BIG 8 CONFERENCE:
Below are the team capsules for the Big 8 Conference. Rounds of Emails were sent to the athletics departments and coaching staffs of every girls soccer program in the state where coaches emails were available in March. To submit information for missing schools, submit additional information, or to make corrections, please email Web and Content Editor Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or text to (248) 884-1051.
Teams – Bronson, Jonesville, Quincy, Springport
No Teams – Concord, Homer, Reading
SCHOOL: Bronson
HEAD COACH: Sarah Davis
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 2-15-1, Independent (will play a league schedule this season)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost to Schoolcraft (9-0) in A D-4 pre-district.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Tenleigh Watkins, sr. G; Baliee Smith, sr. F; Chloe Butters, sr. F/M
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Prisila Vargas, soph. D
KEY NEWCOMERS: Aubrey Mace, sr. M/F
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: As soccer spreads along the south-central belt of Michigan, Bronson is one of the schools that picked up soccer recently. The Vikings are entering their third season and will actually play a league schedule this season by entering the Independent Soccer League which encompasses several schools from various leagues. The Vikings are now 12 schools scheduled to compete in the ISL this season. It’s baby steps for Bronson, a volleyball school which is still in the infant stages and the team is still seeking some modest success. After going winless in 2021 in its inaugural season and being outscored 122-1, the Vikings took a small leap forward last year with a pair of wins.
SCHOOL: Jonesville
HEAD COACH: Jeffrey Bice
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 4-8-1, 2-5-0 Independent Soccer League (seventh)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost to Brooklyn Columbia Central (8-0) in D-3 pre-districts.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Icelyn Trumble, soph. G; Jordyn Doermann, sr. M
OTHER KEY RETURNEES:
KEY NEWCOMERS:
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: Jonesville competes along with its Big Eight sister over in the Independent Soccer League, where Jonesville is coming off a seventh-place finish a year ago. The league has expanded again to 11 schools.
SCHOOL: Quincy
HEAD COACH: Ivan Swift
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 9-6-1, 2-4-1 Independent Soccer League (sixth)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Lost to Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep (6-0) in D-4 pre-districts
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Sami Hollenbough, jr. F (one of school’s all-time leading scorers); Abigail Harmon, sr. M (U-M Dearborn); Kalie Glei, sr. M (Olivet College); Danica Swift, jr. G
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: McKenna Bowerman, D; Lexi Hinds, F; Abby Hinds, D.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Adrianna Welch, M.
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: Quincy posted a respectable nine wins a year ago and are well on their way of eclipsing that mark with a 4-0-0 start. The Orioles should be a top three team in the Independent Soccer League this season and already own a win over state-ranked Adrian Lenawee Christian (1-0). Hollenbough is a dynamic playmaker and finisher and both Harmon and Glei will play small college soccer next year.
SCHOOL: Springport
HEAD COACH: Bob Hemminger, first season
2022 OVERALL RECORD / LEAGUE RECORD / LEAGUE FINISH: 9-4-1, 6-2-0 Independent Soccer League (third)
2022 STATE TOURNAMENT RESULTS: Def. Michigan Center (8-0); lost to Brooklyn Columbia Central (2-1) in the D-3 district finals
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS: None
STATE RUNNER-UP SEASONS: None
RETURNING STARTERS: Maddux Overweg, jr. D; Maddie Locke, jr. D/M; Skylynn Molica, sr. M; Chloe Hemminger, sr. D/M; Hallah Nicewander, sr. F
KEY NEWCOMERS: Alex Hodges, fr. G
OUTLOOK / NOTABLES / COACHES COMMENTS: Ryane Locke has graduated as the school’s all-time leading goal scorer from a team that finished third in its league and finished as a district runner-up. Who will step up and score goals this season?
