The Spring Lake girls soccer team moved one step closer to defending its Division 2 state championship on Tuesday night.

The Lakers used an unassisted goal by senior Nia Theune in the second half to secure a 1-0 win over Mount Pleasant in the Division 2 regional semifinals at Forest Hills Northern High School and advance to Thursday’s regional championship game.

Spring Lake (12-6-2) will face Grand Rapids Christian (10-9-2) at 6 p.m. Thursday with a regional championship on the line.

“We got ourselves in a kick-and-run game in the first half, and that’s not our M.O.,” said Spring Lake head coach Becky May. “We were not able to get very many decent looks at the goal during that stretch, but we came out better in the second half with more possession and more ball control.

“Nia has put together an impressive postseason. She is hunting for opportunities and finding just the right moment to shine. Today was no exception. Her shot was determined and precise.”

May also had high praise for her defensive unit, as they helped secure the ninth shutout of the season for the Lakers.

“I can’t say enough about my back four – sophomore Amelia Arnold, junior Lucia Folkert, senior Lauren Nicles, and sophomore keeper Ava Nardin,” she added. “On the turf and in the air, our defense stood their ground.

“We are back in the Elite 8 with a young and feisty squad. They wanted it, so they went out and grabbed it.”

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TOP-RANKED WMC FALLS TO K-ZOO CHRISTIAN

The No. 1-ranked Western Michigan Christian girls soccer team was held scoreless for the first time all season Tuesday night, as they fell to No. 4 Kalamazoo Christian 1-0 in the Division 4 regional semifinals at Western Michigan Christian High School.

Kalamazoo Christian scored with 18 minutes left in the first half when Jordan Bonnema ripped a shot past the WMC defense to give the Comets an early 1-0 lead. From that point on, the challengers weathered the storm of the home team and fended off a late frenzy from the Warriors to secure the narrow win and advance to Thursday’s regional championship game.

The Comets (15-4-2) will face Byron Center Zion Christian (17-3-1) in the Division 4 regional championship game at 6 p.m. Thursday at Western Michigan Christian High School. The Mountaineers defeated St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic 5-2 in their regional semifinal.

Western Michigan Christian finished the 2025 season with a 13-3-3 record and its first district championship since 2016.

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SHELBY SUFFERS SHOOTOUT LOSS

The Tigers suffered a heartbreaking loss Tuesday night in the Division 4 regional semifinals, as they fell to Midland Calvary Baptist 1-0 in a shootout.

Shelby appeared to take the lead in the second half, but a controversial call on a potential goal from Annabelle Stark off assists from Alyse Erickson and Kylee Hanson was not ruled a goal after the official call was that the ball did not cross the goal line.

The two teams battled to a scoreless tie through the rest of regulation and two overtime sessions before Midland Calvary Baptist ultimately outscored the Tigers 4-3 in the shootout to advance to the regional finals.

Michelle Peterson, Alyse Erickson and Kylie Brown each netted shootout goals for Shelby, who finished the 2025 season with a 6-14-2 overall record.

Below is an updated look at the regional tournament schedule and brackets for all the Muskegon-area girls soccer teams.

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DIVISION 2

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REGIONAL 5 AT FOREST HILLS NORTHERN

SEMIFINALS (June 3)

Grand Rapids Christian 3, Petoskey 1

Spring Lake 1, Mount Pleasant 0

FINALS (June 5)

Spring Lake (12-6-2) vs. Grand Rapids Christian (10-9-2), 6 p.m.

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DIVISION 3

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REGIONAL 9 AT BIG RAPIDS

SEMIFINALS (June 4)

Boyne City (11-7-2) vs. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (9-8-2), 5 p.m.

Montague (14-8) vs. Traverse City St. Francis (11-7-2), 7 p.m.

FINALS (June 6)

Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.

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DIVISION 4

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REGIONAL 13 AT CLARE

SEMFINALS (June 3)

Saginaw Nouvel 4, Leland 0

Midland Calvary Baptist 1, Shelby 0 (SO)

FINALS (June 5)

Saginaw Nouvel (15-5-1) vs. Midland Calvary Baptist (9-8-2), 5 p.m.

