Did you see that? (9/17-9/23)
September 25, 2012
The crowning of a new MHSAA soccer scoring champion and some statewide showdowns in golf and volleyball headline the best of the week that was Sept. 17-23.
Soccer
Chatfield fills it up: Senior Aaron Chatfield, a forward for Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian, scored both of his team's goals in a 7-2 loss Friday to Elk Lake, but in doing so set the MHSAA career scoring record. He now has 174 goals, two more than former record holder Soony Saad of Dearborn. (Petoskey News)
Golf
Cougars edge Bulldogs: Two-time reigning MHSAA Division 4 champion Lansing Catholic edged Brighton 327-336 at the East Lansing Invitational on Sept. 17 at Walnut Hills Country Club. There were nine ranked teams in the 17-team field. Brighton is ranked No. 2 in Division 1. Lansing Catholic's Jacqueline Setas shot a 70 to take the individual medalist honor, and two of her teammates tied for second.
Volleyball
Blue streak: Richland Gull Lake downed Portage Central in three sets to win the Portage Central Invitational's gold division and a tournament the featured four teams ranked in Class A plus reigning champion Rockford and reigning Class B champion Fruitport (in A this season). Gull Lake moved up to No. 2 in Class A from No. 4 after the weekend, and Portage Central is No. 6. (Kalamazoo Gazette)
Tennis
Ludington on the move: The Orioles have moved up from No. 8 to No. 6 in the Division 4 rankings after downing formerly-No. 2 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett and No. 10 Almont at Saturday's Almont Invitational. (Mlive.com)
Cross Country
Flivver flies on: Kingsford's Dan Kulas claimed the individual championship at the Stephenson Invitational on Saturday in 16:58. He's won four straight races. (Iron Mountain Daily News)
Basketball
Pershing coach steps down: Detroit Pershing boys basketball coach A.W. Canada has resigned, but will remain with the program as an assistant. The Doughboys are regularly in contention in Class A, last winning the MHSAA title in 2009 after also making the Final in 2008. (Detroit News)
Story of the Week
Spring Lake setter lifts Lakers: It's been a little more than a year since Emily Blahnik's mother Brenda suffered a horrific fall that left her with a skull fracture, brain trauma and spinal cord injuries. But with her teammates and community in continuous support, Blahnik has remained a big part of Spring Lake's volleyball program. The Grand Haven Tribune has been covering this story throughout, and Nate Thompson provides us with this update. (Grand Haven Tribune)
Flashback 100: Edison's Jackson Earns Place Among State's All-Time Elite
January 3, 2025
Michigan has produced many exceptional girls high school basketball players. But few have approached the legacy of Rickea Jackson, a 2019 graduate of Detroit Edison Public School Academy.
Jackson led the Pioneers to three consecutive MHSAA Finals titles, and more recently was selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.
During her time at Edison, Jackson was a dominant force. In the 2017 Class C Final, she scored a team-high 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Pioneers over Pewamo-Westphalia. The following year, she totaled 16 points and 10 rebounds in a title-clinching win over Ypsilanti Arbor Prep. In 2019, she scored 28 points in a Division 2 Final win over Freeland. Over those three seasons, Edison posted an impressive 75-7 record.
Jackson’s high school success earned her the prestigious title of Michigan's Miss Basketball in 2019, and she was also selected to participate in the McDonald's All-American Game. She continued to excel at the collegiate level, playing three years at Mississippi State, where she averaged double figures in scoring each season. Jackson then transferred to Tennessee, where she scored nearly 20 points per game. She earned three all-Southeastern Conference selections.
In the 2024 WNBA Draft, Jackson was chosen fourth overall by the Los Angeles Sparks. She made an immediate impact during her rookie season, scoring 25 points in just her 11th game and earning a spot on the 2024 WNBA All-Rookie Team.
Recently, Jackson was selected to compete in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a new 3-on-3 women's basketball league. Her skills on the global stage are also notable, as she won a gold medal at the 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup.
Previous "Flashback 100" Features
Dec. 20: Future Olympian Piper Leads Grosse Pointe North to Historic Heights - Read
Dec. 13: The Other Mr. Forsythe in Michigan School Sports - Read
Dec. 6: Coleman's Legendary Heroics Carry Harrison Through Repeat - Read
Nov. 29: Harbaugh Brothers' Football Roots Planted in Part at Pioneer - Read
Nov. 22: 8-Player Football Finals Right at Home at Superior Dome - Read
Nov. 15: Leland Career Helps Set Stage for Glass' International Stardom - Read
Nov. 8: Future Baseball Pro Led Escanaba's Legendary Football Title Run - Read
Nov. 1: Michigan High School Baseball Trio Provide World Series Voices - Read
Oct. 25: Before Leading Free World, Ford Starred for Champion GR South - Read
Oct. 18: Mercy Links Legend Becomes World Golf Hall of Famer - Read
Oct. 11: Fisher Races to Finals Stardom on Way to U.S. Olympic First - Read
Oct. 4: Lalas Leaves High School Legacies on Ice & Pitch - Read
Sept. 27: Tamer's History-Making Run Starts in Dexter, Continues to Paris - Read
Sept. 20: Todd Martin’s Road to Greatness Starts at East Lansing - Read
Sept. 13: James Earl Jones, Dickson High Hoops to Hollywood Legend - Read
Sept. 6: Pioneers' Unstoppable Streak Stretches 9 Seasons - Read
Aug. 30: Detroit dePorres Rushes to 1995 Class CC Football Championship - Read
PHOTOS At top, Jackson is part of a 2019 team championship photo with Detroit Edison. Below, from left, Jackson looks for an opening against Pewamo-Westphalia in 2017, defends during the 2018 Final and runs upcourt during her team's 2019 championship win.