Jackson Area Sports

The Golf Reports
Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association All-State

Jackson has always been known as a hotbed for golfing.
Based on the number of all-state golfers, it looks like Jackson will keep that reputation for a number of years to come.
Ten golfers earned all-state honors as voted by the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association.
Western golfer Bentley C**n was named to the Super Team – considered to be the top eight golfers in the state of Michigan regardless of divisions.
Here are the all-state golfers from the Jackson Area Sports coverage area.

Super Team
Bentley C**n Western Freshman

Division 2 First Team
Andrew Boldt Western Junior
Clark Erwin Mashall Senior

Division 2 Honorable Mention
Jake Brafford Northwest Senior
Cody Rowe Northwest Senior

Division 3 First Team
Gabe Cooper Lumen Christi Junior
Brandon Kulka Lumen Christi Junior
Sam Swihart Lumen Christi Freshman

Division 4 First Team
Brody Baum Springport Junior
Lucas Schwartz Addison Junior

Men’s Tournaments
The Lyle Ambs Memorial Golf Tournament continues next Saturday with match play in the morning and afternoon. Sunday concludes the tournament with two more rounds of matches. Look for scores and highlights on the Jackson Golf Committee site at https://jacksongolf.net.
The Jackson County Senior Open will be July 11 and 12 at Cascades Golf Course. Registration for Senior Open is available for signups for the 36-hole event at https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/12525218881234559310.

JCWGA Golf Event
The next One-Day Meet will be held at Cascades Golf Course on June 26 beginning at 9 a.m. For information on the event go to the new JCWGA 2.0 page.

R.W. Mercer Jackson Junior Golf Tour
The Tour will be at Hills’ Heart of the Lakes Golf Course Thursday June 25 for a best ball format with partners. To sign up for the Tour or to register for the event go to https://jjgolftour.com/register-for-events.

Brody Baum of Springport High School earned all-state honors in Division 4 for 2026.

Youth prevails at Lyle Ambs golf tournament

Photo, story by Jeff Steers
Jackson Area Sports on Facebook

Youth prevailed at the Lyle Ambs Memorial Golf Tournament qualifying Saturday.
Western High School sophomore Bentley C**n earned medalist honors with a 6-under-par 65. C**n used eagles on Nos. 3 and 15 to bolster his round at Sharp Park Golf Course.
Lumen Christi High School senior Gabe Cooper tied for second with a 69.
The top 16 advance to the championship flight with match play starting next Saturday.
Ron O’Rourke tied Cooper for second with a 72.
The ageless Pete Walz tied for fourth with John Tarpley and Rob Longbrake with even par 71.
Walz is a three-time winner of the tournament including his first win in the event in 1971.
Tarpley won the championship in the Lyle Ambs in 2023.
It took a score of 75 to make the top 16.
Pairings are expected to be posted early next week for the Saturday morning rounds. There is expected to be a championship, first, and second flight in the annual tournament.
Complete scoring is available for the qualifying round at https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/12535335589458764060.

Bentley C**n earned medalist honors at the Lyle Ambs Memorial Golf Tournament at Sharp Park with a 6-under-par 65.

Here are photos from the Lyle Ambs Memorial Golf Tour qualifying at Sharp Park Golf Couse. Look for scores about 2:30 p.m. https://jacksonareasports.smugmug.com/Golf-Lyle-Ambs-Qualifying-6-20-2026

Soccer all-state as voted on by MIHSSCA

The following Jackson area players were voted as all-state for 2026 by members of the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association.

Division 2 Third Team
Lola Berdiner Western Forward

Division 2 Honorable Mention
Willa Bartlett Northwest Goalie
Ollie Rozell Marshall Forward

Division 3 Second Team
Peyton Huston Columbia Central Midfielder

Division 3 Third Team
Mara Henry Columbia Central Forward

Division 3 Honorable Mention
Abbie Hess Michigan Center Goalie
Emma Shafer Columbia Central Defense
Lily Eagen Napoleon Midfielder
McKynley Gaddy Michigan Center Forward

Division 4 Second Team
Ruby Boyce Lumen Christi Defense
Tristin Johnson Lumen Christi Forward

Division 4 Third Team
Paige Lefere Lumen Christi Midfielder

Division 4 Honorable Mention
Codi Ruge Lumen Christi Midfielder
Madilynn Stergakos Lumen Christi Forward
Johannah Loew Jackson Christian Forward
Emma Barney Jackson Christian Midfielder

Lola Berdiner of Western High School earned all-state honors in Division 2 girls’ soccer in 2026.

