Did you see that? (11/5-11/11)
November 13, 2012
Upsets all over the volleyball Regional brackets were among the most stunning highlights from the week’s non-football action across the state.
Volleyball
Upset of the week: In arguably the biggest surprise in any sport last week – football included – Class A honorable mention Grand Rapids Christian downed No. 1 and seemingly unstoppable Richland Gull Lake in five games to claim the Regional title at Portage Northern. The Eagles trailed two games to one before winning the final two. (Grand Rapids Press)
Upset, part II: Unranked Birmingham Seaholm added to its previous elimination of No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Marian by finishing a Class A Regional title by beating No. 2 Clarkston in three games. The Maples didn’t allow the Wolves to score more than 18 points in any of the three games. (Oakland Press)
Vikings sail on: Lakewood, the No. 1 team in Class B, trailed No. 3 Ada Forest Hills Eastern after three games. But the Vikings again finished strong to claim their fourth win over a ranked opponent of this tournament run. (Ionia Sentinel-Standard)
USA, all the way: Unionville-Sebewaing also pulled off a sizable upset, in Class C, claiming its second Regional title ever by defeating No. 2 St. Louis. The Patriots, an honorable mention in the poll, dropped the first game before coming back to win the next three. (Bay City Times)
First-time title: Powered by 6-foot-5 middle Abby Cole, Grand Haven claimed its first Regional title by sweeping Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central in Class A. Cole also was a star on the Buccaneers’ Class A Final basketball championship team last winter. (Grand Haven Tribune)
Swimming and diving
Milan tops in SMISL: Most swimming and diving leagues finished up conference competition two weekends ago. But Milan – an honorable mention in Division 2 – claimed one of the final meet titles, in the Southeasterm Michigan Independent Swimming League. Milan took only two first places, but edged Division 2 honorable mention Temperance Bedford, with Division 3 No. 7 Adrian finishing third and Division 3 No. 8 Tecumseh coming in fourth. (Monroe Evening News)
Soccer
Mr. Soccer is Mr. Lewis: Rockford’s Dewey Lewis was named this season’s Mr. Soccer by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association. Lewis was a four-year varsity player for the Rams, and will play next season at Michigan State. (Grand Rapids Press)
Bark River-Harris Takes Championship Steps with Team, Individual Sweep
By
Jason Juno
Special for MHSAA.com
May 29, 2024
CRYSTAL FALLS --- Bark River-Harris went home from last year’s Upper Peninsula Division 2 Girls Golf Final with some hardware. Just not the kind the Broncos wanted.
After finishing third the year before, they earned the runner-up trophy at the 2023 championship tournament, and Ava McDonough also took home a runner-up finish.
This year at Young’s Golf Course, the Broncos won the team title and McDonough took the medalist honor.
“It’s pretty great. We’ve been working for it for three years now, and it feels really good to finally accomplish it,” she said. “Last year we got second. I got second individually.
“I mean second’s good, but first is better.”
It was really good for the Broncos’ entire team, which won their first U.P. title since claiming back-to-back Division 3 championships in 2014 and 2015. They finished a dozen strokes fewer than runner-up West Iron County (451). Norway was third, Stephenson fourth and Munising fifth.
“It’s amazing,” Broncos coach Matt Sly said. “I’ve been with these girls now, this is our third year. We took third three years ago, second last year. They worked really hard this year, and they were able to do it.”
McDonough carded a 101 to earn the medalist honor.
“My drives were pretty good, and my chipping I did good,” she said. “My putting was not very good. That was the only thing that really killed me. Otherwise, it was all pretty good.”
Sly said she's been playing well this entire season.
“She’s just an all-around good player,” he said. “She’s good off the tee, she has good short game and she was able to put it all together today.”
McDonough finished just one stroke ahead of teammate Ella Boney, who was runner-up with a 102.
“She played exceptionally well today,” Sly said of Boney. “She was several strokes better than her average.”
Munising’s Jailen Hancock and West Iron County’s Addison Franzene both carded 105 to tie for third. The Wykons’ Kya Dallavalle finished fifth with a 108.
McDonough said improvement over the last year has been about hard work, practice, helping each other out and not getting down when things went badly.
“Four of the five are seniors,” Sly said of McDonough, Boney, Zailey Cortez – who placed 13th – and Melody Racicot. Sophomore Dakota Bridges took 16th. “They’ve been waiting for this for a while.”
PHOTOS (Top) Bark River-Harris Ava McDonough tees off on No. 17 at Wednesday's Division 2 Final at Young's Golf Course. (Middle) West Iron County's Kya Dallavalle putts on No. 17. (Photos by Jason Juno.)