BAY CITY, MI – A look at the high school boys sports scene in the Bay City area for Dec. 11, 2025. Bay City area coaches are asked to submit results, highlights and comments the night of each game by emailing lthomps2@mlive.com. Be sure to also check out the girls sports roundup.
SWIM: HOT START FOR GLENN
Records were falling, state cuts were achieved and victories were piling up.
It was far from a typical December meet for the John Glenn swimming team.
The Bobcats launched the dual portion of their Independent Swim Conference campaign with a 112-72 victory over Oscoda, accomplishing rare feats along the way.
“It was a great early season meet for us,” Glenn coach Bob LaRocque said. “A lot of our younger swimmers stepped up in a big way, scoring points and taking on new events without hesitation. We’re still early in the season, but I’m really excited to see what this group can accomplish as we keep building.”
Henry Schanbeck delivered a sparkling performance, being part of four first-place finishes and two pool records while making the state cut in the 200 individual medley. The senior broke the Oscoda pool record for the 50 freestyle with his leadoff time of 22.49 in the 200 freestyle relay then watched relay mates Leif Briggs-Lind, Conner Wilkinson and Charlie Schanbeck finish strong to set another pool record at 1:37.92.
That squad also won the 400 freestyle relay (4:04.21) while Henry Schanbeck won the 200 IM (2:12.52) and the 100 backstroke (1:03.19).
Wilkinson was tops in the 200 freestyle (2:08.62) and 500 freestyle (5:57.48) while Briggs-Lind won the 100 freestyle (53.43) and the 100 breaststroke (1:13.94). Chayse Sanchez added a victory in diving (204.95) for Glenn.
SWIM: GARBER OPENS WITH VICTORY
The times were a bit odd, but Essexville Garber needed no conversion to figure out the final score.
The Dukes prevailed 110-59 over host Caro at the area’s lone metric pool.
“Our returning swimmers are starting off the season faster than last year and our new swimmers are swimming fast and making an impact on our team,” Garber coach Erin Dowd said. “It should be a great season for us.”
Ben Nickerson was part of three first-place finishes to lead Garber. He won the 200 freestyle then joined Jedrek Zaremba, Ethan Lanava and Josh Decker to claim the 200 freestyle relay and teamed with Avery Johnson, Liam Owen and Decker to take the 400 freestyle relay.
Marissa Espinoza added a win in diving for the Dukes.
SWIM: CENTRAL RUNS INTO TROUBLE
Saginaw Valley League powerhouse Midland Dow awaited Bay City Central in the season opener, and that was bad news for the Wolves.
Dow landed a 128-52 victory in the league debut.
Central scored a pair of first-place finishes to highlight the meet. Hudson Grandy captured top honors in the 200 individual medley (2:23.70) while Abe Schubert was the winner in diving (208.75).
“Going up against the Valley’s top team the last nine out of 10 years was a tough way to begin the season,” Central coach Dave Staudacher said. “We did have some lifetime bests to begin the season, which is a promising way to start the year. We’ll get better.”
SWIM: IT’S A ‘FREE’ WIN FOR WESTERN
Every stroke is a work in progress in December, but Bay City Western appears on point in the freestyle.
The Warriors won all four individual freestyle events, leading the way to a 94-81 victory over Midland in the Saginaw Valley League opener.
Jackson Rauschert swept the sprint events for Western, taking the 50 freestyle (25.31) and 100 freestyle (58.74). Daniel Ahrens duplicated that feat in the distance events, winning the 200 freestyle (1:53.70) and 500 freestyle (5:12.61). They also teamed up with Tyler Kutchuk and Braden Monville to claim the 200 freestyle relay (1:50.07).
Rauschert was a four-event winner, joining Kutchuk, Monville and Corbin Knoerr to win the 200 medley relay. Monville notched Western’s other victory, finishing first in diving (125.85).
WRESTLING: SOPHOMORES SHINE FOR SPARTANS
Pinconning is struggling to fill out a lineup and it shows in the W-L standings. But the Spartans aren’t without their highlights.
Pinconning lost a dual to Oscoda 53-23 but got wins from four sophomores, leaving it with cause for optimism.
Ki’Jauhn Foor, Alex Rivard, Ryan Bonem and Drake Snyder all prevailed for the Spartans.
