PORTAGE, Mich, October 28, 2008 — Attached is the week nine MichiganCrossCountry.com Prep Ranking. This is the only ranking of both boy’s and girl’s prep cross country teams that covers both the Lower and Upper Peninsula for all schools by division. The rankings are released weekly during the high school season.

The MichiganCrossCountry.com Prep Ranking is compiled for each high school division by a vote of 33 high school coaches or officials who review all available meet results in an effort to provide the most accurate ranking possible. A complete list of our panelists is at the end of this release.

The criteria utilized for ranking by the panel is projected finish at either:

* the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Finals scheduled for November 1, 2008 at Michigan International Speedway in Brookyln, MI

- or -

* the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals scheduled for Saturday, October 18th, 2008 at Sault Area High School, Sault Ste. Marie, MI.

We include numerical scores reflecting the relative strength of teams in the opinion of the rankers. One hundred points signals a unanimous decision by all rankers that a particular team is number one.

This is the final Lower Peninsula ranking. The MHSAA Lower Peninsula Final Meet will be this Saturday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, MI.

MichiganCrossCountry.com Prep Ranking
(Lower Peninsula)
Week of October 27, 2008

MichiganCrossCountry.com Lower Peninsula Prep Rankings
D1 LP Boys
1 Ann Arbor-Pioneer 100
2 Saginaw-Heritage 94
3 Novi-Detroit Catholic Central 88
4 Auburn-Bay City Western 83
5 Lake Orion 80
6 Rockford 76
7 Pinckney 70
8 Saline 66
9 Ann Arbor-Huron 46
10 Monroe 37

D1 LP Girls
1 Traverse City Central 99
2 East Kentwood 93
3 Rockford 88
4 Brighton 87
5 Saline 78
6 Grand Haven 77.5
7 Troy 11
8 Rochester-Adams 16
9 Clarkston 12
10 Pinckney 12
HM Grandville * 13
HM Rochester Hills-Rochester 12
HM Livonia Churchill 11

*Grandville while deserving of a ranking did not survive regional competition with #’s 2, 3 and 6 in the same region.

D2 LP Boys
1 Linden 99
2 Ada-Forest Hills Eastern 93
3 Vicksburg 89
4 Williamston 84
5 Chelsea 78
6 Ionia 77
7 Flint-Luke M Powers Catholic 60
8 Grand Rapids-Christian 58
9 St Clair 51
10 Otsego 26
HM Fremont 17

D2 LP Girls
1 Grand Rapids-Christian 100
2 East Grand Rapids 95
3 Williamston 89
4 Gaylord 83
5 Ada-Forest Hills Eastern 81
6 East Lansing 71
7 Fremont 42
8 Petoskey 41
9 DeWitt 38
10 Trenton 34
HM Dexter 26
HM Dearborn-Divine Child 24
HM Hamilton 22

D3 LP Boys
1 Hillsdale 100
2 Shepherd 91
3T Bangor 88
3T Benzonia-Benzie Central 88
5 Grand Rapids-West Catholic 83
6 Whitmore Lake 73
7 Grandville-Calvin Christian 72
8 Elk Rapids 44
9T Freeland 38
9T Lansing-Catholic Central 38
HM Jackson-Lumen Christi 36
HM Monroe-St Mary Catholic Central 25

D3 LP Girls
1 Benzonia-Benzie Central 100
2 Jackson-Lumen Christi 95
3 Leslie 88
4 Allendale 84
5 Kent City 80
6 Schoolcraft 70
7 Elk Rapids 63
8 Hanover-Horton 62
9 Macomb-Lutheran North 60
10 Grand Rapids-West Catholic 38
HM Portland 36

D4 Boys
1T Harbor Springs 98
1T Potterville 98
3 Saugatuck 83
4 Concord 80
5 Adrian-Lenawee Christian 79
6 Wolverine 73
7 Hesperia Community 68
8 Bridgman 43
9 Fowler 42
10 Bear Lake (Onekama ) 33
HM Saranac 29
HM Traverse City-St Francis 22

D4 Girls
1 Harbor Springs 98
2 Hesperia Community 95
3 Manton 92
4 Fowler 83
5 Grand Rapids-NorthPointe Christian 79
6 Traverse City-St Francis 68
7 Bear Lake (Onekama ) 61
8 Pewamo-Westphalia 50
9 Saugatuck 49
10 Royal Oak-Shrine Catholic 47
HM Harbor Beach Community 22
HM Battle Creek-St Philip Catholic Central (Battle Creek- Calhoun Christian School) 21

MichiganCrossCountry.com Upper Peninsula Prep Rankings
NO UP RANKINGS - UP Finals were previously contested.
Results are available here:
http://www.mhsaa.com/sports/bxc/2008upfinal.html

MichiganCrossCountry.com was formed in 2007 by Dan Wytko and Don Passenger to bring recognition to the sport by accurately ranking Michigan teams and to provide a venue for discussion of cross country and track and field issues.

