Sports briefs
NMU icer signs contract
MARQUETTE – Northern Michigan University’s Ryan Trenz has signed an amateur tryout contract with the ECHL’s Alaska Aces, the organization announced.
Trenz made his professional debut Friday night in Alaska’s 3-2 win over the Rapid City Rush. He registered one shot and finished even in plus/minus.
Trenz appeared in 37 games for NMU during his senior season, totaling a career-best nine points (3g-6a). He wrapped up his collegiate career with 16 points (4g-12a) in 103 games.
The Aces have won the Kelly Cup as ECHL champions three times, most recently in 2014.
Trenz is the third Wildcat to ink an amateur tryout contract with an ECHL team at the end of his senior season, joining Darren Nowick (Missouri Mavericks) and Barrett Kaib (Rapid City Rush).
Wildcat golfers tie for 10th
MARQUETTE – A pair of Northern Michigan University golfers tied for 10th place Saturday at the GLIAC South Invitational at the Andover Golf and Country Club in Lexington, Kentucky.
Austin Elsner shot a 78-74-152, while Martin Eliasson carded a 76-76-152 over two days.
“Having Martin and Austin finish in the top 10 was commendable,” Northern head coach Kyle Wittenbach said.
Wildcats Emil Lundgren (80-82-162) and Owen Beyer (83-79-162) finished in a tie for 50th.
As a team, the Wildcats placed eighth after shooting a two-round 628 (317-311).
Grand Valley State won the team title with a 597 (307-290). Tiffin (308-295-603) and Malone (317-294-611) rounded out the top three teams.
Malone’s Jake Troyer captured the individual crown after shooting a 141 (74-67).
Martin skis to 9th
MARQUETTE -Adam Martin of Northern Michigan University raced to his third top-10 finish at the U.S. Long Distance Championships, placing ninth in the 50K classic with a time of 2:53:45.5 Saturday afternoon Craftsbury, Vermont.
“Adam skied a very smart race,” head coach Sten Fjeldheim said. “He went from the middle of the pack to a top-10 finish by pacing himself throughout.”
Martin was the second collegian to cross the line and one of only 13 skiers in an elite field of 72 to complete the course in less than three hours.
Sam Elfstrom (26th, 3:11:11.6), Jake Brown (31st, 3:13:33.9) and Krystof Kopal (42nd, 3:27:00.01) also raced for NMU.
In the women’s 30K classic, Felicia Gesior (27th, 1:44:18.8) and Sophie Schimpl (29th, 1:44:34.2) placed in the top 30.
Earlier at the U.S. Long Distance Championships, Martin reached the semifinal round in the 1.5K sprint, ultimately finishing 10th. He also clocked in at 31:41.2 to place seventh in the 15K freestyle.
NMU icer signs contract
MARQUETTE – Northern Michigan University’s Ryan Trenz has signed an amateur tryout contract with the ECHL’s Alaska Aces, the organization announced.
Trenz made his professional debut Friday night in Alaska’s 3-2 win over the Rapid City Rush. He registered one shot and finished even in plus/minus.
Trenz appeared in 37 games for NMU during his senior season, totaling a career-best nine points (3g-6a). He wrapped up his collegiate career with 16 points (4g-12a) in 103 games.
The Aces have won the Kelly Cup as ECHL champions three times, most recently in 2014.
Trenz is the third Wildcat to ink an amateur tryout contract with an ECHL team at the end of his senior season, joining Darren Nowick (Missouri Mavericks) and Barrett Kaib (Rapid City Rush).
Wildcat golfers tie for 10th
MARQUETTE – A pair of Northern Michigan University golfers tied for 10th place Saturday at the GLIAC South Invitational at the Andover Golf and Country Club in Lexington, Kentucky.
Austin Elsner shot a 78-74-152, while Martin Eliasson carded a 76-76-152 over two days.
“Having Martin and Austin finish in the top 10 was commendable,” Northern head coach Kyle Wittenbach said.
Wildcats Emil Lundgren (80-82-162) and Owen Beyer (83-79-162) finished in a tie for 50th.
As a team, the Wildcats placed eighth after shooting a two-round 628 (317-311).
Grand Valley State won the team title with a 597 (307-290). Tiffin (308-295-603) and Malone (317-294-611) rounded out the top three teams.
Malone’s Jake Troyer captured the individual crown after shooting a 141 (74-67).
Martin skis to 9th
MARQUETTE -Adam Martin of Northern Michigan University raced to his third top-10 finish at the U.S. Long Distance Championships, placing ninth in the 50K classic with a time of 2:53:45.5 Saturday afternoon Craftsbury, Vermont.
“Adam skied a very smart race,” head coach Sten Fjeldheim said. “He went from the middle of the pack to a top-10 finish by pacing himself throughout.”
