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."
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.
Previous 2012-13 honorees:
- Julia Bos, Grand Rapids Christian cross country - Click for more
- Morgan Bullock, Zeeland swimming - Click for more
- Nathan Burnand, Waterford Mott cross country - Click for more
- Aaron Chatfield, Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian soccer - Click for more
- Erin Finn, West Bloomfield cross country - Click for more
- Alex Grace, Saginaw Swan Valley football - Click for more
- Billy Heckman, Portage Central tennis - Click for more
- Codi Jenshak, Escanaba tennis - Click for more
- Amanda McKinzie, Battle Creek St. Philip cross country - Click for more
- Connor Mora, Cedar Springs cross country - Click for more
- Kelsey Murphy, Plymouth golf - Click for more
- Dewey Lewis, Rockford soccer - Click for more
- Nick Raymond, Erie Mason cross country - Click for more
- Jacqueline Setas, Lansing Catholic golf - Click for more
- Michael Sienko, Williamston tennis - Click for more
- Carli Snyder, Macomb Dakota volleyball - Click for more
- Beal City volleyball - Click for more
- East Kentwood soccer - Click for more
- Flint Beecher football - Click for more
- Grand Blanc boys soccer - Click for more
- Holland girls swimming and diving - Click for more
- Ithaca football - Click for more
- Lansing Everett football - Click for more
- Ludington boys tennis - Click for more
- Muskegon Mona Shores girls golf - Click for more
Today In The MHSAA: 3/15/21
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 15, 2021
Titanic matchups in wrestling and boys basketball filled in just a few spots on a weekend list packed with league champions, including the swimming & diving winner of arguably the strongest conference in the state – regardless of sport.
1. Wrestling: In a rematch of last season’s Division 1 Final, top-ranked Davison downed reigning champ and No. 2 Detroit Catholic Central 36-9 – State Champs Sports Network
2. Boys Swimming & Diving: Lower Peninsula Division 1 top-ranked Ann Arbor Pioneer finished first at the Southeastern Conference Red meet, followed by No. 5 Saline, LPD2 No. 3 Ann Arbor Skyline, LPD1 No. 9 Ann Arbor Huron and LPD2 No. 10 Temperance Bedford – We Love Ann Arbor
3. Girls Basketball: Hudsonville earned a share of the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red title with a 65-50 win over East Kentwood – FOX 17
4. Boys Basketball: Flint Carman-Ainsworth continued its surge with an 84-76 win over Grand Blanc in a matchup of Division 1 title contenders – WJRT
5. Girls Basketball: Frankenmuth downed Bay City John Glenn 36-25 to clinch the Tri-Valley Conference 8 title – WEYI
6. Hockey: Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills clinched the O-K Fischer title outright with a 4-2 win over Grand Haven – FOX 17
7. Boys Swimming & Diving: Manistee repeated as Coastal Conference champion – Manistee News Advocate
8. Bowling: The Utica Ford boys and New Baltimore Anchor Bay girls finished Macomb Area Conference White championship runs – Macomb Daily
9. Boys Swimming & Diving: Marysville claimed the MAC Gold championship meet title to go with its dual-meet first-place finish – Macomb Daily
10. Boys Swimming & Diving: Brownstown Woodhaven also added a league meet title to a perfect regular season, in the Downriver League – Southgate News-Herald
Also of note …
Boys Swimming & Diving: LPD2 honorable mention Fenton scored 508 points to win the Flint Metro League championship meet by more than 100 – Owosso Argus-Press
Bowling: The Caledonia boys and Hudsonville girls won O-K Red championship tournament titles – Grand Haven Tribune
Girls/Boys Basketball: Shelby Cade, playing on Buckley’s boys team this season, went over 1,000 points for her career in a 71-61 win over Lake Leelanau St. Mary – Cadillac News
Girls Basketball: Mackenzie Egger went over 1,000 career points as Mount Pleasant downed Bay City Central 39-30 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Boys Basketball: Kevin Pearson went over 1,000 career points as Onaway defeated Pellston 48-40 – Cheboygan Daily Tribune
Boys Basketball: Rogers City’s Nick Freel also went over 1,000 career points, doing so in a 77-69 win over Posen – Alpena News
Athletic Directors: Longtime athletic director and coach Brian Gordon is retiring after more than 30 years in school sports, most recently at Novi – Oakland Press