PAGE EIGHTEEN CASS CITY CHRONICLE-WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31,1980 CASS CITY, MICHIGA Bulldogs post Tough schedule first win of faces Hawk year in tourney gymnastic team4 Coach Sue Cali points to schools on the schedule. Fi Score by quarters: numbers and enthusiasm as only Class C team that ( Owen-Gage achieved its the strength of the Cass City Hawks face is Vassar. first victory of the season High School gymnastic team Cass City is forced to s; Monday night when it won 0-G 12 27 14 11 64 Case. 10 11 12 11 44 this year. out larger schools for col the opening round of its Gone are two lettermenl petition because ar holiday tournament, 64-44, UBLV Libby Hartel and Nancy schools do not field team over Caseville. Tonti. But Cali can look to The first of the lai The Bulldogs, now 1-5 Owen-Gage, still looking seven returning lettermen to schools will be Midla' overall, will face the winner for its first win, didn't get it .bolster the team. which comes to Cass C of Tuesday's game between at Ubly Tuesday, Dec. 23, as Jan. 7. Michigan Lutheran Semi- it lost the non-league con- They include Michelle The .schedule! nary and Port Hope in the test, 66-44. Farhner, Carrie Lautner, Jan. 7 Midland, here title game Saturday, follow- The Bearcats were paced Jill Seurynck, LeAnne Jan. 12 Grand Blanc, the ing the 6:30 junior varsity by 6-3 Terry Camp, who Potrykus, Kristy Deering, Jan. 15 Vassar, there title game. First round pumped in 32 points, includ- Sherry Lefler and Tena La- Jan. 19 Flint Kea'rsley losers play Friday night. ing 14 of his team's 26 tallies Roche. there Owen-Gage put the game in the last quarter. He also Jan. 26 Midland Dow, the on ice Monday when it grabbed nine of his team's 33 A weakness of the team is Feb. 9 Grand Blanc, he exploded for 27 points in the rebounds. the inexperience of the new Feb. 16 Midland, there second quarter, to go into The Bulldogs also had only members. Feb. 19 Vassar, here the locker room at halftime one player in double figures, POSING ON THE balancing beam is this year's gymnastic team. Front row, Feb. 21 Grand Blanc, the with a margin of 39-21. Terry Muntz with 23, his from left: Bobbi MacKay, Kristy Deering, Tina LaRoche, Kathy Henderson, The inexperience coupled Feb. 25 Flint Kearsley, he Jim Glidden paced his most ever. The 6-2 junior with the schedule could squad with 27 points, with also grabbed 13 rebounds. Carrie Lautner, Suzy Scollon. make a winning record diffi- TOO LATE brother Dan following with Jim Glidden snared 12, as Second row: DeAngela Garety, La Donna Hawley, Colleen Janssen, Coach cult to attain this season. 20. the team collected a total of There are several Class A Some folks' good mtei The team shot 27 of 57 Sue Cali, Michelle Fahrner, Jill Seurynck, LeAnne Potrykus. schools and large Class B tions fizzle out even befoi 33. they are put into practice from the floor for a 47 Class C Ubly shot 28 of 63 percent average. At the from the floor, 44 percent, charity line, the Bulldogs and 10 of 13 from the charity sank 10 of 17, 59 percent. line, 77 percent. May give it up The Gliddens also glist- Owen-Gage connected on ened in the rebound depart- 20 of 49'field goal attempts, ment, with Dan grabbing 11 41 percent, and four of nine and Jim, 10. The team from the free throw line, 44 collected a total of 37. percent. Mike Stahl led the Eagles The win gave Ubly an Birney mulls future as kicker with 17 points-, followed by overall season mark of 4-2 Pete Schuetz with 12. while the Bulldogs dropped Caseville connected on 18 to 0-5. of 45 field goal attempts, 40 Ubly won the junior var- percent, and six of 15 free sity game, 44-20. throws, 40 percent. The in National Football League Score by quarters: team collected 22 rebounds. Fifty thousand football Caseville won the junior and six of 12 field goal January. into its proper perspective. Ubly 14 12 14 26 66 fans are yelling at you. attempts. But he may not. "I have to lost. varsity game, 49-38. 