Novak Leaves Orion.

Written Saturday January 21st at 6:00 PM
Updated Sunday January 22nd at 11:15 AM

Well a superstar player is on the way out at Orion.

Maddie Novak has left the Dragons and Lake Orion High School. She will enroll at Birmingham Detroit Country Day for the remainder of the season. Novak will be eligible to play next season for the Yellow Jackets.

The Dragons are in the midst of a 3-7 season so far under first year coach Kevin Kopec. Orion will have ten games left to turn things around this season.

Novak has struggled this season point wise but had 23 points against Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in a 52-51 win and 17 points against Harrison in a 50-49 loss for her now former team.

Novak next season will join a Birmingham Detroit Country Day team loaded with talent.

Thoughts.

This is a big loss for the Dragons with Novak’s departure. They will miss her scoring and playmaking ability but this could be a win-win for both sides here.

Orion still has players whom can play in Lauryn Van Loon, Delaney Bryce, Sophie Wyborski, Tessa Nuss, Sophie Canine, Paytin Shadaia, and Shannon Falter. Many of them played for Kopec on the JV level.

For Novak, this is a fresh start in Birmingham as a Yellow Jacket.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for complete coverage on this developing story.

Blackstock to Succeed Bell as Dragons Football Coach.

Written Thursday January 12th at 10:45 PM

The Dragons are heading into a new era when it comes to coaching in football.

Longtime coach Chris Bell stepped down from coaching to focus on being Athletic Director at Lake Orion. John Blackstock has been named Bell’s successor.

Bell took over the Dragons in 1998, posting a 149-59 record as head coach. He took Orion to four State Semifinals, won four regional crowns, eight district crowns, and one State Championship in 2010.

Bell took the team to the postseason 16 of the last 19 seasons.

Blackstock was Bell’s defensive backs and special team’s coach for all of the 19 seasons they were together. Before coming to Orion with Bell, Blackstock played at Bad Axe and played at Central Michigan. He got into coaching as a graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan.

Thoughts.

I love this move to name Blackstock the head coach. He will have a talented team coming back next season. To keep the program within the family is huge especially where the direction of the Lake Orion football program is going.

For me to play in this football program, it was an honor and would be an honor to support the Lake Orion program.

The program is in good hands.

Stay tuned to OAA Now and Between Taorminas for complete coverage of this developing story.