Dan Wytko has coached track & field and cross country at Portage Central High School since 1994. Don Passenger has been involved in Michigan track and field since the mid-1970s when he competed at Caledonia High School and from 2003 to present Passenger has coached the Grand Rapids West Catholic girls cross country team and the girls distance program in track and field.

Ranking Panel as of October 5, 2008:
Ray Antel East Kentwood
Scott Banghart Mattawan
John Carlson Belding
Amy Coughlin Waterford Mott
Jill Evers Kent City
Rudy Godefroidt Hemlock
Jeff Harding Manton
Mike Holik Chelsea
Doug Jager Grand Rapids Christian
Robert Jazwinski Dexter
David Jordan Concord
Mike Jurasek Albion
Asa Kelley Benzie Central
Emily Kloss Harbor Springs
Mike Kloss Harbor Springs
Grant Lofdahl Allendale
Steve Long Otsego
Brian Maloney Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central
Kyle McKown Shepherd High School
Gary Meehan Brighton
Mike Nesbitt Bay City Western
Mike Northhuis Portage Central
John Osler Ishpeming
Don Passenger West Catholic
Brian Salyers Milford
Joe Shay Central Lake
Tim Simpson Lansing Catholic Central
Mark Smith Suttons Bay
Cliff Somers Fremont
Ben Watson Rockford
Scott Werner Pewamo-Westphalia Track
Dan Wytko Portage Central
Matthew Yacoub Southfield Christian

On the web: http://michigancrosscountry.com

PORTAGE, Mich, October 21, 2008 — Attached is the week eight MichiganCrossCountry.com Prep Ranking. This is the only ranking of both boy’s and girl’s prep cross country teams that covers both the Lower and Upper Peninsula for all schools by division. The rankings are released weekly during the high school season.

The MichiganCrossCountry.com Prep Ranking is compiled for each high school division by a vote of 33 high school coaches or officials who review all available meet results in an effort to provide the most accurate ranking possible. A complete list of our panelists is at the end of this release.

The criteria utilized for ranking by the panel is projected finish at either:

* the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Finals scheduled for November 1, 2008 at Michigan International Speedway in Brookyln, MI

- or -

* the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals scheduled for Saturday, October 18th, 2008 at Sault Area High School, Sault Ste. Marie, MI.

We include numerical scores reflecting the relative strength of teams in the opinion of the rankers. One hundred points signals a unanimous decision by all rankers that a particular team is number one.

This is the penultimate Lower Peninsula ranking. We will release a final set of Lower Peninsula rankings next Tuesday that should reflect regional results.

MichiganCrossCountry.com Prep Ranking
(Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula)
Week of October 20, 2008

MichiganCrossCountry.com Lower Peninsula Prep Rankings
D1 LP Boys
1 Ann Arbor-Pioneer 100
2 Saginaw-Heritage 93
3 Auburn-Bay City Western 87
4 Novi-Detroit Catholic Central 86
5 Rockford 79
6 Lake Orion 77
7 Pinckney 72
8 Saline 62
9 Ann Arbor-Huron 60
10 Warren-De La Salle 33
HM Canton-Plymouth 26

D1 LP Girls
1 Traverse City Central 100
2T Rockford 91
2T Grand Haven 91
4 Saline 83
5 East Kentwood 81
6 Troy 75
7T Brighton 64
7T Clarkston 64
9 Grandville 53
10T Pinckney 12
10T Rochester Adams 12

D2 LP Boys
1 Linden 100
2 Vicksburg 95
3 Ada-Forest Hills Eastern 90
4 Chelsea 82
5 Grand Rapids-Christian 72
6 Williamston 68
7 Ionia 67
8 Otsego 59
9 Flint-Luke M Powers Catholic 46
10 Mattawan 31
HM St Johns 20

