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

Marquette Boys Complete Another Finals Sweep, Team Championship Repeat

By Adam Hinch
Special for MHSAA.com

May 28, 2026

HARRIS — It was a great day for golf with temperatures in the 70s and light winds for the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 1 Final – and Marquette’s boys played to match to outstanding conditions.

The Sentinels backed up last year’s title as they ended the day with a first-place 295 strokes, finishing ahead of second-place Escanaba at 314 and third-place Houghton with 316. Gladstone finished fourth with 317 and Sault Ste. Marie was fifth with 322.

Marquette junior Seve Swanson had the best day of all in the field as he posted a score of 70 with four birdies.

“The depth of our roster was the key to success today,” Marquette coach Ben Smith said. “Everyone stepped up, and our seniors set the tone and (I’m) just happy for our players.”

Swanson had to use some damage control after a double bogey on the 14th hole. He bounced back with a birdie and three pars to finish the round.

Marquette senior Boden Moore, the 2025 medalist, scored a 72, highlighted by an eagle on the 11th hole – a 501-yard par 5 – and a pair of birdies on holes 9 and 18. Senior teammate Jack Pond also had a good day carding a 74 with a trio of birdies as he rebounded from a tough start on the front nine that included a pair of bogeys and a double bogey all coming during the first six holes.

Escanaba junior Jared Plourde put up the best performance of the day for his team with a score of 74. Plourde got a birdie early, on the third hole, but closed out the front nine with a pair of bogeys. On the back nine, Plourde birdied on the 11th but had bogeys on the next two holes before closing the day with five consecutive pars.

“Our boys played exceptional today,” Escanaba coach Jake Berlinski said. “Jared finished the day tied for third. I couldn't be happier for him and for our team for the way we played today.”

Carson Artley placed fifth on the day with a score of 75 with birdies on the first and ninth holes.

“Carson was right there today,” Berlinski said. “He is one of four guys coming back next year, so our outlook is strong as we move forward to next year.”

Gladstone freshman Karson Delaney tied for sixth on the day, with four birdies and despite a pair of double bogeys on the back nine.

“The driver was perfect on every hole today,” Delaney said. “The putter was good too, but the wedges were shaky today.”

Kingsford senior Owen Edwards also posted a score of 76 with a pair of birdies on holes 6 and 17. Escanaba senior Owen LaBonte ended his high school career in a three-way tied for eighth place with senior Dane Saari from Negaunee and Robert Loukus from Calumet.

Sarri had four birdies on the day, and Loukus had birdies at 9 and 13.

(Photo by Adam Hinch.)