Logo

High 5s: 6/5/12

June 5, 2012

Each week, Second Half gives "High 5s" to athletes and a team based on their accomplishments the previous week or throughout the season.

A four-time track champion and a longtime state tennis power once again at the top make up this week's list of high achievers.

Sami Michell
Reed City senior
Girls Track and Field

Michell became the first Lower Peninsula four-time champion at an MHSAA Girls Track and Field Final since 1979 when she won the long jump, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and 200 on Saturday at the Division 3 meet at Comstock Park. Her time of 42.4 in the 300 hurdles broke the all-Finals record that had stood since 1984, and she also set Division 3 Final records in the long jump (18-6.5) and 100 hurdles (13.84) – breaking the record she previously held in the latter. Total, Michell has won eight MHSAA championships during her three-year high school career. She’s also a setter on the volleyball team and the top-ranked student in her class with a 4.0 grade-point average. Her mother Vikki is the coach of Reed City’s girls track and field team, and her father Brent coaches the boys team.

Fantastic 4: “I wanted to win four; I thought about it, but it was kinda crazy when I actually did it. Really, after I crossed the finish line in the 200, I was pretty happy then. Definitely 200 (was the hardest). It was the last one, and I wasn’t seeded first in that one.”

I learned the most about running from: “Both my parents. They both help me in different ways. It’s pretty cool, but it’s hard sometimes. Sometimes listening to them is harder because I think they don’t know what they’re talking about when they do. But just because they’re my parents it’s harder to listen.”

Up next: All I really know is I’m running track someplace. I have no idea where I want to go. A couple of schools down south really seem interested (including Clemson, plus Michigan State closer to home). Stanford seems interested.”

Fun with numbers: “I’m thinking (I’ll study) accounting. I’m kind of a perfectionist. I like the math part of it.”

Air Michell: Despite standing only 5-foot-8, Michell has a vertical jump of nearly 30 inches and just misses being able to touch the basketball rim. “But I can touch the part connected to the backboard. That would be pretty sweet.”

Click to read more.

Birmingham Seaholm tennis

Birmingham Seaholm won only one individual flight, but also had three runners-up in edging Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern 27-25 at the top of the Division 2 Final standings Saturday. The Maples won their first MHSAA team championship since 2004, and ended FHN's six-season streak of shared or outright titles. Seaholm had finished runner-up to the Huskies in 2011.

Jackie Meier and Rachel Wilson won what ended up being the deciding match by downing the pair from Forest Hills Northern in the final at No. 3 doubles. Seaholm also gained valuable points by placing seven flights in at least the semifinals.

This spring's previous honorees

Ann Arbor Greenhills’ Maddie Morgan follows through on a backhand during a Friday match at Midland Tennis Center.

Morgan Caps Championship-Filled Career as Greenhills Adds to Title Streak

By Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com

May 31, 2025

MIDLAND – Maddie Morgan added the final triumphs to a nearly unmatched high school tennis career Saturday at Midland Tennis Center.

The Ann Arbor Greenhills senior had helped the Gryphons to three straight Lower Peninsula Division 4 Finals team titles entering this weekend. Along the way, she had won two No. 1 singles titles after reaching only the semifinals as a freshman.

Top-ranked Greenhills entered the second day of play one point ahead of Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, the No. 2-ranked team in the state. And the Gryphons proceeded to finish the four-peat in resounding fashion, securing the title even before Morgan played for the singles championship against Notre Dame Prep freshman Marissa Bitoni.

Morgan then pulled out a 6-1, 6-4 victory for her third championship at the top flight.

“It was nice knowing we had won even before I started playing,’’ said Morgan. “It was just so much fun playing that last match. Knowing it was my last high school match, that propelled me through it even though we had already won. It helped me. The freshmen and sophomores came through.’’

Greenhills finished with 38 points to 28 for the Fighting Irish. Traverse City St. Francis was third with 20.

Being everyone’s target didn’t faze Morgan.

“I try not to think about it like that,’’ she said. “I approach each match the same way. Do my routine. I just think about the tennis, and I think that’s the key.

“I really enjoy cheering and just being with this team. Individual state champions – they mean a lot, but the team state championships are what really matters to me. … I’m so grateful to be a part of this team environment we have in high school tennis. We had 11 of the 12 back from last year and we lost one senior the year before, so it has been the same group.’’

Players meet at the net at the conclusion of another early-round match.Greenhills won all but two flights, instead finishing runners-up at Nos. 2 and 4 doubles.

“Our motto is ‘all joy, no fear, can’t lose,’” said Greenhills coach Mark Randolph, who concluded his 31st year as a head coach and 52nd overall. “We knew we’d be competing with Notre Dame, but they aren’t our enemies. This is about relationships.

“One of our great stories is Jessica Shi at No. 2 doubles. She has been around the program for four years but didn’t expect to be here other than to cheer us on. We suffered an injury and we put her in the lineup, now she’s competing in the Finals. That’s a great story.’’

Greenhills’ first champion came at No. 1 doubles as Danica Rakic-Dennis and Shangyang Xia defeated Wixom St. Catherine’s top-seeded Julia Ivezaj and Stephanie Lisch, 6-0, 6-2. The Gryphons pair dropped only six games over four matches on the weekend.

“This was our first year playing together,’’ said Rakic-Dennis. “It was one of our best matches. It was a challenge to work on our chemistry during the season, but we pulled through. I’m really proud of us.’’

Said Xia: “It was one of our best matches. Notre Dame Prep has always been a big rival. We knew that coming to states. I have a lot of faith in our team.’’

Notre Dame’s flight title came at No. 4 doubles as Vanessa Artinian and Elana Vandieren, both freshmen, defeated Greenhills’ top-seeded Meera Pandey and Meera Tewari, 6-3, 6-0.

Maddie Morgan’s freshman sister Hazel captured her first Finals title, at No. 3 singles, as she downed Notre Dame’s Ava Jarvis, 6-2, 6-0.

“I think I played her during the regular season,’’ said Hazel. “It was a good match. I’m proud of our team. We’re doing so well. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished this season. (Jarvis) is a great person, and she should be proud.’’

Greenhills sophomore Ellie Kim won her second-straight title with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over St. Francis’ Elliana McClellan at No. 2 singles.

“It feels great to get the second one,’’ said Kim. “She’s a really good player. Her forehand is really strong. I think in the second set I got a little tight. I was hitting more balls short to her forehand. I honestly don’t think I was playing bad. It was a good, fun match.’’

Greenhills sophomore Nina Malani secured the No. 4 singles title with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over St. Francis’ Anna Cate Maday. Wixom St. Catherine’s No. 2 doubles team of Lily Wolocko and Loren Nafso defeated Greenhills’ Shi and Sophia Kleer, 6-3, 6-3 to claim that flight, but Greenhills also pulled out No. 3 doubles as Lauren Ye and Alyssa Hong knocked off Nore Dame Prep’s Erin Delaney and Adriana Johnson 6-3, 6-1 in the clincher.

Click for full results.

PHOTOS (Top) Ann Arbor Greenhills’ Maddie Morgan follows through on a backhand during a Friday match at Midland Tennis Center. (Middle) Players meet at the net at the conclusion of another early-round match. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)