Hartford Press Box
Boys Soccer conquers Watervliet, Three Rivers for District title
The state-ranked Hartford Husky boys soccer team (#3 team in Division 3) participated in district action last week, hosted by Three Rivers. It’s hard to keep finding ways to talk about the season, as they just keep meeting the lofty expectations set by so many, finishing the regular season with a record of 19-0-1. However, one loss now means the season would end.
In their first match of district play, which saw the team take on the Watervliet Panthers in the semifinals on Monday, Oct. 16, the men were looking to keep their ‘locomotive’ running strong against a rival opponent that they had not played against since the 2021 season. Watervliet came in with just four wins on the year, but records mean nothing this time of year – everyone starts 0-0-0.
As for the match itself, it was just another dominating performance for the Huskies on the pitch, as they won a match that was extended into the second half but did not go to ‘full time’ (eighty minutes). Hartford would jump out to a 5-nil lead at the half and added three more goals in the second half to pull away for the victory, 8-nil. The shutout was the team’s ninth of the season, all of which have come in the second half of the year.
The eight goals in the match were scored by six different players: Anthony Mejia (2), Caiden Smith (2), Kameron Kuehnle, Aiden Ovalle, Melvin Parra and Alan Zaldivar.
In their second match of district play, which saw the team take on the host team, the Three Rivers Wildcats, in the district finals on Wednesday, Oct. 18, the squad was looking to win another championship trophy and their first in a new division against an opponent from the Wolverine Conference that they had not played before. While the Huskies took care of business in their semifinal game as a favorite, the Wildcats had upset the second seed, Buchanan, in the same round by three goals. With that in mind, the Huskies knew not to underestimate them.
This match was another tilt that would be extended into the second half, but the match was decided in favor of the ‘good guys’ well before full time (eighty minutes) was reached. The first half saw the Huskies score the opening four goals to take a 4-nil lead, before the Wildcats responded with a goal on a rebound, to make it 4-1. Hartford would score the final goal of the opening half, to take a 5-1 halftime lead, before scoring four goals in just a matter of minutes in the second half, to take home a dominating victory by mercy rule, 9-1. With the win, the Huskies are district champions for the third straight season and for the ninth time since 2011.
The nine goals in the match were scored by five different players: Caiden Smith (5), Kameron Kuehnle, Anthony Mejia, Alexis Rivas and Alan Zaldivar.
Hartford is currently 21-0-1 on the season. During the upcoming week, postseason play will continue with the Huskies playing in the regional being hosted by Fennville High School. The team will have played Hudsonville Unity Christian (#2 team in Division 3) in a regional semifinal game, on Tuesday, Oct. 24. That winner advances to the Regional final on Thursday, Oct. 26 against the winner of Eaton Rapids and Grand Rapids South Christian.
X-C teams prepare for Regionals with invitational meet
Last week, the Hartford Husky / Lady Husky cross-country teams participated in a weekend invitational against numerous local runners and teams during their only event of the seven-day stretch. So far this season, the teams have run quite competitive during all their meets, boosting runner’s confidence in the fading days of the season. The regional meet is the next event on the calendar.
In the weekend event, the Little Guys Invitational, which was held at Gobles on Saturday, Oct. 21, the two teams ran on one of the tougher courses in the area, with many hills combed into the flat landscape. In terms of the final team standings, the Hartford men finished in 4th place out of eight teams, with a total of 100 team points. The Hartford ladies finished in 7th place out of eight teams, with a total of 184 team points.
In the men’s race, the top-five finishers for the Huskies included Carlos Ruiz (14th place, 19:13), Josais Robles (15th place, 19:13), Robert Lenza (23rd place, 20:05), Jairo Lopez (28th place, 20:22) and Aiden Apreza (46th place, 21:51 – a season PR).
The top-five finishers for the Lady Huskies included Katlina Wadlington (23rd place, 24:15 – a season PR), Lillian Wolf (30th place, 25:20), Marianna Hopper (48th place, 27:26), Anya Watkins (51st place, 28:10) and Juliana Morseau (52nd place, 28:20).
The Hartford cross-country teams will run in their biggest race of their season to date at Portage West Middle School on Saturday, Oct. 28, to compete in the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Division 3 regional meet.
Varsity volleyball finishes conference season with loss to Bloomingdale
The Hartford Lady Husky varsity volleyball team returned to the court for two event dates, which included a conference match and the conference tournament over the course of the last seven-day period. While results from the conference tournament are unavailable as of press time, we can report on the weekday conference match.
