Performance of the Week: Saline's Kaylee Mitzel

September 19, 2025

Kaylee Mitzel headshotKaylee Mitzel ♦ Saline
Junior ♦ Field Hockey

Mitzel – Saline’s goalkeeper – had seven saves including a potential win-securing deflection in the fourth quarter as the Hornets defeated Ann Arbor Pioneer in a rematch of last season’s Michigan High School Field Hockey League Division 1 championship game. Saline (9-1-1) also defeated reigning Division 2 champion Chelsea 1-0 in their next game last week.

After playing basketball and soccer as a freshman, Mitzel turned her focus to soccer as a sophomore – she’s an all-area goalkeeper during the spring – and also played field hockey for the first time. The Hornets’ only loss this fall came Wednesday, in a rematch with Pioneer, with the score again 1-0. This is the first year of MHSAA sponsorship for girls field hockey, with Regionals set to begin Oct. 8 and the first Final on Oct. 25.

@mhsaasports 🏑POW: Kaylee Mitzel #saline #fieldhockey #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA

@mhsaasports 🏑POW: Kaylee Mitzel #funfacts #tiktalk #gettoknowme #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA

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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 2025-26 honorees

Sept. 11: Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4:
Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report

(Photos courtesy of the Saline athletic department.)

Performance of the Week: Dexter's Avery Manning

October 16, 2025

Avery Manning headshotAvery Manning ♦ Dexter
Senior ♦ Golf

Manning carded a 2-under-par 70 at Michigan State’s Forest Akers East to win her Lower Peninsula Division 2 Regional by eight strokes, completing a career Regional sweep with her fourth title at a Finals qualifying round. Dexter, the No. 2-ranked team in LPD2, also won at Forest Akers with a score of 322 strokes, 40 ahead of the field.

The Dreadnaughts’ standout will be chasing a second-straight Finals individual championship this weekend at Bedford Valley in Battle Creek; she won last season’s by five strokes after finishing runner-up in 2023 and 12th in Division 2 as a freshman in 2022. Manning has committed to continue her golf and academic careers at Oakland University, where she’s considering studying business. Dexter as a team this weekend will be pursuing its first Finals championship since the spring 2007 season, and after finishing second a year ago.

@mhsaasports ⛳️POW: Avery Manning #dexter #golf #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA

@mhsaasports ⛳️POW: Avery Manning #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA

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 2025-26 honorees

Oct. 9: Brady Van Laecke, Hudsonville football - Report 
Oct. 2:
Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock volleyball - Report
Sept. 25:
Sam Schumacher, Portage Central tennis - Report
Sept. 18:
Kaylee Mitzel, Saline field hockey - Report
Sept. 11:
Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4:
Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report

(Photos courtesy of Avery Manning.)