CEDAR SPRINGS — Eli Zbytowski and Gavin Hamilton scored goals and Elk Rapids recorded its 14th consecutive shutout to book a spot in Saturday’s Division 3 boys soccer state championship.
The No. 1-ranked Elks won 2-0 over No. 4 Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian (20-4-1) in Wednesday’s Division 3 boys soccer state semifinal at Red Hawk Stadium in Cedar Springs.
The Elks (23-1-3) plays unranked Williamston (12-8-4) in Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. state championship match.
The Elks beat Williamston 2-0 much earlier this season, in an August tournament game in Elk Rapids, but the Hornets have defeated four state-ranked teams in the postseason to earn a trip to the finals.
The last time the Elks gave up a goal ironically was in Williamston, but not to the Hornets (12-8-4). It was a 1-0 loss at Williamston’s showcase tournament Sept. 12 to Flint Powers, a team the Hornets knocked out 1-0 in the regional finals.
Williamston at one point lost five games in a row, allowing 16 goals in those contests as they played much bigger schools, including at Grand Ledge, host of the state finals.
Elk Rapids lost 3-2 in the 2024 state finals to Pontiac Notre Dame, the Elks’ first trip to the final since Al Gredlein led the team to back-to-back D4 titles in 1998 and 1997.
Elk Rapids also made the state finals in 1997 and 1996, falling to Grosse Pte. Liggett and Kalamazoo Hackett, and taking runner-up in Class C-D in 1989 during Detroit Country Day’s four-year state championship run.
Check back later for a more in-depth story from Elk Rapids’ semifinal and a gallery of photos.