Could Harper Creek track team make history and win first-ever state title for the school?

BATTLE CREEK — When you drive into a lot of towns across Michigan, there is a sign that lists the state championships for the local high school. And, a lot of those lists are long.

When you drive into the Harper Creek school district, there is a sign that says 'Quiz Bowl State Champions' — and that's all it says.

Since then, Harper Creek has also won a state title in trap shooting.

But, when it comes to the traditional team sports at the high school level, Harper Creek has never won a state title of any kind, despite having a quality athletic program.

That might change this spring.

MORE:Harper Creek boys make history - win All-City track title for first time ever

Harper Creek's boys track team is positioned to win a state title this year, as the Beavers are currently ranked No. 2 in the MITCA state rankings in Division 2. The Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association features a power rankings that measures overall strength based on team depth in the traditional 17 events of a track meet.

"We are real deep in every event. Deepest we have been in a long time," Harper Creek boys track coach Larry Quick said.

Harper Creek will put that ranking to the test when the No. 2 Beavers will host the No. 1-ranked Parma Western Panthers in an Interstate 8 Conference dual on Tuesday.

"Parma is the meet we have been waiting for all year. It's for rankings and, more importantly, for a chance at a league title," Quick said. "How often do you have two teams in the same conference ranked No. 1 and No. 2? We have had good teams in the conference. In 2017, Harper Creek was No. 2 and Coldwater was No. 7. Have had other times where it was No. 8 vs. No. 9, or something like that. But to have No. 1 vs. No. 2 is crazy. The kids are jacked. They are excited about this."

One of Harper Creek's top sprinters is junior Nehemiah Wert, who is in the top 12 in the state rankings in the 100 meters, and a member of two relays teams (400 relay and 800 relay) in the top 10. And he is excited for the clash of the league titans.

"It's pretty cool. It's the biggest sporting event I have ever been involved in, in my life," Wert said. "Excited to see what happens."

The Harper Creek ranking showcases how well the Beavers would do at the annual MITCA State Meet, an event featuring the top teams in the state which occurs near the end of the year. It is a different meet than the Michigan High School Athletic Association regionals or state finals.

"If you have two or three really strong individuals, or you have a state champ in something, you can do well at regionals or at the (MHSAA) state finals. But with our depth, it fits better for us to do better at the MITCA state meet. There, you score three athletes per event. So, if you have someone in the top five and then you have the other two in the top 30, you are golden. You are getting points."

Harper Creek was third in the state in the MITCA finals in 2023 and fourth in 2022. Its' highest finish was second in 2017. The Beavers are hoping to win the annual MITCA state meet and earn a state championship in boys track along the way.

The depth Quick is talking about is showcased in several events where Harper Creek is listed in the top 15 in the current MITCA state power rankings. The Beavers are third in the state in the 1,600 relay with the team of Tre'Quon Cotton, Joe Cummins, DJ Wood and Ethan Tabiadon. The Harper Creek 3,200 relay is No. 11 with the team of Johnny Ramos, William O'Dell, Cooper Cardner and Dominic Lowrie. The 800 relay is No. 10 with the team of Bronson Carpenter, Cummins, Alex LaFluer and Wert. The 400 relay is No. 9 with Chase Nichols, Carpenter, Carter Brenner and Wert.

Harper Creek has three runners in the top 15 in the 110 hurdles in Joey DeRose (No. 8), DJ Wood (No. 9) and Tabiadon (No. 13). Tabiadon is also No. 2 in the 300 hurdles, recently setting the school record with a time of 39.79.

And distance runner Dominic Lowrie is No. 5 in the 3,200 and No. 16 in the 1,600.

In the field events, Harper Creek's Kaden Sears is ranked 10th in the high jump, Mason Korn is ninth in the pole vault and ninth in the long jump with Zach Kitchen No. 8 in the shot put and Ricky Johnson No. 10 in the discus.

"We knew we would be good this year, but never thought we would be like this, because we only have seven seniors that score for us," Quick said. "We thought next year would be kind of our year. The strength of this team is the juniors and sophomores and we have a lot of them. So we thought we would be ready to go next year. But everybody has stepped up for us this year and a lot of the kids are putting in the work.

"Then, earlier this year we were ranked third and this week we are ranked second, so that's quite a surprise based on what we thought we had. We talk all the time about that our school hasn't won a state title. We have talked a lot lately about what might be possible this year."

Maybe, a chance to have a new Harper Creek state championship sign on the side of the road, coming into town.

"That would be really big if we could be the first team to ever win a state championship. We would be remembered forever," Tabiadon said.

Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: No. 2-ranked Harper Creek boys track team on pace to win state title