February 2022 Issue of Varsity Monthly Thumb Magazine

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PROUD TO COVER HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS IN THE THUMB 

February 2022 | Volume 10 Issue 2 

FREE 

REBOUND

Owner Jason Parmenter 

Magazine Design Alyssa Buhl 

Photo Editor Kaitlin Gunsell 

Office Manager Brenda Tomlinson 

Regularly Contributing Photographers 

Kaitlin Gunsell - Kaitlin’s Klicks 

Jason Parmenter - Quad N Productions 

Alyissa VanConant - Quad N Productions 

Mallory Hughes - Quad N Productions 

Gary Koelzer - Gary Koelzer Photography 

Jeff Caverly - Jeff Caverly Photography 

Find our photos for sale at: 

www.misportsphotos.com 

View online at 

www.varsitymonthlythumb.com 

Varsity Monthly Thumb has no liability for 

content, representations in advertisements, 

and articles may not express the opinion of the 

editors/publishers/owners. It is the buyer’s sole 

responsibility to clarify any and all advertising 

representations. Any burden of proof rests 

solely on the advertisers. 

Varsity Monthly Thumb reserves the right to 

edit or refuse any advertising or 

articles submitted for publication. We do not 

assume any liability for errors, but will correct it 

in next issue or a credit will be negotiated. 

Designs by Varsity Monthly Thumb are the 

property of Varsity Monthly Thumb/ Quad N 

Productions. 

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What’s 

Inside 

Millington 

Cros-Lex 

Sandusky 

ETA Legion 

Bad Axe 

Cass City 

Caro 

CPS 

Mayville 

Harbor Beach 

Vassar 

Reese 

Caro 

Cros-Lex 

North Branch 

Marlette 

North Huron 

Owen-Gage 

Caro 

Kingston 

Lakers 

Peck 

Akron-Fairgrove 

Sandusky 

Brown City 

Caseville 

Deckerville 

USA 

Ubly 

Frankenmuth 

All Saints 

John Glenn 

REBOUND 

COVER IMAGE: 

Cass City’s Connor Herford boxes out Bad Axe’s Jake 

MacPhee on 1-7-22 at Cass City High School. 

Photo by: Jason of Quad N Productions 

2022 is off to a great start. In January of 

2021, we were still finishing up football 

Articles, editorials opinions in Varsity 

playoffs, and basketball was just getting 

Monthly Thumb do not necessarily reflect the 

started. This year, our athletes have 

opinions of the staff of Varsity Monthly Thumb 

or the publishers. 

rebounded strongly and are really hitting 

their stride as we approach the last third 

Copyright by Quad N Productions, LLC. All 

of the season. We are incredibly grateful 

or part of Varsity Monthly Thumb, including 

to the many schools that use our owners, 

photographs, stories and logos, cannot be 

reprinted without permission. 

Quad N Productions & Kaitlin’s Klicks, for 

their team and individual photography. 

Varsity Monthly Thumb is published 12 times 

That very much helps us produce this 

a year by Quad N Productions, LLC, 189 N State 

St., Caro, MI 48723 

magazine, along with our amazing 

advertisers from the 27 different 

PHONE: 989-673-5826 

communities that we cover. As we get into 

••••••••••••••••• 

the month of February, we are 

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more competing for local, regional, and 

state championships. Best wishes to all the 

area teams on the remainder of your 

season! 

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MILLINGTON 

PLAYERS OF THE MONTH 

Winners are selected for their athletic accomplishments, leadership roles, and community impact as the 

Players of the Month. Not only are the players of the month featured in the magazine and receive a Player of 

the Month T-Shirt, Schaefer & Bierlein also provides each athlete with a $25 gift certificate! 

POWERLIFTING 

12-18-21 MHSPLA REGIONAL MEET AT NORTH BRANCH 

Photography by Jason Parmenter 

HAYDEN 

HOLMES 

MILLINGTON 

WRESTLING 

KATHERINE 

HIMMEL 

BAD AXE 

BASKETBALL 

MILLINGTON’S HAYDEN HOLMES ISN’T ABOUT TO LET HIS 

LAST OPPORTUNITY SLIP AWAY. THE SENIOR WRESTLER 

WAS LEFT WITH AN EMPTY FEELING AT THE END OF HIS 

JUNIOR SEASON WHEN COVID PRECAUTIONS KEPT HIM 

FROM COMPETING AT THE INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT. 

