Performance of the Week: Whitehall's Ira Jenkins
February 10, 2022
Ira Jenkins ♦ Whitehall
Wrestling ♦ Senior
Jenkins, last season’s Division 3 individual champion at 215 pounds, hasn’t lost a match since his sophomore season and Saturday helped Whitehall to its fourth-straight West Michigan Conference team title. He is 39-0 this winter wrestling at 285 and finished last season 38-0 – and he’ll carry that 77-match winning streak into Saturday’s Division 2 Individual District hosted by the Vikings. His team also is undefeated and ranked No. 2 in Division 2, and won Wednesday’s Team District at Muskegon Reeths-Puffer.
Jenkins finished fifth at 171 pounds in Division 2 as a sophomore and third at 152 in Division 3 as a freshman, and he’s built a career record of 164-11. This season’s run is especially impressive as Jenkins had elbow surgery during the offseason that caused him to miss playing football in the fall. He has signed with University of Michigan and is hoping to join the school’s Navy ROTC program as he pursues a longtime dream of becoming a fighter pilot.
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2021-22 Honorees
Feb. 3: Emma Stewart, Salem gymnastics - Report
Jan. 28: Tyler Ray, Pinckney swimming - Report
Jan. 21: Elle Craven, Traverse City Central skiing - Report
Jan. 14: Nevaeh Williams, Mount Clemens basketball - Report
Dec. 2: Lucas Dunn, Chelsea football - Report
Nov. 25: Riley Nugent, Plainwell swimming - Report
Nov. 18: Harper Murray, Ann Arbor Skyline volleyball - Report
Nov. 11: Abby VanderKooi, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian cross country - Report
Nov. 4: Arianne Olson, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Oct. 28: Jack Guggemos, Okemos soccer - Report
Oct. 21: Sachiv Kumar, Northville tennis - Report
Oct. 14: Kate Brody, Grand Blanc golf - Report
Oct. 7: Lilly Nelson, Negaunee tennis - Report
Sept. 30: Stella Chapman, Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming - Report
Sept. 23: Riley Hough, Hartland cross country - Report
Sept. 16: Josie Bloom, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Report
PHOTOS by Macy Taranko (action) and Billy Mann (head shot), courtesy of CatchMark SportsNet.
Performance of the Week: Three Rivers' Louis Smith
December 11, 2025
Louis Smith ♦ Three Rivers
Senior ♦ Wrestling
Smith won the championship at 175 pounds at the prestigious Grappler Gold Invitational, defeating Beaverton’s Eli Roe 8-5 in the title match. Roe is the reigning Division 4 Individual Finals champion at 157 pounds, and Smith is coming back this winter after finishing fifth in Division 2 at 175.
After also pinning his first two opponents at the GGI, Smith is 5-0 this winter with four falls. He helped Three Rivers reach the Division 2 Team Semifinals last season in finishing 45-8, and will continue his career next season at Lake Erie College in Ohio. Smith also played baseball previously before turning his full focus to wrestling.
@mhsaasports 🤼POW: Louis Smith #threerivers #wrestling #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA
@mhsaasports 🤼POW: Louis Smith #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA
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MHSAA.com's "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and X @mistudentaid.
Previous 2025-26 honorees
Dec. 4: Traverse Smith, DeWitt football - Report
Nov. 28: Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield swimming - Report
Nov. 20: Brady Kieff, Blanchard Montabella football - Report
Nov. 13: Ella Laupp, Battle Creek Harper Creek swimming - Report
Nov. 7: Hunter Eaton, Charlevoix cross country - Report
Oct. 31: Stephen Gollapalli, Lansing Christian tennis - Report
Oct. 23: Talya Schreiber, Pickford cross country - Report
Oct. 16: Avery Manning, Dexter golf - Report
Oct. 9: Brady Van Laecke, Hudsonville football - Report
Oct. 2: Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock volleyball - Report
Sept. 25: Sam Schumacher, Portage Central tennis - Report
Sept. 18: Kaylee Mitzel, Saline field hockey - Report
Sept. 11: Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4: Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report
(Photos courtesy of the Three Rivers athletic department.)