Kanalas Joins Talented Class at Marygrove College

JACKSON, Mich. — On Friday (5/17), head coach Frank McAuliffe and first-year assistant Ronnie Pollack, Jr. snagged a key recruit when Jackson Northwest High School standout Michael Kanalas signed a 2013-14 Letter of Intent to join the budding program at Detroit-based Marygrove College. The signing marks the third of the class as Kanalas joins fellow talented signees Tyler Newell (Dearborn Divine Child) and Jake Vogel (Comstock Park) on a team that looks to make a statement heading into the program’s first full year of Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) competition.

Kanalas, a four-year varsity member for the Mounties of Northwest High School, showcased his will in the face of adversity by overcoming an early major reconstructive knee surgery to put together a career that eventually caught the eye of many collegiate golf programs in the region.

Displaying a strong work ethic, Kanalas’ drive to continually improve his game led to a 2012 Honorable Mention All-Conference selection in the Capital Area Activities Conference (CAAC).  This season, Kanalas once again elevated his play on the course and was awarded a spot on the 2013 All-CAAC Team to cap off a heralded high school career as a Mountie at Northwest High School.

Before his senior campaign, the all-conference golfer kept his skills sharp by participating in the Mercer Tour – a Jackson County summer tournament that consists of multiple events – and placed third when the tour made a stop at Hankerd Hills Golf Club.

The well-rounded student-athlete was a mainstay on the honor roll at Northwest High School and a two-time All-Academic performer at the conference level. The soon-to-be high school graduate is hopeful to make his All-Academic honors a three-peat when the team is released in the coming weeks.

Coach McAuliffe on Kanalas: What made Michael so attractive during the recruiting process was the fact that he was a hard working young man that showed great passion for the game of golf. Michael strung together a series of good scores at tournaments throughout his career and will definitely be an asset to our program moving forward.  As a staff, we believe Michael’s signing, combined with the previous commitments from strong players like Jake and Tyler, will continue to bring the caliber of golfer we seek as we continue to build our young program.

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