D2 LP Girls
1 Grand Rapids-Christian 99
2 East Grand Rapids 96
3 Williamston 90
4 Ada-Forest Hills Eastern 83
5 Gaylord 80
6 East Lansing 61
7 DeWitt 58
8 Fremont 56
9T Milan 32
9T Petoskey 32
HM Ionia 37
HM Marshall 25

D3 LP Boys
1 Hillsdale 100
2 Shepherd 93
3 Bangor 90
4 Grand Rapids-West Catholic 83
5 Whitmore Lake 80
6 Benzonia-Benzie Central 74
7 Grandville-Calvin Christian 73
8 Jackson-Lumen Christi 63
9 Lansing-Catholic 51
10 Allendale 28
HM Freeland 20

D3 LP Girls
1 Benzonia-Benzie Central 98
2 Jackson-Lumen Christi 97
3 Leslie 88
4 Allendale 87
5 Kent City 77
6 Schoolcraft 73
7 Hanover-Horton 72
8 Grand Rapids-West Catholic 63
9 Elk Rapids 58
10 Macomb-Lutheran North 35
HM Ithaca 19

D4 Boys
1 Potterville 99
2 Harbor Springs 91
3 Saugatuck 89
4 Concord 87
5 Adrian-Lenawee Christian 77
6 Hesperia Community 67
7 Mt Pleasant-Sacred Heart Academy 56
8 Wolverine 40
9 Bear Lake (Onekama ) 33
10 Bridgman 29
HM Saranac 26
HM Grand Rapids-Covenant Christian 19
HM Fowler 19
HM Traverse City-St Francis 18
HM Ann Arbor-Greenhills 16

D4 Girls
1 Hesperia Community 100
2 Harbor Springs 93
3 Grand Rapids-NorthPointe Christian 90
4 Manton 84
5 Fowler 81
6 Saugatuck 71
7 Harbor Beach Community 56
8 Traverse City-St Francis 49
9 Concord 47
10 Bear Lake (Onekama ) 43
HM Battle Creek-St Philip Catholic Central (Battle Creek- Calhoun Christian School) 40

MichiganCrossCountry.com Upper Peninsula Prep Rankings
NO UP RANKINGS - UP Finals were last Saturday
Results are available here:
http://www.mhsaa.com/sports/bxc/2008upfinal.html

We have calculated an imaginary Dream Race based on the Upper Peninsula Cross Country Finals that combines all three divisions by gender into one race.

The top twenty five UP Boys Teams based on the Dream Race Combined Scoring Format are:
01.Munising 53 004+008+012+014+015=53
02.Marquette 57 001+006+010+016+024=57
03.Gladstone 165 016+031+035+037+046=165
04.L’Anse 208 020+020+022+046+100=208
04.Rudyard 208 023+030+042+055+058=208
06.Ironwood 245 003+009+040+059+134=245
07.Houghton 247 004+051+059+064+069=247
08.Escanaba 288 037+046+055+071+079=288
09.Sault Ste Marie 308 029+045+075+078+081=308
10.Stephenson 334 036+053+054+075+116=334
11.Superior Central 354 037+050+067+096+104=354
12.Westwood 366 032+062+084+090+098=366
13.Negaunee 414 027+051+073+120+143=414
14.West Iron County 423 013+028+063+147+172=423
15.Chassell 442 040+079+084+117+122=442
16.Painesdale-Jeffers 443 002+072+075+135+159=443
17.Kingsford 452 059+093+097+100+103=452
18.Gwinn 462 011+086+117+124+124=462
19.Newberry 474 007+069+119+130+149=474
20.Detour 529 025+042+113+174+175=529
21.Calumet 532 064+088+095+124+161=532
22.Hancock 533 042+046+105+149+191=533
23.Cedarville 581 094+100+121+122+144=581
24.Menominee 639 068+129+136+152+154=639
25.Norway 665 108+115+131+146+165=665

Data to support these calculations may be found here:
http://michigancrosscountry.com/michigan_track_cross_country_forum/showthread.php?tid=512

