Leelanau Sports Guy's World at sportspig.com » Leelanau Thunderbirds

It’s that time of year…

Leelanau Sports Guy — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 21:13:27 +0000

where people are making resolutions (Big Al isn’t going to like #8!) and putting together best of lists for 2007, so it’s a perfect time to add a link to the Record Eagle’s Top 10 Sports Stories of 2007.

One of their stories is about former Leland volleyball star Alisha Glass helping Penn State win the 2007 NCAA Volleyball Championship.

Updated!
Here is the Leelanau Enterprise’s 2007 Year in Review!

Vote for the Leelanau County All-Time Hoops Teams

Leelanau Sports Guy — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 16:30:06 +0000

Nick Edson of the Leelanau Enterprise is asking for your votes and opinions on the top 10 boys and girls basketball players in the history of Leelanau County. You can also vote for the Top 5 county coaches of All-Time as well.

The ballot is available in the January 25th edition of the Leelanau Enterprise or you can send Nick an email with your choices. Please include the players/coaches names and schools. Ballots are due by Friday, February 9th.

Now I have to start compiling my list, but here’s my #1 for each team…

Boys Basketball All-Time Top 10
1. Sander Scott – Northport

Girls Basketball All-Time Top 10
1. Julie Polakowski – Leland

Coach All-Time Top 5
1. Larry Glass – Leland

Let the debating begin…

County State Championships

Leelanau Sports Guy — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 21:43:13 +0000

Here’s a list of all of the Leelanau County state championships won by our county schools. The head coach is listed after the sport.

Originally printed in the Leelanau Enterprise.

1942 – Leland boys’ basketball – Carl Furney

1944 – Leelanau School boys’ track – John Evans

1959 – Glen Lake boys’ basketball – Harold O’Brien

1977 – Glen Lake boys’ basketball – Don Miller

1978 – Glen Lake girls’ basketball – Ted Swierad
- Leland volleyball – Mike Kenney

1980 – Leland girls’ basketball – Larry Glass
- Leland volleyball – Mike Kenney

1981 – Leland girls’ basketball – Larry Glass

1982 – Leland girls’ basketball – Larry Glass

1985 – Suttons Bay girls’ X-country – Terry Ebright

1986 – Northport soccer – Don Hungerford

1987 – Suttons Bay girls’ X-country – Tim Bedford

1988 – Northport boys’ basketball – Gordie Wick

1991 – Glen Lake girls’ track – Bill Brendel

1992 – Glen Lake girls’ track – Bill Brendel

1994 – Glen Lake girls’ track – Doug Greer

1994 – Glen Lake football – Bill Hollenbeck

1995 – Glen Lake girls’ track – Doug Greer

1998 – Glen Lake/Leland girls’ skiing – Mark Fisher

1999 – Glen Lake/Leland girls’ skiing – Mark Fisher

2000 – Glen Lake boys’ track – Pete Edwards
- Suttons Bay boys’ golf – Todd Hursey
- Glen Lake girls’ cross country – Bryan Burns

2001 – Suttons Bay boys’ golf – Todd Hursey

2002 – Leland girls’ volleyball – Laurie Glass

2004 – Glen Lake/Suttons Bay boys’ skiing – Mark Fisher

2006 – Leland girls’ volleyball – Laurie Glass

Totals by School
Glen Lake – 13
Leland – 10
Suttons Bay – 5
Northport – 2
Leelanau School – 1

Northport lone county team left after win over St. Mary

Leelanau Sports Guy — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 17:45:23 +0000

Northport survived a furious St. Mary rally and held on for an exciting 53-47 win over the Eagles. Northport led by 14 at the half, but St. Mary used a 15-5 run in the third quarter to close within 1, but couldn’t get over the hump. This was a great basketball game to watch, with both teams playing hard. Cody Brown scored 19 for the Wildcats, Drew Mitchell added 15. St. Mary was led by Adam Koniezka’s 20.

T.C. Christian used a team effort to defeat Leelanau School 63-51 in a score that didn’t reflect how the Sabres controlled the game. They held a 25 point lead going into the 4th before the Thunderbirds mounted a late rally. George Wilkinson scored 39 points to lead Leelanau.

