Two thousand and nine has come and gone yet several accomplishments shall stand the test of time when reflecting back on the sports seasons.

Tecumseh High School added yet another state champion with Tawni Vollmer bowling her way into the championship final and finishing as the best that Michigan has to offer in Division 2 girls bowling. The Indians also won back-to-back Division 2 girls bowling championships and head into the New Year looking to make unprecedented history with a three-peat.

Clinton High School had wrestler Jesse Sexton finish as the runner up in the state finals and Hannah Payne place third in the long jump at the state track meet.
Britton and Deerfield combined the last of their sports programs with basketball and volleyball joining together in 2009. Hopes are the teams will be stronger in the coming years.

Student-athletes from all three of the schools in the Herald’s coverage area signed National Letters of Intent to join colleges or universities, making 2009 another banner year.

2009 Year in Review

January

• The Michigan High School Football Coaches Association announced the selection of Tecumseh football coach Bob Ondrovic as a 2008 Assistant Coach of the Year.

• Britton-Macon Area School retired 2004 graduate Duane Below’s No. 32 uniform in front of a packed house between the boy’s basketball games.

• Tecumseh's varsity boys swim and dive team defeated Chelsea 100-85.

• Clinton's varsity girls basketball team picked up an important 53-42 TCC win against Madison's Trojans and followed with a 56-38 non-conference victory against Blissfield.

• Tecumseh varsity girls bowling team beat A.A. Skyline 29-1 to remain undefeated (6-0).

• Tecumseh's varsity wrestling team traveled to Hillsdale's 16-Team Tournament and won with 239.5 points.

• Playing their best half of basketball this year, Clinton’s varsity girls basketball team dominated Whiteford and picked up a 70-31 victory.

February

• The Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association recently selected Clinton coach Al Roberts to be included in its Hall of Fame.

• Tecumseh's Brea Tomford placed first in every event during the last two meets while setting the second highest all-around score ever at Tecumseh with a 35.475. She also tied the school's balance beam record of 9.225 against Coldwater.

• Tecumseh's varsity wrestling team won its own Phillip Jaimes Invitational after defeating Clinton 40-21 in the championship final.

• Tecumseh’s Zach Galloway signed a National Letter of Intent to play football with Grand Valley State University.

• Clinton's Steve Embry signed with Division II Hillsdale College to play football for the Chargers.

• Four Tecumseh wrestlers earned championships at the County Wrestling Tournament at Adrian College while Clinton had one.

• Tecumseh's varsity wrestling team won the District 2 title to advance to the regional competition at Eaton Rapids.

• Tecumseh’s varsity boys bowling team traveled to Ann Arbor and beat Ann Arbor Skyline 27-3.

• Clinton High School's varsity wrestlers had a great outing at the Individual District 4 competition and will advance 13 to the individual regional tournament at Manchester.

• Tecumseh's varsity girls bowling team went another year without recording a single loss after defeating Ann Arbor Pioneer 29-1 to finish the regular season at 12-0.

• Four pool records were set at Ann Arbor Skyline as Tecumseh's varsity boys swimmers downed the Eagles 144-39.

• Brea Tomford broke her own school record on balance beam with a score of 9.45.

• Tecumseh's varsity girls bowling team pulled off a three-peat at Trenton in the regional competition, winning three regional titles in the last three years.

March

• Tecumseh’s varsity girls bowling team defeated Bay City John Glenn by only 10 pins, (1,738-1,728) to earn back-to-back state titles.

• Tecumseh’s Tawni Vollmer overtook Tiffany Brown of Essexville Garber to earn the individual Division 2 state bowling title.

• First year Tecumseh swim coach Brian Thomas was honored with the Southern Michigan Independent Swim League's Coach of the Year Award after the Indians defended their SMISL championship in Chelsea.

• Clinton’s varsity girls basketball team fell to Hudson to finish its season third in the TCC (15-6).

• Tecumseh’s varsity girls basketball team finished 0-21 after being eliminated 49-19 by Chelsea in district action.

• Britton finished its varsity girls basketball season with a 61-39 Class D district loss to Lenawee Christian School.