The top twenty five UP Girls Teams based on the Dream Race Combined Scoring Format are:
01.Marquette 112 006+013+021+032+040=112
02.Houghton 132 011+026+027+030+038=132
03.Gladstone 134 004+012+024+042+052=134
04.Ironwood 163 018+022+029+044+050=163
05.Calumet 169 009+017+020+052+071=169
06.L’Anse 176 024+028+034+041+049=176
07.Kingsford 204 003+010+023+083+085=204
08.Menominee 229 016+019+046+066+082=229
09.Munising 237 001+031+055+058+092=237
10.North Central 245 005+042+054+065+079=245
11.Sault Ste Marie 310 038+050+057+081+084=310
12.Rapid River 362 002+063+078+106+113=362
13.Negaunee 375 047+062+063+085+118=375
14.Painesdale-Jeffers 391 067+067+071+088+098=391
15.Chassell 408 015+076+095+097+125=408
16.Escanaba 419 045+074+079+109+112=419
17.West Iron County 422 007+058+104+126+127=422
18.Newberry 433 032+076+090+091+144=433
19.Stephenson 461 034+055+108+121+143=461
20.Cedarville 465 058+070+092+110+135=465
21.Westwood 500 008+034+137+159+162=500
22.St. Ignace 511 014+101+129+133+134=511
23.Norway 532 034+102+115+136+145=532
24.Rudyard 581 074+096+132+139+140=581
25.Hancock 695 099+123+150+157+166=695

Data to support these calculations may be found here:
http://michigancrosscountry.com/michigan_track_cross_country_forum/showthread.php?tid=511

MichiganCrossCountry.com was formed in 2007 by Dan Wytko and Don Passenger to bring recognition to the sport by accurately ranking Michigan teams and to provide a venue for discussion of cross country and track and field issues.

Dan Wytko has coached track & field and cross country at Portage Central High School since 1994. He is a founder and co-meet director of the Portage Invitational; one of the nation’s premier high school cross country invitationals (http://portageinvite.com). His women’s cross country teams have won eleven division/conference titles, four regional titles, made eleven trips to the MHSAA Lower Peninsula State Finals, including four top ten finishes.

During Wytko’s tenure as Portage Central track and field coach, his women’s teams have won eight division/conference titles and one regional championship. His men’s teams have won two division/conference titles and one regional championship. His 2006 men’s team finished as MHSAA Division 1 Lower Peninsula State Finals Runner-up. Dan has also been a member of the Team Michigan Midwest Meet of Champions coaching staff since 2001 and he is a member of the MHSAA Rules and Regulations Committee for cross country and track and field. Dan ran competitively in high school at Battle Creek Lakeview, and he then concentrated on road runs during his collegiate years at Western Michigan University.

Don Passenger has been involved in Michigan track and field since the mid-1970s when he competed at Caledonia High School for Hall of Fame coach John Soderman. He ran at Saginaw Valley State (NAIA) and Grand Rapids Community College (NJCAA) earning seven All American honors in events ranging in distance from the 800 meters to the marathon. He went on to compete for the University of Kentucky where he set the school record in the 1500-meter run and completed his athletic career at the University of Michigan. During his time at UM he was a varsity member of the Cross Country team that finished sixth in the NCAA Cross Country Championship (1982) and the team won the Big Ten Outdoor Track title (1983). From 1998 to 2003 Don coached at the middle school level in Grand Rapids. Don is a registered MHSAA Track and Cross Country Official. From 2003 to present Passenger has coached the Grand Rapids West Catholic girls cross country team and the girls distance program in track and field. His track team has placed in the top four the past three years in the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association (MITCA) Team State Track Championships (2nd 2006, 3rd 2007, 1st 2008). Passenger helps organize the Cougar Falcon Cross Country Invitational.

Ranking Panel as of October 5, 2008:
Ray Antel East Kentwood
Scott Banghart Mattawan
John Carlson Belding
Amy Coughlin Waterford Mott
Jill Evers Kent City
Rudy Godefroidt Hemlock
Jeff Harding Manton
Mike Holik Chelsea
Doug Jager Grand Rapids Christian
Robert Jazwinski Dexter
David Jordan Concord
Mike Jurasek Albion
Asa Kelley Benzie Central
Emily Kloss Harbor Springs
Mike Kloss Harbor Springs
Grant Lofdahl Allendale
Steve Long Otsego
Brian Maloney Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central
Kyle McKown Shepherd High School
Gary Meehan Brighton
Mike Nesbitt Bay City Western
Mike Northhuis Portage Central
John Osler Ishpeming
Don Passenger West Catholic
Brian Salyers Milford
Joe Shay Central Lake
Tim Simpson Lansing Catholic Central
Mark Smith Suttons Bay
Cliff Somers Fremont
Ben Watson Rockford
Scott Werner Pewamo-Westphalia Track
Dan Wytko Portage Central
Matthew Yacoub Southfield Christian

On the web: http://michigancrosscountry.com

PORTAGE, Mich, October 14, 2008 — Attached is the week seven MichiganCrossCountry.com Prep Ranking. This is the only ranking of both boy’s and girl’s prep cross country teams that covers both the Lower and Upper Peninsula for all schools by division. The rankings are released weekly during the high school season.

