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May 29, 2012
The last full week of May usually represents the calm before the storm, at least relatively speaking, that is the MHSAA Spring Finals.
Although the weekend is generally one of the calmest of the season, the week was again filled with local championships, plus the start of lacrosse Regional play.
Here’s our look at some of the highlights from May 21-26:
Track and Field
All Tech in the PSL: Detroit Cass Tech’s girls and boys teams swept the Detroit Public School League championships Thursday, finishing ahead of Renaissance atop the standings in both meets. The girls are the reigning MHSAA Division 1 runner-up and led by senior Kyra Jefferson, who will run at the University of Florida next season. The boys team has hints of the team that won the MHSAA Division 1 football championship in the fall – this team also is coached by Thomas Wilcher, and quarterback Jayru Campbell was among those who shined. (Detroit News)
Still Hornets, with a side of Cougars: In a matchup of two of the best in Michigan from Divisions 2 and 3, the Williamston boys and girls again won Capital Area Activities Conference White championship meet titles -- with Lansing Catholic's boys then splitting the overall league title with Williamston. The Hornets boys are ranked No. 3 in Division 2 and the Cougars are No. 1 in Division 3. Williamston and Lansing Catholic's girls are both ranked No. 5 in their respective divisions. (Lansing State Journal)
Soccer
Okemos claims Gold: The Lansing area boasts top-four ranked teams in all four divisions, and two met for the CAAC Gold Cup championship Thursday – with Division 1 No. 2 Okemos downing Division 2 No. 4 DeWitt 3-1. The CAAC Cup pulls teams from each of its four divisions into a series of tournaments, based on league standings, with the top teams from each division playing for the Golf Cup. To advance to the championship game, DeWitt downed Division 3 No. 3 Williamston in a semifinal, while Okemos beat Division 2 honorable mention Mason. (Lansing State Journal)
Lacrosse
Final countdown: Girls and boys teams statewide began Regionals, with those finishing up this weekend. Of the few early games, the most significant might’ve been in Division 2 girls, where No. 9 Farmington Hills Mercy defeated Ann Arbor Skyline 18-6. (Observor & Eccentric)
Golf
Best by the Bay: For the first time in 18 seasons, Essexville-Garber won the Bay County Invitational, which matches teams from the Bay City area including larger Bay City Central and Western. (Bay City Times)
Fennville
Wes remembered: When Fennville’s Class of 2012 walked Thursday, Wes Leonard was with them. This year’s commencement included a remembrance of the standout, who died on March 3, 2011, as a junior, of cardiac arrest moments after hitting the game-winning shot for his basketball team. Classmate and close friend Selena Beltran-Pena walked with an additional cap, for Leonard, with accompanied by Leonard’s younger brother Mitchell. (Holland Sentinel)
Editor's note: Did we miss something? Comment below and tell us about it. Is there an event coming up that we should make sure to note? Comment or e-mail [email protected].
Zeeland Girls Rally to Win Final 2 Games, Claim 2nd Division 1 Title
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2024
ALLEN PARK – Brianna Fortney burst into tears after she missed a spare in the deciding fifth game Friday during the MHSAA Division 1 Final at Thunderbowl Lanes.
But they weren’t tears of frustration. Zeeland had locked up the championship, and she was so overcome with joy she couldn’t hold back before her team finished a closing 158-137 win over South Lyon.
“A lot of people thought we couldn’t do it,’’ said Fortney, a senior. “My sister left, and we had another bowler leave. This is so special. I’m just so glad we were able to do this.’’
Zeeland – a cooperative program of West and East high schools, coached by Tony DiLaura – won the first game 185-176. South Lyon rebounded to win the second 149-147 and then the third 193-144. But Zeeland managed to pull out a 150-149 thriller to force a fifth game.
“We had a couple of bowlers out sick, and they weren’t even able to practice until Thursday,’’ said DiLaura. “We pulled out the fourth game, and I thought we had a chance. This means so much for our program.’’
The Team Bowling Finals went to a new format this season with five Baker games determining the champion.
The championship was Zeeland's second, joining the Division 1 title won in 2020.
Utica’s freshman core created the most excitement on the way to the championship match. Freshman Ava Mazza struck in the fourth game of her team’s Semifinal against Zeeland to force Game 5 with her team down 2½ to 1½. Utica proceeded to win the fifth game to force a five-frame roll-off – won by Zeeland 94-92.
South Lyon advanced to the championship match by eliminating Oxford in three games.
Utica, with three freshmen in the lineup, surged during the qualifying block to claim the top spot in match play at 3,197. South Lyon was second at 3,192 and Macomb Dakota third at 3,103, one pin better than Zeeland. Holt, Oxford, Grand Blanc and Grand Haven rounded out the match play field.
Oxford swept Dakota in the Quarterfinals to face South Lyon, which had downed Grand Blanc 3-1. Utica advanced with a 3-2 win over Grand Haven to face Zeeland, which edged Holt 3-2 in their Quarterfinal.