Did You See That? (April 22-28)
April 30, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The clouds finally began to break last week. And as expected, teams in every spring sport quickly got started catching up on what they'd had to put off most of this month.
Read on for some of the top headlines from all over the state, plus our favorite story – which highlights a pair of officials who will be recognized this weekend for their dedication to high school athletics.
Good Read of the Week
Father/Daughter rule the diamond: Ralph Burr will be among those celebrated by the MHSAA this weekend for 50 years of service as an official. But the past 20 have been his favorite – his daughter and umpiring partner Jackie will be recognized this weekend for her two decades of service. (Muskegon Chronicle).
Softball
McClure strikes again: Manchester pitcher Katie McClure moved into ninth in MHSAA history with 511 career strikeouts after totaling 27 more at Saturday’s Concord Invitational. Her team won the event by beating the host 3-1 in the final. (Jackson Citizen-Patriot)
One vs. One: In what has become arguably the best softball rivalry in the state, Stevensville Lakeshore swept Mattawan 4-2 and 9-4 on Thursday in a matchup of top-ranked teams. Lakeshore is ranked No. 2 in Division 2, while Mattawan holds the top spot in Division 1. (St. Joseph Herald-Palladium)
Another Clinton ace: That’s Cami Prater, who has taken over for graduated standout Tierney Nelson and no-hit the No. 5-ranked host at Saturday’s Springport Invitational. Prater hit a home run as Clinton won last season’s Division 3 championship game. (Adrian Daily Telegram)
Snowbirds down No. 1: Gaylord St. Mary scored in the bottom of the seventh inning to upset Division 4 No. 1 Onaway 2-1 a week ago before settling for a hard-earned split. (Gaylord Herald-Times)
Girls Lacrosse
“Play Day” perfection: Rockford hosted its fourth “Play Day” on Saturday, and the Division 1 top-ranked Rams finished it with wins over No. 2 Hartland and No. 3 Brighton. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, No. 2 in Division 2, also beat Hartland, along with Troy Athens and Division 2 No. 3 Ann Arbor Pioneer. (Grand Rapids Press)
Boys Golf
Upper hand, DCC: Detroit Catholic Central won what is one of the most competitive regular-season events every spring, claiming the Division 1 portion of the Traverse City Central Invitational by edging reigning champion Muskegon Mona Shores. Mona Shores finished third and DCC sixth at last season’s MHSAA Division 1 Final. (Traverse City Record-Eagle)
Baseball
Long time coming: Gladstone earned its first wins 4-3 and 5-0 over Negaunee on Friday, and those also happen to be the program’s first victories in more than a half century. The Escanaba Daily Press reports this as Gladstone’s first baseball team in 54 years. (Escanaba Daily Press)
East Lansing rises at Dow: East Lansing needed just about every one of its 16 runs over the final two games of Saturday’s Midland Dow Invitational, but came away with the championship after beating Division 3 No. 4 Saginaw Nouvel 8-7 in the final. East Lansing advanced with an 8-6 win over Dow. (Saginaw News)
Weisenberger throws no-no again: Sanford Meridian had three wins after Thursday, and two were no-hitters by pitcher Jonah Weisenberger. He threw his second in that night’s opener against Beaverton. (Midland Daily News)
Portage Northern rallies: The Huskies look like they could be an emerging force again from the Kalamazoo area, and moved to 5-2 by winning their home invitational Saturday. Portage Northern defeated Division 4 No. 2 Gobles in the championship game. (Kalamazoo Gazette)
Track and Field
Hornets buzz: Williamston’s boys, who tied for ninth at last season MHSAA Division 2 Final, won the Spartan Classic at Michigan State University, finishing eight points ahead of Division 1 power Rockford. Reigning Division 1 girls champion Grosse Pointe South won its side of the meet by a much more significant 51 points. (Playmakers.com (full results), Lansing State Journal)
All-Battle Creek is all Lakeview: Battle Creek Lakeview continues to dominate its city’s track and field scene, and again won its all-city meets Friday. The girls won despite not running standout Sarita Dotson, who was out with an injury. (Battle Creek Enquirer).
Football
Stoney Creek celebrates Fisher: A Rochester Hills Stoney Creek football coach remembered Thursday how Eric Fisher was 6-foot-1 and 150 pounds as a high school freshman. That night, Fisher was selected first in the NFL draft out of Central Michigan University by the Kansas City Chiefs. (Detroit News)
Traverse City West Begins New Reign, Marquette Completes Individual Title Sweep
By
Brian Freiberger
Special for MHSAA.com
February 24, 2026
BOYNE FALLS – Despite the Marquette boys ski team taking top individual honors in giant slalom and slalom, Traverse City West filled the ranks Monday at Boyne Mountain to capture its first team Finals championship since 2023.
“All of us really came together today. We weren’t skiing as individuals. We knew what we had to do and ski to our abilities,” Traverse City West junior Dane Lewandowski said.
The Titans took back the team title from Marquette, which finished second. Traverse City Central placed third.
Marquette senior Cooper Henry took first in slalom with a two-run combined time of 61.10, leading the field by a second.
“I didn't shine super bright in GS, and I felt like I let the team down. I had a mental reset at lunch to get ready for slalom. It was always my best discipline,” Henry said. “I started to feel the pressure in the second run. I've never really been in that position before, leading first in such a big race.
“This has definitely been a goal and a dream of mine for a while. I was super happy when that happened. I love skiing with these guys. It's been a huge part of my life, and capping off my senior season with the state championship is one of the happiest moments of my life. I'm so grateful for my team, my coaches, and everything. It's been such an awesome opportunity and a great way to end it.”
Behind Henry in slalom was a stable of Traverse City West skiers finishing second, third, and fourth (Cam Lewandowski, Dane Lewandowski, and Brock Lewandowski) to help secure the team championship. Grady Ellis also had a key seventh-place finish for the Titans.
Marquette sophomore Lake Skytta took first in GS with a combined score of 75.02, narrowly edging Dane Lewandowski. Gannon Cervin of Rochester Hills Stoney Creek finished third with a time of 76.47, followed by Cameron Lewandowski and Jack Plummer of Traverse City West in third and fourth place, respectively.
“Coming into this morning, I was pretty nervous, just trying to relax. After my first run, I was pretty excited. I knew I had a good result and focused on the team aspect,” Skytta said. “This is one of our last years with this group of guys that I've been growing up with. I’m making sure to cherish these moments. … (The championship) really means a lot to me. All of the work I've put in since I was little, spending every single day at the hill for hours.”
The Titans and Marquette were followed by Traverse City Central in third, then Clarkston, Brighton, Detroit Catholic Central, Walled Lake United, Northville, and Birmingham to round out the competition.
(Click for more photos by Adam Sheehan Photography.)