Performance: East Kentwood's Corinne Jemison
May 25, 2018
Corinne Jemison
East Kentwood senior – Track & Field
Jemison, the reigning Lower Peninsula Division 1 champion in discus and runner-up in shot put, earned the opportunity to compete for those titles again with a pair of Regional championships May 18 at Lansing Waverly while also earning the Michigan Army National Guard “Performance of the Week.” Jemison won discus by 16 feet with a throw of 151-9, and shot put by two inches with a personal record 46-10½.
In both events, Jemison also finished just ahead of Waverly’s Malin Smith, a top-three placer in LP Division 2 in 2017 and owner of the longest shot put in the state (48-1) this season. Jemison has the longest discus throw – 158-11 – and they will see each other again at the June 2 LPD1 Finals at her home track. Jemison has surpassed both of her best throws from last season, when she won the discus with a 151-0 and threw a season-best 40-9 in the shot put at the 2017 MHSAA championship meet as well. She’s finished first every time she’s thrown this spring but once, when she finished second in discus to a thrower from Ohio in early April. East Kentwood as a team won last week’s Regional by 100 points and should contend for the Finals championship again after coming in third a year ago.
The 6-foot-3 Jemison is capping an outstanding three-sport career at East Kentwood, where she played four years of varsity volleyball and basketball as well. She earned Division 1 all-state honorable mention in volleyball in the fall and made the Class A all-state second team in basketball this winter. She has graduated with a 3.2 grade-point average and will continue her volleyball career at Miami University of Ohio, where she’ll study kinesiology and physical therapy – and hopes to pick up a second sport when she’s a fifth-year senior. In taking her athletic career to the next level, she’ll also be continuing to follow in the footsteps of her parents, Erica Westbrooks-Jemison and Darin Jemison, who both played basketball collegiately at Louisiana Tech.
Coach Stephanie Stephenson said: “Corinne is an exceptionally gifted athlete. She has chosen volleyball as her college sport, but she could have been a force in college basketball or could have gone on to compete at the highest levels of track & field in college and beyond. Her physical gifts are truly unparalleled. She has really been dialed in this season at practice. Her hard work has obviously paid off in her incredible performances. She is also a very fun person to have on the team. She brings joy and laughter wherever she goes. We will miss her next year, but know that she will have many successes in her future.”
Performance Point: “It was kind’ve scary, especially going against (Smith),” Jemison said of the Regional. “Seeing what her PR (personal record) was and being seeded second in shot, I was kinda nervous. (But) I was excited, especially when I heard that obviously she’s the real deal. I’m always up for a challenge. … I learned that I could shock myself. I didn’t think I was going to PR by that much (in the shot put).”
A natural, but with work: “It took a lot of practice. I spent a lot of time with my coach, Coach Mak (John Makinen), and I spent a lot time with Coach (Tyler) Pettit, and they just really (emphasized) the basics with me. For a while, my first year, I didn’t even touch an implement. It was all footwork. Sophomore year, I was picking up things more.”
Three-sport standout: “Obviously volleyball is my favorite sport, but track and basketball are neck and neck. As a junior, I wasn’t going to play (basketball); I was going to try to focus on travel volleyball in the winter. But I was like, ‘Mmmm … I miss it too much.’ So then I went back. … I don’t know how I balanced (three sports). I don’t know how I made it this far, doing homework in the car, staying up late night to study. But I enjoyed it though.”
Falcon pride: “I enjoy being a part of the track team at EK. It’s a really big deal at our school. I think it’s one of our best sports. It’s really incredible walking through the halls, hearing people like, ‘Oh yeah, she’s in track.’ Especially with our track jackets on, everybody just stops and stares.”
Listen to Mom and Dad: “(Their experiences) helped me a lot when I was younger. … Both my parents played in college, so when they (could) help you with sports, I was like ‘I should listen, because they know what they're talking about.’ They've really helped me on my athletic journey thus far.”
- Geoff Kimmerly, Second Half editor
Every week during the 2017-18 school year, Second Half and the Michigan Army National Guard will recognize a “Performance of the Week" from among the MHSAA's 750 member high schools.
The Michigan Army National Guard provides trained and ready forces in support of the National Military Strategy, and responds as needed to state, local, and regional emergencies to ensure peace, order, and public safety. The Guard adds value to our communities through continuous interaction. National Guard soldiers are part of the local community. Guardsmen typically train one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. This training maintains readiness when needed, be it either to defend our nation's freedom or protect lives and property of Michigan citizens during a local natural disaster.
