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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:

Hillsdale Academy's Dawson Scharer, far left, carries the baton in the 1,600 relay Saturday.

Hillsdale Academy Finishes Championship Climb Securing 1st Title on Final Race

By Brian Freiberger 
Special for MHSAA.com

May 30, 2026

HUDSONVILLE – After years of climbing the standings at the Lower Peninsula Division 4 Finals but not yet reaching the top, Hillsdale Academy won its first championship Saturday at Hudsonville Baldwin – thanks to its depth and a heroic 1,600 relay win to close the meet.

The Colts scored 46 points to edge Eau Claire by two and Royal Oak Shrine Catholic by seven. 

“We've been blessed to have a lot of success at the state meet for a number of years, but this is our first MHSAA state title, so it's extra special,” Hillsdale Academy coach Mike Roberts said. “This is a really good group of guys. … The depth of the team showed. There are two points in the high jump, one point in the two-mile. All of that mattered, and those extra points really added up.” 

Hillsdale Academy clinched the team championship when its 1,600 relay team of Jordan Perry, Luke Molenkamp, Grayson Rorick and Dawson Scharer finished seventh with a time of 3:32 as Shrine finished 10th and Eau Claire took 11th. That left Eau Claire as overall team runner-up and Shrine third.

The Colts were led by Scharer, who also earned championships in the 110 and 300 hurdles with times of 14.63 and 38.52, respectively.

“I'm so glad that I was able to run a good time today and just everybody else was able to run good times,” Scharer said. “I was hoping for the back-to-back all year. I've just not had the fastest time in the 300 hurdles.”

Rorick and Molenkamp also helped lead the Colts to a championship in the 3,200 relay with a time of 8:09, as Jonah Cuthbert and Stephen Holm joined in the dominating win by eight seconds over Holland Calvary.

Eau Claire completes a handoff during one of its two relay championships. “It's absolutely incredible. I'm so happy. I was not expecting it, but then when it came down to the 4x400, we were all on the edge of our seats watching it, going crazy,” Rorick said. “That's a great thing for the team. It was a great time for everyone.”

Eau Claire had a remarkable day on its way to that runner-up finish. The boys 400 relay of Melvin Davis Jr., Devin Hill, A’darion Fort and Elijah Marlowe edged second-place Maple City Glen Lake with a time of 43.36. The same foursome also took home the top honor in the 800 relay. 

“It means a lot to me that we came a long way from last year,” Davis Jr. said.

Devin Hill added: “I'm pretty shocked. But also at the same time, I knew we were going to be at this moment because we were talking about this all summer, our whole lives, basically.”

Shrine senior Abenezer Cerone capped off his high school career by breaking the meet record in the 800-meter run (1:52). He also took home the title in the 1,600 with a time of 4:14.

The senior finally ran the race he has been preparing for all season long. 

“I didn't really know what was gonna happen, even though I wanted the record still. That 800 hurt. Literally from the first step, everything. But I believed in my training that my coaches gave me, and I believed in myself, and I just went for it,” Cerone said. “I always remember that my teammates and my coaches were the best part. Also, I got to thank God and the many blessings given to me. … I’m super grateful.” 

After a midseason plateau, Manchester junior Jayden Johnson saved his best for last on his way to a 200-meter championship with a time of 22.34.

“I've been the underdog all year. I've been slept on by so many people. I thought I wouldn’t even end up here …,” Johnson said. “I gotta get better every single day. I decided that I had to put in the extra time. I did workouts after practice … and I got it done.”

Other champions included Blanchard Montabella’s James Rodriguez in the 100, Beal City’s Aaron Locke in the 400, Harbor Beach’s Brody Karg in the 3,200, Morrice’s Oliver Long in the shot put, Climax-Scotts’ Gabe Walliczek in the discus, Glen Lake’s Jacob Plamondon in the high jump, Buckley’s Easton Harrand in the pole vault and Webberville’s Matthew Howery in the long jump. Detroit Douglass won the 1,600 relay.

Click for full results.

PHOTOS (Top) Hillsdale Academy's Dawson Scharer, far left, carries the baton in the 1,600 relay Saturday. (Middle) Eau Claire completes a handoff during one of its two relay championships. (Click for more from Ken Swart/RunMichigan.com.)