May 2023 Issue of Varsity Monthly Thumb Magazine

FREE 

PROUD TO COVER HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS IN THE THUMB 

May 2023 | Volume 11 Issue 5 

FREE 

Check out more 

photos here: 

BATTER UP

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 

Mallory Hughes - Quad N Productions 

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. 

Articles, editorials opinions in Varsity 

Monthly Thumb do not necessarily reflect 

the opinions of the staff of Varsity Monthly 

Thumb or the publishers. 

Copyright by Quad N Productions, LLC. 

All or part of Varsity Monthly Thumb, 

including photographs, stories and logos, 

cannot be reprinted without permission. 

Varsity Monthly Thumb is published 12 

times a year by Quad N Productions, LLC, 

189 N State St., Caro, MI 48723 

PHONE: 989-673-5826 

••••••••••••••••• 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISTRIBUTE 

VARSITY MONTHLY THUMB 

AT YOUR BUSINESS? 

JUST E-MAIL US AT 

BRENDA@VARSITYMONTHLYTHUMB.COM 

••••••••••••••••• 

6 

8 

10 

11 

12 

14 

16 

18 

20 

22 

23 

24 

26 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 

36 

37 

38 

40 

41 

42 

43 

44 

46 

Caro 

Lakers 

Cass City 

Kingston 

Sandusky 

Bad Axe 

Caro 

Reese 

Cass City 

Cros-Lex 

North Branch 

Marlette 

Harbor Beach 

Akron-Fairgrove 

Deckerville 

CPS 

North Huron 

Peck 

Ubly 

Caseville 

Mayville 

Cros-Lex 

Bad Axe 

Vassar 

USA 

Owen-Gage 

Brown City 

Millington 

Caro 

Frankenmuth 

QR Code to 

www.misportsphotos.com 

COVER IMAGE: 

Senior Michael Booms of Caro opens the season at bat 

against Croswell-Lexington on 4-3-23. 

Photo by Kaitlin Gunsell 

BATTER UP 

Batter up! The Spring Season is always a tough 

start with Spring Breaks and weather, but we 

have been able to cover more spring sports this 

year so far than in any previous year. Our goal this 

season is to cover each varsity team from our 26 

schools at least one time. We are over three 

quarters of the way to that goal already and 

excited to see the last quarter of teams in the 

next couple of weeks. Springs Sports pictures will 

be in the May, June and July issues, and of course 

keep checking out our Facebook pages 

(Quad N Productions, Kaitlin’s Klicks and Varsity 

Monthly Thumb Area) along with our website 

www.misportsphotos.com. Your photo orders 

allow us to keep coming out to games. Please be 

sure to thank our magazine advertisers as well 

when you shop at those businesses.

PLAYERS OF THE MONTH 

Athletes are selected as the Players of the Month for their athletic 

accomplishments, leadership roles, and community impact. 

CALEB 

GEIGER 

BAD AXE 

TRACK 

PAIGE 

HERRON 

CARO 

TRACK 

COMING INTO THIS SEASON, BAD AXE TRACK 

COACH LEE KAHLER SET SOME GOALS FOR 

DISTANCE RUNNER CALEB GEIGER. AFTER A 

SUCCESSFUL FIRST MONTH, KAHLER MAY NEED 

TO COME UP WITH A NEW SET OF OBJECTIVES. 

Through the Marlette Invitational, Geiger has notched 

six individual victories, 800 (3), 1,600 (2) and 3,200 (1). 

The junior has also gotten below the five-minute mark 

in the 1,600, turning in a season-best time of 4:58.15 at 

the Marlette Invitational. 

“I really like the fact that he has steadily improved his 

times in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200,” said Kahler. 

“I suggested to him that maybe he should take an 800 

or 3,200 off. He said: "Absolutely not, coach, I can do it.” 

Geiger’s early season success is only amplified when 

taking into consideration that he’s visually impaired and 

competing with guide runners. His 

primary guide runners are Erik and 

Ethan Kent, but others have pitched 

in, as well. In the 3,200, Kahler has 

elected to go with two or three guide 

runners. 

As Geiger’s times continue to 

improve, it’s becoming more difficult 

to keep the guide runners fresh. 

“The thing that’s worked out nicely 

is the guide runner running beside 

him,” Kahler said. “We found out 

last year that one of his legs was 

bothering him. It was on the side where he was holding 

the tether and his arm wasn’t swinging properly. 