In that test, the team participated in a Southwest 10 Conference match at home, against the visiting Lady Cardinals of Bloomingdale on Tuesday, Oct. 17. These two teams have met each other in numerous seasons since they became conference members, with many matches being quite competitive. This match featured four sets, including three that Hartford either won, could’ve won or was leading in. Despite their best efforts, the ladies wearing the green and white uniforms were defeated: 19-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-23. With the loss, the Lady Huskies finished the conference season with a 2-7 record in league matches.
The schedule for the Lady Huskies in the week ahead will feature their final match of the regular season, in advance of district play. The team will host the Lady Panthers of Delton Kellogg on Thursday, Oct. 26, in non-conference action.
JV Football wins rain-soaked affair, ends season 8-1
Last week, the Hartford Husky junior varsity football team had their ninth showing on the football field this season, as they hosted the Lawton Blue Devils in their final game of the year. This season has flown by quickly, but it has been a successful year for this youthful squad. This group of young Huskies, who played as just a junior varsity squad for a second straight season, came into the contest with a 7-1 record, improving on last year’s win total by at-least three games.
In the game against the Blue Devils, which was played on Thursday, Oct. 19, the Huskies looked to finish the year with a big victory against a former conference foe but would have to battle some brutal conditions that Mother Nature flung their way. With both teams having to battle the same elements, everyone that was in attendance knew it would be a close game from start-to-finish. As the contest went on, fans were sitting on the edge of their seats and biting their fingernails, cheering for their favorite team. Utilizing a late touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Hartford players, coaches and fans were in a celebratory mood, as they took home the win, 8-7.
Scoring was tough to come by all night long, evidenced by no scoring in the first quarter. In fact, the story of the opening ten minutes was the turnover bug, as the teams combined for a total of three turnovers in the stanza.
Unfortunately for fans of the home team, they were left disappointed in the second quarter as the visiting Blue Devils managed to score the opening points of the game on a 4-yard touchdown run in the middle part of the stanza. Lawton has developed quite a knack for having solid placekickers on their rosters, and their junior varsity squad is no different. The kicker put the ball through the uprights, giving them a 7-0 lead that would last right through halftime.
After the teams returned to the field for the second half, the off-and-on rain showers continued at the stadium and both defenses dug into the trenches. That would result in no scoring in the third quarter, with Lawton remaining ahead of Hartford, 7-0, with ten minutes remaining in the contest.
The fourth quarter was one of the most intense quarters that both teams had participated in during the season, as both sides of the stadium were filled with fans that were convinced that their favorite team would be the ones to finish the year in the win column.
With just three minutes remaining in the contest, the Huskies were able to put together a drive that would result in critical points. After Brian Sewell broke off a tremendous run that was stopped just short of the goal line, quarterback Mason Mireles snuck the ball into the end zone from a yard out to make it a 7-6 game. Hartford decided to bypass the point-after kick to go for two points, and a potential victory. The snap was handed off to Sewell, who broke multiple tackles to find his way into the ‘promised land’ for a successful conversion attempt, giving Hartford the 8-7 lead.
In the end, Lawton would have two opportunities to regain the lead, but the first resulted in a turnover and, after the Huskies ran the clock down to :01 remaining, they attempted a pass play, but it was stopped near midfield giving Hartford the one-point win and a huge shot of momentum going into the offseason.
In terms of statistics, on offense, Hartford finished with 223 total yards, which included 171 rushing yards and 52 passing yards. Mason Mireles finished 5-for-12 passing, with his top receiver being Alex Morsaw, who caught three passes for 46 yards. Brian Sewell led the rushing attack for the Huskies, carrying the ball 19 times for 133 yards and the game-winning two-point conversion.
On defense, Hartford was led by Sewell with six tackles (including a tackle-for-a-loss), while Ryder Birkhead recorded five tackles (including a tackle-for-a-loss) and Jesus Pasillas and Rowen Williamson (tackle-for-a-loss) finished with four tackles each. Other defensive statistical standouts included fumble recoveries by Mireles and Shane Phillips.
Hartford finishes the season with a record of 8-1. Despite competing as just a junior varsity team this fall, the Huskies will have plenty of optimism on their plate going into the offseason. This year’s team featured just freshman and sophomores, so there is a substantial core of young players that will make an impact on the varsity or junior varsity teams that are expected to take shape next fall. Congratulations to Coach Morsaw, the coaching staff, and the players on their accomplishments this season!
As always, GO GREEN! GO WHITE!
Comments