Boys Cross Country Races to KLAA Invite Win, Girls Finish Fifth; Tennis Defeats Brighton

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY — The Hartland boys team won the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Invitational on Saturday led by senior Ian McGinn's first place finish in rainy and soggy conditions at Willow Run Metropark.

McGinn clocked a 16:18 to finish 13 seconds ahead of his closest competitor, Grand Blanc's Zachary Kughn.

The rest of the Eagles' varsity weren't that far behind those two, giving Hartland a winning score of 28 in a sport where the lowest number of points wins based on a team's five fastest runners.

They were: Alex Gietek (16:32 — third), Sean Pengelly (16:49 — sixth), Jareb Duggan (17:00 — seventh), Brendan Gavitt (17:18 — 11th), Grant Hamilton (17:46 — 23rd) and Patrick Gavin (17:48 — 25th).

Head coach Matt Gutteridge said the win is positive but noted only 11 out of 24 teams in the association participated in the meet. He added  while one of Hartland's key divisional rivals and recent state powerhouse, Pinckney, finished fifth, two of their top runners didn't race.

"We had a nice start of the season," said head coach Matt Gutteridge. "The team and I feel we got some work to do, but we're very happy how we started."

The Eagles next race in their first dual meet of the season scheduled 4:30 p.m. against Brighton at Huron Meadows Metropark.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY — Hartland finished fifth out of 13 teams Saturday and only one point out of fourth place Saturday at the KLAA Invitational at Willow Run Metropark, said head coach Mary Rinkus.

Pacing the Eagles was junior Avery Evenson who finished third in the race in 19:31. Walled Lake Western's Julia Valencia finished first in 18:47.

Northville won the meet with 41 points. Hartland had 151, one point shy of Plymouth Salem.

"I thought we did well," Rinkus said. "The times were faster than last year on this course, which is amazing given the conditions."

Rainy weather had turned the course into a mix of puddles and mud, Rinkus said.

"It was a mess out there," she said. "We all felt like ducks today."

Hartland might have finished even higher because a top runner — Alison McGinn, Ian McGinn's sister — couldn't race due to a hamstring injury during warmups.

Rinkus said it's too early to say how long she will be out.

Other Eagle varsity finishers were: Natalie Halonen (20:27 — 13th), Megan Skinner (20:57 — 26th), Anna Hense (22:13 — 64th), Denise Greveszak (22:29 — 70th), Tori Graves (22:35 — 74th) and Jordan Gallant (22:50 — 81st).

Rinkus also noted Emily Braid from the junior varisty finished eigth overall in that race with a 22:45.

Hartland next races 5 p.m. Tuesday against Brighton at Huron Meadows Metropark.

Friday

BOYS TENNIS — Hartland won 8-1 over Brighton on Friday, improving its record to 5-2 on the year and 1-1 in the KLAA West Division.

The Eagles next play 4 p.m. Tuesday at Milford.

FOOTBALL — Howell hung on to beat Hartland 20-13 in a back-and-forth game delayed by severe weather. Click for our coverage.

Thursday

VOLLEYBALL — Hartland swept Pinckney in an away match Thursday, according to @hartlandsports, the Hartland Athletics Twitter account.

The Eagles won 25-16, 25-19, 25-19, according to an article on the Livingston Daily Press & Argus. With the win, Hartland improves to 5-5-1 on the season, the article said. The Eagles next plays 9 a.m. Saturday in a tournament in Warren.

Click for a feature on the team published Thursday.

BOYS SOCCER — Pinckney defeated Hartland 3-1 on Thursday in the Eagles' home opener.

Hartland, who has struggled early in games, gave up three goals in the first half, according to @ljrbowen, the Twitter account of Patch user Linda Bowen.

The Eagles' Bryan Condra scored a goal in the second half to cut the deficit to 3-1 but Hartland could get any closer, Bowen tweeted.

With the loss, Hartland drops to 1-4-1 on the year. The Eagles next play 7 p.m. Tuesday, hosting Brighton.

Click here for the Press & Argus story on the game.

BOYS TENNIS — Hartland's match against Brighton was postponed to 4 p.m. Friday, according to the Hartland Athletic Department.

For the second day in a row, heavy rains in the afternoon made play impossible. On Wednesday, a match against Howell was swamped.

Wednesday

BOYS TENNIS — With a steady rain most of the afternoon, Hartland's match against Howell at home was postponed Wednesday, according to the Hartland Athletic Department's website. No information on a new date was immediately available.

Tuesday

BOYS SOCCER — The varsity team lost 6-0 Monday at Grand Blanc, reported Patch user Linda Bowen. The JV team also lost 5-0.

With the loss, the varsity team drops to 1-3-1 on the season. The Eagles play their first home match 7 p.m. when they host Pinckney. JV plays at 5:30 p.m.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK — Two girls from the swim and dive team — including one who qualified for states in the first meet — join a golfer and a soccer goalkeeper as the latest Fenton State Bank Athletes of the Week for Hartland High School.

Junior Kirsten Stroven received the honor last week after she won the 100 breaststroke with a state cut time of 1:08.78, according a list released Tuesday.

Freshman Madison Pietila also was recognized in this week's group after finishing first in diving at the team's first two meets against Lakeland and Ann Arbor Skyline.

Head coach Maria Puranen said even as a freshman she's already "made an immediate impact on the team."

"Madison’s line-up of dives are difficult and she performs them with tremendous grace and athleticism," she wrote.

Senior captain Brooke Kastamo's stellar scoring on the golf course earned her recogition. The four-year varsity player shot at 83 at the Huron Valley Invitational and a 41 Wednesday vs. Brighton.

Another senior leader — co-captain Kevin Forster — stood out after he made 20 saves in leading Hartland to two consecutive shutouts against Skyline and Holly.

Reported in from previous weeks

YOUTH CLUB SOCCER — Two more girls teams — a U10 and a U12 girls team — won their respective divisions during the the 8th Annual Fusion Invitational Tournament 2011 in Midland on Aug. 27-28.

The news follows on a report that a U9 Hartland girls squad won. The teams are part of the Hartland Community Soccer Association. Click here for more on the tournament.