Martin was the second collegian to cross the line and one of only 13 skiers in an elite field of 72 to complete the course in less than three hours.
Sam Elfstrom (26th, 3:11:11.6), Jake Brown (31st, 3:13:33.9) and Krystof Kopal (42nd, 3:27:00.01) also raced for NMU.
In the women’s 30K classic, Felicia Gesior (27th, 1:44:18.8) and Sophie Schimpl (29th, 1:44:34.2) placed in the top 30.
Earlier at the U.S. Long Distance Championships, Martin reached the semifinal round in the 1.5K sprint, ultimately finishing 10th. He also clocked in at 31:41.2 to place seventh in the 15K freestyle.
Sports briefs
NMU golfers in fifth
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Northern Michigan University men’s golf team is tied for fifth after the first round of the GLIAC South Invitational.
The Wildcats shot a 317 and Martin Eliasson led them with a 76. Eliasson is tied for eighth and is just three strokes behind the leader.
Austin Elsner (tied for 16th) and Emil Lundgren (tied for 27th) also finished in the top 30 after the first day.
College hockey ref dies
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) – A college hockey referee who fell during pregame warmups in Grand Rapids has died.
WOOD-TV reports the Western Collegiate Hockey Association said Oliver “Butch” Mousseau died Friday.
Mousseau struck his head on the ice March 18 at Van Andel Arena.
He was to have worked a semifinal game between Michigan Tech and Ferris State.
WZZM-TV reports the 48-year-old Mousseau was not wearing a helmet and had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher.
Mousseau also had officiating experience in the minors and Canadian juniors.
Brewers fall prey to Cubs
MESA, Ariz. (AP) – Ben Zobrist had two hits and Anthony Rizzo had two RBIs, but the Chicago Cubs lost 5-4 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.
Zobrist’s single in the sixth came during a three-run rally that was topped off by Rizzo’s two-run double off reliever Blaine Boyer.
Cubs starter John Lester went five innings, allowing two hits, walking one and striking out two.
The Brewers’ Michael Blazek started in place of Jimmy Nelson, who was scratched due to an illness.
The hope is he can start a minor league game today in order to remain on track to start the second game of the regular season.
Blazek went two innings, allowing one hit and striking out one before Chris Capuano replaced him.
Florida gives McElwain raise
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Florida is giving coach Jim McElwain a $750,000-a-year raise after winning the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division in his first season.
The Gators announced Friday they have agreed to bump McElwain from $3.5 million to $4.25 million annually, making him the highest-paid coach in the division. McElwain remains under contract through the 2020 season.
He is now the sixth-highest paid in the SEC, behind Alabama’s Nick Saban ($7 million annually), Texas A&M’s Kevin Sumlin ($5 million), Mississippi’s Hugh Freeze ($4.7 million), LSU’s Les Miles ($4.39 million) and Auburn’s Gus Malzahn ($4.35 million).
Georgia Tech fires Gregory
ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia Tech has fired men’s basketball coach Brian Gregory.
The moved was announced Friday by athletic director Mike Bobinski, two days after the Yellow Jackets’ season ended in the NIT.
Gregory was dismissed after five seasons as the Georgia Tech coach.
He compiled an overall record of 76-86 and was a dismal 27-61 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Mavs’ Parsons shelved
DALLAS (AP) – Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons will miss the rest of the season after surgery on his right knee.
The team said Parsons had arthroscopic surgery Friday to address an injury to his right medial meniscus.
Parsons averaged 13.7 points in 61 games this season, but averaged 18.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in his final 30 games since Jan. 12.
Charges vs. Picabo dropped
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Utah prosecutors are moving to drop domestic violence charges against Olympic gold-medal skier Picabo Street.
Sports briefs
Pickleball clinic slated
SANDS – An introductory pickleball clinic will be offered from 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Sands Township Gym.
Equipment is provided and the cost is $12 per player.
For more information, or to register, contact P.T.R Professional Josh Kitto by noon the day of the event at 250-0669, or email crossbone1976@gmail.com.
Lions sign safety Bush
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) – The Detroit Lions have signed free agent safety Rafael Bush.
The Lions announced the move Saturday.
Bush played for the New Orleans Saints from 2012-15 and was with the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons before that. Bush tore his pectoral muscle in New Orleans’ season opener last year and didn’t play for the rest of the season.
Bush has started 14 games in his NFL career. He was originally signed by the Falcons as an undrafted rookie free agent out of South Carolina State.
Haas builds 1-shot lead
PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) – Bill Haas had a second straight 4-under 67 Saturday and built a one-shot lead over Graham DeLaet of Canada going into the final round of the Valspar Championship.
Jordan Spieth was still in the hunt, but just barely. The defending champion got going on the back nine at Innisbrook and shot 68 to wind up six shots behind.
