High 5s: 5/8/12
May 8, 2012
We're a week away from our first MHSAA spring postseason events, and these contenders -- all reigning MHSAA champions -- have been playing at that elite level all season.
Katie Brozovich
Clarkston senior
Tennis
Brozovich, a Division 1 all-state selection and MHSAA champion at No. 3 singles in 2011, is playing the top spot this season and continuing to shine. She downed Port Huron Northern No. 1 Taylor Sweeney 6-4, 6-1 in the championship match of Saturday's Holly Red and White Invitational, and Clarkston tied for first as a team. Brozovich has signed with Bowling Green State University and is 15-0. She comes from a tennis family -- her grandfather, father and aunt all play, and cousins Lizzie and Rae Brozovich won Nos. 3 and 4 singles for Port Huron Northern at Holly.
Secret to my success: “I condition a lot. I don’t get tired. I can run all day. I can just get to everything. I can keep pressure on opponents. What I’m working on too is every shot getting something on the ball. I try to work really hard on the court.”
I learned the most about tennis from: "My grandpa (Richard Brozovich) drilled me on the court. He knows so much about the game, and we play each other a couple times a week. He helps me condition. ... My coach Joe (Stafford, from Deer Lake Athletic Club) is really good with strokes. He knows my game inside an out."
I look up to: "My aunt Sue Kaleel (formerly Brozovich, Kaleel won four championships at Miami (Ohio) and has competed internationally). I model (my game) after her. She's extremely consistent, but also puts a lot of pressure on her opponent. That's what I want my game to be."
Dream match: "I would like to see (Pete) Sampras play (Roger) Federer right now. Just to know how the old game comes to play against the new style of play. The old strokes against the new."
Up next: Brozovich will study psychology at Bowling Green and hopes to eventually become a psychiatrist. Studies of the mind have always interested her, and like tennis run in the family -- her grandfather and uncle both work in the field.
Mike Nagy
Manistique senior
Golf
Nagy, a two-time Upper Peninsula MHSAA individual champion (2009 and 2011; he lost a two-hole tie-breaker at the 2010 Final), shot a pair of 36s to finish first at two recent home matches. He's signed with the University of Tennessee, and according to multiple reports will be only the second Manistique High grad to play any sport at the Division I college level since 1963. He owns his school's record of a 31 in a nine-hole match, shot when he was a sophomore, and he fired an 18-hole 66 at last spring's league tournament. Nagy also played basketball, and set a school record with six 3-pointers in a game this season.
Golf is my game: "I really enjoy the individual part of it. I would say ball-striking (is my strength), with my irons."
I learned the most about golf from: "Probably just on my own. I like to watch a lot of golf, lots of video. (My parents) like to watch it a lot more than they used to."
I'd like to play like: "I'm a big Adam Scott fan. He has a really nice swing."
If I could pick three more for a foursome: "Adam Scott. And then between Annika (Sorenstam), Tiger (Woods) and Jack Nicklaus. I really liked watching Annika play. She made it look so simple. Tiger, obviously because of what he's accomplished. I'd like to see how he handles it up there."
Up next: Nagy is considering a major in business. He's hoping to crack the Volunteers' lineup in his first season; there are eight players on the team, and five travel.
Grosse Pointe South girls track and field
The Blue Devils are the reigning Division 1 MHSAA champion and again are led by distance runner Hannah Meier, who set the all-Finals records in the 1,600 and 800 meters last spring. But more is ahead for Meier and especially teammates Haley Meier, Ersula Farrow and Kelsie Schwartz; they've run in the 3,200 relay in 8:59.69, which would crush the MHSAA Finals record if they can do the same next month. (Click to read more.)
This spring's previous honorees
- Sarah Appold, Saginaw Valley Lutheran softball
- Sarita Dotson, Battle Creek Lakeview track and field
- Jake McFadden, Clare track and field
- Cullen Prena, Walled Lake Central track and field
- Nick Stiles, Bath baseball
- Malloy Weber, Northville soccer
- Grand Rapids West Catholic golf
- Muskegon Mona Shores golf
- Stevensville Lakeshore softball
Newberry Girls Follow Taylor Sisters in Going Distance Again to Clinch Repeat
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
May 31, 2026
KINGSFORD — The distances have been the primary strength for the Newberry girls throughout this track & field season.
That proved true again Saturday as they retained their Upper Peninsula Division 3 Finals title with 73 points. They were followed by Lake Linden-Hubbell with 58 and Big Bay de Noc with 50.
Newberry wasted no time setting the tone on this sunny and warm day with a UPD3 Finals record-setting performance in the 3,200-meter relay at 10 minutes, 15.39 seconds, topping Cedarville’s effort (10:20.07) from 20 years ago.
“Our handoffs were pretty good,” Newberry freshman Molly McNamara said. “I thought it went pretty well. We’re pretty happy about getting the U.P. record. I also got a PR by 20 seconds in the 1,600, which I’m pretty happy about. The warmer weather I think helped.”
Senior Samantha Taylor, also part of that relay, provided her team with victories in the 1,600 (5:12.89) and 3,200 (11:32.57)
Junior Abby Taylor added a season-best while placing second in the 1,600 (5:23.87), with McNamara taking third (5:32.7). Abby also ran a season-best 12:31.69 in the 3,200 and covered the 800 in 2:24.61 while taking second in both, with McNamara third in the 800 in a personal-best 2:28.4.
Samantha Taylor, who plans to continue her running career at Central Michigan University, was pleased with how this day went.
“I think it went really good,” she said. “This was a nice finish to my high school career. I wanted to do my best and finish on this note. We’re happy with how everything went. Abby and Molly had a good day, too.”
LL-H senior Maddy Dudenas won shot put with a season-best toss of 32-11¼, and sophomore Addeline Schmitt anchored the winning 400 relay which was clocked at a school-record 52.6 seconds.
“Our handoffs went real well,” Schmitt said. “It feels amazing to be part of this. Running the anchor leg is a little intense, but it’s fun overall. This has been a good year for us.”
Dollar Bay senior Kiera Isaacson cleared a school-record 5-6 in high jump, two inches higher than Big Bay de Noc sophomore Destiny Bleau’s season-best jump which tied her own school record.
Bleau set UPD3 meet records in the 200 (26.01) and 400 (58.05) and won the 100 (12.91).
Her effort in the 200 surpassed the previous best by Chassell’s Jamie Dompier (26.36) in 2012, and her 400 time topped the record set by LL-H’s Emily Jokela (58.91) two years ago.
“I had a great start again,” Bleau said. “I felt really good, then I suddenly realized I was all by myself. I knew I had to keep going (in the 400). I was hoping to get (personal records). I just had to stay focused and do it.”
Chassell sophomore Jordan Holombo established a meet record in the 100 hurdles at 15.94, which is 0.3 of a second faster than the previous 20-year-old record by LL-H’s Holly Seppala, and added a first in the 300s (46.55).
Dollar Bay junior Laila Bell took long jump at 16-1, and Stephenson senior Faith Cappaert won her final individual race as a high school runner, the 800 in a personal-best 2:24.23.
St. Ignace senior Avery Visnaw took pole vault (9-0), edging Baraga junior Elisa Delene on a tie-breaker, and Brimley senior Tallulah Slabosheski captured disc (114-11).
PHOTOS (Top) Newberry's Samantha Taylor set a UPD3 Finals record in the 3,200 with a time of 11:32.57 on Saturday. (Middle) Big Bay De Noc's Destiny Bleau breaks the UPD3 Finals record in the 200 with a time of 26.01. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)