Moment: 'Back-to-Back Mek' Paces Rams
May 26, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Vander Molen sisters have been constants over Rockford’s record string of seven consecutive Division 1 girls lacrosse championships.
The 2016 Final was the last high school game for oldest sister Alexandra. And middle sister Mekenzie made sure her mentor finished her time with the Rams as a four-time champion.
Mekenzie Vander Molen found the net with 5:46 and 4:50 to play against Birmingham United to give Rockford its first lead as the Rams scored the game’s final four goals for a 12-9 title-clinching victory.
“It meant a lot for me to be on the same team as my sister for this last championship for her,” Mekenzie Vander Molen said that day. “I’ve learned almost everything from my older sister. I’ve learned how to take better shots, better passes, certain things in certain situations.
“She said, ‘You’ve played a very good game. I’m very proud of you.’”
While Alexandra was held to just one goal that day, Mekenzie scored three and youngest sister Karrington also scored once. All three eventually graduated as four-time champions.
Click for coverage of the 2016 championship game from Second Half and watch below for the Rams’ tying and go-ahead goals from the NFHS Network.
Performance of the Week: Detroit Country Day's Charlotte Cook
June 12, 2026
Charlotte Cook ♦ Detroit Country Day
Sophomore ♦ Lacrosse
Cook has shown already to be more than capable of owning the biggest moments in high school lacrosse, scoring the game-winning goals for Country Day in the last two Division 2 Finals. On June 5, Cook found the net for the clinching score with 29 seconds to play in the Yellowjackets' 13-12 victory over East Grand Rapids. She finished the game with six goals total on 15 shots.
The all-state midfielder eclipsed 80 goals this season and 130 over her first two, and Country Day finished this spring 15-5 to move to a combined 32-8 during her two seasons in the program. Cook also plays field hockey and helped the Yellowjackets to a 15-1-1 record in the fall during the inaugural season of field hockey as an MHSAA-sponsored sport.
@mhsaasports 🥍POW: Charlotte Cook #countryday #lacrosse #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA
@mhsaasports 🥍POW: Charlotte Cook #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA
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Previous 2025-26 honorees
June 4: Morgan Emerick, Utica Eisenhower tennis - Report
May 29: De-Mani Roberts, East Kentwood track - Report
May 22: Taleon Guess, Temperance Bedford golf - Report
May 15: Zacchaeus Brocks, Detroit Catholic Central track - Report
May 7: Savanah Thompson, Howard City Tri County soccer - Report
April 30: Eliza Schwass, Ludington track - Report
April 23: Emily Postema, Ravenna softball - Report
April 16: Katie Berkshire, Gaylord track - Report
March 26: Kayla Hairston, Goodrich basketball - Report
March 19: Liam Smith, Otsego swimming - Report
March 12: Jack Sayen, Houghton hockey - Report
March 5: Devin Patrick, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - Report
Feb. 26: Madison Nieuwenhuis, Plainwell wrestling - Report
Feb. 20: Sophie Ramey, Allen Park competitive cheer - Report
Feb. 13: Cam Ryans, Grand Rapids Northview basketball - Report
Feb. 6: Melanie Kolnitys, Midland Dow basketball - Report
Jan. 29: Stella Musialowski, Huron Valley United gymnastics - Report
Jan. 22: Baylor Perkins, Grand Blanc swimming - Report
Jan. 15: Delaney Vanier, Flint Kearsley bowling - Report
Jan. 8: Stevie Hall, Detroit Cass Tech basketball - Report
Dec. 18: Ethan Martha, Ishpeming Westwood basketball - Report
Dec. 11: Louis Smith, Three Rivers wrestling - Report
Dec. 4: Traverse Moore, DeWitt football - Report
Nov. 28: Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield swimming - Report
Nov. 20: Brady Kieff, Blanchard Montabella football - Report
Nov. 13: Ella Laupp, Battle Creek Harper Creek swimming - Report
Nov. 7: Hunter Eaton, Charlevoix cross country - Report
Oct. 31: Stephen Gollapalli, Lansing Christian tennis - Report
Oct. 23: Talya Schreiber, Pickford cross country - Report
Oct. 16: Avery Manning, Dexter golf - Report
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
PHOTO Detroit Country Day's Charlotte Cook launches a shot during the Division 2 championship game while surrounded by a pair of East Grand Rapids defenders. (Photo courtesy of Hometown Life.)