BY DAN STICKRADT
Communications Specialist | Web And Content Editor | Director of News |
Social Media Director | Interns and Freelance Coordinator
PH: (248) 884-1051
TW: @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork
(Michigan Soccer Network Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt is compiling team capsules for over 460 girls soccer programs statewide.
Competing Schools – Alpena, Cadillac, Gaylord, Petoskey, Traverse City Central, Traverse City West
SCHOOL: Alpena
HEAD COACH: Gregg Supiran, third season
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 6-11-2, 1-8-1 Big North Conference (tied-fifth, four points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-2 pre-districts to Bay City John Glenn (3-2)
RETURNING STARTERS: Reese Wisniewski, sr. F/M; Laurel Alberts, Alpena sr. F/M; Allison Borowski, sr. D; Faith Dragiewicz, jr. F; Fiona Halleck, sr.; Annabelle LaCross, sr.; Ezrah Williams, sr.; Olivia Goodrich, sr. M; Faith Henski, sr.; Isabelle Kocan, jr. D; Sophie Klindt, soph. D; Sidney LaCross, soph. D;
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Sidney LaCross, soph. D; Ezra Peterson, soph. M; Kalsie Mousseau, soph M.; Taylor Parker, soph. M/F
KEY NEWCOMERS: Natalie Maychen, jr. D; Isabelle Liske, jr. D
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Alpena ended last season on an eight-game losing streak after a solid start. The Wildcats should be able to reverse that trend as some clubs teams in the Alpena area performed well in the offseason and Alpena does return a bulk of its roster as only three players graduated. The program has several third- and fourth-year varsity players and six seniors.
SCHOOL: Cadillac
HEAD COACH: Joy Weitzel
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 4-14-1, 1-8-1 Big North Conference (tied-fifth, four
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Gaylord (3-2, 2OT, SO); lost in D-2 district semifinals to Mt. Pleasant (2-0).
RETURNING STARTERS: Avery Mickelson, sr. D (All-District, All-League); Kyah Narovich, jr. M/F (All-League); Onalee Wallis, sr.; Sophie Clough, soph. M; Mairyn Kinnie, sr. F/M; Myra Gray, jr. D; Emma Romey, sr. D
KEY NEWCOMERS: Lydia Owens, soph. G; Carmen Gurden, fr. M/F
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: After a rebuilding season, Cadillac figures to be significantly more competitive in the Big North Conference and in non-conference contests. There are seven returning starters that form a solid core and a few newcomers that could make an impact this season. … “We’ll be a competitive team this season. With a successful club season this fall, players are rapidly improving in technical ability and speed of play. We’re still a young team but we are developing into skilled, smart players. We’ll have a strong central core that is fast and physical, and a smart, organized defense led by one of our seniors and best players, Avery Mickelson. Areas of growth this season will be in our goalkeeper who is a sophomore as well as in the attack with finishing opportunities,” said coach Joy Weitzel. “The Big North is a strong, physical conference and I expect nothing less this season. I’m hoping to have a better finish than last season.”
SCHOOL: Gaylord
HEAD COACH: Christopher Adams
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 7-9-2, 5-3-2 Big North Conference (tied-third, 17 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-2 pre-districts to Cadillac (3-2, 2OT, SO)
RETURNING STARTERS: Claire Gorno, sr. M/F; Mariah Turner, sr. F/M; Jenna English, sr. M; Mischa Beyers, sr. D; Alexis Link, jr. M
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: No names submitted.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Ella Cherwinski, fr. F; Madison Augustine, soph. G; Callie English, soph. M; Hannah Butcher, soph. F/M
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Gaylord ventured through a rebuilding campaign in 2023 after registering double-digits wins in 2021 and 2022. Claire Gorno is one of the better players who should lead the Blue Devils offense along with Mariah Turner. Gaylord does have to replace some other voids left by graduation down the spine and on the outside. The Big North Conference appears to be deeper this season, so newer players and starters will need to step up immediately.
SCHOOL: Petoskey
HEAD COACH: Zachary Jonker
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 6-4-5, 4-1-5 Big North Conference (tied-third, 17 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-2 pre-districts to Mt. Pleasant (2-1)
RETURNING STARTERS: Lauren Cole, sr. M (All-District, All-League Second Team); Sadie Corey, jr. G; Mitzi Hoffman, sr. M; Clara Mailloux, jr. D/M; Annika Gandhi, sr. M; Sadie Corey, jr. G; Annika Gandhi, jr. F (All-League, All-District, All-Area First Team)
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Emma Lohela, jr. M; Hayden Wegmann, soph. F/M; Ava Saunders, sr. M/F
KEY NEWCOMERS: No names submitted.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Petoskey was involved in five ties and were 3-1 in one goal games last season, although the one-goal loss came in the districts. Can the Northmen find a way to turn those ties into wins and one-goal wins into two-goal wins. The Big North Conference should be deeper this season and the league race should be more wide-open than in previous years. Petoskey does bring two of the better players in the BNC to the table in field general Lauren Cole and athletic backstop Sadie Corey, who has drawn in raves as one of the better keepers in northern Michigan.
