MIDLAND—The Alpena High football team was blessed with an opportunity to get a taste of postseason football, something the Wildcats haven’t experienced in nearly two decades. With that opportunity came an uphill challenge as Alpena drew a first round playoff matchup against the undefeated ...

JOHANNESBURG—The Alcona football team’s stay in the postseason was a short one as the Tigers lost 49-16 to Johannesburg-Lewiston in a Division 8 predistrict game on Friday. Gavin Walker led Alcona’s offense with 177 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. Walker also led ...

A long wait to return to the postseason ends for Alpena tonight. It’s been 16 years since the Alpena High Football team has played in a postseason game. Despite Alpena’s 16th straight losing season, this group of Wildcats will travel to Midland tonight and run onto the field for a first ...

This is a different postseason with everyone making the playoffs, so Swami isn’t going to waste words and will get right to the picks: ALPENA (0-6) at MIDLAND (6-0)—7 p.m. Friday—The Wildcats get somewhat of a break, not having to face Traverse City Central for a second time. Instead ...

Rogers City High School athletic director Karl Grambau and superintendent Nick Hein met with football coach Jesse Fenstermaker on Thursday and made the call that the Hurons will not play travel to Iron Mountain for a Division 8 playoff game originally scheduled for Saturday. Due to Dicksinson ...

The enthusiasm within Alpena Gymnastics is hard to miss these days. The program’s numbers are down slightly and safety protocols have increased, but there’s still plenty of excitement from the nearly 200 youth gymnasts participating. That’s just what Alpena Gymnastics founder Buffy ...

Six weeks ago, nobody was sure if we’d to this point. With the 2020 Michigan high school football season in jeopardy in the final weeks of August, just weeks before the season was supposed to begin, football around the state was postponed. Three weeks later, teams were given the ...

Five runners from the Alpena High Wildcats cross country boys and girls teams will advance to regional competition on Oct. 31 at the Saginaw Heritage Course. The teams as a whole did not qualify after failing to finish in the top four in pre-regional qualifying events on Saturday . The ...

EAST LANSING (AP) — Michigan high school winter sports will start on time in November. Face coverings are required for athletes practicing and competing in basketball, competitive cheer, ice hockey and wrestling, the Michigan High School Athletic Association said Friday. They are not ...

ST. JOHNS — An unusual week for the Alpena High football team ended with an all too familiar result as the Wildcats dropped another close game in their regular season finale, losing 14-6 to St. Johns on Friday. Once again, Alpena was hurt by crucial turnovers in key moments. The Wildcats ...

ONAWAY—The Posen football team came up short in its regular season finale, but never stopped fighting in a 22-14 double overtime loss to Onaway on Friday. Posen (2-3) was held in check defensively by the Cardinals—who finished the regular season undefeated—in the extra time during a ...

Despite another week full of uncertainty, including Alpena High School shutting down due to COVID-19 cases, adjustments have been made and the Alpena High football team will travel to St. Johns tonight as the Wildcats look to gain some much needed momentum in their regular season finale. On ...

A change of scenery is always said to be good. Swami has witnessed that firsthand, moving from Hubbard Lake to the wide open spaces Northwest of Alpena. The All-Knowing-One thought there would be a lack of wildlife at the new place, but there have been plenty of roaming deer including a ...

News Sports Editor James Andersen is taking a look back at football teams from the last 10 years, offering his view of the best team from each of the nine schools in The News’ coverage area in the span. Preseason Outlook: Hillman coach Bill Koenig: “I think we are going to see a lot more ...

ONAWAY—The Onaway volleyball team clinched a share of the Ski Valley Conference title on Tuesday, beating Mancelona in three sets at home. Onaway won 25-20, 25-9 and 25-22. The win secures at least a share of a third straight Ski Valley title for Onaway, who won its seventh straight ...

The Alpena Community College cross country team finished its regular season at the Jayhawk Invitational on Saturday held in Muskegon. The Lumberjacks had four runners who ran career bests and one season best for the meet. “We used this meet as our tune-up meet for regionals which will ...

WEST BRANCH—Both the Alpena High boys and girls cross country teams came home from Saturday’s Lower Peninsula Invitational with championship trophies. Alpena’s girls team finished with 15 points and had four finishers in the top eight. Madi Szymanski paced the field, crossing the line ...

Alpena head coach Eric Mitchell has preached the importance of doing the little things in order to be successful. Doing those little things were important on Friday, unfortunately, the Wildcats were not able to execute what has been preached as Alpena (0-5, 0-5 Big North Conference) was ...

EAST LANSING—Alpena High senior Kennedy Ellis shot a 101 at the Division 2 girls state golf finals Friday at Forest Akers West in East Lansing. Ellis, who was competing in the state finals for the second time in her high school career, finished 73rd in a field of more than 100 ...

The Alpena High boys soccer team saved its best performance of the season for last. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they fell a few kicks short of victory. The Wildcats played Cadillac to a 3-3 tie through regulation and two overtime periods, but were ultimately edged 4-3 in a Division 2 ...