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High 5s - 5/1/12

May 1, 2012

Each week, Second Half gives "High 5s" to multiple athletes and a team that have performed exceptionally on the field or made a notable impact off of it.

Please offer your suggestions by e-mail to editor Geoff Kimmerly at [email protected]. Below are this week's honorees:

Sarita Dotson

Battle Creek Lakeview junior

Girls Track and Field

For the second straight season, Dotson was named the Most Valuable Female Athlete at the Eldon Draime/Al Geisler Memorial All-City Meet held at Battle Creek Harper Creek (she shared the award in 2011). Dotson won the 100-meter dash (12.5 seconds), the 200 (25.5) and the long jump (16 feet, 3.5 inches) and was on the winning 800 relay (1:48.11) as Lakeview scored 250 points as a team to win the meet by 102.83. Dotson qualified for the MHSAA Division 1 Final last spring as a sophomore, but just missed making the championship races in the 100 and 200. She focuses solely on track, but was a cheerleader as both a freshman and a sophomore.

100 is my No. 1: "It's just so much fun. It's really exciting. You've got it or you don't. After a while, everyone is at the same level. Whoever is on her game that day, prepared the hardest, it's going to show in the 100 meters."

I learned the most about track from: Dotson said a number of coaches, and that her first youth coaches -- including Larry Caper -- could tell right away what she should be running. "Immediately, the first day of practice, one of them said, 'She's a sprinter.' I didn't know what a sprinter was."

A few words to run by: "I always start off with a prayer, or at least try, to remember why I do this and to get my mind straight. My pastor was my coach when I started in third grade, and the first thing he taught us to do when we get on the track is pray."

Favorite formula: Dotson's favorite school subject is chemistry -- and she is considering a career in cosmetic science with a focus on the engineering and creation of make-up.

Cullen Prena

Walled Lake Central junior

Boys Track and Field

Prena has blasted onto the throwing scene this spring and especially the last few weeks after twice throwing the discus more than 180 feet -- and according to an Oakland Press report, broke both school and Oakland County records that had each stood for at least 29 seasons. He threw the discus 187 feet, seven inches, to win the event at Saturday's Oxford Invitational, and he also won the shot put with a toss of 52-1. Prena's best discus throw last season was 159 feet -- and his toss Saturday would've won every MHSAA Final dating back to 2003. Prena finished fifth in discus at last season's Division 1 championship meet. He's not the only thrower in his family -- older sisters Kari (University of Michigan) and Kelsey (Michigan State) throw in the Big Ten.

I learned the most about throwing from: "Definitely Coach (Nebojsa Stojkovic). And it helps to have my sisters now in college. They can give me advice all the time."

Be like Ryan (Crouser): The University of Texas freshman owns the national high school discus record of 237-6, and "is definitely a model (for me). That's quite a mark."

My dream scenario: "... after this would be college, then to train for the Olympics after that, and win gold in the Olympics. Realistically, I don't know if that's out there or not. But it's a great place to aim."

Major decision: Prena hasn't picked his college or what he'll study some day, but "I'm thinking some kind of marketing or business, or something in the communications field. I do like working with people, and I also like talking. Potentially a sports broadcaster or a marketing engineer."

Muskegon Mona Shores boys golf

Mona Shores didn't finish first during either round of this weekend's Traverse City Central Invitational. But the Sailors, ranked No. 2 in the Division 1 state poll, finished second both at Spruce Run (309) and the Wolverine (297) for a combined score of 606 -- good for a one-stroke win over top-ranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central and two strokes ahead of then No. 5 Traverse City West. Three more teams from that field have since joined the Division 1 top 10.

Reed Hrynewich shot a 69 to finish second at the Wolverine and a 75 to finish fifth at Spruce Run, while teammate Andrew Van Aels finished eight overall at both courses. Those two, Joel Maire and Eric Kastelic also were among the team's top five when it finished fifth at last season's MHSAA Division 1 Final.

This spring's previous honorees

From left, University Liggett’s Cicarella Santino, Pewamo-Westphalia’s Trevor Smith and Dearborn Advanced Tech’s Cobey Cureton run a 100-meter preliminary race at the LPD3 Finals last season.

Preview: Prepare for Unpredictable as Contenders Abound for LP Boys Titles

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 30, 2025

There’s at least one common possibility among the four MHSAA Lower Peninsula Boys Track & Field Finals to be competed Saturday in the Grand Rapids area.

All four could be closely contested with points spread across several contenders and single standouts setting the pace for the eventual champions.

That’s just one prognosis for this season’s championship meets, which are tougher to forecast than usual based on expectations for returning contenders and several others who have impressed this spring.

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 Boys 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: Kalamazoo Central’s first team title last spring since 1965 gave Division 1 its fifth different champion over the last five seasons. Belleville could rely on its sprint and hurdles power to become the sixth in six seasons as it pursues a first Finals title. Northville, with strength in the distance events, also is a first-time title possibility, especially if this meet sees scoring spread among several contenders.

Jeremy Dixon, Kalamazoo Central senior: After leading last year’s team title charge with an individual title in the 100, runner-up finish in the 200 and running on two scoring relays, he’ll return as the top seed in the 100 (10.56) and set to run the 200 and as part of two relays again.  

Reece Emeott, East Kentwood junior: Last season’s pole vault champion by nine inches is the top seed in that event (15-8) by five.

Schmar Gamble, Belleville junior: He’s back after winning the 110 hurdles and just missing scoring in the 100 dash last season, this time seeded second in the 110 hurdles (13.69) and running the 100 dash and on two relays including the top-seeded 800 (1:26.01).

