Did you see that?
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].
Preview: Girls Lacrosse Finals to Match Reigning Champs Vs. Record Holders
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 4, 2026
Rockford and East Grand Rapids will add to their shared record of 10 MHSAA Girls Lacrosse Finals appearances Friday at Howell Parker, and could also add to their Division-leading championship counts as well.
But a pair of teams moving up the historical charts are eager to continue making their own names among the all-time elite.
Reigning Division 1 champion South Lyon United hasn’t lost in two years and will try to extend that streak against the Rams. Reigning Division 2 champion Detroit Country Day will play in its fifth-straight Final to move into a tie for most championship game appearances in MHSAA girls lacrosse history.
Below is a glance at all four teams playing for titles. Rankings as part of “best wins” are based on the Michigan Power Rating formula. Tickets cost $11 and are good for both games, and may be purchased online only at GoFan.
Both games will be broadcast and available with subscription from MHSAA.tv.
Division 1
ROCKFORD
Record/MPR: 11-8, No. 10
League finish: Third in Ottawa-Kent Conference Tier 1
Coach: Mark Neumen, fifth season (65-35-1)
Championship history: Nine Division 1 titles (most recent 2021), runner-up in 2024.
Best wins: 9-4 over No. 7 Hartland in Semifinal, 16-6 over No. 9 Hudsonville in Regional Final, 18-11 over Division 2 No. 8 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 9-7 over Division 2 No. 2 East Grand Rapids, 7-6 over Division 2 No. 6 Spring Lake.
Players to watch: Ella Larva, sr. M (33 goals, 9 assists); Kiah Kruisenga, jr. M (26 goals, 8 assists); Brooke Gordon, sr. M (39 goals, 22 assists); Ava Wekenman, soph. A (41 goals, 29 assists).
Outlook: After a year away from the Finals, Rockford is back in a familiar spot and riding a five-game winning streak that began by avenging a mid-April loss to Spring Lake. The Rams also avenged their March defeat to East Grand Rapids a month later. Larva made the all-state first team last season, Kruisenga the third team and junior defender Lyla Vogt earned an honorable mention. Seven players total had scored at least 15 goals entering this week, including as well sophomores Avery Maag (25) and Jordyn Coretti (15, 18 assists) and senior Ella Wagenmaker (18/12).
SOUTH LYON UNITED
Record/MPR: 27-0, No. 2
League finish: First in Lakes Valley Conference
Coach: Deanna Radcliffe, 10th season (168-26)
Championship history: Division 1 champion 2025, runner-up 2008.
Best wins: 9-8 and 14-11 (Regional Final) over No. 1 Brighton, 23-8 over No. 8 Bloomfield Hills in Semifinal, 17-10 over No. 3 Lake Orion, 15-2 and 14-5 over No. 6 White Lake Lakeland, 17-3 over No. 5 Grosse Pointe South, 19-5 over No. 4 Birmingham United, 20-5 over Division 2 No. 5 Haslett/Williamston.
Players to watch: Shaelyn Perry, sr. M (78 goals, 23 assists); Cate Cumberland, jr. M/D (33 goals, 20 assists); Gabriela Lucchesi, sr. A (36 goals, 41 assists); Reagan Shields, jr. A (87 goals, 61 assists).
Outlook: South Lyon United has won 48 straight games as it seeks to finish a second-straight perfect season. United also has defeated the other seven top-eight teams in Division 1 by MPR at the end of the regular season, and done so giving up double-digit goals only twice and with an offense that has reached 20 goals eight times. Shields, Perry and Cumberland are returning all-state first teamers, and Lucchesi earned an honorable mention last year. Seniors Alyssa Jakubiec (52 goals/15 assists) and Gianna Lucchesi (51/26) and junior Madison Lukas (49/9) also are among leading offensive contributors.
Division 2
DETROIT COUNTRY DAY
Record/MPR: 14-5, No. 4
League finish: Does not compete in a conference.
Coach: Liz Nussbaum, third season (48-12-1)
Championship history: Division 2 champion 2023 and 2025, runner-up 2005, 2022 and 2024.
Best wins: 23-3 over No. 3 Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard in Semifinal, 13-9 over No. 7 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in Regional Final, 16-2 over No. 11 Rochester Hills Stoney Creek in Regional Semifinal, 11-10 over No. 9 Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 9-3 and 18-8 over Division 1 No. 7 Hartland.
Players to watch: Campbell Lindner, sr. G (126 saves, .490 save %); Charlotte Cook, soph. M (74 goals, 22 assists); Adriana Zuk, sr. M (46 goals, 17 assists); Jackie Calso, jr. M (47 goals, 14 assists).
Outlook: This will be Country Day’s fifth-straight Finals appearance, and the Yellowjackets return with a pair of 2025 all-state second-teamers in Lindner and Cook and honorable mentions in Zuk and Calso. The only in-state losses this season were twice to East Grand Rapids and once to Brighton, and Country Day won its first four postseason games by a combined 70-14. They also have notable victories over Carmel (Ind.) and Chicago St. Ignatius College Prep. Junior Bridget Kenney had added another 21 goals entering the week, and sophomore Maggie Stoller had 15.
EAST GRAND RAPIDS
Record/MPR: 19-2, No. 2
League finish: First in O-K Tier 1
Coach: Kira Schoonveld, first year (19-2)
Championship history: Eight Division 2 titles (most recent 2022), runner-up in 2017 and 2023.
Best wins: 20-6 over No. 5 Haslett/Williamston in Semifinal, 11-2 (Regional Final), 12-7 and 13-8 over No. 6 Spring Lake; 17-5 (Regional Semifinal) and 12-5 over No. 9 Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 9-7 (Regional Quarterfinal), 7-4 and 11-4 over No. 8 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central; 11-9 and 12-5 over No. 4 Detroit Country Day, 12-5 over Division 1 No. 4 Birmingham United, 11-10 (OT) over Division 1 No. 7 Hartland, 12-10 (OT) over Division 1 No. 10 Rockford.
Players to watch: Avery Albers, jr. G (7.2 goals-against average, 112 saves); Jane Weaver, jr. A (49 goals, 18 assists); Livia Burgess, jr. M (32 goals, 23 assists); Rylee Renker, sr. A (37 goals, 3 assists).
Outlook: Aside from a couple of late losses to Grand Rapids Catholic Central and Rockford by a combined five goals, EGR has been pretty much unstoppable on the way to its first championship game appearance in three years. The Pioneers did end up avenging that CC loss in the Regional Semifinal to finish that season series with a 2-1 edge, and they haven’t given up more than 10 goals in a game – and allowed 10 only twice, both in overtime wins. Albers made the all-state first team last season, Weaver made the second and Burgess and senior Ellen Cross earned honorable mentions. Junior Nora Williams (25 goals/8 assists) and sophomores Ciarra Burns (21/8) and Sarah Cross (15/17) also are among leading scorers this spring.
PHOTO Detroit Country Day’s Charlotte Cook (18) attempts to get past a Grand Rapids Catholic Central defender during last season’s Division 2 Final.