Lansing Catholic Claims 3rd Straight in D3

June 6, 2015

By Mark Meyer
Special for Second Half 

EAST LANSING – Adam Elias is the epitome of a team player at Lansing Catholic, where MHSAA golf championships, both boys and girls, have been the norm for the past five seasons. 

The Cougars boys chalked up their third straight title Saturday afternoon at Forest Akers West, even though their senior leader did not have one of his best days.

But despite shooting 83, Elias was all smiles while clutching the team trophy and posing for victory photos. 

“Not my best day (83), but in the end it didn’t really matter,” said Elias, whose team posted a 12-shot victory, 623-635, over runner-up Ludington. “The goal was to win the title, get our third straight championship. In the end, I’m really proud of the way my team played.”

Lansing Catholic junior Owen Rush shot 77 on Saturday for a two-day total of 151 and finished third overall behind two-time MHSAA individual champion Spencer Hackett of Ludington. Hackett shot medalist rounds of even par 72 both days to finish five strokes ahead of Andrew Skibski of Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, who shot 74-75-149. 

Rush and Elias had plenty of support from Cougars teammates Patrick Gillespie (75-81-156), Niko Voutsaras (79-79-158) and Ethan O’Farrell (77-83-160).

“We had some nerves at the beginning of the round,” said first-year Lansing Catholic coach Kim Johnson, “but the boys settled themselves down and tried to keep the boat steady.” 

Jackson Lumen Christi, second to Lansing Catholic in 2013 and 2014 and a four-time champion from 2009-12, finished third behind the Cougars and Ludington at 653, one stroke ahead of Flint Powers. Manistee rounded out the top five at 658.

Brock Spink of Hanover-Horton (76-76-152) and Rhet Schrauben of Portland (78-75-153) completed the top five among individuals. 

Henry Hitt (76-83-159) led Lumen Christi’s scoring, tying him with Ethan Leavitt of Ludington (77-82-159). 

Johnson lauded Lansing Catholic’s overall play but was particularly proud of Rush and Gillespie. 

“We talked about the champion mindset at the beginning of the season, and I could see that they started to adapt some of those techniques,” said Johnson. “You could tell that they were thinking positive thoughts and always looking toward the next shot.”

The championship three-peat is one moment that Elias won’t soon forget. 

“We had a rough start to the season but we worked through it,” he said. “This is huge. I could not be more proud of my team.”

Click for full results.

PHOTO: Lansing Catholic poses with its MHSAA championship trophy after winning its third straight title. (Middle) A player at the Lower Peninsula Division 3 Final hits an approach shot during the weekend. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com).

Performance of the Week: Bay City Western's Drew Goik

May 23, 2025

Drew Goik headshotDrew Goik ♦ Bay City Western
Junior ♦ Golf

Goik sank a birdie putt in a playoff hole to edge teammate Logan Gehoski for the medalist honor at the Bay County Championship at Green Hills Golf Course in Pinconning after both had helped their team card a tournament record-292 to claim the team championship. The playoff was only the third during the event’s 56-year history – and first since Goik’s father Brent also won a tie-breaker in 1992.

Both Drew Goik and Gehoski shot 1-under-par 71 to set up the playoff. Goik, while growing up around the sport, is a relative newcomer playing it having taken it up during the summer before his freshman year of high school. He previously played baseball most intensely growing up and also played basketball at Western his first two years of high school before turning his focus to golf this past winter. The Bay County win was his third tournament title this spring.

@mhsaasports ⛳️POW: Drew Goik #golf #winner #playoff #birdie #baycitywestern #part1 #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA

@mhsaasports ⛳️POW: Drew Goik #scottiescheffler #mambas #culvers #chocolatemilk #phone #golfclubs #willferrell #part2 #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

Follow the MHSAA on TikTok.

MHSAA.com's "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

Previous 2024-25 honorees

May 15: Sydney Kuhn, Saginaw Swan Valley track & field - Report
May 8:
Ryan Bosch, Fruitport baseball - Report
May 1:
Jackson Lam, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix track & field - Report
April 25:
Isabelle Horvath, Bangor softball - Report
April 18:
Presley Jones, Sterling Heights Stevenson soccer - Report
April 11:
Olivia Jasniewicz, Troy soccer - Report
March 27:
Katie Spicer, Fowler basketball - Report 
March 21:
Moses & Markus Blackwell; Warren Lincoln basketball - Report
March 13: Keyshawn Summerville, Lansing Sexton basketball - Report
March 6: 
Maggie Buurma, Fowlerville wrestling - Report
Feb. 28: 
Maren Studt, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep skiing - Report
Feb. 21: 
Olive Krueger, Marquette swimming - Report
Feb. 14: 
Hunter Lemmon, Fraser swimming - Report
Feb. 7: 
Aubrey Hillard, Rochester competitive cheer - Report
Jan. 31: 
Wyatt Spalo, Reed City wrestling - Report
Jan. 24: 
Olivia Flynn, Harbor Springs basketball - Report
Jan. 17: 
Levi Rozema, Holland Christian swimming - Report
Jan. 10: 
McRecco McFadden, Burton Bentley basketball - Report
Dec. 18: 
Nash Leonard, Bay City Western hockey - Report
Dec. 11: 
Blake Cosby, Dundee wrestling - Report
Dec. 4: 
Keaton Hendricks, Zeeland West football - Report
Nov. 29: 
Kate Simon, East Grand Rapids swimming - Report
Nov. 22: 
Ella Kokaly, Essexville Garber volleyball - Report
Nov. 15: 
Caroline Bryan, Grosse Pointe South swimming - Report
Nov. 8: 
Kaylie Livingston, Whitmore Lake cross country - Report
Oct. 25: 
Oliver Caldwell, Grand Rapids West Catholic tennis - Report
Oct. 18: 
Alex Graham, Detroit Cass Tech football - Report
Oct. 11: 
Victoria Garces, Midland Dow cross country - Report
Oct. 4: 
Asher Clark, Bay City John Glenn soccer - Report
Sept. 26: 
Campbell Flynn, Farmington Hills Mercy volleyball - Report
Sept. 19: 
TJ Hansen, Freeland cross country - Report
Sept. 12: 
Jordan Peters, Grayling soccer - Report
Sept. 6: 
Gabe Litzner, Sault Ste. Marie cross country - Report
Aug. 30:
 Grace Slocum, Traverse City St. Francis golf - Report