Category: Editor’s Column
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Notre Dame Prep outlasts North Branch for fourth straight regional title
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans NORTH BRANCH — Simply put, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and North Branch have a classic rivalry going in the sport of girls volleyball. The latest chapter Thursday night was another epic battle between the Class B/Division 2 state powerhouse programs. Notre Dame Prep outlasted North Branch in […]
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Holly sweeps Gabriel Richard
HOLLY — Holly continued one of its best regular seasons in school history, topping Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 3-0. The Broncos prevailed in the three sets, 25-15, 25-22, 25-22. Nicole Jewell, Sarah Jewell and Delaney Jenkinson each had three aces to lead Holly. Jewell hammed eight kills, Paige Weeder added six kills and one aces, […]
Kicking Into High Gear: Athens speedy forward TJ Renaud helping add to Athens’ soccer lore
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans TROY — While growing up, every time TJ Renaud walked into the Troy Athens gymnasium and looked up at the dozens of banners high on the wall, he began to daydream. One day he would like to be a part of all of that success. That success […]
TOP BOYS SOCCER TEAMS: Who will run the gauntlet in this shortened season?
Traverse City West, Salem, Brighton, Mattawan, Anchor Bay are Michigan’s top prep teams — Sept. 18, 2020 BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans A simple task you say? Cram as many games as possible into six short weeks — eight weeks for teams in northern Michigan — in order to try to win […]
FOOTBALL: Lake Orion gains back swagger on grid-iron; Oakland Christian, NDP, Everest ready for the big show
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans LAKE ORION — It looks like Lake Orion has finally got its swagger back in 2019. For a program that is making its 21st postseason appearance in a 31-year span, the Dragons have not been a formidable opponent since 2012 — the last time Lake Orion even […]
FOOTBALL: Reaching new heights: Everest Collegiate reaches postseason all seven seasons, enjoying unbeaten regular season
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans CLARKSTON — In most cases, when a school starts a football program, it takes a few years to lay the ground work in order to enjoy the taste of success down the road. Someone forgot to tell this to those at Clarkston Everest Collegiate. The Mountaineers are […]
COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER: Western Michigan holds off Oakland
— STAFF REPORTS ROCHESTER HILLS — Three different players scored first-half goals and Western Michigan University held on for a 3-2 non-conference victory Wednesday over host and inter-state rival Oakland University at the OU Soccer Complex. It was the third straight win for the Bronchos (7-4-0), while Oakland slipped to 5-4-2. It also marked the third […]
COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER: Oakland looking to climb back to summit of Horizon League
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans Instagram: stickradtdan Snapchat: Dan.Stickradt ROCHESTER HILLS — For a program that boasts a lot of history, the recipe for success hasn’t changed over the years when it comes to the men’s soccer program at Oakland University. “It hasn’t changed, and I think the two goals […]
SOFTBALL: Oxford’s Chloe Allen exits stage left in style
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR Dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans Facebook: www.facebook.com/North-Oakland-Sports-439028726180861/ OXFORD – Before Chloe Allen’s arrival at Oxford, the Wildcats softball program didn’t have a ton of history in terms of success. She and her teammates helped put the program back on the map. Allen, a 2019 Oxford grad, capped a fine four-year career […]
USL SOCCER: Flint City Bucks overcome odds to win fourth national championship
Tambe’s OT blast sends FCB to glory BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR Dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans Instagram: stickradtdan FLINT – A storied franchise with a resume rivaled by few in its league, the Flint City Bucks captured their fourth national crown Saturday under rare circumstances. Forced to go 2-0-1 in their final three regular season […]
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Lake Orion becomes first OAA school to win volleyball state title
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans BATTLE CREEK — Despite being a dominant league in all sports across the board, the Oakland Activities Association had never captured a state title in girls volleyball in its 25-year history. That is, until Saturday afternoon at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena. Lake Orion broke down the long-standing […]
PUBLISHER’S VIEWPOINT: Miracle on Twin Lakes links or integrity chipped off the course? You decide
OAKLAND TWP. — Integrity. It is a trait that should be involved with everything in life but sometimes is an oversight. In the arena of sports, integrity is a big part of the game. Athletes, coaches, administrators or even in college and pro sports, general managers and owners alike are all deeply engaged with the […]
BOYS BASKETBALL: Top-ranked Clarkston soars past No. 2 Hazel Park
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans HAZEL PARK — For the first time in its illustrious 24-year history, the Oakland Activities Association welcomed the rare commodity of featuring a basketball game that consisted of the top two teams in the Associated Press Class A state rankings. Top-ranked Clarkston made sure there was no […]
BOYS SOCCER: Finals to showcase interesting matchups
Dan Stickradt takes a glance at the four MHSAA boys soccer state finals. DIVISION 1 NO. 5 NOVI DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL (20-2-4) VS. NO. 15 WALLED LAKE CENTRAL (22-1-2), 12 noon Saturday at Rochester Stoney Creek: This game features two first-time state finalists. CC is a veteran squad led by lightning-quick forward Ryan Pierson, a […]
BOYS SOCCER: Soccer regionals mix of usual suspects, Cinderella stories, unknowns and forfeits
Boys soccer has reached the regional round of the postseason and will feature many enticing matchups. But within the pairings, there is a side story of bad news for Hamtramck. After going unbeaten through the district week, the Cosmos self-reported they had used an ineligible player and had to forfeit the season, the same fate […]
Home Sweet Home: Rochester College finally arrives home, honors legendary coach Garth Pleasant with brand new arena
ROCHESTER HILLS — Over five decades in the making, and Rochester College’s men’s basketball program has finally arrived home. Not from a long road trip. Not from another small college in Michigan. The Warriors have come home — literally. After over five decades of athletics and men’s basketball teams at the tiny Christian college in […]
COLLEGE RECRUITING: College Signings List 2017
Below is a list of athletes from the www.northoaklandsports.com coverage area who have signed or committed to play collegiate sports. Additions to this list can be made by emailing dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or results@northoaklandsports.com CLASS OF 2017 ABURUN HILLS AVONDALE Irvin Castro Soccer Lawrence Tech University Kassidy Embrey Soccer Northwood Griffin Kubert Soccer Northwood Katelyn Mather Soccer […]
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: Third-ranked North Branch outlasts No. 2 Notre Dame Prep in regional thriller
BY DAN STICKRADT SENIOR EDITOR dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com Twitter: @LocalSportsFans IMLAY CITY — Having North Branch and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep face off in a state tournament showdown is kind of like a box of chocolates — you truly never know what you might get in the end. After another assortment of a 1-hour, 58-minute classic tourney […]
