Kirtland Firebirds Blend Experience and Fresh Talent for Promising 2025 Fall Sports Season

Kirtland Firebirds Blend Experience and Fresh Talent for Promising 2025 Fall Sports Season

By Kirtland Community College Communications and Marketing Department

GRAYLING, MI. (Sep. 18, 2025)–The Firebird’s fall sports line up has launched at Kirtland Community College with Men’s Golf in full swing and both Men and Women’s Cross Country hitting the ground running. All three teams are enthusiastic about the upcoming season, with the men’s cross country team seeking to hold on to the title following their 2024 Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) Northern Conference Championship win.

“Our number one goal for our season is to defend our Northern Conference Championship of 2024 and get some more student-athletes on the All-Conference Team,” said Don Haskin, Kirtland Cross Country coach.
 

Cross country season kicked off August 17 with the team embarking on a week of training in Fairview. A dozen schools attended Skipper’s Cross Country Showcase at St.Clair Community College where Utah Gusa highlighted Kirtland’s program with his 4th place finish at 27 minutes and 20 seconds in the 8000 meter race.
 

Gusa was one of four Kirtland Firebird athletes named First Team All-Conference, as well as Dale Gust, Micah Bragg, and Joey Janisse. Gusa returns this year for the men’s team while Janisse returns for the women’s.

Both the men and women’s cross country teams finished fourth overall at the 2025 Bay College Norse Invitational with Gusa placing second and Janisse placing fourth.

Kirtland Athletic Director Marty McDermott cites Haskin’s long-standing commitment to the Firebirds as one of his many merits saying, “He understands what we need to be competitive. Hopefully, we can defend our Northern Conference title on the men's side and push towards that goal on the women's side.”

Kirtand’s golf team has seen record growth, with the roster expanding to ten athletes this fall. The men’s golf team participated in their first tournament of the season September 8 at the Kirtland Fall Invitational, finishing in 11th place.

“It was fun to start the year off "up north" on our home course,” said Clay Poff, Kirtland’s men’s golf coach. “This is by far the most capable and talented group I have coached. We have a chance to be competitive if we play well.”

Up next this season include matches at Oakland Community College’s tournament in Fieldstone,, Lakes of Taylor for the Wayne County Community College District event, as well as Mott Community College in Flint, and Delta College in Saginaw.

Spring competitions bring challenges with unpredictable weather; however, the team is scheduled to play in 3-5 tournaments on the west side of the state, including Muskegon, Grand Rapids, and Montcalm. While not part of the conference slate, these events provide valuable preparation for the Regional Tournament: the 54-hole season finale boasting 36 holes in a single day. The top two teams and individuals continue to compete at the MCCAA National Championship.

The 2025 golf team roster is comprised of several notable athletes including Landon Hood, who joined the team from Caro, MI thanks to the academic and athletic opportunities at Kirtland.

“He is a great student and a very talented golfer,” said Poff.

Joining Hood as freshmen are Dylan Palatka Smith of Houghton Lake and Noah Traviss of Cadillac.

“They both hit the ball a long way and have big potential,” Poff noted. “Rob Jenkins is a sophomore from Tawas and has been a great addition to the team, while Ryder Dilks, Marqus Parker and Maison Christian are all competing for the fifth spot. Ryder shot 85 at the Kirtland Fall Invitational and will be in the line up next week.”

Poff expressed his hope that this season will help raise the Kirtland golf program to new heights in competition, saying, “When we get to tournaments, I want the guys to be ready to compete and to represent Kirtland at a high level. Northern Michigan is known for its beautiful golf courses. I would love it if Kirtland earned a reputation as being a good place for student athletes to improve their golf games and continue competing at the next level.”

For more information regarding Kirtland’s sports programs, including upcoming events, visit https://kirtlandfirebirds.com/.