Glen Lake Grad Adds Pacific Ocean to Life's Journey in Completing World's Toughest Row
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
August 18, 2026
Julie (Adams) Bennett has lots of memories from her days at Glen Lake High School. Many are great, some not so great.
And, while she took all of them with her as she just rowed across the Pacific Ocean, her battle with anorexia was at the top.
“In our culture, thin is beautiful, and it always has been,” said Bennett, a 1982 Lakers graduate. “We grew up in the '70s with all of the magazines and all of the thin models. I was kind of a fat kid in junior high. You know, you get a little chunky, and then you grow taller. Well, I got chunky, but I never grew taller.”
Bennett found herself in a battle with anorexia, leading her to raise funds and awareness for the National Eating Disorders Association as she recently competed in and completed the World's Toughest Row. The crossing occurred after more than a year of preparation, and NEDA was one of four organizations the team supported as part of taking on the challenge.
“I was teased a lot for my weight in high school,” recalled Bennett, who experienced hurtful name-calling. “It isn't the only reason why I became anorexic, but I did. I know people who don't recover from anorexia. It takes their life. I was one of the lucky ones”
Bennett was a middle distance runner on the Lakers track team and a key member of the cheer team. Fall was spent supporting the football team and winter the basketball team as Title IX was just starting to impact sports opportunities for girls.
“When I was in junior high, there were no competitive girl sports,” Bennett said. “I know a lot of people look at cheerleading and think ‘oh they're just fluffy girls who are really girly and just want to cheer.’ But every summer, we did competitive cheer camps.”
Bennett picked up rowing when her youngest son, Steven, joined the sport as a freshman in high school in the Grand Rapids area. It wasn’t long before she began coaching adults and kids in the sport after years of teaching group fitness and yoga.
Bennett points to positive role models, like her mother, Pam, and multiple coaches, as having played significant roles in her battle with overcoming anorexia.
“They really put me on a path to make wise decisions about the food that I eat and about physical fitness,” she said. “So I had always just had a much healthier relationship with exercising and food than I could have. I mean, I could have gone off the rails.”
Bennett believes high school sports allow student-athletes learn discipline. It was that same discipline that helped her complete the 2,800-mile trip across the Pacific Ocean just a few weeks ago.
Bennett, along Erin Enk-Wiese, Susan Katt and Jak Kazmarek, left Monterey, Calif., on June 9 after a five-day weather delay. The four rowers landed 40 days later in Kauai, Hawaii.
The average crossing time for crews of all sizes over the history of the World’s Toughest Row is 62 days. The first boat to conquer the world’s deepest ocean this year took 36 days. Bennett’s team, Moar Than Us, was thrilled the trip was pretty much free of challenging weather, injury and other significant incidents.
“The discipline of sports, and the coaching that I got, was what really set me on a path to – not just for rowing, but it really just set me on a path – to be disciplined about my physical fitness,” she said. “You really need the discipline, but you don't think that you do, because you think you know everything when you're 16. All of that discipline really, really helped me mentally and physically and put me on a journey of lifelong physical fitness.”
Bennett’s crew took turns taking two-hour shifts in daylight and three-year shifts in the dark. The boat always had two in the rowing seats and two below resting and recovering. They did start and finish the race with all four crew members playing a role up top.
Bennett, who went on the graduate from Hope College and land her first teaching job at Glen Lake, is quick to identify the key to coaching high school sports today, especially rowing. She’s on the coaching staff of the Grand Rapids Rowing Club, one of just a small number of high school-sponsored rowing clubs in Michigan.
“You teach them to love the sport, and then you teach them how to do it,” Bennett said. “You have to teach them how to love it. I was an endurance person and rowing certainly is an endurance sport.”
Rowing is a natural sport for the 5-foot-4 former Laker, despite her undergoing hip replacement during her 40s.
She fondly remembers her track experience at Glen Lake. While she mostly ran the 400 and 800 along with relays, her coaches entered her in all field events in hopes she could pick up a point or two.
“I don't have quick-twitch muscles, so I was not good enough to be in the sprints, but I ran sprint relays,” acknowledged Bennett. “Because we were a small team, if there was a third place to be had, coaches would throw me in. I threw shot put a couple of times. I remember throwing shot put against Mesick. They could throw it twice as far, but I got the point in third.”
Bennett noted the Pacific crossing annually attracts sailors and navigators, along with a few others.
“It also attracts just people who are adrenaline junkies,” she said. “People who just want that jolt from doing something amazing.”
Bennett though, did it for other reasons, including raising awareness for anorexia.
“The best message that you can give somebody is that you can be any age, any gender, any size, and do it,” she said. “You can do difficult things, and you shouldn't shortchange yourself by not being mentally ready for that challenge.”