• Tecumseh's varsity boys basketball team lost 62-53 against Ida in the opening round of district action to finish out its season at 1-20 overall.

• Clinton’s varsity boys basketball team finished 14-7 overall after falling to Hanover-Horton’s defensive pressure during the first round of Class C district action.

• Clinton junior Jesse Sexton placed second in the Division 4 state finals at 152-pounds at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

• Tecumseh heavyweight Kyle Connors battled his way out of the loser’s bracket to place fourth in the state finals.

• Tecumseh's varsity boys swim and dive team placed 11th at the Division 3 state meet at Oakland University.

• Indiana Tech recently signed Tecumseh's Shaun Lewandowski as a defensive player for the Warriors' inaugural mens lacrosse team.

• Thirty-three coaches were fingerprinted and approved by Tecumesh’s Board of Education to lead the Indians in their 2009 spring sports campaign.

• Tecumseh varsity girls lacrosse team opened its season at Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard and dominated the Fighting Irish15-4.

April

• Clinton's boys and girls teams joined together for Onsted High School's Co-ed Relays and placed fifth overall. Tecumseh’s Indians won the event.

• Britton-Deerfield's varsity track teams traveled to Grass Lake for the Warrior Invitational. The Patriots didn't win any event but had several good performances turned in.

• Opening Day was a big blast for Tecumseh's two time defending division 2 state softball champions at Lincoln with the Indians pounding the winter out of the Railsplitters. The Indians then went 3-0 to win their own “Battle For Breast Cancer” tournament.

• Clinton's varsity baseball team improved to 8-1 overall after winning its own Classic Tournament.

• Britton-Deerfield's combined varsity baseball team picked up its first win of the season at Deerfield with Mike Burman earning a 12-10 pitching victory against Lenawee Christian.

• Tecumseh's varsity boys golf team placed second behind Dexter in a Southeastern Conference Quint at Chelsea's Redman Farms. Chelsea placed third while Adrian was fourth.

• Tecumseh's varsity boys lacrosse team played hard and dug deep to upset visiting Grand Blanc 9-8, at Indians Stadium.

• Clinton's varsity baseball team improved to 14-1 overall and 7-0 in the Tri-County Conference after beating Whitmore Lake in two games.

• Tecumseh's varsity boys track team competed Friday, April 24, at the Western Invitational and had several top three finishers during the day.

• Britton-Deerfield's varsity boys and girls track teams competed against Whiteford and the girls won 67-61 while the boys lost 95-19.

• Tecumseh's varsity girls soccer team earned its first win of the season with Shannon Peake scoring all the Indians’ goals to beat Hillsdale 4-1.

• Just about everyone on Tecumseh's varsity softball team produced a hit at home in the team's last four contests with the Indians (9-0, 4-0 SEC) slamming and sliding to sweep both Sand Creek and Adrian.

• There is no stopping Clinton's varsity softball team with the Redskins on the ball and sweeping Whitmore Lake to improve to 13-1 overall.

May

• A grand slam by sophomore Stephen Bilotta helped Tecumseh's varsity baseball team beat Monroe Jefferson and win their own Invitational.

• Clinton pitcher Rylie Robinson picked up a 5-0 shutout over Tecumseh to win the Redskins’ varsity baseball tournament.

• Tecumseh varsity soccer player Brandon McClinchey signed a National Letter of Intent to play with Union College.

• Clinton’s varsity softball team recorded eight hits to Tecumseh's two to defeat the Indians’ defending Division 2 state championship team 7-0.

• Clinton's varsity boys golf team participated in the District 4 tournament at the Devil's Lake Golf Course and placed fourth overall to qualify for regional action.

• Tecumseh's varsity girls lacrosse team won its opening regional competition against Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, beating the Fighting Irish 14-9.

• Tecumseh's varsity boys golf team placed second at District competition to advance to regional play.

• Clinton’s varsity baseball team beat Morenci (15-0, 15-1) to win the TCC title. CHS then secured the district title for the first time in the last 13 years with a (11-5) win over Addison.

