Lutheran High School North cross-country coach Tim Grotelueschen knew freshman Gina Patterson would be a good runner this season for the Mustangs. What he didn't know was that she would soon be great. "This is Gina's first year ever doing cross-country and I knew she would be good," Grotelueschen said. "I just didn’t know she would be this good this fast. It’s been an easy transition for her because of her work ethic and positive attitude. She ran consistently during the summer and always works hard during practice displaying a cheerful attitude." Patterson has wasted no time in making her …

Hannah Schilling is running strong for the Mustangs this year, but it's her character and leadership that shine the brightest on the course in the young season. "Hannah has been running well and her times are excellent for this early in the season," said Lutheran North cross country coach Tim Grotelueschen. "She hasn’t had that one great breakthrough race yet, but she is training hard so she will be in the 19’s for the big meets at the end of the season. She is the leader of the team and she helped our team take first place out of 15 teams at the Autumn Classic." Schilling, who has earned all…

Austin Zielinski earned the starting center position for the Crusaders football team this year with his hard work and commitment. Unfortunately for both he and L'Anse Creuse North, Zielinski's senior season was cut short when he broke his leg Sept. 9 in a game against Ford. Zielinski has already undergone surgery to repair his broken tibia and fibula. The two-year varsity player was injured during the second quarter of the game on a punt play as he ran down field. "As soon as I planted my foot I knew it," Zielinski said. "I think a teammate of mine was clipped in the back and he fell on my …

Kristin Rupkus is a hot hitter for the Mustangs this season. The Lutheran High School North senior registered 15 kills against Royal Oak Shrine on Sept. 8 as the Mustangs defeated the Knights 25-20, 25-9, 25-9. “Kristin's strength is absolutely hitting," said Lutheran North volleyball coach Kristina Gilchrist. "She knows what spots to hit; she's is a very smart hitter. Also, if a block gets her, she won’t let the block get her again. She is definitely one of our strongest hitters." This is Rupkus' third season on the varsity squad as an outside hitter and she's serious about her game. "…

Briana Ermanni is loving the Cougars golf scene. In her third season of varsity golf this fall, the Dakota High School junior is playing her best golf yet and having a great time. "My average is around 55 or a little lower," Ermanni said. "It's getting better. I've been playing a lot better than I was last year and that's an improvement. I think I can reach the 40s this year; that's my goal. Golf at Dakota is fun and there are a lot of great people and they make the sport fun. And, I love our coach. He's fun and makes everything worthwhile." Ermanni's play is helping to create competition …

Born leader. Field commander. Ultimate Dakota athlete. That's how Dakota varsity soccer coach Steve Fiordellisi describes Nick D'Onofrio. "He's a born leader," Fiordellisi said. "Ability-wise, responsibility-wise and discipline-wise he's the ultimate Dakota athlete. Nick knows what needs to be done and he supports the program in any way he can. He's the first one here and last to leave. With more players like this, we'll get back into the Macomb Area Conference red division real quick." The junior midfielder is starting into his third year on the Cougars' varsity team and looks forward to the…

Alyse DeVos hit up a storm at the Crusader's volleyball camp last week and she came home as the team's most improved player and most valuable hitter. The L'Anse Creuse North junior was a standout at the five-day resident camp at Saginaw Valley State University and was named the team's most improved player by LCN's volleyball coach, Gary Malburg. "I did pretty well at camp personally and I improved," DeVos said. "I think coach saw that and wanted to show that he appreciated my hard work." DeVos is starting into her third season on the varsity squad and this year Malburg is looking for big hits…

Keith McAuley finished strong this season in both school and sport. The Lutheran High School North senior was named all-academic this year for the Mustangs and had a strong performance at the Division 3 state track meet. At states, McAuley placed fourth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.93 and placed eighth for the 300-meter hurdles posting a 41.23. He also competed in the 4x100-meter relay and the long jump. "It is always enjoyable watching Keith run," said Lutheran North varsity track coach Tim Davis. "He is so smooth over the hurdles. Keith scored the most points of any athlete …

After three years as a L'Anse Creuse North sprinter, David Parsons now finds himself excelling as a middle distance runner. With the help of the Crusaders' assistant coach Pat Sarver and head coach Sharon Hicks, Parsons eased himself into the 800-meter run and has mastered it. Parsons placed first in the regionals under the two-minute mark at 1:59:09. He also anchors the 4x800 meter relay that finished first at the league meet with a time of 8:34. Parsons' work ethic and leadership over the years has not gone unnoticed. This year, he was elected captain by his teammates for those strong …

Angela Vultaggio has wreaked havoc on opposing soccer teams during her four-year varsity career at L'Anse Creuse North. During her reign as a Crusader, Vultaggio scored a total of 92 goals and had 38 assists. She ranks third all-time in career goals at North. This season alone, she contributed 24 goals and six assists. "Angela is probably the most complete player we have ever had at North," said L'Anse Creuse North soccer coach Scott Boice. "She can play anywhere on the field and leads by example with her work ethic in both the classroom and on the field." Her hard work and productivity has …

