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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:

Vicksburg's Jordan Butler holds up his championship medal and sign.

Vicksburg's Butler Adds to Legacy as School's 1st Bowling Finals Champ

By Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com

March 1, 2025

WATERFORD — Vicksburg junior Jordon Butler walked into Century Bowl for the Division 2 Singles Finals on Saturday having already made history.

He later departed after making quite a bit more. 

Already the first bowler from Vicksburg to qualify for the MHSAA Finals, Butler now is the first bowler from Vicksburg to win one as well, earning a 400-387 win over DeWitt junior Griffin Lindemann in the championship match. 

“I came here and my goal was top 16,” said Butler, who qualified seventh out of the qualifying block. “I got top 16 and I was like, ‘All right, let’s keep working.’” 

Butler worked his way all the way to the top, first earning a 427-363 win over Tecumseh senior Palmer Ziemer in the round of 16. He then bowled a first game of 279 en route to a 486-358 win over St. Clair Shores Lake Shore junior Gregg Winters in the quarterfinals.

Butler then earned a 420-359 win over Iron Mountain senior Blake Flaminio in the semifinals. 

In the final, Butler started off hot, bowling a 246 to take a 37-pin lead over Lindemann going into the second game. 

Butler started off hot again, but he admittedly started feeling some pressure in the middle of the game, which turned into a couple of open frames due to splits. 

“I started bowling a little shaky there,” Butler said. “I was getting nervous.”

Lindemann gave himself a chance, getting into a position where if he would have struck out in the 10th frame, he would have won.

However, on the first shot of the 10th, Lindemann bowled a nine, with the 4-pin wobbling a bit, but not falling, to end his hopes. 

“Today he was probably 10-15 pins higher than his average,” Vicksburg co-coach Chris Adams said of his champion. “He has got the best mental attitude. Level-headed and always has a smile on his face. That’s who Jordon is.”

As was the case with Butler, Lindemann was making his first appearance at an MHSAA Finals, and was thrilled with how his day went despite falling just short at the end.

Lindemann, who was the No. 12 seed out of qualifying, defeated Carleton Airport sophomore Brayden Siders in the semifinals, 406-323. He also didn’t have a series below 400 until the final. 

“I came into this thinking to just bowl my best and if I made the cut, I made the cut,” Lindemann said. “I didn’t expect to get all the way to the finals. I’m proud of myself that I did it.”

While Butler and Lindemann advanced the furthest in the tournament, the game of the day belonged to New Boston Huron senior Nicholas Suemnick, who bowled a 300 in the first game of qualifying.

Last year’s individual champion, Flint Kearsley junior Jameson Vanier, finished 18th in qualifying and missed the cut by 17 pins. 

Click for full scores.