June

• Briton-Deerfield's varsity softball team advanced to the Division 4 district final at Summerfield but was shut out 16-0.

• Clinton's varsity softball team will advance to regional competition after dominating the Division 3 district games and winning the title.

• Tecumseh's varsity girls lacrosse team played their final match of the season at Skyline High School in Ann Arbor against Mercy of Farmington Hills after losing 17-5 in the regional semifinal.

• Tecumseh’s varsity softball team hung on to pick up yet another district championship.

• Two Clinton runners earned All-State honors at the Division 3 state track meet with Hannah Payne placing third in the long jump (16'6-1/4”) and Ruth Lovejoy fifth in the high jump (5”).

• Tecumseh's varsity baseball team (10-27) was handed a 15-2 loss by Onsted in the Division 2 district semifinal at Chelsea.

• Tierney Nelson pitched her sixth no-hitter of the season while helping Clinton's varsity softball team pick up back-to-back regional titles.

• In what seemed like a good dream gone bad, Tecumseh's two-time defending Division 2 state champion softball team lost 2-1 against Airport in its regional semifinal to finish the season at 29-8 overall.

• Clinton's varsity baseball team finished the season with its best record ever (32-6), after losing 13-0 against Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard in the regional final.

• Clinton's varsity softball team ended its bid for the Division 3 state title with a 2-0 loss in the semifinal to Gladstone in Battle Creek.

• Mark Martin won the NASCAR LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

• Six Tecumseh boys varsity lacrosse players (Jordan Coward, Alex Baker, Zach Brancheau, Colton Moore, Shaun Lewandowski, Steven Osworth) are named to the Division 2 all-state team.

• Tecumseh lacrosse player Autumn McMillin was awarded all-state recognition in Division 2 as a member of the MWLCA’s second team.

• Four Clinton varsity softball players (Tierney Nelson, Kelsey Karapas, Sadie Brown, Jordan Randall) were named to the Division 3 all-state first team while Tecumseh had one (Kaitlyn Kenyon) named to the Division 2 first team.

July

• The Great Lakes Shooters 4-H teams returned from the Scholastic Clay Target Program State Championship decorated with medals.

• Underwood-Orr (U-O) Post 34 American Legion baseball team will be heading to the World Series after building a successful regular season record of 21-7.

• Tecumseh’s Andrew Biscupski was awarded a Michigan High School Football Coaches Scholarship at the 2009 MHSFCA All-Star game.

• The annual Kelly Carter Scholarship Run was held on Saturday, July 18 and good times were recorded by all.

• After showing off their stuff at Alma College's facilities during a Championship Cheerleading Camp, Tecumseh's varsity team received a special invitation to perform during the Capitol One Bowl's All-American Halftime Show.

• Jackson Southwest, Lincoln Park, L’Anse Creuse, Hudsonville, Petoskey, Mattawan, Clinton and Tecumseh went at it during the Michigan Little League’s 10-11 state softball games held in Clinton’s Tate Park this week and the two local teams both went undefeated (4-0).

• In a state championship contest that went down to the final inning at Tate Park in Clinton, Tecumseh's 10-11-year old softball team was able to hold off a hard charging Clinton squad to claim this year's title with a score of 3-2.

August

• The 2009 Shotgun National Junior Olympics came to a close with Collin Wietfeldt (Hemlock) and Rachael Heiden (Clinton) earning titles in the Trap event. Both were named to the 2010 USA Development Team.

• The Tecumseh Public School District and area businesses are inviting members of the community to help celebrate the completion of the Indians' new athletic complex at the high school on Saturday, Aug. 22.

• Coach Randy Sparks and his Underwood-Orr Post 34 American Legion baseball team went 3-3 at the World Series and finished with a 25-9 season.

• Brian Vickers starts, finishes first at Michigan International Speedway’s NASCAR CARFAX 400.

• Master Thomas Sandoval and students of the ATA Black Belt Academy in Tecumseh will be celebrating the school's 25th anniversary with an open house on Saturday, Aug. 22.

