Cioroch named new football coach at Walled Lake Western.

Written Thursday December 30th at 2:15 PM

It was a sudden shock to see that Kory Cioroch is leaving Farmington.

Cioroch was named the new head football coach at Walled Lake Western on Wednesday taking over for interim coach Mike Weiskopf. He is the Warriors fourth coach in four seasons.

Cioroch whom teaches at Farmington coached in the sub varsity ranks and was the defensive coordinator under John Becktel before taking over the Falcons in 2017.

Cioroch went 19-18 in his four years at Farmington. His best season was 8-2 in 2019 which included a upset playoff win at Oak Park.

The Falcons went 0-6 this season. They were blown out by Sterling Heights Stevenson in the first round of the playoffs.

Cioroch will have a challenge in the Lakes Valley Conference in 2021 especially with Lakeland, Walled Lake Northern, South Lyon, South Lyon East along with Waterford Mott, Walled Lake Central, Milford, and Waterford Kettering to deal with.

Cioroch should bring stability to Walled Lake Western after a ton of turmoil surrounded that program. The Warriors have been very successful but they have had a ton of misfortune happen to them in the last two years.

This is a huge loss for Farmington.

The Falcons have a lot of talent coming back next season including running back Jacob Saunders, linebacker Demeterian Moore, and quarterbacks Jalen Silver and Dominic Pesci.

Cioroch brought stability to a program that really needed it in Farmington after Becktel's retirement. Program strength seemed to make some progress.

It's going to be a challenge for whomever Athletic Director and former Harrison Girls Basketball Coach Tim Micklash goes with next season. Farmington is a very interesting job especially having to deal with North Farmington whom has the majority of the coaching staff that came from Harrison including coach Jon Herstein.

It will be interesting whom Micklash goes with as mentioned.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

 

Here is the Press Release from Walled Lake Western.

https://www.wlwfootball.com/headcoach

My Podcast

https://soundcloud.com/user-539915961/oaa-now-01-04-21wav

MHSAA announces Winter Sports Schedule.

Written Wednesday December 23rd at 7:45 PM

The MHSAA announced the winter schedule which would feature a very heavy packed March schedule on Wednesday.

The league announced that practices would resume on January 16^th and competitions will start on January 22^nd for basketball, hockey, bowling, and boys swimming and diving while cheer, wrestling, and gymnastics will began on January 25^th.

The postseason tournaments for all winter sports concluding by March 27^th.

It is still unknown when fall competitions will start up again but the remaining fall sports teams can start practicing on December 30^th.

It is still unknown when the MHSAA would finish with fall sports but Uyl sounded optimistic in an email to athletic directors and school administrators “As we shared with you last Friday, the MDHHS (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services) created a rapid testing pilot program for the three remaining fall tournaments to finish in early to mid-January. Details on this program were first shared with the MHSAA and fall schools on December 22^nd which created a number of questions and logistical issues. This is a new MDHHS program with details being created and shared daily with the MHSAA and this has created changes to tournament dates that were shared with the schools last Friday. We are continuing to work through the details, questions and issues with the involved fall schools and we will share finalized plans/dates soon” Uyl wrote in an email.

Under the epidemic order issued by MDHHS Director Robert Gordon and Governor Gretchen Whitmer the order banned indoor sports until January 15^th but the order could be lifted earlier if coronavirus cases go down which they are doing so far in Michigan.

The order could also be extended which no one wants. The MHSAA would have backup plans just in case to address this situation.

Season limits remain unchanged for all winter sports however in hockey and wrestling there are some changes for this season only. In hockey they are allowed to play two games on one non-school day twice during the season. In wrestling teams and individuals are allowed two days of competition. All regular season wrestling competitions are limited to four teams with a max of three matches per day of competition.

It will be very interesting to see what happens. Let’s hope that things go well and things go smoothly.

What Gives???

Written Wednesday December 23rd at 1:15 PM

So Fall Sports are postponed again for the third time???

Winter Sports haven’t even started yet in the State

What gives???

Someone has clearly dropped the ball.

The MHSAA announced to teams to stop practicing on Tuesday because of the testing protocols aren’t ready yet from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Players, Coaches, Fans, Athletic Directors are absolutely fed up and I don’t blame them. All the false hope just for these student-athletes to return to play. It’s like a yo-yo.

Probably villain number one has to be MDHHS Director Robert Gordon.

