SUPERCHARGED (S1E8): Welcome back to SUPERCHARGED, a weekly entry dedicated to highlighting the accomplishments of Marian Ancilla Charger teams and student-athletes throughout the school year. Whether it's a game-winning home run or a blazing time on the track, a record-setting performance, or an entry into the postseason, we're here to highlight those performances each week. Below is a look at some items that stood out from the week of April 13th through April 19th.
AWARDS BANQUET: Before we get to the weekly performances, I wanted to add a section this week about our Awards Banquet from Tuesday night (4/21). There were three award winners honored and several nominees announced for future awards once the Spring seasons are completed. The first award was the Female Athlete of the Year for the 2024-2025 school year. That award went to Sophomore Santana Eubanks. She is a 2024 graduate of East Kentwood High School in Kentwood, Michigan, and came to the Chargers to play basketball and run track. Of her accomplishments, she is a 2-time 1st Team All-Region 12 and All-MCCAA performer in basketball, and she was the 2024-2025 Freshman of the Year in the MCCAA's Western Conference.
The second award of the evening was presented to Sophomore Hunter Zdyb as the 2024-2025 Male Athlete of the Year. Hunter is a 2024 graduate of nearby New Prairie High School in New Carlisle, Indiana. While his 2026 Spring season is still ongoing, as a Freshman, Zdyb was named Golfer of the Year and Freshman of the Year for the MCCAA's Western Conference. In addition, because of his strong performance at the 2025 NJCAA Division II National Championship Tournament, he was named a 2025 NJCAA All-American.
The final award of the night was a special one for the history of the Charger program. It was the inaugural Commitment to Service Award, presented to someone who helps out the Charger Athletic Department in ways other than simply being a great player or coach. For this first-time award, it was presented to former Ancilla College Coach and Athletic Director, Gene Reese. The much-appreciated Mr. Reese went tremendous lengths in his 23 years of service to Chargers Athletics, taking a program that had little to nothing in terms of facilities, resources, etc., and basically created a collegiate program from scratch. In addition to receiving this award, in future years it will now be called the "Gene Reece Commitment to Service Award".
BASEBALL: Last week, the Marian Ancilla Baseball team played a 4-game series against Glen Oaks Community College, with 2 games in Centreville (MI) on Thursday (4/17) and two games at Charger Field on Saturday (4/19). Glen Oaks swept all four outings, but the Chargers had some flashes of great play. Standing out were the play of Freshman Michael Fry and Sophomore Kaleb Short. Over the four games, Fry was 3-for-8 hitting, including a solo home run, 2 runs driven in, a run scored, and a walk. Short had a nice outing as the starting pitcher in the first game Thursday, as he went 5 innings, allowing 2 runs but only 1 earned, and he struck out 4 batters. Next Game: 4/23 at Kellogg Community College
GOLF: The Charger Men's Golf team participated in two tournaments last week, winning both during their 3-match win streak. On Monday (4/13), they played in the Grand Rapids Tournament, winning with a combined score of 313, good enough for 1st Place of the 11 teams scoring team points. Sunday (4/19), the Chargers hosted their own tournament that had been postponed from earlier in the year, finishing in 1st Place of the 5 teams recording a team score. The Chargers scored a 317 overall at Swan Lake Resort. Sophomore Hunter Zdyb scored a 74 through 18 holes at Grand Rapids, tying him for 1st. He then won the individual title following a 4-hole playoff. At Swan Lake on Sunday, he shot a 77, good enough for a 4th Place tie. Freshman Juan Pablo Benavente shot a 76 at Grand Rapids, good enough for a tie for 7th Place, then followed that up with a 78 at home, putting him in a tie for 7th Place once again. Next Match: 4/24 at the Montcalm Tournament
SOFTBALL: Due to weather related issues, the Marian Ancilla Softball team was only able to play one day last week. Friday (4/17), they hosted Glen Oaks Community College and played their longest game of the year. In game-1, the Chargers fell 3-2 in 9 innings. Freshman pitcher Rebecca Braude made it 8 1/3 innings in one of her strongest performances of the season. Freshman Abby Harmon put together an outstanding day on offense, going 5-for-7 at the plate, hitting a double, reaching via a walk, and scoring 2 of the team's 4 runs on the day. Additionally, Harmon swiped 3 bases, all in the second game. Next Game: 4/24 at Lansing Community College
TRACK & FIELD: The Charger Men's & Women's Track & Field teams traveled to Marion, Indiana, over the weekend to participate in the "Little State" Championships at Indiana Wesleyan University. For the men's team, Freshman Ben Andrew came in 39th Place in the Long Jump, leaping a distance of 17 feet, 7 inches. The women fared a little better with Sophomore Aaliyah Keil and Freshman Miranda Woodard standing out. Keil, already a school record holder in multiple events, finished in 5th Place in the 400 Hurdles, running it in a time of 1:07.55. Woodard, who throws both Discus and Shot Put for the Chargers, had a Shot Put throw of 36 feet, 1 and 1/4 inch, good enough for her to finish in 15th Place at the meet. Next Meet: 4/25 at the Olivet Nazarene University Open