• Tecumseh's varsity volleyball team opened its season by winning Addison's Invitational.

• Tecumseh’s boys and girls cross-country teams placed first as hosts of the annual cross-country County Preview, held at THS. The Indians' girls had Erica Steuwe repeat as county champion. She won the junior-senior race in a time of 21:10. Clinton’s Kenny Cooper won the junior-senior boys race in 17:11.

• Tecumseh's varsity boys soccer team retained the Bronson-Mansfield Cougar Cup championship after dominating play at Lenawee Christian Schools.

• Britton-Deerfield's newly combined varsity volleyball team went 2-for-6 at Summerfield's Invitational.

• Tecumseh's Indians dropped their season opening game at their new 2.1 million dollar Indian Stadium despite dominating play in the opening half. Tecumseh lost 21-8 against Monroe Jefferson.

• Clinton's varsity football team opened its season at Manchester and despite taking an early lead, lost 20-14 in double overtime.

• Britton-Deerfield's new head coach D.J. Lutz led his Patriots to a 26-14 victory to open the season at home against Waldron.

September

• Tecumseh’s varsity girls golf team defeated visiting Ann Arbor Huron 192-268 at the Tecumseh Country Club.

• The Indians’ varsity girls swim and dive team beat Plymouth 101-85 to open its season with seven state cut times recorded.

• Britton-Deerfield's varsity volleyball team hosted its first combined team tournament and won the title.

• The Spirit of America Blood Drive at Michigan International Speedway collected a record 1,297 units of blood during the 12-hour event on September 11.

• With just five seconds remaining on the clock and tied 42-42 with visiting Ypsilanti, Tecumseh's varsity football team put up its first field goal kick of the season to win its first game of the season at the new Indian Stadium.

• Tecumseh's varsity volleyball team defeated Chelsea in three-of-five matches played at home.

• Clinton's varsity football team stuck visiting Britton-Deerfield with a 42-14 TCC loss.

• Tecumseh's varsity football team improved its season record to 2-3 overall after defeating Dexter 38-28.

• Clinton's varsity volleyball team played Sand Creek at home and came out with a win.

• A first place finish in the Jefferson Invitational was recorded by Tecumseh's varsity boys cross-country team at the Sterling State Park in Monroe.

• Tecumseh's varsity boys soccer team played at home for the first time on the new Indian Stadium field against visiting Pinckney and lost 5-2.

October

• Clinton's varsity football team lost star running back Jesse Sexton due to a late injury while picking up a 42-20 TCC victory at Madison.

• Tecumseh’s varsity girls golf team placed third in the SEC White tournament and third overall in the final SEC White conference standings.

• Clinton’s varsity football team beats Whitmore Lake 27-7 to secure fourth straight playoff berth.

• Tecumseh's varsity football team marched back and forth on Adrian's wet and muddy Maple Stadium but was unable to do much in the way of scoring. The Indians lost 34-8.

• Tecumseh's varsity girls golf team missed advancing to the state meet by just two positions after placing fifth at regionals.

• The Clinton boys soccer team earned a hard-fought 4-0 victory against visiting Blissfield.

• Tecumseh's varsity boys soccer team defeated Marshall 2-1 in the opening game of districts.

• A very special first has been made at Tecumseh High School with senior Autumn McMilin receiving a scholarship and signing a National Letter of Intent to play lacrosse for Indiana Tech.

• Tecumseh's varsity volleyball team lost to Adrian in the finals of the County tournament.

• The Indians allowed just one goal in three matches while hosting the Division 2 District soccer championship at Indian Stadium to earn the title for the first time since 2003.

• There will be no post-season action for Tecumseh's varsity football team after a 28-18 non-conference loss at Charlotte. The Indians finished 2-7 overall.

• Britton-Deerfield (2-7 overall) closed its varsity football season with a 47-0 loss at Sand Creek.

• Tecumseh’s varsity boys soccer team lost 2-0 against Sturgis in regional action and finished 17-7-3.

• Clinton’s varsity football team defeated Summerfield 13-6 in overtime to secure the TCC title.