Previous 2017-18 honorees:
May 17: Reagan Wisser, Richland Gull Lake soccer - Read
May 10: Clayton Sayen, Houghton track & field - Read
May 3: Autumn Roberts, Traverse City Central tennis - Read
April 26: Thomas Robinson, Wyoming Lee track & field - Read
March 29: Carlos Johnson, Benton Harbor basketball - Read
March 22: Shine Strickland-Gills, Saginaw Heritage basketball - Read
March 15: Skyler Cook-Weeks, Holland Christian swimming - Read
March 8: Dakota Greer, Howard City Tri-County wrestling - Read
March 1: Camree' Clegg, Wayne Memorial basketball - Read
February 23: Aliah Robertson, Sault Ste. Marie swimming - Read
February 16: Austin O'Hearon, Eaton Rapids wrestling - Read
February 9: Sophia Wiard, Muskegon Oakridge basketball - Read
February 2: Brenden Tulpa, Hartland hockey - Read
January 25: Brandon Whitman, Dundee wrestling - Read
January 18: Derek Maas, Holland West Ottawa swimming - Read
January 11: Lexi Niepoth, Bellaire basketball - Read
November 30: La'Darius Jefferson, Muskegon football - Read
November 23: Ashley Turak, Farmington Hills Harrison swimming - Read
November 16: Bryce Veasley, West Bloomfield football - Read
November 9: Jose Penaloza, Holland soccer - Read
November 2: Karenna Duffey, Macomb L'Anse Creuse North cross country - Read
October 26: Anika Dy, Traverse City West golf - Read
October 19: Andrew Zhang, Bloomfield Hills tennis - Read
October 12: Nolan Fugate, Grand Rapids Catholic Central football - Read
October 5: Marissa Ackerman, Munising tennis - Read
September 28: Minh Le, Portage Central soccer - Read
September 21: Olivia Theis, Lansing Catholic cross country - Read
September 14: Maddy Chinn, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Read
PHOTOS: (Top) East Kentwood's Corinne Jemison begins her windup for a discus throw. (Middle) Jemison stands atop the awards podium at last year's Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals. (Top photo courtesy of the East Kentwood athletic department; bottom photo by RunMichigan.com.)
Onsted's Ross Chooses Memorable Finish, Olivet Girls Earn Unforgettable Title
By
Tom Lang
Special for MHSAA.com
May 31, 2025
KENT CITY – Emmry Ross wanted her senior year at Onsted to be filled with memories, perhaps as much or more than filled with state championships.
Coming into Saturday’s Lower Peninsula Division 3 Finals at Kent City, Ross was the reigning champion in the 400 meters (winning it three times prior), 800 meters (twice prior), 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters – and she was seeded first in all four this weekend.
But Ross decided to scratch the 3,200 race to join the team’s 1,600 relay, with her sister Hadley – for what turned out to be a seventh-place finish.
“There were many factors, but ultimately, it was because my sister was running in the relay and I wanted to run my last race at Onsted with my sister and the incredible team that has been with me the last four years,” Emmry Ross said. “Yes, I won the 3,200 last year, but I wanted to do the relay more – for my sister and just to have some fun in my last race.
“I think those are quite memorable moments. All the wins are great, but the memories are what you’re going to remember most. And so, I think those are some great memories I’ll have forever.”
She also will know forever – as she heads off to the University of Michigan and maybe the Olympics one day – that as a senior she capped her career with Finals championships in the 400 (54.81), 800 (2:07.03) and 1,600 (4:45.44), the latter by a margin of more than 17 seconds.
Ross will become a Wolverine with big goals ahead.
“Michigan is definitely the best option for me,” Ross said. “They have great academics, as well as athletics, and when I talked with the coaches, they talked a lot about the Olympic trials in 2028, which is ultimately a goal of mine. The team atmosphere there was amazing, and the girls were so welcoming. All the colleges I went to were that way, but U-M just really stood out to me.”
Also standing out Saturday were Olivet’s five runners, who combined to win the team title with 46 points, five ahead of runner-up Erie Mason.
“We felt most of the year we had a shot,” said Olivet coach Brian Lincoln. “Two years ago, we were second, and last year we were third. So, if things worked out and we were a little lucky, maybe things could work out (for a win).
“Their grit and their guts all year showed, and they did everything you could ask as a coach.”
Olivet sealed the win during the last race of the day, the 1,600 relay, taken by Cassie Coleman, Sophia Pell, Celina Sinclair and Emily Peters – who also earned her third individual Finals title in the 300 hurdles.
“We ran pretty well at the Lansing Honor Roll Tuesday night,” Lincoln said. “It’s such an awesome event. It really gets us ready, because you’re running against some of the best teams in the state, regardless of class. And we got a lot of kids on the podium that night, so we knew we had good shots today.
“Just so proud of these girls for doing what they do.”
Another multiple-event winner was sophomore Addyson Stiverson of Montrose. She took both the shot put and discus titles, after winning shot put last year as well.
“I think it was me developing from last year,” Stiverson said. “I was only a freshman, barely even 15 (years old). My confidence was about the same, but I think I just matured more.
“I prefer the shot put. But I like how it’s more just you. You against you. You can only do what you can do. Nothing else changes what you do.”
Giuliana Nastale, a junior at Erie Mason, won the 100-meter dash in 12.47 seconds and the 200 in 25.68.
“I was very nervous going into this today,” she said soon after stepping off the podium. “I saw everyone’s times, and I was seeded first but it was all so close. So, I was thinking all the time, I’ve got to go, just go. I was so happy, but a little surprised, honestly. Winning meets with my team is a lot more fun. I love this, being here, but I’d rather it be a team win.”
PHOTOS (Top) Onsted's Emmry Ross pulls away during one of her race championships Saturday in Kent City. (Middle) Olivet's Emily Peters clears a hurdle on her way to a third championship in the 300. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)