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PHOTOS (Top) At left, Julie Bennett stands in formation with her Glen Lake cheer team in 1979. At right, Bennett stands next to a sign explaining the accomplishment after completing the Pacific Ocean crossing with her crewmates. (Middle) Bennett, front row and fourth from left, poses for a team photo with her high school track team. (Below) The Moar Than US team rows toward Hawaii, and celebrates its accomplishment. (Glen Lake photos courtesy of the Glen Lake yearbook staff. Moar Than US photos courtesy of World's Toughest Row, More Than US team and Bennett family.)
Preview: Historic Possibilities Await at Lower Peninsula Girls Track & Field Finals
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 30, 2025
While every championship result from Saturday’s MHSAA Lower Peninsula Girls Track & Field Finals will be considered historic for that athlete, her school and perhaps on a larger regional or statewide level, a few possibilities this weekend are especially notable.
From a team standpoint, Hart in Division 3 is seeking to become the fifth Lower Peninsula program to win a fourth-straight Finals championship in this sport. Individually, Onsted’s Emmry Ross could become only the second Lower Peninsula girl to win four individual events twice – joining Sami Michell from Reed City (2012 and 2013) – and Ross is seeded first in all four of her events. So is Addison’s Molly Brown as she seeks to follow Ross’ performance from a year ago and become the fourth Lower Peninsula girl to win four individual Finals titles.
All four LP Finals will begin with pole vault and long jump beginning at 9 a.m., followed by race semifinals and the 3,200 relay at 10 a.m. and the rest of the running finals starting at noon. Tickets cost $11 and are available digitally only via GoFan.
MHSAA.tv will live-stream all four meets beginning at 10 a.m., viewable with subscription. Check out the Girls Track & Field page for meet information for all four sites and lists of all qualifiers. Those described as "seeded" below have received those seeds based on Regional performances or meeting early qualification standards.
Below is a glance at team contenders and individuals to watch in all four divisions:
Division 1 at East Kentwood
Team forecast: Oak Park has won the last two Division 1 titles and eight of the last 10, and the Knights potentially could win all four relays Saturday plus open hurdles and sprint races. Detroit Renaissance has been a strong contender the last several seasons, winning in 2022, and could make another nice push. Holland West Ottawa is another team to watch.
Valerie Beeck, Grand Haven senior: After running relays and the 800 at last year’s Finals, she’s headed into this weekend as the top seed in the 800 (2:10.95) and 1,600 (4:48.03) and will run on both distance relays.
Nevaeh Burns, Oak Park sophomore: She debuted at the Finals last year with championships in the 400 and as part of the 800 and 1,600 relays with a sixth place as well in the 200. She’s seeded this time first in the 400 (54.91), third in the 200 (24.36) and will run on the top-seeded 800 (1:40.02) and 1,600 (3:48.42) relays.
Kamryn Tatum, West Bloomfield junior: The top seed in the 100 (11.78) and 200 (24.13) also is likely to run on two relays as she looks to add to her wins in the 200 the last two seasons and in the 400 as a freshman. She also ran on the runner-up 400 relay last season.
Lorelai Zielinski, Traverse City Central sophomore: After finishing runner-up in both the discus and shot put last season, she’s seeded first in both at 151-8 and 47-10¼, respectively.
Division 2 at Hamilton
Team forecast: Dearborn Divine Child broke East Grand Rapids’ two-year hold on the title last season as the top four teams finished within 13 points of each other at a low-scoring meet. Something similar Saturday wouldn’t be shocking, with individual stars potentially putting up big points to carry their teams into contention. To that end, keep an eye on Sturgis – back from finishing 14th in Division 1 last season – and Saginaw Swan Valley, which placed fifth in Division 2 a year ago.
Sadie Dykstra, Yale junior: She’s returning after winning the long jump and 300 hurdles and finishing second in the 100 hurdles last season, and enters this weekend seeded fourth in long jump and qualified to run both hurdles races, compete in both jumps and run on the 1,600 relay.
Bella Friddle, Hastings sophomore: She won the high jump and finished eighth in the long jump as a freshman, and is expected to compete in both again while entering tied for the second seed in the high jump (5-6).
Emma Hoffman, Otsego junior: After finishing ninth in the 1,600 and sixth in the 3,200 last season, she’s top-seeded in both at 4:54.21 and 10:19.98, respectively.
Layla Jordan, Goodrich senior: The reigning champion in the 800 is seeded second in that race (2:16.27) and also set to run the 400, 1,600 and potentially on the top-seeded 3,200 relay (9:20.19).
Sydney Kuhn, Saginaw Swan Valley senior: She’s capping a standout career seeking to repeat in the 200 and 400, seeded first this time in the 400 (53.90) and 300 hurdles (43.33), second in the 200 (24.55) and running on the top-seeded 1,600 relay (3:56.32).
Kaila Monroe, Eastpointe senior: The reigning champion in the shot put and seventh-place finisher in the discus will throw both again and is seeded second in the shot (43-2).
