Logo

High 5s: 11/7/12

November 7, 2012

This past Saturday saw eight teams and eight individuals crowned MHSAA champions, and this week we feature a few who will be listed among the best for all time. 

Erin Finn
West Bloomfield senior
Cross country

Finn won her second straight MHSAA individual Lower Peninsula Division 1 championship, this time in 17:07.9. Her finish was the fastest from any of the four divisions that raced Saturday at Michigan International Speedway, and gave her the victory in hers by 27 seconds. Finn’s time was the fourth-best ever at an MHSAA Final. She has three of the top 15 times ever run at MIS, more than any other runner.

On track for more: Finn also won an MHSAA Track and Field championship last season, setting an all-division/class record in the 1,600 with a time of 10:17.86. That time was nearly five seconds better than the previous best.

Maize and Blue: Finn will run next season at the University of Michigan. The Wolverines cross country team is ranked No. 7 nationally heading into Friday's NCAA Great Lakes Regional. 

Scientifically speaking: Finn intends to study biomechanical engineering at U-M. "My junior year, I found out I love physics, and I already knew I loved bio and chemistry. So, what's better than to combine those?"

Runners to chase: “I looked up to Megan Goethals (of Rochester), number one, and Shannon Osika (of Waterford Mott). They’re people I competed with. I know that one day I can be like that. It’s more real to me.”

Click to read more.

Nick Raymond
Erie Mason senior
Cross country

After dashing to the lead last season and finishing fourth, Nick Raymond dominated the Lower Peninsula Division 3 Final at MIS with a time of 15:05.1 – the second-fastest time for a Division 3/Class C MHSAA Final to only Maverick Darling's 14:52.8 for Ovid-Elsie in 2007. Raymond is the first individual cross country champion from Erie Mason (not counting another who finished first among individuals before team and individual placers were combined for one race beginning in 1997) and also placed in both the 1,600 and 3,200 at the spring's Lower Peninsula Division 3 Track and Field Final. 

A long drive: "I've been working hard, since the first time (I ran) in sixth grade. Working hard and training hard over the summer and during mandatory practices too." 

Brotherly influence: Raymond began running cross country in the footsteps of his older brother Andrew Raymond, a 2010 graduate. "He told me, 'If you just keep working hard, just look forward at your dream, your goal, you will achieve it.'"

Now the pool, then the track: Raymond swims during the winter, specializing in butterfly and breaststroke. Then it's on to track. Raymond finished fourth in the 1,600 (4:21.84) and seventh in the 3,200 (9:44.91) at last season's Lower Peninsula Division 3 Final. 

Looking up to Pre: Like many in the running community, Raymond considers former Oregon and international star Steve Prefontaine a major influence. "I liked how he had a lot of faith in himself."

Click to read more. 

East Kentwood soccer

The top-ranked Falcons edged Grand Blanc 1-0 at Troy Athens to claim their fourth Division 1 championship in six seasons. They finished 22-1-4, their seventh with at least 20 wins in the last eight years. 

Click to read more. 

Previous 2012-13 honorees:

Hartland’s Alexis Fundich vaults during Saturday’s Individual Finals at Milford.

Hartland's Fundich Puts 'Fun' In Finals Championship Run, Ends Career No. 1

By Brad Emons
Special for MHSAA.com

March 7, 2026

HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP – Hartland’s Alexis Fundich was on a mission during Saturday’s MHSAA Individual Finals at Milford High School.

The senior, who led the Eagles to their second-straight team championship just the night before, captured the Division 1 all-round with a score of 38.625 after placing runner-up a year ago.

Huron Valley United’s Stella Musialowski was second (36.60), with Farmington United’s Mikayla Dicks (37.25), Tecumseh’s Isabella Janiga (35.875) and Northville’s Michelle Walker (35.85) rounding out the top five.

“Mostly I just tried to have fun and not let the nerves take over, which happened, so it went well,” Fundich said. “I definitely was nervous, but I didn’t want to let it control me throughout the meet. I let fun control me instead.”

Fundich, who joined the Hartland team her sophomore year, captured three events including the balance beam (9.725), uneven bars (9.4) and floor exercise, while adding a second in the vault (9.8).

Fundich, left, and Huron Valley United’s Stella Musialowski hold hands for their salute from the podium.“I was really happy with my floor score,” Fundich said. “I broke the record for floor on my team, so I was really excited about that.”

Fundich hopes to continue her gymnastics career in college, but is undecided about her next destination.

“That’s my goal. I’m still figuring that out,” Fundich said.

Musialowski, competing on her home floor, also turned in a stellar performance to pass Dicks (37.25), who was competing at her first MHSAA Finals.

The Milford gymnast had finished sixth a year ago after taking 15th as a sophomore. This time, she placed runner-up on beam (9.625), tied for third on bars (9.15) and floor (9.425), and fourth on vault (9.4),

“I was just definitely trying to do my best today,” Musialowski said. “I wanted to finish off my last competition well, and I definitely think I did.

“Beam always clicks a little bit more than the others for me. It’s my favorite. I find it really peaceful to do.”

Musialowski, who plans to attend Michigan State and study nursing, also juggled gymnastics during the winter with competitive cheer.

“I helped out our cheer team, but other than that I’ve solely been doing gymnastics my whole life,” said Musialowski, who joined the Huron Valley team her sophomore year. “My freshman year I did cheer, and then I realized I liked gymnastics and came back.”

Musialowski said most likely her competitive gymnastics days are over.

“It’s been a long run – 15 years – I’m definitely starting to get tired of it, but I’m not fully certain on it yet,” she said.

Hartland’s Kate Gostlin was the other D1 individual victor with a 9.8 in the vault.

Haslett United’s Phoebe Elder, right, receives a hug after her bars routine. “They all went out there, they had a mission and took care of business,” Hartland coach Gavin Kress said. “It’s gymnastics, they’re always nervous. Today coming in strong. They came in knowing what they were doing.”

Meanwhile, the Division 2 all-around title went to Haslett United’s Phoebe Elder, who placed first with a total of 36.675.

She was able to hold off challenges by three Rockford competitors including Lillian Green (36.550), Rae DeFrang (36.025) and Reese DeFrang (35.900). Farmington United’s Aubrey Woodman took fifth (35.625).

Elder finished runner-up on bars (9.1), third on floor (9.425), fourth on the beam (9.1) and tied for sixth in the vault (9.05).

“Very surprised and very happy for sure,” said Elder, who will attend Northwestern University and study biology. “I stuck a vault, which I don’t think I have all season.”

Other individual D2 winners included Rockford’s Green in vault (9.625), Rae DeFrang on bars (9.125) and Kenzie Todd on beam (9.275). East Lansing Catholic DeWitt’s Taliyah Andrews won the floor exercise (9.555).

Click for full results.

PHOTOS (Top) Hartland’s Alexis Fundich vaults during Saturday’s Individual Finals at Milford. (Middle) Fundich, left, and Huron Valley United’s Stella Musialowski hold hands for their salute from the podium. (Below) Haslett United’s Phoebe Elder, right, receives a hug after her bars routine. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)