Gable (l) and Tennant / Photo: Bobby Gable
When the Michigan high school all-star team arrives in Fishers, Ind., for the Midwest Regional Cup Tournament (RCT), a pair of familiar players will be coaching the Tier 1 squad. Michigan natives Hannah Tennant and Bethany Gable, both of whom learned the sport at Grandville High School before attending Davenport University, have returned to their roots.
Tennant just graduated from Davenport and is part of a special class of Panthers. The former captain is a founding member and was crucial in elevating the program to a nationally respected, and crowned, entity (read Tennant’s blog). Tennant, who served as Davenport’s flyhalf, is coaching the high school all-star backs, while fellow Bulldog alumna Gable, a loose forward for the Panthers, is leading the forwards.
“Coaching the all-star team while still having former teammates on it was a bit challenging at first,” explained Gable, who just finished her freshman year at Davenport. “Going from being their captain to being the coach was not the easiest transition, but I think having that trust to build on from when we were on the same team really helped to aid in how they accepted any advice or techniques I gave them.”
There are 16 players who committed to the trip to Indiana: Nine from Grandville, five from state championship runner-up Sparta/Rock, and one player, Alyssa Adams, from Lakeview. Addy Ochoa (Grandville) and Ashleigh DeWitt (Sparta/Rock) will captain the Tier 1 team.
Gable, who had older sister and All-American Bayleigh in town for the first week of practices, hopes this coaching opportunity is the first of many in her career.
“I do aspire to someday come back and be a coach when I have the time,” Gable confirmed. “I think it would be amazing to be able to give back to the program that helped me with my career, and being able to do that for future players would be something I would love.”
Michigan will play Celtic Elite (Ohio), Indy Speed and Tennessee Tri-Stars at the Midwest RCT.
MICHIGAN ALL-STARS
Alyssa Adams — Lakeview
Alaysia Beard — Grandville
Olivia Bowen — Grandville
Ashleigh DeWitt — Sparta/Rock
Grace Dykla — Grandville
Valencia Goldsmith — Sparta/Rock
Sunny Groters — Sparta/Rock
Makayla Hitsman Grand Haven
Alex Hyde — Sparta/Rock
Josephine Jones — Sparta/Rock
Hannah Koorndyke — Grandville
CiCi Loew — Grandville
Addy Ochoa — Grandville
Cierra Roberts — Grandville
Hanna Sarber — Grandville
Sophia Vazquez — Grandville
Forwards Coach: Bethany Gable
Backs Coach: Hannah Tennant