Keyanna O’Tey, Sturgis senior: She won the 100 in Division 1 last season and the 100 and 200 in Division 2 as a sophomore, and could carry Sturgis into team title contention seeded third in the 100 (12.02), fourth in the 200 (24.80) and running on top-seeded 400 (48.35) and 800 (1:42.28) relay teams.
Ava Schafer, St. Johns sophomore: She claimed the 3,200 title as a freshman and is seeded third in that race (10:43.80) and second in the 1,600 (4:57.61).
Aubrey Wilson, Dearborn Divine Child sophomore: She debuted with a championship in the 100, runner-up finish in the 200 and running on second and fifth-place relays in helping Divine Child to last year’s team title. She could pile up points again as the top seed in the 100 (11.82) and 200 (24.08) and running on the fourth-seeded 800 and second-seeded 1,600 (3:56.56) relays.
Division 3 at Kent City
Team forecast: Hart will pursue history with competitors in all four relays and five individual events. Onsted finished second last season, 13 points back, thanks to 40 points from Emmry Ross – and this time might add some relay points as well. Olivet (third last year) and Erie Mason (tied for sixth) also look like strong contenders.
Sohanny Gonzalez-Castillo, Wyoming Potter’s House Christian senior: Last season’s long jump champion also finished 13th in the high jump and will compete in both – tied for the third seed in the long jump (17-2½) – and run on two relays.
Addison Hovey, Hart senior: She claimed the 100, 200 and high jump titles last season and also ran on the third-place 400 relay. She enters her last Finals set to compete in the 100, high jump and run on the third-seeded 400 (50.63) and fourth-seeded 800 relays.
Giuliana Nastale, Erie Mason junior: She’s expected to score big after finishing fourth in the 200 and also running the 100 last season, as she enters this meet seeded first in the 100 (12.32) and 200 (25.23) and likely to run on two relays.
Emily Peters, Olivet junior: The reigning 300 hurdles champion also ran on the winning 800, second-place 1,600 and fourth-place 400 relays last season. She’s slated to run both hurdles races, seeded second in the 300 (45.99), and on two relays including the top-seeded 1,600 (4:06.05).
Emmry Ross, Onsted senior: She became the third Lower Peninsula athlete to win four individual events at a Finals last season, finishing first in the 400, 800, 1,600 and 3,200, and total she’s won the 400 three times, the 800 twice and also earned a 1,600 relay title as a freshman. She’s seeded first in her four races again, with a 54.48 in the 400, 2:03.84 in the 800, 4:46.11 in the 1,600 and 10:44.44 in the 3,200.
Addyson Stiverson, Montrose sophomore: She won the shot put and placed second in the discus at her first Finals and is seeded first this weekend by solid margins in both at 52-10¾ and 153-5, respectively.
Elli VanDusen, Kalamazoo Christian sophomore: She also impressed as a freshman winning the 100 hurdles and taking second in high jump, and this weekend she’s tied for the top seed in high jump (5-6) and set to run both hurdles races and a relay.
Emma Wildt, Homer senior: The reigning pole vault champion is tied for the top seed (10-6) and also will run a relay.
Division 4 at Hudsonville Baldwin Middle School
Team forecast: Fowler regained the championship last season for the first time since 2019, and with league rival Portland St. Patrick finishing second for the second-straight year. The Eagles have competitors in every event but one Saturday and could especially thrive in relays. Hillsdale Academy has some intriguing points possibilities, as do Gobles and Frankfort.
Layla Bolzman, Unionville-Sebewaing junior: The reigning champion in the 100 and 200 is seeded second in the 100 (12.42), third in the 200 (25.98) and fifth in the 400, and will run a relay as well.
Molly Brown, Addison senior: She’s won the 100 hurdles the last two seasons and added the 300 hurdles title and a seventh in the 100 dash last season. She will attempt to join the exclusive four-event champions list seeded first in the 100 dash (12.10), 100 hurdles (14.05), 300 hurdles (44.83) and long jump (17-4).
Payton Haynes, Mason County Eastern senior: The reigning pole vault champion is top-seeded in that event (11-0) and fifth-seeded in the 100 hurdles.
Eliza Keith, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian senior: She finished fourth in the 800 and ran on two relays last season, and this time is seeded second in the 400 (59.06) and first both in the 800 (2:15.48) and 1,600 (4:58.51)
Allie Nowak, Johannesburg-Lewiston senior: Last season’s champion in the 800 is seeded third in that race (2:22.11) and will run a relay as well.
Kaylie Livingston, Whitmore Lake sophomore: She opened her Finals career in this sport with 3,200 open and relay championships and a runner-up finish in the 1,600 run, and Saturday she’ll be seeded first in the 3,200 (10:58.93), third in the 1,600 (5:01.26) and will run on the top-seeded 3,200 relay (9:57.18).
PHOTO Onsted's Emmry Ross runs to one of her four championships during last season's Lower Peninsula Division 3 Finals. (Photo by Jamie McNinch/RunMichigan.com.)