Meet the 2020 Bay City-area athletes signed to play college sports

BAY CITY, MI -- Their high school days ended in disappointment.

But they can look forward with optimism as their college careers await.

Although the coronavirus deprived everybody of a spring sports season -- and brought the high school experience to an abrupt halt for all seniors -- many athletes have more games to play after committing to college programs.

Here’s a look at the most recent wave of signees from the Bay City area’s 28 high schools.

Meet Bay City-area athletes who signed with colleges in the fall

Meet Bay City-area athletes who signed with colleges in the winter

WILL ALDRICH, BEAVERTON

One of the state’s elite pole vaulters, his soaring skills are taking him to the Division II collegiate level. Aldrich signed with the Saginaw Valley State University track and field program after finishing second in the state. The two-time regional champion posted a personal best 14-0.

GRACE BEARDSLEY, GLADWIN

A three-sport performer for the Flying G’s she shifts her full focus to softball with the Coast Guard program.

JENNA BETTS, CLARE

After taking the Clare bowling program to new heights, Betts takes her game to the next level after signing with the Marian University women’s bowling program. She heads to the Wisconsin school with a power-packed resume that includes the 2019 singles state championship. She also powered the Pioneers to a state runner-up finish in team competition as a senior.

CARLEY BOLEN, TAWAS

A sensational athlete for the Braves, she is showing her versatility by heading to Delta College for both soccer and basketball. A four-year varsity performer, she tallied a 40-goal season while helping the Braves to the district soccer title. She was also among the area’s top scorers in basketball at 18.3 points per game as a senior.

LOGAN BOYNTON, CASS CITY

A three-sport performer, he zeroes in on swimming at his next stop after signing with the Northern Michigan University swimming and diving program. Boynton was a three-time, first-team all-ISC performer with the co-op swim program at Caro. He also exceled in football and track at Cass City.

HUNTER CAISTER, CASS CITY

After a banner season as a senior, Caister is continuing his wrestling career at Olivet College. Caister claimed the 215-pound title in the Greater Thumb Conference this winter then capped his prep career with a fifth-place finish at 189 in the Division 4 state finals. He posted a 51-8 record this year.

CORBIN DALEY, ESSEXVILLE GARBER

One of the big men up front for the Dukes, he’s taking a big step to the next level with the Siena Heights University football team. Daley is a 6-foot-2, 255-pounder who played offensive guard and defensive end for Garber. He moved to Macomb Dakota for his final semester but remains a product of the Garber football program as he begins his NAIA career.

SHERIDAN DINSMORE, CARO

Caro’s school record holder in shot put and discus, she takes her skills to the next level with the Saginaw Valley State University track and field program. A six-time regional champion and five-time all-stater, she was state runner-up in both throws in 2019 and also runner-up in discus in 2018. She owns personal bests of 41-7.5 in the shot and 136-1 in the discus.

LAIKEN EX, STANDISH-STERLING

A speedy center fielder who also gets it done with the bat, she is taking her softball talents to Alma College. The four-year varsity standout batted .410 with 27 RBIs as the leadoff hitter on the 2019 squad that made a historic final-four run.

ALLY FRANK, TAWAS

A multi-sport standout for the Braves, the recent grad has future plans after signing with the Siena Heights softball program. She’ll compete with the Saints in the NAIA.

BRYCE FREDENBURG, JOHN GLENN

Fredenburg had a solid senior season and now his football career rolls on. The John Glenn wide receiver is committed to Alma College for next year. He caught 24 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown for the Bobcats last fall.

LAKIN FRYZEL, STANDISH-STERLING

The ace pitcher for the Panthers, she has Division III college plans after committing to the Alma College softball program. Fryzel sparked Standish-Sterling to a state semifinal run in 2019, posting a 23-6 record with a 1.35 ERA and 235 strikeouts.

HALLIE HORNBACHER, CARO

The Caro senior showed Division I talent in earning a spot with the Central Michigan University gymnastics team. Hornbacher is a member of the Bay Valley Academy gymnastics program.

RIANN HORNUNG, REESE

Cleary University is getting some Thumb-area talent after the signing of Hornung to its women’s softball program. The utility player who has seen action on the infield and outfield is heading to the NAIA program that competes in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.

JARRETT INSCHO, BEAVERTON

A two-time MLive Bay City Dream Teamer, he becomes a part of the burgeoning program at Mid Michigan. A 2018 first-team all-stater at third base, he went 12-1 as a dominant pitcher while leading the Beavers to the regional crown in 2019.

