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High 5s: 11/28/12

November 28, 2012

The final MHSAA championships of the Fall 2012 season give us our final High 5s before heading into winter. This week, we recognize both an individual and a team that achieved new heights. 

Drake Harris
Grand Rapids Christian junior
Football

A 6-foot-4, 180-pound receiver who has committed to play both football and basketball at Michigan State beginning in 2014, Harris posted one of the finest receiving season in MHSAA history capped by playing a huge role in his team's first MHSAA championship. The Eagles beat Orchard Lake St. Mary's 40-37 in overtime Saturday for the Division 3 title. His eight catches for a Finals-record 243 yards and a touchdown put his unofficial season totals at 91 catches for 2,015 yards and 25 scores. Once confirmed, the season yardage will rank as the most in MHSAA history and 12th nationally for one season (his yards per game rank fourth and yards per catch sixth on the NFHS lists). Harris also ranked fourth for catches and second for touchdown catches on the MHSAA single-season lists.

Just ducky: "I'm probably more energized now after he hit that kick," Harris said after teammate Joel Schipper's winning field goal Saturday. "I was probably more tired a little bit during the game. But we condition all practice. We play fast. We play like Oregon, move the ball, (at) a high tempo. We're all in condition, so we really weren't that tired." 

Bring on the new guy: Harris has caught more than 3,000 yards worth of passes from senior Alex VanDeVusse over the last two seasons, but will play with a new quarterback in 2013. "I've been with Alex since sophomore year. I guess I have to start over and work hard all next season and hope to get back here."  

Be like Calvin: "Calvin Johnson, I want to be just like him when I get older. I know I'm a little skinny right now, but when I get to college, I know they'll put weight on me. I watch film on him all the time, watch him running routes. So I take my game after him. He's the best wide receiver in the NFL right now, probably one of the best wide receivers to play the game, in my opinion." 

Click to read more. 

Portland football

The Raiders, unranked despite entering the postseason 8-1, finished with their first MHSAA title won in their first trip to the Finals. Portland defeated Grand Rapids West Catholic 12-9 in the Division 5 championship game after knocking out 2011 champion Flint Powers Catholic in the Regional Final. For the playoffs, Portland outscored its five opponents 169-66 while holding three to nine or fewer points. In finishing 13-1 and setting a school record for wins, the Raiders beat nine playoff teams total including eventual Division 3 Semifinalist DeWitt. 

Click to read more. 

Previous 2012-13 honorees:

Escanaba shows its latest Upper Peninsula Division 1 championship trophy at Sweetgrass Golf Club on Wednesday.

Escanaba Girls Meet Sweetgrass Challenge with Sweep of Team, Individual Titles

By Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com

May 28, 2025

HARRIS — Looking at scoring averages heading into Wednesday’s Upper Peninsula Division 1 Girls Golf Final, Escanaba assistant coach Jake Berlinski figured his team was the favorite. 

With that in mind, he offered a simple message to deal with any pressure that comes with such a target.

“Just play our game,” said Berlinski, who handled things at the girls event while program coach Brian Robinette was up the road at the boys tournament. “Play Eskymo golf, I guess you call it, and do what we do best. The girls handled their business.”

For the third time in four years, that business resulted in receiving a Finals championship trophy.

Escanaba finished first with a score of 382 at Sweetgrass Golf Club, 17 shots clear of runner-up Marquette. The top-five was rounded out by Calumet (429), Negaunee (434) and Menominee (444). 

Leading the way was junior Kamrie Scott, who successfully repeated as medalist. She finished with an 8-over-par round of 80, which was 10 shots better than runner-up Lexi Marineau of Menominee. Scott recorded birdies on the par-3, third hole and the par-4, 17th hole. 

“I was hitting it good, so that was working,” Scott said. “It’s really hard around the greens here. They are really fast.”

Sweetgrass annually hosts an event on the Epson Tour, which is the developmental circuit for the LPGA Tour. 

Delanie Rhodes of Marquette looks toward the fairway after hitting her tee shot on No. 10.Scott has attended the tournament multiple times and might again when it’s played this June 20-22. Conquering the same course she has seen professionals play was a nice feeling. 

“It feels cool do it on the same course they play on,” Scott said. 

In addition to Scott, senior Danni Hughes shot a 93 for Escanaba, finishing in a tie for third individually with Sault Ste. Marie senior Kyla Garland. 

“Sweetgrass doesn’t give up easy pars,” Berlinski said. “It’s tough. But the girls just plodded through and played hard. That’s all we asked them to do.“

Also pleased was Marquette, which posted its best Finals finish since coming in second three straight seasons from 2013-15. Senior Roegen Hruska shot a 94 to finish fifth, junior Kylie Smith carded a 96 to take sixth and junior Delanie Rhodes tied for seventh with a 97 to lead the way. 

Marquette assistant Michelle Smith, who presided over the girls team while husband and program coach Ben Smith was at the boys Final, said it was the first time all year the Sentinels broke 400 at a tournament. 

“The girls (played) really good yesterday (at a practice round), they felt comfortable coming into today and they did really well,” Smith said. “We had three girls in the top 10, so we are pretty excited about that.”

PHOTOS (Top) Escanaba shows its latest Upper Peninsula Division 1 championship trophy at Sweetgrass Golf Club on Wednesday. (Middle) Delanie Rhodes of Marquette looks toward the fairway after hitting her tee shot on No. 10. (Photos by Keith Dunlap.)