BOYS GOLF: Everest Collegiate wins first state title in any sport
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
EAST LANSING – There is a first for everything.
Only in the tail end of its eighth school year, Clarkston Everest Collegiate captured its first state title in any sport Saturday, as the Mountaineers boys golf team won the Division 4 crown with a two-day total of 637 at Forest Akers West on the campus of Michigan State University.
Everest Collegiate won convincingly, as Kalamazoo Christian finished a distant 28 strokes behind at 665. Muskegon Catholic Central was third at 685, followed by Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart (690), Clinton (692), North Muskegon (698), Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central (723), Harbor Springs (728), Concord (734) and Frankfort (736) in the top 10 of the team standings of the 15-school field.
Everest Collegiate posted a 317 team score on Friday to lead Kalamazoo Christian by only two strokes. The Mountaineers were consistent, shooting 320 during the final round on Saturday. Both Kalamazoo Christian and Muskegon Catholic Central shot 346 on Saturday to fall off the pace.
“We did it. I knew we had the capability of being state champions. But when you get to the state finals, anything can happen,” said Everest Collegiate coach David Smith. “We played really consistent. We were the only team that played really well on the second day. It was a little windy and the greens were long, but we managed to play well as a team on Saturday after leading by only two strokes.”
Senior Tyler Rozwadowski rounds of 77 and 72 for a 149 total to place second overall. Rozwadowski’s second day effort was the best round on Saturday.
Junior Joey McMahon tied for sixth overall (78-77-155), while freshman Mitchell Lowney (79-85-164) and sophomores
Nick Korns (83-86-169) and JC James (88-88-176) also competed for the Mountaineers.
The school opened its high school in 2009 with 20 high school students. Today, Everest Collegiate boasts only 105 students in grades 9-12.
“We are still a small school, so this is the first that we’ve won in anything,” said Smith. “We have come a long ways the past couple of years. In boys sports, we have not really come close. This will be a memory for a lifetime. We are the first state championship team in our school’s history. The boys will never forget that. We had a bigger following of parents, teachers and friends as any team there. I think a lot of people were very supportive and wanted to witness something special.”
The 2016 season marked the school’s third berth at the D-4 state finals. The Mountaineers were fifth in 2015 (691), just 16 strokes off the pace. In 2014, Everest tied for seventh at 673 and 19 strokes off the lead.
“We only lose one player to graduation, Tyler Rozwadowski. What a way to go out with a (team) state championship and finishing second overall,” said Smith. “I am so proud of all of these guys. They put in a lot of time to make this dream a reality.”
Individually, Lansing Christian’s Parker Jamieson shot 71 and 76 for a two-day total of 147 to win by two strokes over the aforementioned Rozwadowski to claim medalist honors.
White Pigeon’s Jordan Olsen finished third (75-79-154), while Kalamazoo Christian’s Colin Sikkenga (75-79-154), Muskegon Catholic Central’s Collin Powers (74-80-154), Jackson Christian’s Noah Schneider (75-80-155), Everest’s McMahon (155), Mesick’s Alex Stanton (78-78-156), Clinton’s Austin Fauser (76-81-157 and Concord’s Jacob Butterfield (77-81-158) rounded out the top 10 in the medalist standings.
2016 MHSAA L.P. DIVISION 4 STATE FINALS
(June 10-11, Forest Akers West-Michigan State University)
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS — 1. Clarkston Everest Collegiate, 317-320–637; 2. Kalamazoo Christian, 319-346-665;
3. Muskegon Catholic Central, 339-346-685; 4. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 328-362-690; 5. Clinton, 342-350-692; 6. North Muskegon, 344-354-698; 7. Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central, 357-366-723; 8. Harbor Springs, 363-365-728; 9. Concord, 352-382-734; 10. Frankfort, 366-370-736; 11. Saginaw Nouvel Catholic, 358-382-740; 12. West Bloomfield Frankel Jewish Academy, 352-399-751; 13. Suttons Bay, 379-392-771; 14. Whitmore Lake, 392-385-777; 15. Burton Genesee Christian, 400-393-793.
TOP INDIVIDUALS — 1. Parker Jamieson (Lansing Christian) 71-76–147; 2. Tyler Rozwadowski (Clarkston Everest Collegiate) 77-72–149; 3. (tie) Jordan Olsen (White Pigeon) 75-79–154; Colin Sikkenga (Kalamazoo Christian) 75-79–154; Collin Powers (Muskegon Catholic Central) 74-80–154;
6. (tie) Noah Schneider (Jackson Christian) 75-80–155; Joey McMahon (Clarkston Everest Collegiate) 78-77–155; 8. Alex Stanton (Mesick) 78-78–156; 9. Austin Fauser (Clinton) 76-81— 157; 10. Jacob Butterfield (Concord) 77-81–158.
AREA SCHOOLS
CLARKSTON EVEREST COLLEGIATE (317-320–637):
Tyler Rozwadowski, 77-72–149; Joey McMahon, 78-77–155; Mitchell Lowney, 79-85–164; Nick Korns, 83-86–169; JC James, 88-88–176.
Category: Clarkston Everest Catholic, Featured Articles, Golf, High School, High School (M-Z), Most Recently Updated Stories, NOS reference, Prep Wraps, Sport, Top Stories, Uncategorized
