Let’s take a look back at the best Leelanau sports stories of 2024. From historic first to dramatic upsets, 2024 was a year for local teams competing at their bests.
ETERNAL GLORY: Lakers finish second; Houtteman named state champion (October)
The Glen Lake tennis team put a cherry on top of a spectacular season in October at the MHSAA Div. 4 State Championships in Midland.
The Lakers finished a school record second overall as a team, behind private school Holland Christian.
Glen Lake senior Michael Houtteman became the first individual state champion in school history as he ran through the third singles flight. Glen Lake sophomore Hawthorne Sutherland finished runner-up in the second singles flight, paving his way to the second highest finish in school history. Glen Lake senior Colebrook Sutherland reached the quarterfi nals in the first singles flight, which is the best of the best in Michigan Div. 4 tennis.
Eagles stun bears to win fourth district in a row/ Lakers capture 12th district in a row
June was a busy month for both Lake Leelanau St. Mary softball and Glen Lake baseball.
St. Mary softball went into a June MHSAA Div. 4 softball tournament as an underdog, facing the No. 1-seed Buckley Bears in the district semifinal. Despite the odds, the Eagles came out victorious to win its fourth district championship in a row 4-2….Call it a dozen. Glen Lake baseball clinched their 12th consecutive district championship in June with victories over Lake Leelanau St. Mary and Suttons Bay.
“It feels great to just carry on the legacy of a great program and we go by the motto that tradition never graduates and it feels really good to be a part of something great,” Glen Lake junior Peter Gelsinger said.
Lakers defeat Panthers in instant classic March 7
Back in March, with less than 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Glen Lake junior Benji Allen got a pass on the left wing, drove to the basket, and secured the Lakers’ first district championship since 2021 with a 44-42 victory over Frankfort on Friday, March 1.
Lakers return home : Glen Lake made history way back in February as the Laker wrestling program had its first home meet since the early 2000s, marking a milestone for the revitalized program. Glen Lake junior Boden Fisher tallied the first-home individual win for Glen Lake in this new era of Laker wrestling in a quad meet against Mancelona, Frankfort, and Grayling.
“There was a little bit of pressure going first, but it was definitely a big relief winning and it was very exciting after seeing those points up on the board for the first time in a long time,” Fisher said.
Lakers capture district championship
It was a perfect storm in March as Glen Lake girls basketball (16-7) defeated No. 7 ranked Lake Leelanau St. Mary to capture an MHSAA Div. 4 district championship in a 68-42 win over the favored Eagles. The Lakers led from start to finish as Glen Lake dominated with its press defense and offensive tempo early and often en route to the lopsided win
Eagles hang on against Lakers
Lake Leelanau St. Mary (10-1) defeated Glen Lake (9-4) 52-42 in an all-Leelanau battle in late January. The Eagles were led by senior Delana Kirt with 18 points, 14 rebounds, and eight steals.
“We honestly stayed calm and just remembered that patience is our key,” Kirt said.
The Eagle victory marks the first win for St. Mary girls basketball over Glen Lake since its gym was built in 2003.
Bufalini pitches no-hits and Allen is pitch perfect
It was a day like no other for Glen Lake baseball (23-3 overall, 12-0 NWC) as senior Cooper Bufalini and junior Benji Allen threw a no-hitter and a perfect game in back-to-back games against Suttons Bay last Thursday. In game one, Bufalini took to the hill and dominated all afternoon, leading the Lakers to a 6-0 victory….. Allen entered the history books with his second career perfect game in the latter of the back-to-back games, securing a 12-0 victory.
GL’s Houtteman finishes second in state finals
Glen Lake junior Michael Houtteman competed to the best of his abilities at the MHSAA Div. 4 Golf State Championships at Grand Valley state’s Meadow golf Course to finish second overall, only a shot off from winning a state championship…. Houtteman was -3 under on the 17th hole and two strokes back from the lead.
Norse top Leland in volleyball
Suttons Bay volleyball traveled to Leland and wound up getting the first win over the Comets in four years last fall. The Norse screamed after every point en route to the four set win.
Lakers fall in regional
Glen Lake (9-2) football fell to Beal City (9-2) 21-14 in a MHSAA Div. 4 regional playoff game in November.
This is the longest playoff trip for the Lakers since 2019. Glen Lake committed two turnovers during the loss. Glen Lake outgained Beal City 261 to 247 and ran over 15 more plays. Beal City went on to win the state championship.
Leland new No. 1 in D-4 soccer
Leland soccer (16-1-1) woke up as the new No. 1-ranked soccer team in MHSAA Div. 4 rankings. The Comets then handled business on senior night against Benzie 7-0 that same day.
