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)
Taylor Sisters, Nwose Key Newberry's Title Run, Jokela Caps Famed Career
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 1, 2025
KINGSFORD — The Taylor sisters have been a mainstay for the Newberry girls track & field team throughout this season.
They provided more than half of their team’s scoring here Saturday, helping Newberry gain its first Upper Peninsula Division 3 Finals championship in a decade with 84 points.
Runner-up Lake Linden-Hubbell scored 76 points, and third-place Stephenson had 52.
“This is also the first time our boys and girls won together, which is very exciting,” said Newberry coach Cori Canfield. “We’re going to lose some good seniors, but we’ll have some good freshmen coming in. I’m optimistic about the next 2-3 years. You prepare the kids for this all year, then it’s up to them to execute the plan.”
Junior Samantha Taylor set a U.P. Finals record in the 1,600-meter run in 5:08.47, shaving nearly 6½ seconds off last year’s record time (5:14.9).
Earlier, she established a school record in the 3,200 (11:42), and sophomore Abby Taylor took the 800 (2:26.71).
“I really wanted to try my hardest in the mile, which is my strongest event, and work hard in the other races, and it paid off,” Samantha Taylor said. “This makes me feel more confident in my training and gives me a little momentum going into the cross country season. Being supported by my teammates and coaches is definitely a highlight. Going into my senior year gives me more motivation because it’s my last year.”
She anchored Newberry to a runner-up finish in the 1,600 relay (4:29.54) and Abby Taylor was runner-up in the open 1,600 (5:30.82) and 3,200 (12:35.24). In the 3,200 relay, Abby anchored the third-place finisher (10:38.89).
Senior teammate Adanne Nwose won the 100 (12.91), and Lake Linden-Hubbell senior Emily Jokela edged Big Bay de Noc freshman Destiny Bleau on a lean for second place (12.95).
“I worked on my starts this week,” Nwose said. “I was really nervous coming in here. I wasn’t supposed to win the 100, which made for added pressure. It was very nerve-wracking. I didn’t think I had won. There were two people to my right. It was crazy close. I’ve been getting under 13 seconds in the past few meets. I would have been very disappointed if I hadn’t gone under 13 today.”
Bleau won the 200 in a meet and school-record 26.02, followed by Rapid River senior Emma Sundling (26.86) and Nwose (26.93).
“I feel pretty good about it,” Bleau said. “It’s a good way to end the season. There were a lot of schools here I hadn’t seen before. I’d say I had good starts. I think this is something I can learn from.”
Her meet record in the 200, topped the previous best (26.36) by Jamie Dompier of Chassell from 2013.
Jokela, a Grand Valley State recruit, became a triple-winner by taking the 100 hurdles (15.98), 300s (46.46) and 400 (59.84).
“I think the competition draws the best out of me,” she said. “They (Newberry) are a bigger school. We’re happy with where we finished. My starts were pretty good. I think this will give me more motivation to work hard for next year.”
Dollar Bay junior Kiera Isaacson won high jump with a school-record leap of 5-4, and sophomore teammate Laila Bell claimed long jump (15-7) and placed third in pole vault (8-0).
Stephenson junior Faith Cappaert took second in the 800 (2:28.6) and third in the 400 (1:02.35) and 1,600 (5:48.01), and anchored the winning 3,200 relay (10:24.35).
Brimley junior Tallulah Slabosheski captured shot put (33-6½) and discus (109-9).
PHOTOS (Top) Newberry's Adanne Nwose (center) wins the 100 dash by four hundredths of a second over Lake Linden Hubbell's Emily Jokela (far left). (Middle) Lake Linden-Hubbell's Ella Schneiderhan hands off the baton to Payton Goldsworthy and St. Ignace's Jillian Fraser hands off to Gwen Kellan in the 800 relay Saturday. St. Ignace went on to win the race with Chloe Bigger and Tayah Shepard also running legs. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)