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REGIONAL 14 AT WESTERN MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN

SEMIFINALS (June 3)

Kalamazoo Christian 1, Western Michigan Christian 0

Byron Center Zion Christian 5, St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake 2

FINALS (June 5)

Kalamazoo Christian (15-4-2) vs. Byron Center Zion Christian (17-3-1), 6 p.m.

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The Ravenna ESPYs, held June 3 in the school auditorium, celebrated a number of top performances by Ravens student-athletes throughout the 2024-2025 athletic year.

The award winners were:

Male Raven Award: Trenton Turney

Female Raven Award: Darya Olefir

Top Female Athlete: Whitney Holmes

Top Male Athlete: Bryant Thompson and Robert Melzer

Breakthrough Athlete: Alivia Dailey

Top Individual Performance: Chauncy Walton’s two goals (including the overtime game-winner) against Perry

Coach of the Year: Luke Darrah

Best Game: Ravenna football’s 21-0 win over Mogadore

Best Upset: Ravenna baseball’s 4-2 win over Cloverleaf

Best Play: Wrestler NaCol Foreman’s lateral drop throw in the district tournament

Outstanding Team: Boys bowling

Best Dressed Team: Baseball and softball

Elite Scholar Athlete: Julia Stratton

June 3 high school highlights

Updated: 10:51 PM EDT Jun 3, 2025

In sports here tonight, the final week of the high school spring sports regular season and *** big matchup in Class *** softball this evening in Gorham. Wyndham trying to beat Gorham for the 2nd time in *** week. The Rams with 21 in the fourth, but pitcher Kennedy Kimball catches the line drive to end the threat. The Eagles pull away in the 6th. Yanni Kostopoulos crushes the 2 run homer to center field, and Wyndham adds 3 more runs to win 6 to 0. Over on the baseball, Diamond Gorham hosted Bonnie Eagle. The Scots’ patience at the plate build them an early lead. Lucas Clem walks with the bases loaded, and Canan Wood scores to make it 4 to 0. Then Garrett Secord walks to force in Brodie Donahue. Bonny Eagle built *** 5-run lead and held on for the 7 to 4 win. The great new Gloucester baseball team hosted Lake Region. The Lakers had *** big first inning. Titus Benton beats out the infield single, and Noah Peterson scores to make it 4-0. Later in the inning, Brock Gibbons crushes *** 3-run homer to right field. He homered twice, and Lake Regent scored 10 runs in the first inning on their way to the 15 to 0 win. The same schools meeting on the softball diamond, the Lakers scored 6 runs in the second inning. Mia Latard scores on the passed ball to make it 4-0 Lake Region. Then Hailey Hamlin hits the bloop single to center field that knocks in 2 more runs. Ava Cole had the shutout in the 8 to 0 Lake Region win. The

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June 3 high school highlights

Updated: 10:51 PM EDT Jun 3, 2025

The Lake Region baseball and softball teams won while the Windham softball and Bonny Eagle baseball teams won on the road.

The Lake Region baseball and softball teams won while the Windham softball and Bonny Eagle baseball teams won on the road.

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There were seven tennis teams (six boys, one girls) in playoff action on Tuesday with a ticket to the Round of 8 on the line.

Find out who advanced closer to a chance at a state title, and whose season came to an end.

Boys Tennis

Div. 4, Round of 16: No. 4 Fairhaven 5, No. 13 Sandwich 0: The Blue Knights (15-7) came up short in their second playoff game. They defeated No. 20 Monument Mountain, 3-2, in the Round of 32.

Div. 4, Round of 16: No. 3 Monomoy 5, No. 14 Bourne 0: The Sharks (17-3) defeated the Canalmen (9-11) for the third time this season in a Cape playoff matchup.

