Baseball
Coach: Jason Lundstrom
Years as Head Coach: 18
Overall record of last season: 14-14-3
Last season’s conference record: 4-6
Key players lost: AJ Castillo
Returning entries this year: Eight
Number of Elders: Seven
Frosh/sophs: none
Captains: Kane Lundstrom, Ethan Bowen and Danny McCoy
Key Players: Ethan Bowen, Kane Lundstrom, Danny McCoy and Carter Castillo – “All four players are three-year college starters and we’re looking for them to lead a very experienced team.”
Biggest Challenge: “Managing the ups and downs of the game of baseball and the mental aspect of the game.”
Outlook: “We’re returning eight starters and have a very experienced squad and throwing depth. We can’t wait to play and see how we compete against teams in the region.
Assistant Coaches: Wayne Moak, Andrew Young, Dan McCoy and Craig Bowen
Special Events: Seniors Night — May 16
soccer girls
Coach: Ben Wolford
Years as head coach: two
Overall record of last season: 5-11-2
Last season’s conference record: 0-4
Returning entries this year: seven
Number of Elders: Six
Frosh/sophs: Sophomores Tessa Masengale, Isabelle Vasquez and freshmen Alexa Barna and Josie Lee
Captains: Avery Haney, Addy Roundtree, Rylie Dinehart and Kelila Rustin
Key Players: Kelila Rustin — “Played goaltender for us last year due to injury, won numerous playoff awards, but will likely lead our team in total points (assists/goals) as a as an outfield player this year.”
Avery Haney – “Heart and soul of our program, great leader, led the team in assists last season, All-Conference/Area/County as a junior.”
Rylie Dinehart – “Scored 10 goals as a junior (eight of them in last five games), scored three goals in district win, really became a force in second half of his junior year. “
Tessa Masengale – “Scored three goals and started every game as a rookie, will likely take on more responsibility and more growth in his second year on the program.”
Biggest challenge: “Overcoming adversity. We have three girls coming off serious knee injuries which should all start for us at some point this season. This program has had its fair share of struggles and lack of success in the past, but, in my second year as a coach, we are looking to use these things as fuel to help us continue to grow our confidence in the program.
Outlook: “We will form a very young team this year, but we will rely on our leaders to guide us. We ended last season laying the foundation for building our culture for the future on the program. The girls of Ionia will play hard, play together and believe.
Assistant Coaches: Leah Boer
Soft ball
Head Coach: Judy Becker
Years as Head Coach: 10
Overall record of last season: 21-16
Last season’s conference record: 8-2
Key Players Lost: Erin Groom
Returning entries this year: Four
Number of Elders: Four
Frosh/sophs: Freshman Kennedy Batista
Captains: Melayna Brama, Rajalyaj Esquivel, Londyn Brown and Chloe Witter
Key Players: Melayna Braman and Rajalyaj Esquivel – “Both are key players for success this year. Not just with their talent, but with their four years of experience.
Biggest Challenge: “Finding where to play everyone so that we are at our best; lots of kids can play lots of positions.
Outlook: “They’re a stimulating group that keeps me going, trying to find exercises that challenge them and make them the best they can be.”
Assistant Coaches: Paul Wright, Dave Weisgerber, Jack Spratto and Courtney Shafer
Special Events: Purple Game — April 28
boys track
Coach: James Merrifield
Years as Head Coach: 10
Overall record last season: 4-1
Last season’s conference record: 4-1
Key players lost: Josiah Magley, Jimmy Peabody, Clay Currigan, Trevor Tooker, Heath LaPointe, Andrew Gerdes, Brandon Grant, Ethan Canfield and Kullen Granger
Returning entries this year: Eight
Number of Elders: Six
Frosh/sophs: Sophomores Myles Perrien and Brent Starks and freshmen Wolton Sandborn and Scotti Kimber
Captains: “Our seniors act like our captains.”
Key Players: Jacob Montgomery — “Distance/middle distance. Hopefully he picks up where Josiah Magley left off. Jacob has the potential to set the school record in the 800 meters.
Tyson Evans – “Medium distance/distance and potentially obstacles.
Sam Eppler- “Sprints”.
Henry Castle and Charles Frost – “The pitchers, both have the potential to score a lot of runs for the team.”
Jonathan Anderson — “Jump, throw and potentially sprint.”
Biggest challenge: “The team will have to ramp up to replace the 2022 graduates.”
Outlook: “The 2023 season will be a challenge with the loss of a strong senior class comprising at least five individuals continuing their athletic careers at the college level. The team still has a well-rounded roster with a good mix of upperclassmen and talented freshmen and sophomores ready to fight for the top honors in the CAAC-White division and make advance their share of athletes to the MHSAA State Meet on June 3.
Assistant Coaches: Brian Powell, Bill Rodgers, Colleen Wegener, Tim Patrick, Jordan Brown and Cameron Malich
Special events: Seniors/parents evening — May 9
girls track
Coach: James Merrifield
Years as Head Coach: 10
Overall record of last season: 5-0
Last season’s conference record: 5-0
Key players lost: Kassidy Casillas, Angelyn Hyde, Maddie Hanulcik, Isabel Lopez, Josie Phelps and Brynn Reams
Returning entries this year: Nine
Number of Elders: Six
Frosh/sophs: Sophomores Ella Udell and Mimi Wegener and freshmen Paisley Patterson, Grace Droste and Hannah Luttman
Captains: “Our seniors act like our captains.”
Key players: Megan Lennemann — “Distance and middle distance.”
Tess Griffith — “Pole vault, high jump and hurdles.”
Lily Reams, Savannah Clark and Makenna Waterman – “Shot Shot and Discus.”
Brianna Fuentes and Hailey Fuentes – “Sprints”.
Alexis Burns – “Long Jump.”
Biggest challenge: “The team will have to ramp up to replace the 2022 graduates.”
Outlook: “The 2023 season will be a challenge with the loss of a strong senior class including three individuals continuing their athletic careers at the college level. The team still has a well-rounded roster with a good mix of upperclassmen and talented freshmen and sophomores ready to fight for the top honors in the CAAC-White division and make advance their share of athletes to the MHSAA State Meet on June 3.
Assistant Coaches: Brian Powell, Bill Rodgers, Colleen Wegener, Tim Patrick, Jordan Brown and Cameron Malich
Special events: Seniors/parents evening — May 9
Girls tennis
Head Coach: Brian DeRath
Years as head coach: two
Overall record of last season: 5-7
Last season’s conference record: 1-3
Key players lost: Jessa Swinehart and Isabella Reisbig
Returning entries this year: Eight
Number of Elders: Four
Frosh/sophs: Sophomores Margaret Pischea, Katelyn Weber, Ellie Lanphere, Abella Woodard, Keagan Prescott and Sarah Schafer and freshmen Ayelin MCGuire, Tessa Lemke, Aubrey Wall, Joanna Platte, Camryn Robinson, Mariya Berry and Harleigh Kruger
Captains: Caitlyn McGuire, Kennedee Ward, Riley Brown, Kate Brown and Margaret Pischea
Key players: Kate Brown and Margaret Pischea – “Both take on great responsibilities. We have a great group of freshmen who are going to give us a depth that we haven’t had in a while.
Biggest Challenge: “Our inexperience.”
Outlook: “This year we have a great group of girls working to improve. We are young and although inexperience will be a challenge, it will also be our strength. Coach Pischea and I are very excited for the future!
Assistant Coaches: Scott Pischea
