Dave Duncan (left) posted his 300th career win at Cedarville during the first week of the 2009-2010 season and has been joined on the bench by his brother, assistant coach Kurt Duncan. The Cedarville Trojans boys basketball team making their fourth consecutive trip to the Class D final four and the first Hooping for a Cure benefit basketball game between the St. Ignace and Cedarville varsity girls programs were the top two sports stories during the 2009 calendar year.

Cedarville Hoops: Coach Dave Duncan and his squad defeated Bark River-Harris in the quarterfinals, advanced to the final four at the Breslin Center, and upended Lawrence in the semifinals. The Trojans ultimately fell to Muskegon West Michigan Christian in the Class D title game.

Cedarville is the only boys Class D team from the Upper Peninsula to earn four straight trips to the final four. Coach Duncan won his 300th career game early in the 2009-10 season.

Gene Shank, pictured with his wife Diane, coached the St. Ignace Saints' boys basketball team from 1966-1971. The Trojans have won one state championship, two runner-up titles, and one semifinal appearance. Cedarville could make it five in a row. Time will tell.

Hooping for a Cure: The benefit game for the oncology department at Mackinac Straits Hospital presented $10,000 to the hospital. The entire Eastern Upper Peninsula came together to make the first benefit successful. In place of the Cedarville team for the 2010 event, Cheboygan will battle the Saints at this year’s fundraiser at LaSalle High School in St. Ignace Thursday, February 25.

LHS Hall of Fame: The 2009 class of the LaSalle High School Sports Hall of Fame was inducted Saturday, October 17. The 1965 Saints football squad was the first team to be inducted. The late coaches Ron Rubick and Tom Huggins were represented at the banquet by their wives, Jo-Nell Rubick and Elaine Huggins. Individuals honored were Jerry Gallagher, Sandy Krause, Ken Brown, Greg LaTour, Dan Wyers, and the late Jim Brown, Sr.

Brandi Kopitz of Pickford (left) and Miranda Reattoir of Brimley were two of the top distance runners in Division 3 during the track and field season. Wrestling: Coach Harvey Bentley and his wrestling team enjoyed a successful season. The Saints won their third straight district crown and John Evashevski, Rob Robinson, Mike McNeely, and Eric Brown qualified for individual state championships.

Two individual LaSalle High School records were set during the season as Rob Robinson established a new season victory mark with 57 wins and Mike McNeely shattered the fastest pin record in four seconds.

The Saints foursome of (from left) Evan Everson, Rob Robinson, Anthony Lester, and Caleb Litzner won the 400 and 800-meter relay events at the Upper Peninsula state finals. Bowling: The LaSalle High School girls bowling team qualified for the state finals for the third consecutive year and Brooke Allan set a new school record after bowling a single game of 264.

Basketball: Michael Gamble of Mackinac Island, Gerrit Mortensen of St. Ignace, and Mckinley Portice of Pickford each reached the 1,000-point plateau during the season. Juniors Mortensen and Portice will add to their total during the 2009-2010 campaign.

Cedarville boys won district and regional championships and the Trojans’ C.J. Paquin was named the Class D State Player of the Year and Upper Peninsula Player of the Year.

Cedarville and St. Ignace girls captured district titles and the Trojans won the regional crown, but fell in the quarterfinals.

The Eagles’ Michael Klobucher (82) hauls in the pass from Phillip Hood (12) and gains 18 yards before being chased down by Carsonville-Port Sanilac defensive players. Golf: Michael Gamble of Mackinac Island won the Division 3 Upper Peninsula golf championship for the second consecutive year.

Track and Field: 150 athletes from The St. Ignace News coverage area qualified for the Upper Peninsula Track Finals in Kingsford. The Brimley Bays girls squad repeated as Division 3 champions, led by Jessica Graham with a win in the high jump, the Bays 3200 relay team of Megan Parish, Kelly Graham, Miranda Reattoir, and Lynnette Carrick, and the 1600 foursome of Rachel and Becca Carruthers, Alexis Mason, and Jessica Graham.

The St. Ignace boys team was led by junior Evan Everson, one of the top sprinters in the Upper Peninsula, who won the 200-meter dash and was part of the three Saints winning relay teams, along with Anthony Lester, Rob Robinson, Caleb Litzner, and Kevin Guillard.

The Saints’ Austin St. Louis won the high jump, Kali Jo Marshall the pole vault, and Samantha Radecki the long jump. Brady Burby of Rudyard finished first in the discus; Mickael Cantin of Pickford first in the shot put; C.J. Paquin of Cedarville first in the long jump, and Phillip Hood of Engadine first in the 400-meter dash.

Softball Hall of Fame: Bob Downing of Mackinaw City was inducted into the Michigan High School Softball Hall of Fame for his efforts with the Comets softball program for more than 20 years.

Top Athletes: Rob Robinson and Nicole Elmblad of St. Ignace and C.J. Paquin and Jessica Duncan of Cedarville were named Outstanding Athletes at their respective schools.

Football: Marty Spencer, in his 13th season as the Saints head coach, and Les Therrian, with 33 years as assistant coach, were honored by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association for their efforts with the St. Ignace football program.

St. Ignace and Rudyard shared the Straits Football League championship and the Saints, Bulldogs, Cedarville, and Pickford qualified for the playoffs. St. Ignace and Rudyard won opening rounds before losing in the district finals.

One of the most exciting football games played last year was the Division 8 district semifinals at Gaylord between St. Mary and St. Ignace. During a driving rain and wind storm, Gerrit Mortensen and the Saints carried the game to a 29-28 overtime win over the Snowbirds. The Saints lost to Johannesburg-Lewiston in the district finals.

Rudyard defeated Rogers City 32-6 in the Division 7 district semifinals, but lost to Traverse City St. Francis, winner of the state title in the district finals.

Eight-man football, as the game was played in the 1950s, came back to the Eastern Upper Peninsula as Engadine and Brimley competed in eight-man games last year. The Eagles defeated Carsonville-Port Sanilac 50-14 in the season opener. Next year, the Bays and Eagles plan to play the majority of their schedule in eight-man football.

Volleyball: Engadine and Brimley shared the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference title and the Eagles and Bays, along with St. Ignace, captured district championships. The trio of teams lost in the opening round of the regionals.