The Grandville HS girsl team opened up the Girls Michigan HS season with a 51-5 defeat of Berkley.

The two-time defending state champs were led by captains Bethany Gable and Erin Fitzpatrick, and put in a fairly poised performance for so early in the season. Gable, Fitzpatrick, Matja Saarenheimo-Vanerhorst, Emily Bickel, and Lizzy DeYoung were all part of the team that won the girls HS 7s tournament in Atlanta this past spring. And three of those players - Gable, Fitzpatrick, and Saarenhemio-Vanderhorst - attended the Atavus camp in Seattle, Wash. in June.

Those three also suited up for the Midwest Thunderbirds select side, playing with older college-level players.

After graduating six seniors, including All American Bayleigh Gable, the team really wasn't sure how things would go having ten freshman on the roster and 15 of the 21 players underclassmen. But they took control of the game from the onset. Gable and talented sophomore Corryn Bush were dominant defensively, not allowing Berkley to get into any type of rhythm. Grandville shared the wealth in scoring, with only Fitzpatrick and Saarenhemio-Vanderhorst scoring more than once. Also on the scoresheet for the day were Emily Bickel, Lizzy DeYoung, Corryn Bush, Angelina Pollice, and Claire Chance. Cici Lowe added three conversions.

Bobby Gable photo.