Performance of the Week: Sterling Heights Stevenson's Olivia Buford
October 9, 2026
Olivia Buford ♦ Sterling Heights Stevenson
Senior ♦ Swimming
Buford was named Swimmer of the Meet at the Macomb County Championships after setting meet and Macomb L'Anse Creuse North pool records in the 50-yard freestyle (23.95 seconds) and also winning the 100 butterfly (58.75) by more than five seconds. Her 50 time ranks fifth on the state's top times list this season, and her butterfly time ranks 17th for that race.
A two-time MHSAA Finals racer, Buford finished 10th in the 50 a year ago in Lower Peninsula Division 1 and also qualified in the butterfly in 2025. She's qualified for both races again this fall and is about a second off securing a Finals cut time in the 100 backstroke as well. Buford is deciding where she'll attend college but would like to continue swimming and intends to pursue a degree in pre-medical studies with aspirations of becoming a doctor.
@mhsaasports 🏊♀️POW: Olivia Buford #Stevenson #Swimmer #MeetRecord #PerformanceOfTheWeek #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA
@mhsaasports 🏊♀️POW: Olivia Buford #TikTalk #FunFacts #fyp #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 X @mistudentaid.
Past 2026-27 honorees
Oct. 2: Sophia McCollum, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer - Read
Sept. 25: Jenna Middleton, Kingsley volleyball - Read
Sept. 18: Caden Livermore, Grandville cross country - Read
(Photos courtesy of the Sterling Heights Stevenson athletic department.)
Performance of the Week: Temperance Bedford's Hannah Smith
September 30, 2022
Hannah Smith ♦ Temperance Bedford
Swimming ♦ Senior
Smith has senior-season goals, and Saturday’s Monroe County championship meet provided significant momentum as she seeks to fulfill them. Smith was named Athlete of the Meet after winning the 500-yard freestyle in 5:29.47 and qualifying for the Lower Peninsula Division 2 Finals in the 200 free, also in victory with a time of 2:01.17. Both times were faster than what she posted in swimming those races last season at the LPD2 championship meet.
The senior standout also swam on two relays at last season’s Finals – her team’s 400 free relay finished 16th – and competed on three Finals-qualifying relays as a sophomore and on the 16th-place 200 freestyle relay as a freshman. Her 200 and 500 freestyle times from Saturday both rank just outside the top 50 in the state this season, all divisions combined, in those respective events, and the 500 time was less than three seconds off the Finals-qualifying standard for LPD2 this season. Smith also plays soccer for Bedford, joining the program for the first time this past spring.
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Second Half’s "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. 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.
2022-23 Honorees
Sept. 22: Helen Sachs, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Sept. 15: Nina Horning, Lake Orion volleyball - Report
Sept 8: Arturo Romero, Muskegon Oakridge soccer - Report
Sept. 1: Austin King, Midland Dow tennis - Report
Aug. 25: Olivia Hemmila, Troy Athens golf - Report
(Photos courtesy of Hannah Smith.)