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)
D4 Preview: Familiar Contenders Aiming to Become Next Champions
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 3, 2022
Opportunities abound for new Individual Finals Division 4 champions to make headlines this weekend at Ford Field.
In part because Clinton is wrestling in Division 3 this season, only three 2021 champions will be returning in Division 4 – although two more contenders have that experience as well after climbing the podium in 2020.
The Grand March on Friday begins at 10 a.m., with wrestling through semifinals that evening. Wrestling begins again at 9 a.m. Saturday with championship matches at 3:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at Ford Field. All matches will be broadcast live on MHSAA.tv, and we’ll talk to all 14 champions in each division for our Second Half coverage published later that evening and overnight. See the MHSAA Wrestling Finals page for more information and to follow results this weekend.
112 Jacob Bunn, Manchester senior (42-2) – The three-time Finals placer is seeded first at this weight after finishing eighth last season to go with a sixth at 103 as a sophomore and eighth at 103 as a freshman.
119 Shawn McGuire, Iron Mountain junior (35-2) – He’s the top seed at this weight after finishing third last season and runner-up at 112 as a freshman. He’s 109-6 combined over those three seasons.
140 Manus Bennett, Marlette junior (39-0) – He’s looking to climb back to the top of the podium after winning at 103 as a freshman and finishing third at 125 last season.
140 Bronson Marry, Hudson senior (24-2) – He’s aiming for his fourth championship match appearance and second title after finishing second at 130 last year, winning 112 as a sophomore and finishing runner-up at 103 as a freshman.
145 Dillon Raab, Bark River-Harris junior (31-2) – The top seed at this weight is looking to take the next championship step after finishing runner-up at 135 a year ago.
160 Shenard Foster, Detroit Loyola senior (13-0) – He hasn’t lost since just missing out on last season’s championship at this weight, when he took his title match into overtime. He also finished seventh at 140 as a sophomore.
160 Gavin Wilmoth, Traverse City St. Francis senior (36-2) – He’s the top seed at 160 after winning 152 a year ago and is a combined 70-3 over the last two seasons.
171 Cole Hopkins, Evart junior (50-0) – He’s back as the top seed at this weight after finishing runner-up last year and suffering his only loss of the season in the title match. He was seventh at 160 as a freshman.
215 Caden Ferris, Delton Kellogg senior (45-0) – The reigning champion and top seed at 215 is a combined 78-2 over the last two seasons and also earned an eighth place at that weight as a freshman.
285 Isiah Pasik, New Lothrop senior (43-0) – The top seed at this weight is the reigning champion and undefeated since his sophomore year, when he finished third. He’s a combined 111-3 over the last three seasons.
Additional No. 1 seeds: 103 Logan Gilbert, Martin freshman (37-6); 125 Austin Marry, Hudson sophomore (24-11); 130 Jackson Miller, Hudson senior (26-10); 135 River Roberson, Hesperia senior (41-2); 152 Parker Stroud, Iron Mountain senior (37-6); 189 Cameron Kimble, Hudson senior (40-1).
PHOTO Isiah Pasik's arm is raised in victory after taking a forfeit win during New Lothrop's Division 4 Quarterfinal victory Friday. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)