News File Photo Members of the Alpena High boys cross country team take off from the starting line during a Big North Conference race in Alpena earlier this month. The Wildcats' boys won the Big North title for the first time in program history on Tuesday during the BNC Championships in Gaylord.

GAYLORD–For the first time in school history, the Alpena High School boys cross country team won a Big North Conference title.

The Wildcats claimed top honors at the Big North Conference Championships on Tuesday in Gaylord, finishing 1-2-3 and topping their closest competitor by nine points.

Alpena finished with 37 points, ahead of Traverse City Central (46), Gaylord (88), Cadillac (94), Petoskey (98) and Traverse City West (111).

Senior Aden Smith, sophomore Drew Seabase and senior Josh Smith finished 1-2-3 for Alpena to earn all-conference honors. Aden Smith finished in 16:18.40, ahead of Seabase (16:35.61) and Josh Smith (16:39.15).

Jacob Kochanski (15th, 17:49.77) and Clay Donajkowski (16th, 17:54.67) gave the Wildcats five finishers in the top 16.

“The team was mentally and physically prepared. We knew TCC was our challenge. We went into the race focusing on TC black jerseys with the goal of keeping them behind us,” Alpena coach Joy Bullis said. “(The) boys took early (an) lead 1-2-3 and gradually increased their lead throughout the race. Communication from coaches throughout the race kept the team focused on their targets. We had a plan. They played it out perfectly.”

Other finishers for Alpena were Sam Tuscher (35th, 18:56.65) and Jimmy Decker (39th, 19:26.54).

In the girls race, senior Maddy Boyd and freshman Madi Szymanski earned all-conference honors after finishing second and seventh respectively.

Boyd crossed the line in 18:48.57, behind Central’s Julia Flynn (18:43.50). Szymanski finished in 19:29.23

Alpena finished fifth, behind Central (41), West (69), Petoskey (75) and Cadillac (93).

Other finishers for Alpena included Molly Dickinson (21st, 20:27.23), Kaylee Rondeau (30th, 21:37.22), Alexis Reynolds (35th, 22:42.01) and Tiffany Foster (40th, 23:29.78).

VOLLEYBALL

Onaway 3,

Mancelona 0

ONAWAY–The Onaway volleyball team completed a perfect run through Ski Valley Conference play and secured another conference title on Thursday, defeating Mancelona in three sets.

The Cardinals defeated Mancelona 25-19, 25-18 and 25-17 and didn’t drop a single set in eight Ski Valley matches. The win marks Onaway’s fifth conference title in seven years.

“When I started I just wanted to put numbers up there. Now we’ve done it a few times and it’s addicting,” Onaway coach Steve Watson said. “I didn’t think we’d ever have one and now we have five. For seven years, my teams have decided they wanted to win the conference and in five out of seven years we’ve been able to do that.”

Calley Selke had 16 kills, four aces and 10 digs for Onaway and Mallorie Neelis had 20 assists, three aces and 10 digs. Kennedy Crawford had four kills, two aces and six digs and Breya Domke had five kills, seven aces and four digs. Jordan Larson had seven digs and Jackie Sellke had four assists.

Onaway plays in a tournament in St. Louis on Saturday.

Rogers City 3, Oscoda 0

OSCODA–The Rogers City volleyball team earned another North Star League victory on Tuesday after defeating Oscoda.

The Hurons won in three sets, 25-17, 25-19 and 25-19.

Taylor Fleming had seven kills and five blocks for the Hurons and Kristin Brege had 18 assists and 10 digs. Amanda Wirgau had 13 digs and Catheryn Hart had five kills.