Talk about a hot week. L'Anse Creuse North junior baseball player Ryan Cykon has been stellar in his most recent outings for the Crusaders both on the mound and at bat. In Cykon's last two starts on the mound, he has pitched 15 innings, allowing just one run and striking out 20 batters. The left-handed pitcher/outfielder is 4-1 on the mound so far this season with two saves. He's recorded 57 strikeouts in 42.2 innings pitched. In his past two games at the plate, Cykon has gone 2-6 with two home runs and five RBIs. He also leads the team with four home runs and 20 RBIs. "Ryan is an extremely …

Lauren Burnett has set a new school record for the 400-meter dash this season. Thrice. The Dakota High School sophomore broke the school record in the 400 meters on May 6 with a time of 59.9 seconds at the Sterling Heights Invitational.  Then she bettered her own time at the Dakota Invitational by running it in 59.2. And when regionals came around on May 21, she broke the record a third time, running the dash in 58.7. Let's just say Burnett's hard work in the offseason has paid off. "Lauren has worked all winter in the weight room and running on the indoor track," said Dakota track coach Mike…

With a lot of softball still left to play this spring, Brittani Dunford is poised for a record-breaking season. The senior softball standout is currently batting .571 for L'Anse Creuse High School North and has already smashed seven home runs, tying the school record for number of home runs in a single season. Also strong defensively, Dunford covers a lot of green in center field for the Crusaders. She has 23 putouts and two assists.  "Brit is our team captain and shows great leadership on and off the field," said LCN softball coach Mark Mignot. "She is also an outstanding student and is …

David Basirico is wasting no time making a name for himself on the Dakota High School track. For starters, the freshman star is the Cougars' top long jumper with his season's best jump of 19 feet 10 inches.  Basirico broke the freshman high jump record in the meet against Stevenson High School with a leap of 6 feet 1 inch. He is currently running as part of the varsity 4x200 meter relay team and runs the varsity 200 meter.  In Dakota's meet against Grosse Pointe North, Basirico was on fire. He won the high jump, placed second in the long jump, finished second in the 200 meter and was part of …

Jennifer Schornak puts the "field" in Dakota track and field.  The Dakota senior placed first in three field events and second in another during the Cougars' 102-35 romp over rival Stevenson on April 26. Schornak won the long jump, pole vault and shot put and placed second in the discus event. Jumping against a strong headwind in the long jump, Schornak zeroed in at 15 feet 2 inches to take first place. Her season's best is 17 feet 3 inches. In the pole vault she jumped 11 feet. She recorded her personal best of 11 feet 3 inches in the state finals last year.  In the shot put, Schornak threw …

Now that's what you call a comebacker. Brandon Savage hit the perfect shot on a not-so-perfect day and walked away with a hole-in-one.  The Dakota senior scored the ace at the 2011 Spring Classic at the Elks Club in Port Huron. Hole No. 13 is a par 3 at 170 yards. Savage used a 7-iron to craft the shot in tough weather conditions. The round was cold and very windy. "It's very uncommon for a 17-year-old to shoot a hole-in-one, let alone do it in a competitive tournament," said Paul Tocco, Dakota varsity golf coach. "It took some skill and a little luck."    The hole-in-one was the first of …

Dan Raicevich's dedication and determination is paying off in this early golf season.  The Lutheran High School North sophomore shot 39 in a varsity match on April 13 at Cracklewood Golf Club and 37 the next day at the Detroit Golf Club. "His determination was evident when he managed a bogey on a par 5 at Detroit Golf Club, after hitting his drive out of bounds and needing to get up-and-down from a sand bunker for the bogey," said North varsity golf coach Mike Morris. "He then proceeded to knock his approach shot within 4 feet of the flag on the next hole and made the birdie putt." This is …

What's more exciting then breaking a school record?  How about breaking a record that's stood for 25 years? Lutheran High North's Rachel Stathakis set a new school record for the 1600-meter run on April 9 with a time of 5:17.6. The Mustangs' senior runner is no rookie when it comes to breaking records. Last year, she broke the school record in the 800 and in the 3200 relay. She has been all-state in both cross country and track for two years.   "We knew from her workouts and how strong she looked in her first meet that she was capable of breaking the school record if she had enough …

From a bowling perspective, Brad Berak has had a breakout year. Berak was named second team all-state this season. He’s been a member of the Dakota High School varsity team for two years, after bowling two years at the junior varsity level. His conference average was 212.81, with a high game of 269 and high two-game series of 491. “Brad is constantly working on improving his bowling game and works very hard in the classroom, too,” said Dakota bowling coach Joe Berak. “He holds a 3.71 grade point average.” He’s won numerous singles events, including the L’Anse Creuse North singles event where …

Ryan VanPoppelen nailed two of his goals this swim season for L’Anse Creuse High School North.  He broke the school’s 50 freestyle varsity record and qualified for the state meet in that race.   In addition, the Crusaders’ captain is a valuable member of the Division I state relay teams for the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay. “Ryan worked extremely hard these past four years to attain his goals of breaking the 50 free varsity record and qualifying for the state meet this year,” said LCN varsity swimming coach Mike Owensby. “In addition, his leadership helped…