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April 2, 2012
Check out our must-know scores and news from March 26-31.
(Click on links for coverage.)
Girls lacrosse
Marian takes early advantage: In a match-up of 2011 Division 1 contenders, Bloomfield Hills Marian edged Ann Arbor Pioneer 10-9 in the second game of the season for both teams. Marian advanced to the Semifinals last season before falling to eventual champion Brighton by one, while Pioneer then fell to Brighton in the Final by two in overtime.
East Grand Rapids wins battle of D2 powers: In another game between regular MHSAA title favorites, East Grand Rapids got a big win downing Okemos 16-7. The Chieftains won the 2009 and 2010 Division 2 championships before falling in a Regional Final in 2011. East Grand Rapids ended last season with a one-goal loss to eventual champion Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
Girls soccer
Troy remains tops in town: Last season’s Division 1 runner-up got a solid March win, 2-0 over rival and returning District champion Troy Athens. The match-up had a little bit different feel this season, with Athens coach Todd Heugh running the show in his first season after taking over for longtime great Tim Storch. (The Oakland Press)
Baseball
State coaches release preseason polls: The Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association released its preseason polls, and three of four reigning MHSAA champions have top rankings in their respective divisions – Rockford in Division 1, Madison Heights Bishop Foley in Division 3 and Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett in Division 4. Reigning Division 2 champion St. Clair comes in No. 2 behind Grand Rapids Christian. (Click for full rankings.)
Softball
Best of 2011 expected to be best of 2012: The Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association also released its preseason rankings, and all four reigning MHSAA champions are starting out in the top spots – Mattawan in Division 1, Stevensville Lakeshore in Division 2, Clinton in Division 3 and Petersburg Summerfield in Division 4. (Click for full rankings.)
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Newberry Girls Follow Taylor Sisters in Going Distance Again to Clinch Repeat
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
May 31, 2026
KINGSFORD — The distances have been the primary strength for the Newberry girls throughout this track & field season.
That proved true again Saturday as they retained their Upper Peninsula Division 3 Finals title with 73 points. They were followed by Lake Linden-Hubbell with 58 and Big Bay de Noc with 50.
Newberry wasted no time setting the tone on this sunny and warm day with a UPD3 Finals record-setting performance in the 3,200-meter relay at 10 minutes, 15.39 seconds, topping Cedarville’s effort (10:20.07) from 20 years ago.
“Our handoffs were pretty good,” Newberry freshman Molly McNamara said. “I thought it went pretty well. We’re pretty happy about getting the U.P. record. I also got a PR by 20 seconds in the 1,600, which I’m pretty happy about. The warmer weather I think helped.”
Senior Samantha Taylor, also part of that relay, provided her team with victories in the 1,600 (5:12.89) and 3,200 (11:32.57)
Junior Abby Taylor added a season-best while placing second in the 1,600 (5:23.87), with McNamara taking third (5:32.7). Abby also ran a season-best 12:31.69 in the 3,200 and covered the 800 in 2:24.61 while taking second in both, with McNamara third in the 800 in a personal-best 2:28.4.
Samantha Taylor, who plans to continue her running career at Central Michigan University, was pleased with how this day went.
“I think it went really good,” she said. “This was a nice finish to my high school career. I wanted to do my best and finish on this note. We’re happy with how everything went. Abby and Molly had a good day, too.”
LL-H senior Maddy Dudenas won shot put with a season-best toss of 32-11¼, and sophomore Addeline Schmitt anchored the winning 400 relay which was clocked at a school-record 52.6 seconds.
“Our handoffs went real well,” Schmitt said. “It feels amazing to be part of this. Running the anchor leg is a little intense, but it’s fun overall. This has been a good year for us.”
Dollar Bay senior Kiera Isaacson cleared a school-record 5-6 in high jump, two inches higher than Big Bay de Noc sophomore Destiny Bleau’s season-best jump which tied her own school record.
Bleau set UPD3 meet records in the 200 (26.01) and 400 (58.05) and won the 100 (12.91).
Her effort in the 200 surpassed the previous best by Chassell’s Jamie Dompier (26.36) in 2012, and her 400 time topped the record set by LL-H’s Emily Jokela (58.91) two years ago.
“I had a great start again,” Bleau said. “I felt really good, then I suddenly realized I was all by myself. I knew I had to keep going (in the 400). I was hoping to get (personal records). I just had to stay focused and do it.”
Chassell sophomore Jordan Holombo established a meet record in the 100 hurdles at 15.94, which is 0.3 of a second faster than the previous 20-year-old record by LL-H’s Holly Seppala, and added a first in the 300s (46.55).
Dollar Bay junior Laila Bell took long jump at 16-1, and Stephenson senior Faith Cappaert won her final individual race as a high school runner, the 800 in a personal-best 2:24.23.
St. Ignace senior Avery Visnaw took pole vault (9-0), edging Baraga junior Elisa Delene on a tie-breaker, and Brimley senior Tallulah Slabosheski captured disc (114-11).
PHOTOS (Top) Newberry's Samantha Taylor set a UPD3 Finals record in the 3,200 with a time of 11:32.57 on Saturday. (Middle) Big Bay De Noc's Destiny Bleau breaks the UPD3 Finals record in the 200 with a time of 26.01. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)