• Britton-Deerfield's varsity volleyball team finished second place behind the American Eagles at the WCA Tournament.

• Leon Miller was Tecumseh High School's only cross-country runner to place high enough at the Division 2 regional competition in Hudson to advance to the state meet.

• Clinton’s varsity volleyball team won the Tri-County Conference championship with a record of 12-2.

• The Detroit Lions selected Clinton varsity football coach Scott McNitt as the 2009 week-nine recipient of the High School Coach of the Week Program.

November

• Tecumseh's varsity volleyball team picked up the Class B district championship at Chelsea after defeating Ida in a four-match set.

• Clinton's varsity volleyball swept league rival Whitmore Lake as hosts of the district championship and won the title.

• Clinton senior Kenny Cooper led local runners at the state cross-country meet, placing 22nd in Division 3 (16:44). Tecumseh’s Leon Miller placed 68th in Division 2 while Britton-Deerfield's Paige Goll was 182nd in Division 4.

• Eight of Tecumseh’s varsity girls swimmers have qualified to advance to state competition after the Indians finished their regular season at the Southern Michigan Independent Swim League Championships in third place.

• Britton-Macon senior Taylor Medrea signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Division 1s University of Missouri, on a full scholarship for the gymnastics team.

• Tecumseh’s Kara Richard signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Central Missouri University on scholarship for the girls bowling team.

• Tecumseh’s varsity volleyball team lost in its regional semifinal match against Dewitt and finished its season with a solid record of 35-11-8 overall.

• Clinton’s varsity volleyball team advanced to the Regional Final and lost to a No. 3 ranked Bronson team. The Redskins’ finished the season 29-14-2 overall.

• Tecumseh had four girls receive all-state honors during the Division 3 state meet at EMU with the Indians’ 200-yard relay team (Rachel Waite, Gretchen Seidel, Allie Merritt, Danielle Sloan) placing fourth.

• Former Tecumseh High School varsity wrestling coach Tim Connors will be working side by side with Clinton’s varsity wrestling coach this season as the assistant for the Redskins’ squad.

• Clinton’s varsity girls basketball team opened the season on a winning note. The Redskins dominated Manchester and pulled off a 57-34 victory.

December

• A season opening quad wrestling meet turned into a thriller for Clinton’s varsity team at home with the Redskins winning their opening competition with a last match victory to beat Saline 39-32.

• Tecumseh’s varsity wrestling team split its opening season meet, losing 36-25 to Southgate Anderson but defeating Columbia Central 55-19.

• Tecumseh High School’s Student Athlete Advisory Council is hosting its first annual Hoops For Hunger event during the Indians’ boys basketball home opener against Milan on Friday, Dec. 11.

• Clinton’s varsity girls basketball dominated Ann Arbor Skyline and won 52-21.

• Tecumseh’s varsity girls basketball team lost 65-22 against Ida to start the 09-10 campaign.

• Britton-Deerfield’s varsity girls basketball team opened its season with a 50-35 win against Waldron.

• Clinton’s varsity boys basketball team earned a 53-46 victory at Manchester.

• Tecumseh’s Haleigh Edgar recently committed to attend Lake Superior State University by signing a National Letter of Intent to play softball with the Lakers.

• Tecumseh’s varsity boys basketball team started its season with a 49-32 victory over visiting Milan and then followed with a 48-41 win against Ida.

• Clinton’s varsity girls basketball team dominated Britton-Deerfield for a 70-43 Tri-County Conference victory.

• Tecumseh’s varsity boys swim and dive team finished second as hosts of the Southern Michigan Independent Swim League (SMISL) Relays.

• Chelsea Caterina led Tecumseh’s varsity gymnastics team during the Indians’ invitational with a first place finish on bars and a fourth place finish in the all-around. The Indians placed eighth out of the nine competing teams.

• Britton-Deerfield traveled to Clinton and played some serious basketball, making the Redskins work their backsides off for a 59-58 TCC victory.

• Britton-Deerfield’s varsity girls basketball team hosted Whitmore Lake and defeated the Trojans 65-31.