The MichiganCrossCountry.com Prep Ranking is compiled for each high school division by a vote of 33 high school coaches or officials who review all available meet results in an effort to provide the most accurate ranking possible. A complete list of our panelists is at the end of this release.

The criteria utilized for ranking by the panel is projected finish at either:

* the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Finals scheduled for November 1, 2008 at Michigan International Speedway in Brookyln, MI

- or -

* the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals scheduled for Saturday, October 18th, 2008 at Sault Area High School, Sault Ste. Marie, MI.

We include numerical scores reflecting the relative strength of teams in the opinion of the rankers. One hundred points signals a unanimous decision by all rankers that a particular team is number one.

This is the final set of rankings for the Upper Peninsula as the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals are next Saturday. We will release two more sets of Lower Peninsula rankings.

MichiganCrossCountry.com Prep Ranking
(Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula)
Week of October 13, 2008

MichiganCrossCountry.com Lower Peninsula Prep Rankings
D1 LP Boys
1 Ann Arbor-Pioneer 100
2 Saginaw-Heritage 92
3 Auburn-Bay City Western 88
4 Rockford 78
5 Novi-Detroit Catholic Central 73
6 Pinckney 72
7 Saline 70
8 Lake Orion 64
9 Ann Arbor-Huron 60
10 Warren-De La Salle 18

D1 LP Girls
1 Traverse City Central 100
2 Rockford 95
3 Saline 88
4 Grand Haven 86
5 East Kentwood 78
6 Troy 72
7 Grandville 67
8 Brighton 63
9 Clarkston 56
10 Pinckney 32
HM Rochester-Adams 19
HM Novi 17

D2 LP Boys
1 Linden 100
2 Vicksburg 95
3 Ada-Forest Hills Eastern 90
4 Chelsea 84
5 Grand Rapids-Christian 76
6 Williamston 71
7 Ionia 70
8T Flint-Luke M Powers Catholic 49
8T Mattawan 49
10 St Johns 21
HM Otsego 18
HM Fremont 17

D2 LP Girls
1 Grand Rapids-Christian 99
2 East Grand Rapids 92 (corrected)
3 Williamston 90
4 Gaylord 82
5 Ada-Forest Hills Eastern 68 (corrected)
6 East Lansing 61
7 DeWitt 58
8 Fremont 57
9 Milan 43
10 Ionia 41
HM Marshall 21
HM Dexter 19

D3 LP Boys
1 Hillsdale 100
2 Shepherd 93
3 Bangor 90
4 Grand Rapids-West Catholic 83
5 Whitmore Lake 81
6 Grandville-Calvin Christian 74
7 Benzonia-Benzie Central 65
8 Jackson-Lumen Christi 56
9 Lansing-Catholic 47
10 Allendale 26
HM Freeland 21
HM Scottville-Mason County Central 20

D3 LP Girls
1 Benzonia-Benzie Central 98
2 Jackson-Lumen Christi 97
3 Leslie 88
4 Allendale 87
5 Schoolcraft 76
6 Kent City 74
7 Hanover-Horton 73
8 Grand Rapids-West Catholic 61
9 Elk Rapids 54
10 Macomb-Lutheran North 49
HM Lansing-Catholic 13

D4 Boys
1 Potterville 100
2 Harbor Springs 91
3 Concord 89
4 Saugatuck 89
5 Hesperia Community 79
6 Adrian-Lenawee Christian 74
7 Bridgman 61
8 Mt Pleasant-Sacred Heart Academy 57
9 Wolverine 48
10 Bear Lake (Onekama ) 38

D4 Girls
1 Hesperia Community 100
2 Grand Rapids-NorthPointe Christian 90
3 Manton 85
4 Harbor Springs 84
5 Fowler 73
6 Saugatuck 63
7 Traverse City-St Francis 56
8 Harbor Beach Community 54
9 Concord 41
10 Bear Lake (Onekama ) 39
HM Battle Creek-St Philip Catholic Central (Battle Creek- Calhoun Christian School) 24

