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)
Seniors Lead Again as Marquette Boys Claim 4th-Straight UP Finals Title
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
February 19, 2023
MARQUETTE — The Marquette boys captured their fourth consecutive Upper Peninsula swimming & diving title in convincing fashion here Saturday with 376 points.
They were followed by Houghton with 216, and Kingsford edged Sault Ste. Marie 133-132 for third place.
Marquette senior Andrew King collected three firsts, taking the 100-yard backstroke in a personal-best 57.73 seconds and swimming a personal-best one minute, 57.9 seconds while taking runner-up honors in the 200 freestyle. He also helped the winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
“This was really a great day,” said King, who swam all four years of high school. “This is the first time I got under a minute in the 100 backstroke and under two minutes in 200 freestyle. I’ve been shooting for those all season. It feels great to swim those times and finish strong and who knows, there’s always a chance I might swim in college. I’m very happy for both of our teams.”
Classmate Liam McFarren added a first in the 200 individual medley (2:08.18) and helped the 200 medley and freestyle relays.
Senior Maverick Baldwin won the 50 freestyle (22.67) and took second in the 100 butterfly (58.22), and helped the medley and 400 freestyle relays. Sophomore teammate Evan Balko earned top honors in diving Friday with 215.35 points.
“I’ve been working with our seniors since they’ve been 9-10 years old,” said Marquette coach Nate McFarren. “It’s a pleasure to see them become fine young men right before my eyes. You see them do all the training for all the big events, and all of a sudden it’s over. It’s kind of bittersweet. It’s kind of a letdown after the season ends.”
Houghton senior Johannes Myhre, an exchange student from Norway, earned top honors in the 100 butterfly (56.21) and 100 freestyle (50.07) and helped the Gremlins place second in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
“I’ve always lived on the water and since I’ve been a little kid I loved being on the water,” he said. “I started competitive swimming four years ago. I think I had a pretty good backstroke today, and having Liam McFarren on my side really helps. He’s definitely a good swimmer. We’ve gone back and forth all year. I think it was decided after 75 yards. I used all my reserves.”
Kingsford sophomore Joey Lundmark claimed the 200 freestyle (1:56.85) and 500 (5:27.07), and senior teammate Zane Cahee added a first in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.47). They also helped the Flivvers place third in the 200 medley relay, and Cahee was fourth in the 200 IM (2:26.91).
Manistique senior Grant Mason set a school record while placing third in the 100 backstroke (1:02.43).
“I definitely ate a little better today and yesterday and managed my diet, which gave me a little more energy,” he said. “I also stayed in a hotel in Marquette and was able to sleep in a little. I beat my previous best time by about two seconds, and our medley relay placed second. We swam real strong and beat our best time by about seven seconds.”
(PHOTOS by Randy Ritari – Click to see more.)