Haas was at 8-under 205.
DeLaet had an eagle on the par-5 14th hole that sent him to a 68 to get into the last group as he goes for his first PGA Tour win.
Charley Hoffman (67) and Ryan Moore (69) were three shots behind, while Charles Howell III (70) and Steve Stricker (72) were four shots back.
Brewers’ Jungmann solid
PHOENIX (AP) – Domingo Santana was 2 for 3 with an RBI double, two walks and a stolen base, starting pitcher Taylor Jungmann didn’t allow a hit in three innings and the Milwaukee Brewers had 12 hits in a 7-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
Batting cleanup, Santana doubled in Eric Young Jr. in the first and, after back-to-back doubles by Shane Peterson and Will Middlebrooks in the second, Milwaukee led 2-0.
After Jungmann was removed, Brewers reliever Tyler Cravy surrendered two home runs in the fourth, the first by Nolan Arenado and the second from Trevor Story – giving Colorado a 3-2 lead.
Rule 5 selection Colin Walsh’s two-run double in the fourth scored Alex Presley and Orlando Arcia, giving the Brewers a 5-3 lead.
Arenado was 2 for 2 with a home run and three RBIs.
Pens’ Malkin out 6-8 weeks
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Penguins will have to make their push for a playoff spot without star center Evgeni Malkin.
General manager Jim Rutherford announced Saturday that Malkin will miss six to eight weeks with an upper-body injury. Malkin left a 3-2 victory Friday night over Columbus following a collision with Blue Jackets defenseman Dalton Prout and headed back to Pittsburgh for further examination while the rest of the team traveled to New York to prepare for a game Sunday against the Rangers.
Malkin is second on the team with 27 goals and 31 assists in 57 games, and the Penguins are holding onto the final playoff spot in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.
The length of rehab required with the injury means he likely wouldn’t be available until the second round of the postseason at the earliest, if the Penguins make it that far.
Malkin missed 10 games earlier this season with an undisclosed injury. The team went 5-4-1 in his absence and Pittsburgh is 70-45-9 with Malkin out of the lineup during his 10-year career. The Penguins will need to play at that clip, and perhaps better, to reach the playoffs. Pittsburgh has never missed the postseason with Malkin on the roster.
The Penguins recalled forwards Dominik Simon and Conor Sheary from their American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton late Saturday. Nick Bonino took over Malkin’s spot on the second line during Saturday’s skate.
Malkin almost singlehandedly kept the Penguins’ offense from total collapse early in the season and Pittsburgh appeared ready to takeoff in January with Malkin and Sidney Crosby getting comfortable in new head coach Mike Sullivan’s system. That momentum slowed when Malkin sat out 10 games following a victory over Ottawa on Feb. 2. He returned on Feb. 27 and had four goals and five assists in nine games before colliding with Prout behind the Columbus net.
Malkin appeared to clutch his left arm after the collision. He returned for one more shift before spending the rest of the night on the bench.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
Sports briefs
NMU diver shines
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Northern Michigan University diver Molly Kearney earned her second All-American finish Friday at the NCAA National Championships.
Kearney finished in fifth place with a final score of 459.70 in the 1-meter dive.
Rachel Borchardt clocked a time of 4:57.79 and a 14th place finish in the 500 freestyle.
In the 100 backstroke, Regan Kilburn swam to a 16th place finish with a time of 57.00.
Marc Perello finished the 100 breaststroke with a time of 54.57 and a 14th place finish.
The women’s team finished tied for 18th place with 43 points while the men posted 30 points for 24th place after the third day of competition.
NMU’s Williams cops 11th
PITTSBURG, Kan. – Northern Michigan University’s Jasmine Williams placed 11th in the weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships Friday.
Williams, who entered the competition ranked 15th in the weight throw, posted a distance of 58-0.50.
Lions re-sign four
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) – The Detroit Lions re-signed linebacker Tahir Whitehead, cornerback Crezdon Butler, backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky and long snapper Don Muhlbach on Friday.
Whitehead started nine games last year and 15 in 2014 for the Lions. Whitehead has made 124 tackles, including two sacks, and three interceptions in his career.
Packers keep LB Perry
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) – The Green Bay Packers have re-signed linebacker Nick Perry and signed guard/tackle Vince Kowalski.
The Packers announced the signings Friday.
Perry has played in 46 games with 16 starts over four seasons and has 130 tackles, including 84 solo, 12 1/2 sacks, five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Kowalski is a 6-foot-4, 305-pound first-year player out of Villanova.
Browns release QB Manziel
CLEVELAND (AP) – The Browns have released troublesome quarterback Johnny Manziel.
The team cut ties on Friday with the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner after two disappointing, drama-filled seasons.
Manziel started just eight games for the Browns. He passed for 1,675 yards with seven touchdowns.