11/01 -- The State Finals were held at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. 

Boys:  The team finished in 26th place, led by Eric Stouten's 17:28.  He was followed by Adam Yost, Aidan Fairman, Tom Anderson, Zach Kurek, Jason Brew and Randy Jacobsen.

Girls:  Becca May led the team to a 17th place finish with her personal best time of 19:49.  Following May were Katie Yahrmarkt, Sara Rodgers, Kaileigh Russo, Ashley Bowen, Chelsea Miller and Justine Todd.

RUNNERS WITH PERSONAL BEST PERFORMANCES:   Adam Yost, Aidan Fairman, Jason Brew, Becca May, Katie Yahrmarkt, Sara Rodgers, Kaileigh Russo, Chelsea Miller

10/25 -- The Sparta  girls won their 16-team regional meet, qualifying for the State Finals on Saturday, November 1.  The boys also had a successful meet, qualifying for the State Finals with their 3rd place regional showing.

Boys:  Freshman Eric Stouten led the Spartans with a personal best time of 17:26, earning him the 5th best time on the Millenium Milestones.  He was followed by Adam Yost, Tom Anderson, Zach Kurek, Aidan Fairman and Randy Jacobsen.  The Spartans earned the State Final qualification without their senior leader, A.J. McConnell.  McConnell was unable to complete the race due to an ankle injury.  The boys' team has advanced to the finals for 6 of the past 8 years.

Girls:  It was a great day for the Spartans, as they won their first ever cross country regional championship.  Freshman Becca May led the girls to victory with a time of 20:07, which earned her a spot on the Top Ten School Record Board.  She was followed by Ashley Bowen, Sara Rodgers, Katie Yahrmarkt, Kaileigh Russo, Chelsea Miller and Justine Todd.

RUNNERS WITH PERSONAL BEST PERFORMANCES:   Eric Stouten, Adam Yost, Aidan Fairman, Becca May, Ashley Bowen, Kaileigh Russo

10/18 -- The OK White Conference Meet was held at Johnson Park.  The Sparta girls placed 3rd in the meet, and the boys placed a strong 4th, only 8 points out of 2nd.

Boys:  A.J. McConnell earned a 5th place medal with a time of 17:15.  He was followed by Eric Stouten, Tom Anderson, Zach Kurek, Randy Jacobsen, Aidan Fairman and Brad Dauber.

Girls:  Becca May ran a personal best 20:59 to lead the Spartans with her 8th place finish.  She was followed by Sara Rodgers, Katie Yahrmarkt, Kaileigh Russo, Chelsea Miller, Justine Todd and Kim Rodgers.

JV Race:  The JV boys placed 2nd in the meet, led by Adam Yost's winning time of 18:05.  The girls also placed 2nd and were led by Ashley Bowen's 2nd place finish.

RUNNERS WITH PERSONAL BEST PERFORMANCES:   Becca May, Randy Jacobsen, Eric Stouten, Adam Yost, Josh Wolbert, Rob Yahrmarkt

10/15 -- In a meet at the Greenville Country Club, the Sparta boys defeated Northview by a score of 18-45.  The girls won a close contest by 26-29.

Boys:  A.J. McConnell led all runners with a time of 17:56.  Completing the top 7 for Sparta were Eric Stouten, Randy Jacobsen, Tom Anderson, Brad Dauber, Zach Kurek and Adam Yost.

Girls:  Becca May took first place in the race with a personal best time of 21:10.  She was followed by Katie Yahrmarkt, Kaileigh Russo, Sara Rodgers, Justine Todd, Chelsea Miller and Kim Rodgers.

10/08 -- In a dual meet at Johnson Park against East Grand Rapids, the boys lost by a score of 41-17 and the girls lost 49-15.

Boys:  Sparta's top 7 runners for the race were A.J. McConnell (18:20), Eric Stouten, Brad Dauber, Aidan Fairman, Randy Jacobsen, Tom Anderson and Adam Yost.

Girls:  Leading the way for the girls was Becca May (21:31).  She was followed by Sara Rodgers, Chelsea Miller, Katie Yahrmarkt, Kaileigh Russo, Justine Todd and Kim Rodgers.

10/04 -- Both the Sparta boys and girls earned 3rd place trophies at the 11-team Allegan Tigershark Invitational.

Boys:  A.J. McConnell placed first in the varsity race in a time of 16:51.  He was followed by Tom Anderson, Eric Stouten, Aidan Fairman, Adam Yost, Zach Kurek, Jason Brew and Brad Dauber.  Josh Taylor placed first in the jv race in a personal best time of 18:23.

