MCC Winter Sports Wrap-Up

Aaron Petersen, Contributing Editor

With the winter semester now coming to a close, the Muskegon Community College sports teams are wrapping up their seasons as well. In what many may consider a successful season for all Jayhawk squads, every team with a recorded win-loss record were over .500 throughout their respective seasons.

Men’s Basketball

Going 16-8 in the regular season, Head Coach Jimmy Booth’s squad entered the NJCAA Great Lakes District A Championship Quarterfinal #2 with a bang via consecutive wins against Kellogg Community College, Lake Michigan College, and Lansing Community College. Earning the 15 overall seed in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, the Jayhawks were blown out by Davidson-Davie Community College in a 90-73 loss in the first round.

Women’s Basketball

Leading the MCCAA in points per game, the Jayhawk’s Women’s Basketball team finished the regular season by winning all of their games in the month of February, and finishing 22-4 overall. Head Coach Jason Cooper took home Coach of the Year honors to go along with a whopping seven All-Conference player nominations, collectively.

After winning the MCCAA Championship game against Schoolcraft college, the Jayhawks entered the NJCAA Great Lakes District A Championship. With all the momentum shifted in their favor, the team swept the series. Beating Mid-Michigan Community College and Grand Rapids Community College to win the title in dominant fashion, MCC moved on with bigger aspirations in mind.

Heading into the NJCAA Division II National Championship Tournament, the Jayhawks were the 13 overall seed. In the first round, the team dismantled the fourth seeded Illinois Central College to advance to the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, their fantastic run would end, as they would lose to Bryant and Stratton College by a score of 65-53.

Bowling (Men’s and Women’s)

Both the men’s and women’s bowling teams played during the same events on the same dates and times, so it is easier to simply summarize both of their respective seasons in one section.

With a season that was highlighted by an out-of-nowhere perfect 300 score game by freshman Ethan May, the bowling team’s success was rewarded at the end of the season with a trip to the NJCAA National Tournament at Royal Scot Golf and Bowl with twenty other college teams.

The Men’s team finished the tournament in 13th place, with May placing 21st in all events, as well as 20th in singles, Freshman Cade Alderink finishing 27th in singles, and finally, both May and Alderink finishing 21st in doubles.

The Women’s team would finish the tournament in 11th place, where Freshman Lindsay Cross would place 21st in all events, 12th in doubles, and 11th in singles. Freshman Jessica Plichta placed 30th in all events and 12th in doubles.

Men’s Wrestling

Finishing with a collective 6-1 team record overall, the Jayhawk’s wrestling team would receive four All-MCCAA Wrestling awards. Head Coach Mark Brunger would also take home MCCAA Coach of the Year.

They would enter eight different qualifiers into the NJCAA National Tournament with 48 other colleges.

Once there, individual performances from standout Freshmans Josh Kenny and Bronson Jewell would highlight a 43 overall score for the team to go along with a 15th place finish.

Kenny, who had already received NJCAA All-American and All-MCCAA Wrestling honors, would go on to be the first Jayhawk in 21 years to win the NJCAA Tournament, taking down the defending tournament champion, Juan Rodriguez of Central Iowa, in dominant fashion. Kenny would also win tournament MVP as well as being voted this year’s NJCAA outstanding wrestler by all coaches.

Jewell would wind up placing 7th overall in the tournament alongside Kenny, taking down Giovanni Jackson of Harper in his final match to make up for his Great Lakes District Finals loss.