MichiganCrossCountry.com Upper Peninsula Prep Rankings
FINAL UP RANKINGS - UP Finals are next Saturday

D1 UP Boys
1 Marquette
2 Gladstone
3 Escanaba
4 Houghton
5 Soo

D1 UP Girls
1 Marquette
2 Gladstone
3T Menominee
3T Kingsford
5 Escanaba

D2 UP Boys
1 Munising
2 Rudyard
3 Stephenson
4 L’Anse
5 West Iron County – Ish.Westwood

D2 UP Girls
1 Munising
2 Stephenson
3 St. Ignace
4 Rudyard
5 Norway - Newberry

D3 UP Boys
1 Superior Central
2 Rapid River
3 Carney-Nadeau
4 Powers - North Central
5 Jeffers

D3 UP Girls
1 Powers - North Central - Superior Central
3 Cedarville
4 Rapid River
5 Chassell

MichiganCrossCountry.com was formed in 2007 by Dan Wytko and Don Passenger to bring recognition to the sport by accurately ranking Michigan teams and to provide a venue for discussion of cross country and track and field issues.

Dan Wytko has coached track & field and cross country at Portage Central High School since 1994. He is a founder and co-meet director of the Portage Invitational; one of the nation’s premier high school cross country invitationals (http://portageinvite.com). His women’s cross country teams have won eleven division/conference titles, four regional titles, made eleven trips to the MHSAA Lower Peninsula State Finals, including four top ten finishes.

During Wytko’s tenure as Portage Central track and field coach, his women’s teams have won eight division/conference titles and one regional championship. His men’s teams have won two division/conference titles and one regional championship. His 2006 men’s team finished as MHSAA Division 1 Lower Peninsula State Finals Runner-up. Dan has also been a member of the Team Michigan Midwest Meet of Champions coaching staff since 2001 and he is a member of the MHSAA Rules and Regulations Committee for cross country and track and field. Dan ran competitively in high school at Battle Creek Lakeview, and he then concentrated on road runs during his collegiate years at Western Michigan University.

Don Passenger has been involved in Michigan track and field since the mid-1970s when he competed at Caledonia High School for Hall of Fame coach John Soderman. He ran at Saginaw Valley State (NAIA) and Grand Rapids Community College (NJCAA) earning seven All American honors in events ranging in distance from the 800 meters to the marathon. He went on to compete for the University of Kentucky where he set the school record in the 1500-meter run and completed his athletic career at the University of Michigan. During his time at UM he was a varsity member of the Cross Country team that finished sixth in the NCAA Cross Country Championship (1982) and the team won the Big Ten Outdoor Track title (1983). From 1998 to 2003 Don coached at the middle school level in Grand Rapids. Don is a registered MHSAA Track and Cross Country Official. From 2003 to present Passenger has coached the Grand Rapids West Catholic girls cross country team and the girls distance program in track and field. His track team has placed in the top four the past three years in the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association (MITCA) Team State Track Championships (2nd 2006, 3rd 2007, 1st 2008). Passenger helps organize the Cougar Falcon Cross Country Invitational.

Ranking Panel as of October 5, 2008:
Ray Antel East Kentwood
Scott Banghart Mattawan
John Carlson Belding
Amy Coughlin Waterford Mott
Jill Evers Kent City
Rudy Godefroidt Hemlock
Jeff Harding Manton
Mike Holik Chelsea
Doug Jager Grand Rapids Christian
Robert Jazwinski Dexter
David Jordan Concord
Mike Jurasek Albion
Asa Kelley Benzie Central
Emily Kloss Harbor Springs
Mike Kloss Harbor Springs
Grant Lofdahl Allendale
Steve Long Otsego
Brian Maloney Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central
Kyle McKown Shepherd High School
Gary Meehan Brighton
Mike Nesbitt Bay City Western
Mike Northhuis Portage Central
John Osler Ishpeming
Don Passenger West Catholic
Brian Salyers Milford
Joe Shay Central Lake
Tim Simpson Lansing Catholic Central
Mark Smith Suttons Bay
Cliff Somers Fremont
Ben Watson Rockford
Scott Werner Pewamo-Westphalia Track
Dan Wytko Portage Central
Matthew Yacoub Southfield Christian

On the web: http://michigancrosscountry.com

PORTAGE, Mich, October 7, 2008 — Attached is the week six MichiganCrossCountry.com Prep Ranking. This is the only ranking of both boy’s and girl’s prep cross country teams that covers both the Lower and Upper Peninsula for all schools by division. The rankings are released weekly during the high school season.