Quincy Isaac, Canton senior: The two-time reigning long jump champion is top-seeded in that event (25-2¼) by more than two feet and also fourth-seeded in the 100 and expected to run on a relay.

Will (Jaiden) Smith, Belleville senior: He finished fourth in the 110 hurdles, second in the 300 hurdles, just missed scoring in the 200 and contributed to a scoring 800 relay last season, but could enjoy an even mightier final high school meet. He’s seeded first in the 110 (13.53) and 300 (36.94), second in the 200 (21.11) and will run on a relay.

Division 2 at Hamilton

Team forecast: Berrien Springs and Corunna have taken turns winning the last three championships, the Shamrocks winning last year’s with Corunna finishing runner-up. While Berrien Springs looks like a possibility again especially in a wide-open meet, there are others with opportunities. River Rouge scored just one point at last year’s Finals, but could win four events. Parma Western has potential scorers across several after tying for fifth last season.

Declin Doroh, Stevensville Lakeshore sophomore: The reigning high jump champion is back as a sophomore with the top seed (6-10) and also could run on his team’s 800 relay.

Kaden Griffiths, Stevensville Lakeshore sophomore: He won long jump and ran on two relays as a freshman, and also is back as a top seed – by more than a foot in the long jump (23-7¾). He’ll also run the 400.

Adam Huff, Wayland senior: He back to throw the discus after winning that event and finishing 10th in the shot put a year ago.

Sam Vesperman, Grosse Ile senior: He’s won the pole vault the last two seasons and is seeded third (14-0) this weekend.

Conan Weeks, Clare junior: He won the long jump last season in Division 3 and will make a run at Division 2 titles in that event and seeded second in the 300 hurdles (39.83) while also running on two relays.

DJ Wood, Battle Creek Harper Creek junior: After qualifying for the 110 hurdles last season, he’s expected to make a move on multiple titles seeded first in that race (14.28) and the 300 hurdles (39.27) and running on two relays.

Division 3 at Kent City

Team forecast: Nine schools have won this division once over the last nine seasons, with Pewamo-Wesphalia first and Clare (now in Division 2) second a year ago. The Pirates should be in the mix again and might be the favorites. But Chesaning should be right there and Traverse City St. Francis with its distance crew has a chance to contend in a lower-scoring meet.

Mason Mayne, Lawton senior: Last season’s champion in the discus and runner-up in the shot put is seeded first in both at 185-6 and 61-3, respectively.

Tayden Redding, Warren Michigan Collegiate junior: He won the high jump, placed sixth in the 110 hurdles and just missed scoring in the 300 hurdles last season and is back competing in all three including as the top high jump seed (6-8).

Cicarella Santino, Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett senior: He finished fourth in the 100 and second in the 200 last season and is top-seeded in both (10.62 and 21.66, respectively) and second-seeded in the 400 (49.78).

Trevor Smith, Pewamo-Westphalia senior: The reigning champion in the 100 and fifth-place finisher in the 200 last year is seeded second in the 100 (10.71) and 200 (21.89) this time and will run on two top-three seeded relays.

Tryce Tokar, Ovid-Elsie senior: He’ll pursue his fourth pole vault championship and is seeded first (15-0) by nearly half a foot. He’ll also run on three relays including the top-seeded 800 (1:30.35).

Max Ward, Elk Rapids senior: He’ll seek to repeat in the 300 hurdles as the top seed (38.74) and also is fifth-seeded in the 110 hurdles after finishing third in that race last season.

Division 4 at Hudsonville Baldwin Middle School

Team forecast: Fowler broke Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep’s two-year hold on the title last year with its first since 1988 and could follow its hurdles and relay contenders to a repeat. But Southfield Christian (11th last season) could be dominant in the sprints and Riverview Gabriel Richard (12th) has relay power. Hackett’s distance standouts could make this close as well as they look to jump back up from third a year ago.

Marek Butkiewicz, Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep junior: He won the 3,200, was second in the 1,600 and ran on the winning 3,200 relay last season. He’s seeded first in the 1,600 (4:18.18) and 3,200 (9:16.90) and also will run the 800 and as part of the top-seeded 3,200 relay (8:08.46).

Brady Feldpausch, Fowler senior: He played a massive role in the Eagles’ team title last year with a win in the 110 hurdles, runner-up finish in the 300 and competing on two championship relays. He’s seeded first in the 110 (14.47), second in the 300 (38.98) and could again run on two relays including the top-seeded 1,600 (3:24.42).

Oliver Long, Morrice junior: The reigning shot put champion is seeded first (56-6¼) by nearly six feet and also will throw the discus and run on a relay.

Brock Morris, Southfield Christian senior: He was fifth in the 400 and ran on two top-six relays last season, and this weekend he could lead a team title pursuit seeded first in the 200 (22.17) and 400 (48.65) and running on the top-seeded 800 (1:29.86) and second-seeded 1,600 (3:27.68) relays.

Bradley Richards, Muskegon Catholic Central/Fruitport Calvary Christian senior: The 2023 champion in the high jump – and runner-up last season – is back for Calvary Christian as part of this cooperative program with MCC and seeded first (6-7).

PHOTO From left, University Liggett’s Cicarella Santino, Pewamo-Westphalia’s Trevor Smith and Dearborn Advanced Tech’s Cobey Cureton run a 100-meter preliminary race at the LPD3 Finals last season. All three will return this weekend. (Photo by Jamie McNinch/RunMichigan.com.)