Read Rayders win 3 OT thriller in the Record Eagle

My View: Lots of teams could learn a lesson by watching how hard St. Mary’s played, especially in the second half. They never quit and left it all on the floor. A credit to their coaches and players.

Leland, Suttons Bay capture volleyball districts

Leelanau Sports Guy — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 15:48:26 +0000

Suttons Bay had the toughest path to a Class C District crown on Saturday, but the Lady Norsemen cruised to a title with wins over Mancelona, Charlevoix and T.C. St. Francis. Suttons Bay advances to the regional at Charlevoix on Saturday against Inland Lakes. The regional also features Kingsley and Lake City.

Leland cruised to another Class D District title with wins over Northport and Central Lake. Leland is now 62-4 on the season and advances to the regional at Twining Arenac Eastern on Saturday.

Read Suttons Bay claims title in the Record Eagle

The “Cherryland District” starts tonight at T.C. Christian

Leelanau Sports Guy — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 14:39:48 +0000

Here’s the schedule for the Class D Boys Basketball District at Traverse City Christian. All the Cherryland Conference team, except Buckley, will be going head to head for the district crown.

Monday, March 6
T.C. Christian vs. Leland, 7 PM

Wednesday, March 8
Game 1: Northport vs. Lake Leelanau St. Mary, 6 PM
Game 2: Leelanau School vs. T.C. Christian/Leland winner, 8 PM

Friday, March 10
District Final, 7 PM

My Pick: A district final of Northport vs. Leland looks like a distinct possibility. T.C. Christian is tough and will have home court advantage so they could actually be the favorite. St. Mary is a darkhorse having played better as of late. Official Prediction: Northport 71, T.C. Christian 64.

Volleyball District Pairings

Leelanau Sports Guy — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 15:49:43 +0000

Class C at Kingsley on March 4
A – Mesick vs. Forest Area at 10 AM
B – Brethren vs. Kingsley at 11:30 AM
Glen Lake vs A Winner at 1 PM
Manton vs B Winner at 2:30 PM
District Final at 4 PM
My Pick: Kingsley

Class C at T.C. St. Francis on March 4
A – Suttons Bay vs. Mancelona at 10 AM
B – East Jordan vs. T.C. St. Francis at 11:30 AM
Charlevoix vs. A Winner at 1 PM
District Final at 2:30 PM
My Pick: Suttons Bay

Class D at Bellaire on March 4
A – Bellaire vs. Central Lake at 10 AM
B – Northport vs. Leland at 11:30 AM
Leelanau School vs. A Winner at 1 PM
District Final at 2:30 PM
My Pick: Leland

Here’s a couple of volleyball articles from the Record Eagle as we approach districts on Saturday, including one about Alisha Glass and her powerful serving and a preview of the area volleyball districts.

Read Blazing Comet in the Record Eagle
Read Nos. 4, 5 collide in the Record Eagle

Weather moves boys hoops games

Leelanau Sports Guy — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 15:45:13 +0000

The icy, snowy conditions caused many games to be cancelled last night. Make up dates have been announced.

T.C. Home School at Leelanau School, January 31

Leland at Suttons Bay, February 6

Cherryland Conference Preview

Leelanau Sports Guy — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 15:27:52 +0000

Today is the Record Eagle’s preview of the Cherryland Conference. My pick is Northport, but Leland, St. Mary and Buckley are all capable. It should be interesting. Watch out for Leelanau Schools George Wilkinson. The sophomore has already scored 64 points in two games and has helped the Thunderbirds off to a 1-1 start.

Read Cherryland Conference race should be wide open in the Record Eagle

Record Eagle Area Preview

Leelanau Sports Guy — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:59:45 +0000

The annual volleyball preview is out with analysis and breakdowns of each conference and team in northern Michigan. Suttons Bay and Glen Lake will battle it out with Kingsley and Manton for the Northwest Conference crown. Suttons Bay is coming off of an appearance in the Class C semifinal. In the Cherryland, Leland will look to continue their dominance in a quest for a state title.

Read Spikers go for another triple threat in the Record Eagle