The MichiganCrossCountry.com Prep Ranking is compiled for each high school division by a vote of 33 high school coaches or officials who review all available meet results in an effort to provide the most accurate ranking possible. (All panelists are listed below.)

The criteria utilized for ranking by the panel is projected finish at the MHSAA Finals scheduled for November 1, 2008 at Michigan International Speedway in Brookyln, MI.

We include numerical scores reflecting the relative strength of teams in the opinion of the rankers. One hundred points signals a unanimous decision by all rankers that a particular team is number one.

It is obvious that there is a perception of parity at the top of D3 boys and girls and at the bottom of D4 boys and girls by the number of teams less than 100 — which signifies unanimous agreement of the rankers as to the top team and the number of honorable mentions, respectively.

MichiganCrossCountry.com Prep Ranking
(Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula)
Week of October 6, 2008

MichiganCrossCountry.com Lower Peninsula Prep Rankings
D1 LP Boys
1 Ann Arbor-Pioneer 100
2 Saginaw-Heritage 92
3 Auburn-Bay City Western 89
4 Rockford 78
5 Pinckney 72
6 Novi-Detroit Catholic Central 71
7 Saline 66
8 Lake Orion 64
9 Ann Arbor-Huron 60
10 Warren-De La Salle 23

D1 LP Girls
1 Traverse City Central 100
2 Rockford 95
3 Saline 89
4 Grand Haven 86
5 East Kentwood 77
6 Grandville 66
7T Troy 64
7T Brighton 63
9 Clarkston 46
10 Pinckney 40
HM Rochester-Adams 38

D2 LP Boys
1 Linden 100
2 Vicksburg 95
3 Ada-Forest Hills Eastern 90
4 Chelsea 82
5 Williamston 78
6 Grand Rapids-Christian 75
7 Ionia 73
8 Flint-Luke M Powers Catholic 44
9 Mattawan 38
10T Fremont 20
10T Otsego 20
HM St Clair 19

D2 LP Girls
1 Grand Rapids-Christian 99
2 East Grand Rapids 96
3 Williamston 90
4 Ada-Forest Hills Eastern 82
5 Gaylord 80
6T East Lansing 55
6T Fremont 55
8T Ionia 50
8T Milan 50
10 DeWitt 45
HM Dexter 24

D3 LP Boys
1 Hillsdale 88
2 Shepherd 80
3 Bangor 78
4 Grand Rapids-West Catholic 74
5 Whitmore Lake 71
6 Grandville-Calvin Christian 66
7 Benzonia-Benzie Central 54
8 Jackson-Lumen Christi 45
9 Lansing-Catholic 44
10 Allendale 29
HM Scottville-Mason County Central 23

D3 LP Girls
1 Benzonia-Benzie Central 86
2 Jackson-Lumen Christi 84
3 Leslie 77
4 Allendale 76
5 Hanover-Horton 65
5T Schoolcraft 65
7 Kent City 64
8 Grand Rapids-West Catholic 51
9 Elk Rapids 47
10 Macomb-Lutheran North 41
HM Lansing-Catholic Central 14

D4 Boys
1 Potterville 100
2 Concord 91
3 Harbor Springs 90
4 Saugatuck 88
5 Hesperia Community 81
6 Adrian-Lenawee Christian 73
7 Bridgman 50
8 Mt Pleasant-Sacred Heart Academy 49
9 Wolverine 39
10 Bear Lake (Onekama ) 35
11 Saranac 23
HM Fowler 16
HM Ann Arbor-Greenhills 16
HM Grand Rapids-Covenant Christian 16

D4 Girls
1 Hesperia Community 100
2 Harbor Springs 94
3 Grand Rapids-NorthPointe Christian 91
4 Manton 84
5 Fowler 74
6 Saugatuck 64
7 Harbor Beach Community 62
7T Traverse City-St Francis 56
9 Kalamazoo-Heritage Christian Academy 39
10 Concord 32
HM Battle Creek-St Philip Catholic Central (Battle Creek- Calhoun Christian School) 23
HM Bear Lake (Onekama ) 23
HM Royal Oak-Shrine Catholic 19
HM Pewamo-Westphalia 14