LANDON JENNINGS, STANDISH-STERLING

An electrifying player on both sides of the ball, Jennings could be an impact player with his new football team at Alma College. A first-team all-TVC East running back, he tallied 663 rushing yards and 676 receiving yards while scoring 21 touchdowns. He also excelled at safety.

KALEB KOLB, JOHN GLENN

Kolb builds on the John Glenn swimming tradition by taking his talents to the next level. He’ll compete in the MIAA at the Division III level after committing to Olivet College. Kolb was one of Bay County’s top sprinters this season, posting a 24.34 in the 50 freestyle and 54.67 in the 100 freestyle while swimming on the county’s fastest 200 relay.

DILLON KROENING, GLADWIN

The state champion wrestler has more matches ahead of him after committing to the Rochester University program. Kroening, who doubles as quarterback of the football team, was a state runner-up wrestler as a junior before winning it all this season.

MAX KUKULSKI, VASSAR

A tough-nosed player behind the plate, Kukulski is making college plans with the Delta College baseball team. He joins the junior college program that competes in the MCCAA.

OLIVIA LeBRUN, BAY CITY CENTRAL

The Central senior earned her shot to become a college athlete, signing with the Wabash Valley women’s soccer program. A speedy and aggressive forward, she ventures to Mount Carmel, Illinois, to compete with the junior college program.

DUSTYN LUCAS, BAY CITY CENTRAL

The Central catcher and infielder is heading to Wisconsin for his next baseball adventure, signing with the Bryant and Stratton program. Lucas batted .345 as a junior, earning a shot with the junior college program in Wauwatosa.

AUSTIN MACKENZIE, JOHN GLENN

Mackenzie is heading to the MIAA, joining the Trine University baseball program that competes at the Division III level. Mackenzie was a key player for the Bobcats as an outfielder in 2019, ranking among Bay County leaders with 23 runs scored.

BRAYDEN MALLAK, OSCODA

The sparkplug behind the winningest stretch in Oscoda basketball history, he takes the next step with the Lansing Community College program. Mallak ranks third in Owls history with 1,180 points and is the all-time assist leader with 388. He is a two-time first-team MLive Bay City Dream Teamer.

KARLEIGH McBRIDE, STANDISH-STERLING

A sparkplug guard, she was a driving force behind Standish-Sterling’s big season on the basketball court. The heady player with a knack for knocking down big shots is taking on a new challenge at Delta College. McBride was a four-year varsity basketball player who also shined in softball.

TREVIN PHILLIPS, CARO

A standout performer in the field events for the Tigers, he is joining the Saginaw Valley State University track and field program. Phillips is an all-state high jumper and a six-time conference champion. He’s posted personal bests of 6-2 in the high jump, 42-5 in the shot put and 137-5 in the discus.

REED RAYMOND, STANDISH-STERLING

A second-team all-state performer, Raymond’s baseball career rolls on at Delta College. The ace of the Standish-Sterling staff as a junior, he had a remarkable season with a 9-1 record, 0.34 ERA and 79 Ks in 61.1 innings. He also batted .384 and earned MLive Bay City Dream Team honors.

OLIVIA RECHSTEINER, BAY CITY WESTERN

A skilled midfielder on the Western soccer team, she continues her athletic career at the collegiate level after inking with Delta College. Rechsteiner was in her third varsity season with the Warriors, serving as a two-way playmaker.

NICK ROBINETTE, GLADWIN

The Gladwin football standout has an NAIA future after committing to the Lawrence Tech program. A receiver for the Flying G’s, he’ll compete in the fledgling football program at the Southfield school.

CARTER SONNTAG, JOHN GLENN

John Glenn’s rock-solid backstop is moving on to the collegiate level after joining the Delta College baseball program. Sonntag batted .336 with 21 runs scored as a junior for the Bobcats.

SOPHIE SUCHODOLSKI, BAY CITY WESTERN

The Western senior is going a unique route with her college career, signing with the Adrian College women’s rowing program. She is an open-weight coxswain, heading to a third-year program at Adrian.

KAYLA VANTIEM, GLADWIN

A two-time singles state qualifier, VanTiem takes on college bowling after signing with the Mid-Michigan College program. She led the Flying G’s with a 157.9 average this season.

NATELE VANTOL, ESSEXVILLE GARBER

Part of the nucleus of Garber’s girls soccer squad that rolled all the way to a state runner-up showing in 2019, she takes her talents to another successful program at Delta College. A defender and midfielder by trade, she also provides plenty of offensive punch with 15 goals and 16 assists as a junior. She was a two-time Dream Team honoree.