Roman Pavluchenko defeated Joziah DeSouza in first singles (6-1, 6-1), Ryan Casey beat Jonathan Santucci in second singles (6-0, 6-0), and Zack Shields won third singles (6-1, 7-6 (8-6)) over Jake Roux.

Nick Hadden and Blake Noonan beat Nate Reynolds and Landon Hope in first doubles (6-2, 6-2), while Tom Hereford and Ethan Seufert defeated Doug Lunede and James Kirby.

Monomoy will play Cape opponent No. 6 Sturgis West for the first time this season in the Round of 8 at a date and time TBD.

Bourne defeated No. 19 Wareham 4-1 in the Round of 32 for its first playoff win almost a decade.

Div. 4, Round of 16: No. 5 Cohasset 5, No. 12 Falmouth Academy 0: The Mariners (6-6) were swept on the road to end their season. They swept No. 21 Ipswich in the Round of 32.

Div. 3, Round of 16:  No. 8 Holliston 4, No. 9 Falmouth 1: The Clippers (14-4) ended their season on the road in the second round. They swept No. 24 Cardinal Spellman in the Round of 32.

Div. 4, Round of 16: No. 6 Sturgis West 3, No. 11 Lenox Memorial 2: The Navigators (10-2) handed Lenox Memorial their first loss of the season to advance to the Round of 8.

Ray Zhang beat Alex Kolean in first singles (6-0, 6-0), Francisco Garcia Raya defeated Ayden Shove in second singles (6-0, 6-0), and Robert Muhov closed the deal with a third singles (3-6, 7-6, 6-4) win over Edmund Pritchard.

Girls Tennis 

Div. 3, Round of 16: No. 3 Martha’s Vineyard Reg. 3, No. 14 Boston Latin Academy 2: The Vineyarders (17-1) won a hard fought match to advance to the Round of 8, where they face No. 6 Newburyport at a time and date TBD.

Courtney Jacobs is the Sports Editor for the Cape Cod Times. You can contact him at cjacobs@capecodonline.com and follow him on X: @CJ_Journalist.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

With Americana music and a whole lot of tie-dye, WMOT’s Roots on the River might be the best start to the festival season in Nashville. 

The annual event returned to the Two Rivers Mansion on May 31 for eight hours of performances, including Aaron Lee Tasjan, Sam Bush and a surprise guest whose head-banging blues left jaws dropped nearly on the floor.

The event offers festival-goers the opportunity to connect with their community through food and music, while at the same time supporting WMOT, a nonprofit public radio station. 

“Every year I get to meet new people … this is a good time,” said Denise Tucker, a volunteer who travels from South Dakota for Roots on the River each year.

Read on for performance highlights from the one-day show. 

Noeline Hofmann cooks with ‘Purple Gas’

The festival kicked off with up-and-coming country artist Noeline Hofmann and her band of Nashville natives. The 21-year-old rocked the stage with an hour-long set including songs from her new record, “Purple Gas.” Hofmann’s soulful music fit right in with the day’s other performances.

From Alberta, Canada, Hofmann attributes her love of country music to her family and hometown, which she calls “the Nashville of the North.”

“I’d say [my music is] lyric-driven and often country-rooted,” Hofmann said in an interview with Sidelines.

Hofmann ended her time on stage with an unreleased single about being a “honky tonk girl.” The lyrics nod to performing around the country and sleepless nights that accompany traveling as a band.

Roots on the River only kicks off Hofmann’s bustling summer.

This week, she returns to Nashville to perform at CMA Fest alongside one of her inspirations, Wynonna Judd. Later this season, Hofmann will share the stage with country-rock star Zach Bryan in Dublin, Ireland. – Liv Rapier 

Aaron Lee Tasjan riffs with guitarist Laur Joamets

A three-time alum of Roots on the River, Aaron Lee Tasjan rocked the stage with electrifying back-and-forth guitar riffs and songs that rolled into rock.

The singer-songwriter and his band amplified the summer vibe with thrifted designer fits and retro-rock instruments.

