland has four and Howell has one.
SCHOOL: Hartland
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Second Base
ACHIEVEMENTS: Delanoy collected 41 hits — including 11 doubles, five triples and two home runs to give him 68 total bases — en route to a .342 batting average. His 46 RBIs were a team high, and he also posted 39 runs, 10 steals, a .487 OBP and walked 35 times. For Delanoy, it was his second straight year making first team all-county, and his third consecutive making one of the top-two teams. The left-handed hitter will continue his baseball career at Wayne State University.
COACH’S COMMENT: “Hunter’s just consistent,” Hartland coach Brian Morrison said. “Very competitive. Quiet kid, but very competitive. If he plays well our team is usually going to have a good day. He’s just one of those guys that if he’s out there, you just never worry about Hunter Delanoy.”
SCHOOL: Hartland
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Outfield
ACHIEVEMENTS: Slavin transformed into one of the best hitters in Livingston County, leading the Eagles with a .402 batting average, which ranked fourth in the county among all qualified batters. The senior speedster also stole 16 bases while tallying 49 hits, scoring 39 runs and plating 22. His on-base percentage at the end of the season sat at .529 as Slavin took 26 walks. Slavin will take his talents to Siena Heights University next school year, where he will continue his baseball career.
COACH’S COMMENT: “Jack plays the game like you wish you could get all your players to play,” Hartland coach Brian Morrison said. “He has a lot of fun playing the game and he’s an exciting player to watch. As a coach and fan of baseball, watching him play, that’s the way you’re supposed to play baseball. He just really had an outstanding career and outstanding senior year.”
SCHOOL: Hartland
CLASS: Junior
POSITION: Pitcher/Shortstop
ACHIEVEMENTS: Hendricks was perhaps the breakout star in Livingston County. While Hendricks certainly didn’t come out of nowhere, he arguably took the greatest strides in his game in 2017. At the start of the season, he wasn’t even pegged to be his team’s ace. Yet by the end, he was Hartland’s go-to guy on the mound, putting together an 11-1 record, 1.22 ERA and 0.86 WHIP while striking out 81 batters over 74 2/3 innings. And he may have been even better with the bat. Hendricks led his team in hits (56), doubles (15), triples (5), home runs (2), total bases (87), runs (48) and steals (21). He was second on the Eagles in batting average (.378) and RBIs (32). Only a junior, Hendricks will return to Hartland in 2018 and should be a frontrunner for Player of the Year with Brighton’s Cameron Tullar.
COACH’S COMMENT: “Max is just a great all-around baseball player,” Hartland coach Brian Morrison said. “He’s our leadoff hitter and plays outstanding defense and shortstop, and as a pitcher, really excelled this year and allowed us to have the type of season that we did. At the plate, great speed, always going to give you a good at-bat. He’s just one of the better all-around players we’ve had.”
Cade Martin, Hartland
Justin McGrew, Hartland
Hartland — Kyle Kletzka, Logan Tobel, Steve Callan
To see the other members from opposing schools, Click the link below!
Meet the 2017 All-Livingston County baseball team
SCHOOL: Howell CLASS: Senior POSITION: Infield/Outfield ACHIEVEMENTS: Balgaard wanted to make sure he left a lasting impression before playing baseball at Indiana University. And that’s precisely what the shortstop did, providing one of the county’s best bats in the middle of the Highlanders’ lineup.