Townsend earns 3rd All-American in vault
FRANKFORT — Hillsdale College senior Tara Townsend capped off her collegiate career by earning her third All-American honor in the pole vault and recording the highest national-meet finish of her career.
Competing in rainy conditions, Townsend matched her season-best mark with a clearance of 4.15 meters (13’7.25″) to tie for third place overall in the Division II national championships.
The finish adds to an already outstanding résumé that includes a seventh-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Division II Indoor Championships with a clearance of 4.17 meters (13 feet, 8 inches) and an eighth-place finish at the 2025 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, also at 4.17 meters. With three All-American honors, Townsend now ranks among the most accomplished female vaulters in program history. Her personal-best mark of 4.20 meters (13 feet, 9¼ inches) trails only six-time All-American Kayla Caldwell.
Townsend’s collegiate accomplishments include four conference championships, five regional honors and five national championship qualifications. She also set the indoor G-MAC conference record in the pole vault and helped establish a Hillsdale College record as the anchor of the 4×100-meter relay team. In addition, she played a key role in helping the Hillsdale Chargers capture the outdoor G-MAC conference championship for the first time since 2022.
Before her collegiate success, Townsend starred at Frankfort High School, where she cleared a personal-best height of 12 feet in the pole vault. She was a three-time state champion and set the Division 4 state record during her junior season. Townsend also anchored two Frankfort teams to state championships in the 4×100-meter relay and, as a senior, captured an additional state title in the 100-meter dash.
Cadillac’s Bryant named All-American
CADILLAC — Cadillac senior Ari Bryant earned All-America honors from a national strength coaches group.
The National High School Strength Coaches Association selected Bryant among its All-American choices.
The honor is for seniors who demonstrated outstanding achievement on and off the field regarding strength and conditioning, athletic performance, academics and leadership.
She’s the first female from Cadillac to win the honor.
TC Horse Shows start up next week
WILLIAMSBURG — The 2026 Traverse City Horse Shows season begins next week, bringing 13 weeks of international competition to Flintfields Horse Park.
Now entering its 12th season, Traverse City Horse Shows welcomes athletes, trainers, owners and spectators from around the world to Williamsburg, just outside Traverse City. The 2026 season runs through Sept. 20 and includes the Traverse City Spring Series, the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival and September’s Tournament of Champions.
Throughout the summer, Flintfields Horse Park will host FEI-sanctioned international competition, national hunter and equitation divisions, the FEI North American Youth Championships, and the return of the FEI Nations Cup CSIO3. September’s closing weeks feature Major League Show Jumping CSI5 before the season concludes with the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup CSI5-W Traverse City for the American Gold Cup.
The season opens Wednesday with the Traverse City Spring Series and culminates that week with the $116,500 Four G Surfaces CSI3 Grand Prix on June 6 at 2 p.m.
In addition to competition, spectators can enjoy food and beverage, shopping, hospitality offerings, family-friendly events, and public access throughout the show grounds from Wednesday through Sunday each week. General admission proceeds from featured events continue to support local nonprofits through the Traverse City Horse Shows Charity Ticket Program.
Ahead of the 2026 season, Flintfields Horse Park continued expanding permanent infrastructure, including additional barns and facility improvements to support athletes, horses, and spectators throughout the summer.
NMC’s Baas commits to Cornerstone
McBAIN — McBain Northern Michigan Christian senior Emmitt Baas signed to continue his golfing and academic career at Cornerstone University.
Baas is the state-ranked Comets’ top golfer and recorded the school 18-hole record earlier this year at Cadillac Country Club with a 70.
The team won back-to-back Highland Conference championships. Baas averages a 79.8 in 18-hole events and 38 in nine-hole ones.
Saints open season Sunday at Reitz Park
MANISTEE — The Manistee Saints open their 2026 season at 1 p.m. Sunday at Reitz Park with a doubleheader against the Burton Beavers as they begin defense of their Gratiot County Baseball League championship.
The Saints, facing the GCBL’s newest franchise, return a veteran roster led by Player of the Year Xavier Allen and Pitcher of the Year Dylan Bates.
Westenbarger cards hole-in-one
INTERLOCHEN — Traverse City resident Brooke Westenbarger shot a hole-in-one at the Interlochen Golf Course.
Westenbarger holed out No. 15 from 133 yards with a 6-iron.
James Pearson witnessed Westenbarger’s first hole-in-one.