MichiganCrossCountry.com Upper Peninsula Prep Rankings

D1 UP Boys
1 Marquette
2 Gladstone
3 Escanaba
4 Houghton
5 Soo

D1 UP Girls
1 Marquette
2 Gladstone
3 Menominee
4 Escanaba
5 Houghton - Soo

D2 UP Boys
1 Munising
2 Rudyard
3 Stephenson
4 L’Anse
5 West Iron County – Ish.Westwood

D2 UP Girls
1 Munising
2 Stephenson
3 Rudyard
4 St. Ignace
5 Norway - Newberry

D3 UP Boys
1 Superior Central
2 Rapid River
3 Carney-Nadeau
4 Powers - North Central
5 Cedarville

D3 UP Girls
1 Powers - North Central - Superior Central
3 Cedarville
4 Rapid River
5 Jeffers - Pickford

MichiganCrossCountry.com was formed in 2007 by Dan Wytko and Don Passenger to bring recognition to the sport by accurately ranking Michigan teams and to provide a venue for discussion of cross country and track and field issues.

Dan Wytko has coached track & field and cross country at Portage Central High School since 1994. He is a founder and co-meet director of the Portage Invitational; one of the nation’s premier high school cross country invitationals (http://portageinvite.com). His women’s cross country teams have won eleven division/conference titles, four regional titles, made eleven trips to the state finals, including four top ten finishes.

During Wytko’s tenure as Portage Central track and field coach, his women’s teams have won eight division/conference titles and one regional championship. His men’s teams have won two division/conference titles and one regional championship. His 2006 men’s team finished as MHSAA Division 1 State Finals Runner-up. Dan has also been a member of the Team Michigan Midwest Meet of Champions coaching staff since 2001 and he is a member of the MHSAA Rules and Regulations Committee for cross country and track and field. Dan ran competitively in high school at Battle Creek Lakeview, and he then concentrated on road runs during his collegiate years at Western Michigan University.

Don Passenger has been involved in Michigan track and field since the mid-1970s when he competed at Caledonia High School for coach John Soderman. He ran at Saginaw Valley State (NAIA) and Grand Rapids Community College (NJCAA) earning seven All American honors in events ranging in distance from the 800 meters to the marathon. He went on to compete for the University of Kentucky where he set the school record in the 1500-meter run and completed his athletic career at the University of Michigan. During his time at UM he was a varsity member of the Cross Country team that finished sixth in the NCAA Cross Country Championship (1982) and the team won the Big Ten Outdoor Track title (1983). From 1998 to 2003 Don coached at the middle school level in Grand Rapids. Don is a registered MHSAA Track and Cross Country Official. From 2003 to present Passenger has coached the Grand Rapids West Catholic girls cross country team and the girls distance program in track and field. His track team has placed in the top four the past three years in the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association (MITCA) Team State Track Championships (2nd 2006, 3rd 2007, 1st 2008). Passenger helps organize the Cougar Falcon Cross Country Invitational.

Ranking Panel as of October 5, 2008:
Ray Antel East Kentwood
Scott Banghart Mattawan
John Carlson Belding
Amy Coughlin Waterford Mott
Jill Evers Kent City
Rudy Godefroidt Hemlock
Jeff Harding Manton
Mike Holik Chelsea
Doug Jager Grand Rapids Christian
Robert Jazwinski Dexter
David Jordan Concord
Mike Jurasek Albion
Asa Kelley Benzie Central
Emily Kloss Harbor Springs
Mike Kloss Harbor Springs
Grant Lofdahl Allendale
Steve Long Otsego
Brian Maloney Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central
Kyle McKown Shepherd High School
Gary Meehan Brighton
Mike Nesbitt Bay City Western
Mike Northhuis Portage Central
John Osler Ishpeming
Don Passenger West Catholic
Brian Salyers Milford
Joe Shay Central Lake
Tim Simpson Lansing Catholic Central
Mark Smith Suttons Bay
Cliff Somers Fremont
Ben Watson Rockford
Scott Werner Pewamo-Westphalia Track
Dan Wytko Portage Central
Matthew Yacoub Southfield Christian

On the web: http://michigancrosscountry.com