February 2024 Issue of Varsity Monthly Thumb Magazine

PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
Athletes are selected as the Players of the Month for their athletic
accomplishments, leadership roles, and community impact.
CALDEN
EISINGER
BAD AXE
WRESTLING
GRACE
SUGGITT
CASS CITY
GYMNASTICS
BAD AXE WRESTLER CALDEN EISINGER
EPITOMIZES THE QUALITIES THE PROGRAM HAS
BEEN BUILT ON. THE SENIOR SHOWS THE KIND OF
GRIT, DETERMINATION AND DEDICATION COACH
ADAM HOLLINGSWORTH EXPECTS FROM HIS
GRAPPLERS.
“He’s by far the hardest worker that I’ve had in a
while,” said Hollingsworth. “He’s always pushing the
pace of his matches; he doesn’t
have any quit. He fights for every
point. If he gets put on his back,
he fights off his back. He’s hard to
score on and has a motor that keeps
going.”
Through the Mio Thunderbolt
Individual Invitational, Eisinger had a
28-2 record, including a win at that
tournament at 165 pounds.
As a junior, he wrestled over 60
matches, which has set the tone for
his senior season.
“The 60 matches last year helped
him develop the stamina and conditioning to go the
distance in a close match,” Hollingsworth said. “That
gives him the advantage to outwork kids that may be
better than him technically, but he has more in the tank,
he has more grit. It’s something you just can’t teach,
it’s something internal. That’s just who he is. The mat
time is something kids just can’t get enough of. The
more chances you get on the mat during a competitive
situation, the more you learn. A lot of those matches
went the distance.”
If Eisinger can remain healthy and focused,
Hollingsworth sees big things for him. “With some of
the tournaments we’ve scheduled, he’s been able to get
into some really good matches and get that experience,”
he said. “At Mio, he really showcased himself. He looks
like someone who is going to be on the podium at Ford
Field.”
FOR THE PAST FOUR SEASONS, GRACE SUGGITT
HAS BEEN A DEPENDABLE GYMNAST FOR CASS
CITY. SUGGITT COMES TO CASS CITY BY WAY OF
ELKTON-PIGEON-BAY PORT THROUGH A CO-OP.
Cass City coach Kathy Bouverette has seen Suggitt
grow as a gymnast even before high school, as part of
the Thumb Tumblers.
“She had experience when she was younger with
clubs, so that helped her when she came to us,” said
Bouverette. “She has the ability to be a quick learner and
she’s very coachable. She listens to what you have to
say and she tries to initiate that when she’s working new
skills.”
Suggitt performs in all four disciplines (vault, bar, beam,
floor), making her one of six all-arounders for the team.
“She’s just an all-around good
gymnast on everything,” Bouverette
said. “She really excels in all four
events.”
Suggitt has a laid-back personality,
which helps keep the other members
relaxed.
“There’s a time to be serious and
focused, but you have to have that
to be able to stay loose in between
events,” Bouverette said. “She does
a good job with that balance. When
it comes to doing her routine, I can
count on her pulling a good score for
our team.”
Suggitt has proven to be a leader to the current roster,
as well as the upcoming gymnasts.“She’s just a great kid,
she even helps me coach,” Bouverette said.
“She’s a really good coach to the little kids, they look up
to her. She just makes it fun for them. I’m really going to
miss her; it’s going to hurt to see her go.”
ARTICLES BY PAUL ADAMS
4 February 2024 CONTACT US AT 989-673-5826 VIEW FREE ONLINE AT WWW.VARSITYMONTHLYTHUMB.COM PURCHASE PRINTS AT WWW.MISPORTSPHOTOS.COM
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