J.T. WARREN, LAKER

A first-team all-conference pick at both tight end and linebacker, Warren makes the move to college football with Davenport University. He joins the GLIAC program at the Division II level after a strong senior season. He had 13 receptions for 202 yards and two TDs and served as a vital blocker for Laker’s running attack.

KEAGAN WENDEL, STANDISH-STERLING

The skilled and smooth point guard has a college basketball future after committing to Lawrence Tech. The three-year varsity performer averaged 18.1 points and 5.4 rebounds as a senior. He is a first-team all-TVC East and two-time Dream Team selection.

ETHAN WESTON, GLADWIN

The next level awaits the Gladwin senior after he committed to the Mid-Michigan College men’s bowling program. Weston posted a 181.8 average for the Flying G’s this season.

LANCE WILTSE, BAY CITY WESTERN

He never got the chance to swing a bat for Western, but Wiltse is proud to represent the Warriors at the next level. A transfer from Michigan Lutheran Seminary as a senior, he is signed with the Delta College baseball program. Wiltse was an all-state third baseman at MLS in 2018 and repeated as an all-TVC pick in 2019.

2020 BAY CITY-AREA COMMITS

BAY CITY CENTRAL

Brooke Beyer, Siena Heights track

Hayden Jatczak, SVSU baseball

Olivia LeBrun, Wabash Valley soccer

Dustyn Lucas, Bryant and Stratton baseball

Devell Washington, West Virginia football

Olivia Willette, Delta soccer

BAY CITY WESTERN

Bristol Bruzewski, Delta softball

Addison Cooley, SVSU softball

Hannah Lytle, SVSU swimming

Ashlyn Nagel, CMU track

Jenna Picard, SVSU track

Olivia Rechsteiner, Delta soccer

Sophie Suchodolski, Adrian rowing

C.J. Trail, Olivet football

Lance Wiltse, Delta baseball

Adaline Ziehmer, Cedarville softball

BEAVERTON

Will Aldrich, SVSU track and field

Jarrett Inscho, Mid Michigan baseball

CARO

Sheridan Dinsmore, SVSU track and field

Hallie Hornbacher, CMU gymnastics

Trevin Phillips, SVSU track and field

CASS CITY

Kendall Anthes, SVSU baseball

Logan Boynton, NMU swimming

Sandyn Cuthrell, CMU baseball

CLARE

Jenna Betts, Marian bowling

Brooklyn Tocco, Delta softball

ESSEXVILLE GARBER

Lauren Bouvy, SVSU softball

Logan Brown, Indiana Tech tennis

Corbin Daley, Siena Heights

Olivia Dwan, Michigan rowing

Camden Fisher, Northwood baseball

Hannah Jatczak, Northwood soccer

Stephanie Pawlaczyk, Mid-Michigan softball

Natele VanTol, Delta soccer

GLADWIN

Nick Robinette, Lawrence Tech football

Ethan Weston, Mid-Michigan bowling

Kayla VanTiem, Mid-Michigan bowling

Dillon Kroening, Rochester wrestling

HALE

Trent Kangas, Cornerstone baseball

Britt Parkinson, Alma swimming

JOHN GLENN

Brendan Beaver, Lansing baseball

Ben Cnudde, Mott baseball

Bryce Fredenburg, Alma football

Kennedi Hardy, Mott softball

Kaleb Kolb, Olivet swimming

Austin Mackenzie, Trine baseball

Carter Sonntag, Delta baseball

Delaney Wesolek, Hope swimming

LAKER

J.T. Warren, Davenport football

OGEMAW HEIGHTS

Tyler Eedy, MSU golf

Gail Kowalczyk, Alma swimming

Tyler Walters, Alma football

OSCODA

Lauren Langley, Michigan rowing

Brayden Mallak, Lansing CC basketball

PINCONNING

Sarah Bartkowiak, Delta softball

Kade Compeau, Bryant and Stratton baseball

Brenna Hoffman, Delta softball

Lauren Laures, Mid-Michigan basketball

REESE

Alex Reinert, Michigan rowing

ROSCOMMON

Drac Josts, Alma football

Seth Keipert, SVSU football

STANDISH-STERLING

Chris Campau, Mid-Michigan baseball

Laiken Ex, Alma softball

Lakin Fryzel, Alma softball

Landon Jennings, Alma football

Emily Ratajczak, Southwest Minnesota swimming

Reed Raymond, Delta baseball

Ashley Roper, Rochester softball

Keagan Wendel, Lawrence Tech basketball

TAWAS

Carley Bolen, Delta soccer

Ally Frank, Siena Heights softball

Lexi LoJoice, SVSU softball

Alysse Russo, Cleary softball

VASSAR

Max Kukulski, Delta baseball

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