SCHOOL: Traverse City Central
HEAD COACH: Charlie Needham
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 10-10-2, 7-1-2 Big North Conference (first, 21 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Saginaw Heritage (2-1); lost in D-1 district semifinals to Midland Dow (6-2)
RETURNING STARTERS: Tessa Petty, jr. M (All-League First Team); Addison Booher, sr. F (All-League First Team); Amelia Jordan, jr.; Ellie Schenkelberger, jr. M (All-League Second Team); Calla Behrmann, sr. D; Emma Jo Papranec, sr. M; Ameilia Jordan, jr. G; Iali Rodenroth, jr. M.
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Nora Madion, sr. M; Lucia France, jr. D.
KEY NEWCOMERS: No names submitted.
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: The Trojans only finished five-hundred overall but did win the Big North Conference title in 2023. There are eight returning starters and a host of returnees as Traverse City Central looks to defend its crown and have a better showing in a district that also features Traverse City West, Midland and Midland Dow. Petty, Booher and Schenkelberger combine for a quality offensive attack that should again put pressure on opposing defenses. Amelia Jordan anchors the back in goal.
SCHOOL: Traverse City West
HEAD COACH: Ed Fantozzi, second season
2023 OVERALL AND LEAGUE RECORD / FINISH: 9-8-2, 6-3-1 Big North Conference (second, 19 points)
2023 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost in D-1 pre-districts to Midland Dow (2-1)
RETURNING STARTERS: Lila Warren, sr. M (All-League Second Team); Cameron Slaggert, jr. M (All-League Second Team); Reagan LaCross, jr. F (All-League Honorable Mention); Dillyn Mohr, jr. M (All-League Honorable Mention); Avery Plummer, soph. F (All-League Honorable Mention); Mia Duggan, sr. M; Beatrice Rooks, sr. D; Lily Smith, sr. F; Hayden Buttler, sr. M; Mikayla Thompson, sr. M; Gianna Primo, sr. D; Gwen Allore, jr. G; Abigail Carmien, jr. D; Sadie Wares, jr. D
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: No names submitted.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Nora Buttleman, fr. F/M
NOTABLES/OUTLOOK/COACH’S QUOTE: Former Boyne City coach Ed Fantozzi took over the Titans last year in a slight rebuilding campaign, where Traverse City West finished second in the BNC standings and lost in the pre-district round to Midland Dow. With two-thirds of the Titans’ roster back, plus five players returning that earned some type of All-League or All-District honors, and this side should be uber-competitive and much-improved. League and district titles are not out of the question, although the BNC is much deeper this year than in 2023 and there are four quality teams in the D-1 northern district.
ROSTER CALL:
The Michigan Soccer Network is collecting varsity girls soccer rosters from 460-plus teams across the state. Send in copies to MSN Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com
2023 ALL-BIG NORTH GIRLS SOCCER TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Claire Gorno, Gaylord jr.
Hannah Abner, Traverse City Central sr.
Allessia Piombo, Traverse City West sr.
Tessa Petty, Traverse City Central soph.
Kate Farley, Petoskey sr.
Georgette Sake, Cadillac sr.
Annika Gandhi, Petoskey soph. F
Sydney Deer, Gaylord sr.
Addison Booher, Traverse City Central jr.
Ahna Campbell, Traverse City West sr.
Amelia Jordan, Traverse City Central soph.
SECOND TEAM
Lila Warren, Traverse City West jr.
Alivia Zaremba, Gaylord sr.
Ellie Schenkelberger, Traverse City Central soph.
Elizabeth Thaxton, Traverse City West sr.
Reese Wisniewski, Alpena jr.
Lauren Cole, Petoskey jr. M
Aidda Freeman, Gaylord sr.
Cameron Slaggert, Traverse City West soph.
Madeline Gohl, Gaylord sr.
Avery Mickelson, Cadillac jr.
Sadie Corey, Petoskey soph. G
HONORABLE MENTION
Madison Bartlett, Traverse City Central sr.
Reagan LaCross, Traverse City West soph.
Dillyn Mohr, Traverse City West soph.
Avery Plummer, Traverse City West fr.
Emma Ross, Gaylord sr.
Annie Jones, Petoskey sr.
Anna Dundon, Petoskey sr.
Laurel Alberts, Alpena jr.
Eve Dragiewicz, Alpena sr.
Allison Borowski, Alpena jr.
Faith Dragiewicz, Alpena soph.
Kyah Narovich, Cadillac jr.
Onalee Wallis, Cadillac jr.
(MSN will compile a random sampling of game results from around the state each day. To send in results from high school varsity, club, amateur, pre-pro, semi-pro or professional soccer, email all pertinent details to Communications Specialist / Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer of teams or players with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com, or call 248-884-1051. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com.)
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