0-G 7 8 12 17 44 "Although winning is nice, "The key thing in life ism If you kick the football He might have done even think aoout my family," he through the uprights the way better, but had to contend it's not the end of the world if what happened," the sofi explained. "I can't run off you lose." spoken Birney said in lool you're supposed to, you're a with a right-handed holder and play football all the \ hero. Miss and you're a who wasn't always able to He can remember things ing back at his so far up an| time." from games several years down football career, "bi bum. hold the ball correctly for Substitute teaching fits in Tom Birney has been a Birney, who kicks with his ago, but can't remember how you react to what hal MARY LEN- hero and a bum. Right now, well with football, but if he whether his team won or happened." HARD of Gage- left foot. doesn't play again, he may he is an unemployed profes- Of those seven games, the not go into teaching full- town is a starting sional football player, who Packers won three, lost time. forward on the was a placekicker part of the three (two by a total of seven He and his wife are seri- past two seasons for the points) and tied one. ously considering becoming Grand Valley State Green Bay Packers. But with four games left in staff members for Campus College Women's Birney, 24, is a 1974 grad- the season, Starr gave Bir- Crusade, a Christian group. basketball team uate of Bishop Borgess High ney his walking papers, in They would be assigned to a School, near Detroit, who favor of veteran placekicker college campus and work this season. She played football at Michigan Jan Stenerud. with students. Birney would State University. All he did Birney was both surprised work primarily with ath- We send you our sincerest wishes scored 23 points in was kickoffs and punts. and disappointed when he the first two games letes, to help them under- for a New Year of lasting joy and happiness He met his wife of three was let go. "I really thought stand the role of athletics in She is a 1978 grad- years, Mandy, when both I was their field goal kicker their lives and put it into uate of Owendale- were freshmen at MSU. She of their future." perspective. THE CHARMONT is the daughter of Mr. and Starr agreed with Birney Religion plays a very im- Gagetown High Mrs. George Trischler of when he gave him his walk- Clare andJeannie Comment and all the staff portant role in his life, as School. Hurds Corner Road, Cass ing papers that part of the indicated by the fact that City. She is a 1974 graduate problem was the holder. when he was waiting for the of Owen-Gage High School. Stenerud kicks right-footed. Chronicle reporter to arrive Her family then lived near He also had a lot more at the Trischler home, Bach. The couple has a experience, and with four where he and his family 17-month-old son, Mark. games to go and a chance to spent Christmas week, he He graduated from MSU make the playoffs, that wa^ was reading the Bible. He in 1978 with a teaching a major consideration. considers himself a "Chris- degree in physical education The move didn't pay off, tian athlete." and a determination to make however. Green Bay lost its DOES GOD HAVE A it in professional football. final four games and fin- role in the huddle? Does he He was invited that year to ished the season at 5-10-1. help a team to win? try out with the New Eng- BIRNEY'S PROFES- Birney doesn't see it that land Patriots as a free sional career may not be way. Although the Lord agent, but didn't make the over. The 6-4, 220-pounder — gives the talents to the play- team. big for a kicker — has ers, it is up to them as to He kept practicing his already met with officials of what they do with them. "I kicking and the next year another team, which he think you're responsible for called the Green Bay Pack- doesn't wish to name at this the things God has given to ers. They invited him to point. He has been invited to you.'' come to training camp. He its trainingg camp come JulJulyy witWithh thathatt iin mindmind,, iitt iis alsalsoo TATV/I moM1?v again didn't make the team. and mayy sign a contract iin necessarnecessary ttoo puputt ththee gamgamee 1U1V1 BlKIMIi, Y Birney went back to sub- stitute teaching in Lansing. But partway through the season, the Packers' place- kicker, Chester Marcol, was Ex-Packer gives inside injured and the team gave Birney a call. "That was a miracle in itself," he said -- not that Marcol was injured, but that the Packers called him. look at life in pros There were experienced professional kickers avail- able and Birney hadn't What's it like playing on a The players tend to stick knocked down in his pro Although it's only the com- kicked a field goal since high professional football team? together in small groups career) and the job is less paratively few big name school. During practice with Tom Birney admits that when off the field. Defensive physically demanding - the players who make the big) the