Bearden wins first JCWGA major golf tournament

Photo, story by Jeff Steers
Jackson Area Sports on Facebook

Jackson area golfer Ashley Bearden wanted to get back into competitive golf.
The weekday league night was not just enough for the competitive two-sport college athlete.
Bearden made a big splash winning her first major title in Jackson County Womens Golf Association play with a victory in the Medal Play Tournament at Hills’ Heart of the Lakes Golf Course.
She edged Cheri Tarpley by one stroke to win the three-day tournament Friday.
Tarpley had the best round of the day with a 76 while Bearden shot a 79 Friday in the championship flight. Bearden finished the tournament with 239 and Tarpley 240.
Tournament host Deb Falk finished third (241) and Pam Messerly was fourth (243).
“I am excited to play in the Jackson County Womens Golf Association with a lot of great women,” Bearden said. “I really wanted to get back into something besides a league.”
Bearden was a four-sport athlete while graduating from East Jackson in 2014. She played softball and golf at Siena Height University.
She struggled a bit on the greens but kept it together with a good mental state.
“One of my playing partners reminded me to just breathe … we are just having fun out here,” Bearden said.
Kathy Swihart won the Championship Flight in the Silver Division (70-over) with 249 and Janice “Ace” Haynes was second scoring 253.
Kathy Gabriel won the First Flight in the Silver Division with a 296 score and Barb Fisher was second scoring 300.
The women’s tour continues June 26 at Cascades Golf Course with a one-day meet at Cascades Golf Course beginning at 9 a.m.

Championship Flight
Ashley Bearden 239
Cheri Tarpley 240
Deb Falk 241
Pam Messerly 243
Nikki Weeks 251
Laura McCully 262
Shelley Christoff 270
Nancy Rumseh 284
Lisa Stettler 294

Championship Silver Division
Kathy Swihart 249
Janice Haynes 253
Sandy Fisher 264
Peggy Parrott 268
Nancy Showerman 270
Judy Eddy 272
Sue Daniels 280
Cindy McDonough 284
Tami Makohn 292

First Flight Silver Division
Kathy Gabriel 296
Barb Fisher 300
Sherri Stetten 308
Sandy Straka 318
Clara Adams 331
Barb Zantop 341
Charlotte Edington 344
Barb Worden 358
Janie Bristol 350

Ashley Bearden tees off during the JCWGA Medal Play Tournament at Hills' Heart of the Lakes Golf Course in Brooklyn.

Here are photos from the JCWGA Medal Play Tournament at Hills' Heart of the Lakes Golf Course. Look for a story by 3 p.m. https://jacksonareasports.smugmug.com/Golf-JCWGA-Medal-Play-at-Hills-HOL-6-19-2026

Here are photos from the Youth Golf Clinic at Arbor Hills Golf Club Friday. https://jacksonareasports.smugmug.com/Golf-Junior-Golf-Clinic-at-Arbor-Hills-6-19-2026

Seven area baseball players named all-state

Seven area baseball players were named all-state as voted on by members of the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association for 2026.

Division 2
Lincoln Levy Western First Base

Division 3
Luke Guthrie Grass Lake Infielder
Benny Gaston Lumen Christi Infielder
Wes Learned Lumen Christi Outfielder
Conor Rentfrow Columbia Central Pitcher
Chase Dukate Columbia Central Pitcher Outfielder
Jack Fitzppatrick Lumen Christi Outfielder

Lincoln Levy of Western High School earned all-state in Division 2 in 2026.

Bearden, Falk tied at JCWGA Medal Play

Photo, story by Jeff Steers
Jackson Area Sports on Facebook

Five players are within nine strokes of the lead in the Jackson County Womens Golf Association Medal Play Tournament.
Day three will provide a winner at Hills’ Heart of the Lakes Golf Course in Brooklyn.
Ashley Bearden and Deb Falk are tied in the championship flight with a two-day total of 160.
Pam Messerley is two strokes behind at 162, Cheri Tarpley has scored 164, and Nikki Weeks 169.
Kathy Swihart is six stokes ahead in the Championship Flight in the Silver Division with a total of 162. Janice Haynes is at 168 and Sandy Fisher has a two-day total of 170. Haynes recorder her fifth career hole-in-one on No. 13 Thursday.
Kathy Gabriel has a four-shot lead in the First Flight Silver Division with 196 and Barb Fisher is second having scored 200.
Play continues Friday at Hills’ starting at 8 a.m.

Ashley Bearden is tied for the lead in the JCWGA Medal Play Tournament at Hills' Heart of the Lakes Golf Course in Brooklyn.

MHSSCA all-state softball players

The following players were named all-state as voted on by members of the Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association.
Academic all-state is based on grade point averages.

Division 2 All-State
Bella Ryan Marshall Outfield

Division 3 All-State
Lily McVicker Grass Lake Outfield
Ava Smith Hanover-Horton Outfield
Makenzie Hilberer Grass Lake Shortstop
Leilah Smith Grass Lake Second Base
Morgan Conrad Grass Lake Pitcher
Hailey Wetherby Columbia Central Pitcher

Division 3 Honorable Mention
Brooklen Minix Homer Shortstop
Kennedy Collins Grass Lake Third Base

Academic All-State Individuals
Division 2
Kayleigh Rice Northwest
Hayley Gardner Northwest
Mya Warner Northwest
Mia Messer Western

Division 3
Bryn Biela Hanover-Horton
Holly Zantop Hanover-Horton
Kaitlyn Fall Napoleon
Hannah Hamlin Napoleon

Academic All-State Teams
Division 2
Northwest Coach Juan Garcia
Western Coach Tonya Bassett

Division 3
Hanover-Horton Coach Michelle Burt
Napoleon Coach Josh Burgett

Ava Smith of Hanover-Horton High School earned all-state honors for the Comets in 2026.