SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIV. - Mar. 22-23, 2007 - The Ogemaw Heights track teams got their seasons off to an early start without having to brave the Northern Michigan March weather.

The Falcons competed at the Saginaw Valley State University Indoor Invitational on Thursday, with the girls placing ninth and the boys 13th in the Division 2 placing.

The girls squad brought home nine medals. Noelle Mester was second in the 3200-meter run (12:48) and seventh in the 800 (2:43); Chelsea LeForce was fourth in the 3200 (13:26); Holly Mester finished third in the 1600 (5:52); and Kalena Franklin took eighth in thee 60-meter dash (8.64). The 4x200 relay team of Noelle Mester, Selina Tabayoyong, Jamie Beach and Kalena Franklin took seventh (4:58.5).

For the boys, top finishers were Zach Lynch in the 400 (4th, 55.49), Chad Avram, Bryan Williams, Bruce Vermillion and Greg Simmons in the 4x200 relay (7th, 1:43.26) and Pete VanOosten, Lynch, Mike Roe and Robby Kish in the 4x400 relay (5th, 3:53.27).

The final result wasn't as key to Ogemaw boys coach Doug Grezeszak as was getting his team into competition.

"Although I'd hoped to do better, these early meets are just glorified practices for our team," he said. "We take as many individuals as we can and don't try to maximize our score. Still, I had hoped for more and I am sure this result is not indicative of how the season will go for us.

"We got a loot at two of our top three rivals in the league at the meet. John Glenn and Standish-Sterling looked very good, which worries me some, but it is good to have competitors who will push you to a higher level."

John Glenn finished fifth overall, led by Chuck Baumer (4th, 5-8) in the high jump, Chad Skrocki (3rd, 12-) in the pole vault, Tyler Wejrowski (3rd, 10:41.27) in the 3200, (4th, 2:15.45) in the 800 and (6th, 4:55.33) in the 1600; ; Chad Tacey (3rd, 7.56) and John Ught (4th, 7.60) in the 60-meter dash.

Standish-Sterling, which competed in Division 3, also had several top finishes, especially among their contingent of throwers.

The girls, who placed ninth as a team, got most of their points from Ashlyn Gulvas' 37-3 winning effort in the shot put and Kalee Nelson's placed fifth-place (30-9) finish. Danielle Milan also took seventh in the long jump (13-9.75).

The Panthers boys (11th overall) were led by Mark Stawowy (2nd, 44-11.5) and Keith Schmidt (3rd, 44-7) in the shot put and a seventh-place finish from its 4x400 relay team (3:54.12).

FULL RESULTS (PDF Files)

Division 2 Boys (Ogemaw, Glenn)

Division 2 Girls (Ogemaw, Glenn)

Division 3 Boys (Standish-Sterling)

Division 3 Girls (Standish-Sterling)