Packers, he had never after his first pro game, he players may eat meals to- pressure is greater. "The bucks and drive the Mer( kicked a field goal with the felt like going up to his gether, for instance, be- results are obvious. If you cedes-Benzes and Cadillacs,) team in a game-type situa- fellow players and asking cause they work together all make it, you're the hero." football players do make tion, only with a small group for their autographs. the time, or players may What's it like going out on good salaries, if only for a Silver chimes of players. But, "What it comes down stick together in groups the field to kick a crucial few years. But under the pressure of to is, it's a job." according to their interests. field goal with the fans Even though it's a job, and The Christian athletes are screaming? "You get used Birney made enough duK real competition, he played ing his seven games this1 resound with our very well. In six games, he a well-paid one, "It's still a one group, players who like to it after a while, because game and to be in it, you to hang around in bars are you've been in that situation season to live on for a year. completed seven of nine "I can't complain about field goal attempts, and have to enjoy it." There is a another. "Whatever you see enough times that it isn't a kicked seven extra points. lot of pressure, players get in society, you're going to factor." that." worm wishes for a year But in practice for the 1980 injured and get criticized by see there (on the team)." season, Packer coach Bart the media when they lose. Players are aware of bet- Martin earns letter Starr decided to go with "You have to have a love for ting and point spreads, and of golden dreams come Marcol, a nine year veteran. the game to go through that coaches may use that in It was back to the classroom and play it." their pep talks. If the other Ken Martin, an Alma Col- ball awards were announce* for Birney. Birney pointed out that the team is favored by two lege freshman from Cass at a banquet Dec. 7 for Alms: true! Our gratitude But Marcol had his average career in the Nat- touchdowns, the coach may City and a 1980 graduate of football players and theis troubles early in the season, ional Football League lasts tell his players they can beat Cass City High School, is one families. and Starr cut him in favor of only a little more than three the odds. But if it's his team of 80 Alma football players The Alma Scots finishei the East Lansing resident. seasons and that most play- that is favored, he may cau- who earned recognition for 2-7 overall and 1-4 in thr His first game was Oct. 12 ers don't spend their non- tion them not to be overcon- participation in the Alma Michigan Intercollegiate playing time making tele- fident. Scots' 1980 season. Athletic Association. against Tampa Bay, and it Martin is the son of Mr was a disaster. One field vision commercials and Halftime locker room ses- A tight end, Martin re- 1 speaking at banquets. "You sions are devoted more to ceived a letter sweater as and Mrs, Kenneth Martin goal attempt was partially 4180 Hurds Corner Road, r- blocked and he missed two don't see second string play- technical matters -- what his first varsity award. Foot- others. With 1:09 left, and ers hitting the limelight too happened in the first half, the score tied 14-14, he often," he said with a smile. strategy for the second half missed a 24-yarder. With 36 Football is different from -- than to pep talks. seconds left in overtime, he other professional sports in In college, if a player H&R BLOCK missed a 36-yarder, The that it is more like a regular doesn't do well, he may sit The Income Tax People game ended at 14-14. job. on the bench for a while. "It was very hard," he During the week, practice There is a lot more pressure said of the aftermath of that and team sessions are often in the pro ranks. "If you day. "To come back from 9-5. The team travels to don't do well in a profession- OPENS JAN.1 that and do well, that meant away games on Saturdays al game, you're back home In THE PINNEY STATE BANK a lot to me," and comes home Sunday wondering what happened." He was to play in seven after the game, in contrast Although field goal kick- games, (including Tampa to other pro sports, where ers usually have longer players are on the road careers -- injuries are fewer PLAZA WEST Bay), during which he 6144 E. Cass City Road » kicked 15 of 18 extra points much of the time. (Birney has never been