Gordon was the person that suggested to MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl that a return to play was possible if student-athletes do an antigen test program. I question the legality of this program because most parents don’t like or want to see their student-athletes get tested three times a week. Also by law the government cannot forcefully give something the kid doesn’t want without the parent’s consent.

Gordon and Governor Gretchen Whitmer has put so many hurdles on these student-athletes just to let them play and finish their seasons.

On November 18^th Whitmer and Gordon announced through an epidemic order that new restrictions were given because of rising coronavirus cases caused “the pause.” The move included pausing school sports. Gordon said that the reason was because of the mixing of different households was why they were included in the order.

Although there have been stats that teammates are like families and playing inside a bubble could work. It was very successful in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and in the NBA restart even though they went through vigorous testing.Travel is not really an issue when it comes to high school sports.

It was in September after a Let Them Play protest in Lansing, Whitmer gave the go ahead for schools to start sports under strict safety guidelines. The move gave student-athletes a chance to play much to the disagreement of MDHHS Chief Medical Executive Joneiah Khaldun.

I did talk to my co-host Ian Locke and he is right there were the majority of kids that got to play a fall season which I get and very thankful for but there are others that haven’t finished what they started.

Look at what happened in winter in 2020 and spring sports didn't even have a season.

Uyl said that spring season will get a guaranteed season in 2021. Uyl also said that there will be three seasons but Whitmer and Gordon have been making things very difficult for Uyl to keep his promise.

Here is a suggestion for Uyl that he and the MHSAA Representative Council need to consider. They could move Winter Sports to start in February and end in early April with the postseason tournament. Also have Spring Sports start in late April and end on Independence Day weekend.

That is an option for the MHSAA.

There will be parents and fans who want to blame Uyl but clearly looking at all the data all the blame has to fall on Whitmer and especially Gordon. Nobody is denying that COVID-19 is real. It is real but there are sporting events that can be done safely.

I just read MIPrepZone’s Drew Ellis article and he’s exactly right on the money.

All I want to say to the student-athletes, athletic directors, and coaches. Just hang in there, stay strong. This is not your fault. Things are going to get better just got to believe and trust in each other. Do the things we can control.

This is clearly a failure in government.

The State of Michigan is truly failing our kids and are not seeing the bigger picture especially from an emotional and mental standpoint.

Drew Ellis Article.

ttps://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/miprepzone/drew-ellis-get-prep-athletes-off-this-emotional-roller-coaster/article_08ae1df4-4546-11eb-8316-c727627ebd23.html

Football Playoff Regional and Volleyball State Quarterfinals Preview.

Written Sunday December 20th at 1:00 AM

Updated to include Volleyball-Tuesday December 29th at 7:15 PM

I will also have this preview on the ONTV blog as well but these are the previews for the remaining OAA schools left in the State Playoffs for Football and State Quarterfinals for Volleyball. We won't do picks just yet but this is an early idea to know how things look with the matchups.

Volleyball-Quarterfinals start January 12th.

Clarkston vs Grand Blanc at Lapeer: It has been sort of a resurrecting year at Clarkston and Coach Kelly Pinner. The Wolves had to beat their arch Lake Orion in the district final and cruised in the regionals to get to this point. Clarkston does have Claire Nowicki among others on their roster along with a ton of proven experience but they haven't been back to Battle Creek since 2011 with mostly their losses coming to the Dragons in the district rounds. Grand Blanc is in their first State quarterfinal in school history but earned their first regional title since 1997 after beating Traverse City West in five games. The Bobcats do have some key players that Clarkston will need to keep an eye on in Remi Madison, Amyah Clark, Taylor Ringwelski, Brianna Gervers, and Kate Walter. Madison had 22 kills, 18 digs, and two blocks and an ace against Davison in the district final and was very instrumental against Traverse City Central in the regional finals. Gervers had 27 kills against the Cardinals in the district finals while Ringwelski added 13 digs in that matchup. It should be an interesting game but experience favors Clarkston especially with the schedule they have played. Usually the northern and mid-Michigan schools when they run into an Oakland County power they tend to struggle like what happened with Flushing and Mount Pleasant when they had to play Lake Orion. It might happen here for the third straight year.

 

Football-Regional Finals start January 9th, State Semifinals January 16th, State Finals January 22nd-23rd.

