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Hillsdale Academy's Dawson Scharer, far left, carries the baton in the 1,600 relay Saturday.

Hillsdale Academy Finishes Championship Climb Securing 1st Title on Final Race

By Brian Freiberger 
Special for MHSAA.com

May 30, 2026

HUDSONVILLE – After years of climbing the standings at the Lower Peninsula Division 4 Finals but not yet reaching the top, Hillsdale Academy won its first championship Saturday at Hudsonville Baldwin – thanks to its depth and a heroic 1,600 relay win to close the meet.

The Colts scored 46 points to edge Eau Claire by two and Royal Oak Shrine Catholic by seven. 

“We've been blessed to have a lot of success at the state meet for a number of years, but this is our first MHSAA state title, so it's extra special,” Hillsdale Academy coach Mike Roberts said. “This is a really good group of guys. … The depth of the team showed. There are two points in the high jump, one point in the two-mile. All of that mattered, and those extra points really added up.” 

Hillsdale Academy clinched the team championship when its 1,600 relay team of Jordan Perry, Luke Molenkamp, Grayson Rorick and Dawson Scharer finished seventh with a time of 3:32 as Shrine finished 10th and Eau Claire took 11th. That left Eau Claire as overall team runner-up and Shrine third.

The Colts were led by Scharer, who also earned championships in the 110 and 300 hurdles with times of 14.63 and 38.52, respectively.

“I'm so glad that I was able to run a good time today and just everybody else was able to run good times,” Scharer said. “I was hoping for the back-to-back all year. I've just not had the fastest time in the 300 hurdles.”

Rorick and Molenkamp also helped lead the Colts to a championship in the 3,200 relay with a time of 8:09, as Jonah Cuthbert and Stephen Holm joined in the dominating win by eight seconds over Holland Calvary.

Eau Claire completes a handoff during one of its two relay championships. “It's absolutely incredible. I'm so happy. I was not expecting it, but then when it came down to the 4x400, we were all on the edge of our seats watching it, going crazy,” Rorick said. “That's a great thing for the team. It was a great time for everyone.”

Eau Claire had a remarkable day on its way to that runner-up finish. The boys 400 relay of Melvin Davis Jr., Devin Hill, A’darion Fort and Elijah Marlowe edged second-place Maple City Glen Lake with a time of 43.36. The same foursome also took home the top honor in the 800 relay. 

“It means a lot to me that we came a long way from last year,” Davis Jr. said.

Devin Hill added: “I'm pretty shocked. But also at the same time, I knew we were going to be at this moment because we were talking about this all summer, our whole lives, basically.”

Shrine senior Abenezer Cerone capped off his high school career by breaking the meet record in the 800-meter run (1:52). He also took home the title in the 1,600 with a time of 4:14.

The senior finally ran the race he has been preparing for all season long. 

“I didn't really know what was gonna happen, even though I wanted the record still. That 800 hurt. Literally from the first step, everything. But I believed in my training that my coaches gave me, and I believed in myself, and I just went for it,” Cerone said. “I always remember that my teammates and my coaches were the best part. Also, I got to thank God and the many blessings given to me. … I’m super grateful.” 

After a midseason plateau, Manchester junior Jayden Johnson saved his best for last on his way to a 200-meter championship with a time of 22.34.

“I've been the underdog all year. I've been slept on by so many people. I thought I wouldn’t even end up here …,” Johnson said. “I gotta get better every single day. I decided that I had to put in the extra time. I did workouts after practice … and I got it done.”

Other champions included Blanchard Montabella’s James Rodriguez in the 100, Beal City’s Aaron Locke in the 400, Harbor Beach’s Brody Karg in the 3,200, Morrice’s Oliver Long in the shot put, Climax-Scotts’ Gabe Walliczek in the discus, Glen Lake’s Jacob Plamondon in the high jump, Buckley’s Easton Harrand in the pole vault and Webberville’s Matthew Howery in the long jump. Detroit Douglass won the 1,600 relay.

Click for full results.

PHOTOS (Top) Hillsdale Academy's Dawson Scharer, far left, carries the baton in the 1,600 relay Saturday. (Middle) Eau Claire completes a handoff during one of its two relay championships. (Click for more from Ken Swart/RunMichigan.com.)