Girls:  Becca May (21:13) was Sparta's top girl for the day, followed by Katie Yahrmarkt, Kaileigh Russo, Chelsea Miller, Sara Rodgers, Justine Todd and Kim Rodgers.

RUNNERS WITH PERSONAL BEST PERFORMANCES:   Jessie Phillips, Aidan Fairman, Josh Taylor, Becca May, Justine Todd

10/01 -- Sparta ran against Unity Christian at Johnson Park.  The boys won by a score of 19-38 while the girls won 20-43.

Boys:  Freshman Eric Stouten placed first overall in a time of 18:00.  Completing Sparta's top seven runners were Tom Anderson, Aidan Fairman, Zach Kurek, Brad Dauber, Randy Jacobsen and Adam Yost.  Josh Wolbert ran a personal best time of 19:36.

Girls:  Sara Rodgers ran 21:28 to lead the Sparta girls to victory.  She was followed by Becca May, Chelsea Miller, Katie Yahrmarkt, Kaileigh Russo, Carrie Debski and Justine Todd. 

09/27 -- At the Carson City Invitational, the girls finished in 5th place and the boys in 10th place in their 25-team division.  Personal best times were run by 15 Spartans.

Boys:  Tom Anderson led the way with a personal best time of 17:40, which earned him a place on the Millenium Milestones top ten.  He was followed by Eric Stouten, Adam Yost, Zach Kurek, Brad Dauber, Randy Jacobsen and Tim VanNatter.

Girls:  Sara Rodgers moved up to 7th place on the Millenium Milestones top ten by running a personal best of 20:52.   She was followed by Becca May, Katie Yahrmarkt, Chelsea Miller, Kaileigh Russo and Justine Todd.  In the Reserve Race, Shae Johnson made a significant improvement, running 3 minutes and 9 seconds faster than her previous best time.

RUNNERS WITH PERSONAL BEST PERFORMANCES:  Becca May, Kaileigh Russo, Justine Todd, Sara Rodgers, Kim Rodgers, Katie Yahrmarkt, Shae Johnson, Tim VanNatter, Tom Anderson,  Randy Jacobsen, Josh VanKoevering, Chris Rynberg, Brad Dauber, Adam Yost, Jessie Phillips

09/24 -- In a meet at Lowell, the Sparta boys defeated Greenville by a score of 20-38 and the girls won by 23-37.

Boys:  A.J. McConnell led all runners with a  winning time of 17:17.  Completing Sparta's top seven runners were Eric Stouten, Tom Anderson, Aidan Fairman, Adam Yost, Brad Dauber and Jason Brew.  Fairman (18:32) and Yost (18:54) broke the 19-minute mark for the first time.

Girls:  Sara Rodgers (21:33) led the Sparta girls to victory.  She was followed by Chelsea Miller, Kaileigh Russo, Becca May, Katie Yahrmarkt, Justine Todd and Carrie Debski. 

09/17 -- The OK White Conference ran their dual meets this afternoon at Sparta.  The Sparta girls defeated Cedar Springs by a score of 27 - 32, while the boys lost to the Red Hawks by a score of 25 - 30.

Boys:  The top seven boys for the Spartans were A.J. McConnell, Zach Kurek, Eric Stouten, Tom Anderson, Jason Brew, Brad Dauber and Tim Van Natter.

Girls:  Senior Carrie Debski led the girls to victory.  Completing the top seven were Ashley Bowen, Chelsea Miller, Sara Rodgers, Becca May, Kaileigh Russo and Justine Todd.

9/13 -- At the Sparta Invitational, the boys placed 4th out of a 14-team field, and the girls finished in 6th place out of 12 teams.

Boys:  A.J. McConnell (16:36) placed 3rd, and was followed by teammates Eric Stouten, Zach Kurek, Tom Anderson, Josh Taylor, Jason Brew and Brad Dauber.  Taylor, Brew and Dauber all ran personal best times.   In the reserve race, Tim VanNatter was Sparta's top runner with a personal best time of 18:57.

Girls:  The girls were led by freshman Ashley Bowen, who ran a personal best 21:13, earning her the 10th spot on the Millenium Milestones.  She was followed by Carrie Debski, Ashley Greenup, Sara Rodgers, Kim Rodgers, Kaileigh Russo and Chelsea Miller.  Becca May was the top Spartan in the reserve race.

09/10 -- In a meet held at Cedar Springs, the Spartans ran against the Lowell Red Arrows in an OK White dual meet.

Boys:  The boys lost a close contest by the score of 26 - 30.  A.J. McConnell led all runners with a time of 16:40.   Completing Sparta's top seven were Tom Anderson, Eric Stouten, Zach Kurek, Josh Taylor, Brad Dauber and Jason Brew. 