North Farmington at Traverse City Central: This will be the second all-time meeting between North Farmington and Traverse City Central with the first meeting being in 1978 when they met in a Class A Final in which the Trojans beat the Raiders 20-14. North Farmington before “the pause” were playing their best football of the season winning six of their last seven games and had put 44 points in their two games against Waterford Kettering and Fenton. The Raiders have had a long layoff even before “the pause” with South Lyon forced to forfeit because of COVID-19 earning themselves their first district title in school history. Coach John Herstein’s team has a strong batch of experience in quarterback Jacob Bousmara along with running back Justin Whitehorn and wide receiver Aaron Rice. Traverse City Central hadn’t really been tested in the Big North all season. The Trojans had a very interesting non-league game when they went to Macomb Dakota where they fell 42-16 in week five. That loss to the Cougars has really motivated Coach Eric Schugars’s team which they have dominated in those games since. The Trojans postseason path hadn't really been that challenging with two blowout victories at Thirlby Field however that all changed when they went south into Midland and played the previously unbeaten Chemics. They had to overcome 30-22 at Midland Community Stadium in the district finals. Traverse City Central features lineman and Western Michigan commit Carson Briggs. Briggs has been the anchor for the Trojans pistol offense all season long up front along with proven skill players in quarterback Josh Burnham, running back Austin Bills, and wide receivers Carson Hall, Carson Bourdo. North Farmington hasn’t won a regional title since 1978 while Traverse City Central hasn’t won a regional title since 1988. Both teams are loaded with proven experience at the skill positions. Line play favors the Trojans though. Also what hurts the Raiders is that they will be making the long four hour bus ride up I-75 to M-72 and then toward 13th and Pine Street. This should be a very interesting game at Thirlby Field.

Oak Park at Livonia Churchill: It has been a very odd and strange season for the Knights and Coach/Athletic Director Greg Carter. They came into the postseason at 0-6 but thanks to the Groves mess they really ended the season at 1-5. Oak Park has made a ton of noise this postseason with them now they are whole (fully healthy) after winning three straight postseason games which they stand at 4-5 currently. The Knights have been road warriors in the postseason. They had to beat Grosse Pointe South, Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit, and Wyandotte to get to the regional finals. Oak Park does have some proven players in quarterback James Burnley, Michigan State commit running back Davion Primm, Toledo commit wide receiver/safety Jaylen Mines, and Michigan State commit lineman Rayshawn Benny. The Knights have seen great quarterbacks this season and they will see another one in Concordia commit Gavin Brooks. Brooks has had a great season for the Chargers and Coach Bill DeFillippo whom runs a zone read offense. Livonia Churchill also has other talented players besides Brooks in running back Alyante Williams and wide receiver Bayley Brooks. Both were instrumental in their 36-28 victory over Livonia Franklin in the district finals. The Chargers had some very good wins in the Kensington Lakes East Division including beating Livonia Franklin twice but losses to Dearborn Fordson and Belleville as well. This game looks to be a shootout in the making as both teams are liabilities defensively which that makes Carter nuts since he is a defensive guy. Also both teams are stout on the offensive side of the football as well with proven playmakers and talented quarterbacks in Burnley and Brooks. It should be fun in Livonia and Oak Park has traveled through Macomb and Wayne counties in the postseason.

Romeo at West Bloomfield: The Lakers before “the pause” sent a huge statement to the State and Division One with a stunning 63-6 blowout at Runkel Field over Sterling Heights Stevenson in the district finals. This will be the second all-time meeting with the Bulldogs with the first in 2000 where West Bloomfield won 41-21 in the Swamp. Romeo started the year at 1-4 but have won four straight including a 45-27 victory at Stoney Creek in which their defense caused seven turnovers against a very good Cougars ground attack. The Bulldogs are well coached under Coach Kurt Reinas and play in the always tough Macomb Area Red Division. Romeo is solid defensively led by linebacker Weston Jones and Central Michigan commit in defensive end Michael Heldman. Romeo’s defense will be tested especially with going up against players like running back Donovan Edwards, quarterback Alex Short, lineman Amir Herring, among others in a very stout West Bloomfield offensive attack. Romeo’s offense has been up and down despite scoring 45 points led by running back Brian St. Clair. The Bulldogs offense will be severely challenged by a Lakers defense that has only allowed nine points in six weeks. Romeo whom is a physical team is going to have more than their hands full against Coach Ron Bellamy’s team in the Swamp.