Holmes is putting together a special season, which saw him 

begin with 27 straight wins at 160/171 pounds, before suffering 

his first loss. 

Holmes’ style fits in well with what Millington coach Greg 

Hudie expects from his grapplers. 

“He’s a blue-collar wrestler,” said Hudie. “He’s real gritty, he will 

grind and work it out. He’s very strong and technical with the 

stuff that he does.” 

Added Hudie: “He’s a very hard worker. He’s not very flashy, he 

sticks to the basics and does what he needs to do to win. He 

works hard in practice and the weight room. In the offseason, he 

puts a lot of time in with his dad in their garage.” 

Hudie has coached Holmes for all four years of high school 

and commented on his growth as a wrestler. 

“He’s progressed a lot for someone who 

didn’t start wrestling until he was in seventh 

grade,” Hudie said. “From his first year 

wrestling, we could tell that he was going to 

be something special and a real role model 

for our program. He does the right things 

and people see that with his actions.” 

Included in the season-opening 27 wins, 

was his 100th career victory. “Getting my 

100th win was one of my huge goals, and I 

want to be a state placer too,” said Holmes. 

“It felt awesome getting that.” 

As a sophomore, Holmes was a state 

qualifier and has his sights set on finishing 

his career on the podium, in early March, at 

Ford Field. 

“This season means a lot to me; last season didn’t go as 

planned,” he said. “I’m putting in 110% trying to get back to the 

state finals.” 

Holmes plans to become a journeyman lineman, but would like 

to continue his wrestling career, as well. 

KATHERINE HIMMEL HAS MADE THE TRANSITION FROM 

BEING THE FIRST PLAYER OFF THE BENCH, TO A STARTER 

LOOK SEAMLESS. THE BAD AXE JUNIOR MADE AN IMPACT 

FOR THE HATCHETS AS A SOPHOMORE WHEN SHE WAS 

NAMED ALL-THUMB SIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN 2020- 

21. 

In her first season as a starter, Himmel was averaging 12 

points per game, 10 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.0 steals, through 

her first nine games. Her season highs are: points (17 twice), 

rebounds (16 twice), blocks (6) and steals (7). 

“This year, she has taken that role of a 

starter, embraced it and had a really huge 

impact,” said Bad Axe coach Kurt Dennis. 

As a sophomore, she recorded the only 

triple-double in the history of the Bad Axe 

program, with 20 points, 13 rebounds and 

a school record 11 blocks. 

Her current blocks average this year, 

puts her on pace for the school record 

in a season. “She’s got good timing; she 

extends and surprises the observer,” 

Dennis said. “She goes up and it looks like 

it’s going to be a foul, but she blocks shots 

that other players simply can’t do.” 

He added: “She changes the game; she 

closes the paint down. We do a lot of defensive schemes that try 

to keep her in that paint area. I think that is frustrating for other 

teams. I’m challenged sometimes to use her to the best of what 

she can give us. I’m not sure I’m used to having a player with all 

the facets of the game that she has.” 

During a double overtime win against Cass City this season, 

Himmel showed her composure under pressure. With her team 

down one, with no time on the clock, she hit the backend of two 

free throws, to force overtime. “It doesn’t get any more pressure 

than that, and she’s able to handle it,” Dennis said. 

Himmel’s future plans include studying to become a physician 

assistant and live in a place where it’s warm all year. 

ARTICLES BY PAUL ADAMS 

TUSCOLA 

Behavioral Health Systems 

Emergency Services 

available 24/7 

Mobile Crisis Services 

available for eligible youth 

up to age 21 

Contact Information 

989.673.6191 

or 

1.800.462.6814 

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Reported Symptoms 

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Athletes Suspected of suffering a concussion 

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February 2022 Issue of Varsity Monthly Thumb Magazine

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