We had to sort that out.” 

Kahler sees Geiger contending for league and regional 

championships in one or more of his events this 

season.But he will never forget Geiger’s first varsity win 

of his career, this season at the Cass City Invitational. 

“I found myself crying that first night, when we won,” 

Kahler said. “I was trying to talk to someone, and I 

actually broke into a few tears.” 

CARO DISTANCE RUNNER PAIGE HERRON IS ON 

THE CUSP OF A BREAKOUT SEASON. THE JUNIOR 

IS COMING OFF A SUCCESSFUL CROSS COUNTRY 

SEASON, WHICH SAW HER FINISH FOURTH IN THE 

REGIONAL AND 39TH IN THE DIVISION 3 STATE 

FINALS, RECORDING A PERSONAL BEST TIME OF 

19:39.9. 

She parlayed that into a career best time in the 3,200 

during her first meet of the track & field season, coming 

in at 12:34.92. It’s a time which currently ranks her 

No. 1 in the region. 

“She came out first meet of the 

year, broke her personal record 

from last year, so she’s already 

ahead of last year's times,” said 

Caro track coach Jeff Schember. 

“She’s picked up where she left off, 

which is a great thing.” 

Herron is a standout 1,600 runner, 

and also shines in the 3,200 relay. 

Last season, she was on a 3,200 

relay team which won the Division 

3 regional and went on to hit the 

podium at the state finals, finishing 

eighth. 

“She has put in a lot of time during the off-season, 

she goes above and beyond with her training,” Schember 

said. “It’s doing the things others aren’t willing to do, 

that’s what separates her.” 

For Herron, the student in student-athlete is important, 

as she carries a 4.0 GPA. 

“Considering how good she is as a student-athlete, 

she’s an even better person and teammate,” Schember 

said. “She’s a great teammate, she’s a good person to 

have around.” 

ARTICLES BY PAUL ADAMS 

4 May 2023 CONTACT US AT 989-673-5826 VIEW FREE ONLINE AT WWW.VARSITYMONTHLYTHUMB.COM PURCHASE PRINTS AT WWW.MISPORTSPHOTOS.COM 

VIEW FREE ONLINE AT WWW.VARSITYMONTHLYTHUMB.COM PURCHASE PRINTS AT WWW.MISPORTSPHOTOS.COM CONTACT US AT 989-673-5826 May 2023 5

CARO 

BASEBALL 

4-3-23 CROS-LEX AT CARO 

Photography by Kaitlin Gunsell 

When protecting what matters most, the 

EXPERIENCE 

MATTERS. 

Call the Soper Norris Agency today! 

(989) 673-5588 | lnorris@fbinsmi.com 

1701 W. Caro Rd., Caro, MI 



LAKERS 

TRACK 

4-6-23 CASS CITY INVITE 

Photography by Kaitlin Gunsell & Paul Adams 



CASS CITY 

KINGSTON 

SOFTBALL 

4-3-23 KINGSTON AT CASS CITY 

Photography by Jason Parmenter 

SOFTBALL 

4-3-23 KINGSTON AT CASS CITY 


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 



SANDUSKY 

SOFTBALL 

4-3-23 USA AT SANDUSKY 

Photography by Mallory Hughes 

BASEBALL 





BAD AXE 

SOFTBALL 

4-6-23 HARBOR BEACH AT BAD AXE 




CARO 

SOCCER 

4-13-23 BAD AXE AT CARO 




REESE 

TRACK 

4-14-23 BROWN CITY INVITATIONAL 

Photography by Kaitlin Gunsell & Jason Parmenter 

BASEBALL 

4-4-23 FRANKENMUTH AT REESE 




CASS CITY 

TRACK 

4-6-23 CASS CITY INVIITE 


Reggie Ignash 

covers Michigan 

Auto, Home, Life, Business, 

Farm and more 

(989) 872-4432 

6505 Main St., Cass City 

rignash@fbinsmi.com 

ReggieIgnashAgency.com 



CROS-LEX 

BASEBALL 

4-10-23 CROS-LEX AT NORTH BRANCH 


NORTH 

BRANCH 

BASEBALL 

4-7-23 NORTH BRANCH AT MILLINGON 


Helping you 

achieve 

financial clarity 

Getting your finances in order isn’t always easy. That’s why we’re here. 