High 5s: 5/29/12

May 31, 2012

Each week, Second Half gives "High 5s" to athletes and a team based on their accomplishments the previous week or throughout the season. 

This week's individual recipients will finish their MHSAA careers Saturday hoping to add to championship resumes -- while our team honoree is hoping to take the first step this weekend toward a first Finals title in program history.

Latipha Cross
Southfield senior
Track and Field

Cross won both the 200 (25.56) and 400 meters (55.98) at the Oakland County Invitational, setting a meet record in the latter. Her 400 win avenged a Regional loss to Birmingham Seaholm's Aubrey Wilberding the week before. Cross also finished second in the 200 at the Regional and is qualified to run both at Saturday's MHSAA Division 1 Final at East Kentwood. She's hoping to improve on the all-Finals record she set last season in the 400 of 54.29 seconds -- and believes she can break 54 this weekend. She's signed to run next season at Eastern Michigan University -- and has beaten two forms of cancer the last two years, plus spent a short time homeless.

My favorite runner: "All-time, it's Sanya Richards (Olympic medalist and World Champion sprinter). I just love how she runs, the fact that she's always looking forward to getting better. She'll run a 50 that day (in the 400), and say 'I can do better than that.' I love that about her. She's never satisfied."

Hoop dreams: "Basketball was my first love, but track is the sport that gets me my money," Cross said with a laugh. "I love track with a passion though. When I'm on the track, nobody can hurt me -- they can't catch me. ... My favorite basketball player right now is Swin Cash. I love her. I like her tenacity. She always went out there and gave 110 percent."

I learned the most about running from: "My former coach Calvin Johnson (now at Southfield Lathrup). He's been there for me. ... Because of him, I fell back into track, got that same passion (as for hoops)."

Up next: Cross will major in social work and hopes to someday work with children. "It's important to me because I know how it is to not have anybody to fight for you. I know what feels like for kids to need somebody. I want to be an advocate for them."

(Click to read more.)

Zack Zingsheim
Lansing Catholic senior
Track and Field

Zingsheim will attempt to finish his record-setting career with a few more MHSAA championships at Saturday's Division 3 Final after winning the MHSAA Division 3 cross country title in the fall. He also earned an MHSAA track championship as part of the Cougars' 800-meter relay in 2011, and will run that relay, plus the 1,600 and 3,200 relays and the open 800 at Comstock. He won the 800 at his Regional by nearly five seconds with a time of 1:55.63. Zingsheim will continue to run this fall at Georgetown University.

Track man, track fan: "There's a certain thing about running. You've gotta love it. We're all Flotrack junkies. I was watching the Illinois state meet yesterday, the Texas state meet last week."

I learned the most about running from: "Probably my brother (Brandon, a 2001 Lansing Catholic grad). That's how I was introduced to the sport. He'd say, 'Zack, I'm going to run,' and it seemed like he was gone for two hours. I was just astounded, so shocked. He'd race me in sprints. I was pretty quick, and he was more of a distance guy. I never beat him, but he knew I loved the challenge. I've also been blessed with great coaches like Tim (Simpson, Lansing Catholic's head coach), our assistant coach Tim O'Hara, and guys like (teammates) Jimmy (Hicks) and Austin (Winter). The passion they have for the sport, they inspire you to want to be good."

I run like: "I can relate distance-wise to Robby Andrews. He ran for the University of Virginia. ... He's a late-kick guy. I used to be, but not as much this year. But growing up, as a runner, I knew I had foot speed waiting. I'd just wait and see what happened."

Up next: Zingsheim will run both cross country and track at Georgetown, and will major in accounting or finance. "I took an 'Intro to Business' class at LCC, and I really enjoyed it. I love the math side of business."

(Click to read more.)

Richland Gull Lake baseball

The Blue Devils are 34-2 and won the Greater Kalamazoo Tournament on Saturday with a 9-7 victory over Portage Central, formerly ranked in Division 1. Gull Lake is No. 1 in Division 2, and the Greater Kalamazoo title was its first since 2005. The Blue Devils are 72-4 over the last two seasons, which last spring included a run to the MHSAA Semifinals. They've continued to surge the last three weeks despite the loss of senior pitcher Nate Stegman -- and all-state selection in 2011 -- to an injury. (Click to read more.)

This spring's previous honorees