By Staff
It is hard to believe that the spring sports season is in its closing stages for 2008.
It seems like only yesterday fans, players and coaches were huddled under blankets watching the seasons get under way.
Come to think of it, there have been days here at the end of the season where fans, players and coaches have been huddled under blankets.
But now is the time for our local teams to shine.
It's tournament time in Michigan and several of our teams have already begun competition, while the remainder of the sports will kick off their post seasons on Tuesday.
In our little corner of the world, three tennis teams and numerous track and field participants have already qualified for the state finals, which will be held next weekend at various sites.
The Brandywine, Buchanan and Dowagiac girls' tennis teams all advance to the Division 4 state finals.
The Lady Bobcats won their second straight regional championship while the Lady Bucks and Chieftains tied for second place to advance to the finals.
Buchanan and Dowagiac reached the finals in dramatic style as the Lady Bucks' Courtney Miller and the Chieftains' Macy Howard both won regional championships at their respective flights to give their teams that magical 18th point needed to advance.
Our track teams did an outstanding job at the regionals last weekend.
We had several champions, including Niles' 3,200-meter relay team of Liz VandenHeede, Gabie Ezell, Madie Rodts and Autumn Grayson. It was the second straight year that the Lady Vikings had claimed the regional title in that event.
Buchanan's Anna Callahan and Clinton Orr both won 400-meter regional championships, while Brandywine's Bryton Hutchings won the pole vault championship.
Doug Rockett of Brandywine was also a champion as he won the long jump.
Leader Publications would like to congratulate all of our student-athletes for their success on the tennis court and the track this season and wish them luck in the upcoming state finals.