Sports

The Munising Middle/ High School gymnasium was packed by fans of the Baraga Vikings and the Mackinaw City Comets on Tuesday, March 14, as the local school hosted the MHSAA Division 4 Quarterfinals. It was the last basketball game of the season played in Alger County.

The Northern Lights League has announced their all-conference teams for the boys and girls basketball season. Munising Baptist’s Ryan Swift finished in second in the voting behind NLL Player of the Year Brayden Altoft of Maplewood Baptist.

The U.P. Football All-Star Game draft took place on Saturday, March 11, setting up some unique teammates and adversaries in the exhibition contest.

The Munising Mustangs boys basketball team won the District Championship on Friday, March 10 at Big Bay de Noc with a convincing and controlling 70-44 win over the Rapid River Rockets. Munising started the game with a 18-0 run while Rapid River failed to score from the floor until the second quarter. Ten different Mustangs scored in the game, with all 15 players getting meaningful minutes. Trevor Nolan led all scorers with 24 points, 21 of which came from behind the three-point line. Cully Trzeciak had 10 points. Ian Sundling had 16 to lead Rapid River.

For the first time in 69 years, the Munising Mustangs are regional champions. “I think it’s a special group of kids right here that really wanted this,” Munising Head Coach Terry Kienitz said.

The Puck of the Irish Tournament is an annual tradition that’s spanned nearly three decades to date, and generations of hockey players. Current and former coaches and players describe it as a favorite weekend of the youth hockey season and a perfect way to wrap up the long, cold, hectic winter of hockey. Last weekend, the 26th Annual Puck of the Irish Tournament was held in Bay City.

The Munising Mustangs led all schools in Skyline Central Conference season awards this year after an undefeated run in the conference. Munising had seven awards, two more than the second-most recognized team in North Central, who won the conference’s small-school division.