Girls:  The girls gave a strong effort but lost by the narrow margin of 26 - 29.  Carrie Debski (21:08) was the overall top runner.  She was followed by Ashley Bowen, Ashley Greenup, Chelsea Miller, Sara Rodgers, Kaileigh Russo and Kim Rodgers.

09/06 -- The Spartans had many fine performances at the Central Montcalm Invitational, which is a grade level meet.

Boys:  A.J. McConnell won the 12th grade race in a time of 17:01, and Eric Stouten won the 9th grade race in a personal best time of 17:48.  Stouten improved to 2nd on the Millenium Milestones Top Freshmen list and to 9th place on the Top Ten list of the Millenium.  Also earning medals at the meet were Zach Kurek, Tom Anderson, Tim VanNatter, Aidan Fairman, Matt Punches, Josh Taylor, Brad Dauber, Adam Yost, Josh Wolbert, Jessie Phillips and Josh VanKoevering.

Girls:  Freshman Chelsea Miller had the fastest time of the day for the Sparta girls, running 21:25 and placing 3rd in her race.  That earned her a spot on the Millenium Milestones Top Ten list at 10th place.   Also earning medals were Ashley Bowen, Becca May, Katie Yahrmarkt, Kim Rodgers, Kaleigh Russo, Justine Todd, Katie Stouten, Carrie Debski, Ashley Greenup, Sara Rodgers, Caitlin Hoseth and Sara Young.

09/03 -- In a meet held at Manhattan Park in East Grand Rapids, both the boys and girls won their dual meet with Kenowa Hills.

Boys:  The boys won by a score of 23 - 36. Sparta's top seven runners for the day were A.J. McConnell, Eric Stouten, Zach Kurek, Brad Dauber, Tom Anderson, Tim VanNatter and Jason Brew.  Stouten improved his time on the Millenium Milestones as the #3 freshman to 18:22.

Girls:  In her first meet of the season after an injury, Carrie Debski ran a strong race and placed first in the meet.   Completing the top seven for the girls were Sara Rodgers, Chelsea Miller, Ashley Bowen, Becca May, Ashley Greenup and Caitlin Hoseth.  The girls won by a score of 15 - 50.

08/28 -- The Sparta boys and girls defeated Coopersville in a cross country meet held during the Sparta-Coopersville football game.

Boys:  A.J. McConnell (17:02) led the way for the Spartans, as the team defeated the Broncos by a score of 15 - 47.  The Spartans put 5 runners across the finish line before the first Coopersville runner.   McConnell was followed by Zach Kurek, Tom Anderson, Eric Stouten, Josh Taylor, Brad Dauber and Tim VanNatter.  Stouten's time of 18:31 earned him a spot on the Millenium Milestones as one of the top 3 freshmen.

Girls:  Ashley Greenup (22:17) paced the Sparta girls, finishing 2nd overall.  The girls won by a score of 20 - 43.   Other top Sparta finishers were Chelsea Miller, Ashley Bowen, Sara Rodgers, Caitlin Hoseth, Sara Young and Kim Rodgers.

08/26 -- The OK White Grade Level Meet was held at Sparta on a warm afternoon with temperatures in the upper 80's. 

Boys:  The 9th grade boys were led by Eric Stouten who placed first.  He was followed by Brad Dauber (2nd), Josh Taylor (3rd), Adam Yost (5th), and Josh Wolbert (6th). Aidan Fairman was Sparta's top sophomore, placing 5th, and Matt Punches was 12th. The juniors were led by Tom Anderson in 4th place, Jason Brew in 9th, and J.J. Shangle in 12th.   Senior A.J. McConnell won the 12th grade race in the fastest time of the day, 17:16.

Girls:  Ashley Bowen finished in 4th place for the 9th grade girls, followed by Chelsea Miller (6th), Becca May (8th), and Katie Yahrmarkt (9th).  Shannon Upton was Sparta's top sophomore in 10th place.   Amanda Young (8th) and Kim Rodgers (9th) were Sparta's top juniors. The seniors were led by Ashley Greenup (4th), Sara Young (5th), and Sara Rodgers (6th).

08/11 -- This was the official first day of practice for the 2003 cross country season!  The Spartans will now be competing in the OK White league instead of the OK Gold.  In addition to Sparta, other schools in the OK White are Cedar Springs, East Grand Rapids, Greenville, Kenowa Hills, Lowell, Northview and Unity Christian.

08/04 - 08/09 -- The annual cross country camp at Leelanau School was a big success.  Check out our Picture page for camp pictures.