Tasjan also brought out a guest musician, guitarist Luar Joamets, who the audience met with abundant applause. An Estonian musician, Joamets returns to Nashville after spending time on tour with Sturgill Simpson. 

Tasjan and Joamets closed out the set by swapping guitar riffs. Fans reveled with the ruffled notes while swaying to the catchy tunes of “The Trouble Drinkin’” and “The Dangerous Kind.

On stage, Tasjan encouraged the audience to “show some support for a great radio station that plays authentic, real American music from the heart.”  – DeAsia McClain

Liz Longley brings ‘New Life’

Liz Longley met the Nashville crowd with charming vocals akin to the singing of perched birds. 

Blending country and folk, Longley utilized familiar sounds from her past albums and new music from her latest release, “New Life,” inspired in part by the birth of her daughter. 

Longley calls the album a “sister” to her previous release, “Funeral from My Past.” As her songs navigate the feelings of death and rebirth, Longley compelled the audience to stop and take note of each melody’s underlying meaning.  

Still, perhaps nothing sums up her music better than Longley herself, as she introduces her closing song: “Here’s the happiest blue song you’ll ever hear.” – Wren Bailey 

Bronwyn Keyth-Hynes’ bluegrass surprise 

Bluegrass artist Brownyn Keyth-Hynes performed songs from her new album “I Built a World” during the Saturday afternoon set. 

After touring the states for the past few months, Keyth-Hynes accepted an invitation from WMOT to play at the Roots Festival following an interview with one of the station’s members. On stage, Keyth-Hynes and her band showcased the work put into the album. 

“I always love playing festivals where there’s different genres of music,” Keyth-Hynes said in an interview with Sidelines.

Keyth-Hynes channeled a childlike spirit as she played the fiddle to a large crowd. The band played the “I Built A World” title track, as well as “Angel Island” and “Trip Around the Sun.” Bluegrass lovers watched in admiration as she shared the humble life stories behind her sweet string tunes. – DeAsia McCain

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram ‘reels in’ a standing ovation

Months before the festival, organizers kept one performance a surprise. Turns out, it was Grammy Award-winning blues artist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram.

Taking a break from the day’s folksy-bluegrass feel, Ingram stood alone with his self-proclaimed “delta blues” style.

Ingram attributed his love for music to his community in a backstage interview with Sidelines.

“I grew up around my Mom, her side of the family, my uncles sang and played,” Ingram said. “I grew up in Clarksdale, Mississippi. It’s a blues state.”

A three-person band held down the stage as Ingram made his way onto the lawn during his fourth song, “Not Gonna Lie.” The festival grounds were filled with an Unstoppable groove while Ingram and his band freestyled off each other. He earned a standing ovation after a three-minute guitar riff where Ingram jumped into the middle of the crowd.

By the end of his set, the crowd had crept up to the barricade, encaptured by the artist. – Liv Rapier

Sam Bush speaks up

Sam Bush closed the night by returning the festival to a familiar bluegrass sound.

Before beginning his set, more people lined the barricade to soak in the last of the night. 

Bush and his band flooded the festival with harmonies, string instruments and an unexpected cover of “My Shot” from the hit musical “Hamilton.” 

Besides passionate fiddle playing and anecdotes met with lyrical storytelling, Bush wanted to highlight the importance of events like WMOT’s “Roots.”

“Public radio and the airways of education TV [are] being threatened right now,” Bush said. “We can’t overstate the importance of supporting a radio station like WMOT to bring you quality music and programming of all kinds and all varieties, just like America.” – Wren Bailey

To contact the Features editor, email [email protected].

For more news, visit www.mtsusidelines.com, and follow us on Facebook at MTSU Sidelines and on X and Instagram at @mtsusidelines. Also, sign up for our weekly newsletter here.

KINGSFORD, Mich. (WJMN/WBUP) – Athletes from high schools around the U.P. gathered in Kingsford on Saturday for the 2025 U.P. Track and Field Finals. 

Check out the winners from some of the weekend’s field events in the attached video.

You can find a full list of event standings here.

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