Together, we can assess your financial picture and personalize your 

strategy. We can help connect you to the following solutions: 

• Financial services 

• Education funding 

• Retirement savings 

• Investments and mutual funds 

Let’s connect to get you where you want to go. 

• Insurance 

• Annuities 

• Charitable giving solutions 

Generational Wealth Advisors 

Cody L. Pfaff, RICP ® , FIC 

Financial Advisor 

47 Westland Dr 

Bad Axe, MI 48413 

989-269-2208 | 

cody.pfaff@thrivent.com 

connect.thrivent.com/cody-pfaff 

Andrew Booms 

Financial Producer I 

429 N. State St, Suite 100 

Caro, MI 48723 

989-293-4615 

andrew.booms@thrivent.com 

connect.thrivent.com/andrew-booms 

Thrivent is the marketing name for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Insurance products 

issued by Thrivent. Not available in all states. Securities and investment advisory 

services offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., a registered investment 

adviser, member FINRA and SIPC, and a subsidiary of Thrivent. Licensed agent/ 

producer of Thrivent. Registered representative of Thrivent Investment Management, Inc. 

Thrivent.com/disclosures. 

Insurance products, securities and investment advisory services are provided by 

appropriately appointed and licensed financial advisors and professionals. Only 

individuals who are financial advisors are credentialed to provide investment advisory 

services. Visit Thrivent.com or FINRA’s Broker Check for more information about our 

financial advisors. 

20328 R3-22 



MARLETTE 

TRACK 



SOCCER 

4-11-23 MARLETTE AT LAKERS 

Photography by Paul Adams 



HARBOR 

BEACH 

SOFTBALL 


BASEBALL 




Orthopedic Services 

Dr. Branislav Behan 

Harbor Beach Medical Clinic 

(989)479-3291 

Services Include: 

• Joint Injury • Fracture Care • Joint Revisions 

• Joint Replacements • Arthroscopic Procedures 

• Hand Surgery • Robotic-Assisted Knee Surgery 

Your Safe Harbor for Great Healthcare! 



AKRON- 

FAIRGROVE 

TRACK 

3-23-23 SVSU INDOOR INVITATIONAL 

DECKERVILLE 

TRACK 






CARSONVILLE 

PORT SANILAC 

TRACK 

4-14-23 NORTH HURON QUAD 


NORTH 

HURON 

SOFTBALL 

4-10-23 NORTH HURON AT OWEN-GAGE 




PECK 

UBLY 

BASEBALL 

4-10-23 PECK AT ALL SAINTS 


TRACK 

4-6-23 CASS CITY INVIITE 




CASEVILLE 

MAYVILLE 

BASEBALL 

4-10-23 MAYVILLE AT CASEVILLE 


BASEBALL 

4-10-23 MAYVILLE AT CASEVILLE 




CROS-LEX 

TENNIS 

4-12-23 CROS-LEX AT BAD AXE 


BAD AXE 

TENNIS 

4-12-23 CROS-LEX AT BAD AXE 




VASSAR 

SOFTBALL 

4-6-23 CAPAC AT VASSAR 


BASEBALL 

4-6-23 CAPAC AT VASSAR 




USA 

OWEN-GAGE 

BASEBALL 



SOFTBALL 

4-10-23 NORTH HURON AT OWEN-GAGE 




BROWN 

CITY 

TRACK 


MILLINGTON 

SOCCER 

4-7-23 MILLINGTON AT YALE 





CARO 

TRACK 

3-23-23 SVSU INDOOR INVITATIONAL 


LOANS 

CUSTOMIZED TO MEET YOUR NEEDS 

We know loans aren’t one size fits all. That’s why we offer 

a variety of loan programs along with personalized service 

to find a loan that meets your unique needs. 

Agriculture • Auto • Commercial 

Home Equity • Mortgage 

Loans are subject to credit approval. Member FDIC 

GUIDING THE WAY 

NorthstarAtHome.com 



FRANKENMUTH 

GOLF 

4-12-23 MILLINGTON VS FRANKENTMUTH 


BASEBALL 

4-4-23 FRANKENMUTH AT REESE 




48 May 2023 CONTACT US AT 989-673-5826 VIEW FREE ONLINE AT WWW.VARSITYMONTHLYTHUMB.COM PURCHASE PRINTS AT WWW.MISPORTSPHOTOS.COM

May 2023 Issue of Varsity Monthly Thumb Magazine

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?