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.”
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."
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.
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
- 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
- Jacqueline Setas, Lansing Catholic golf - Click for more
- Michael Sienko, Williamston tennis - Click for more
- Beal City volleyball - Click for more
- Grand Blanc boys soccer - 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
'One Last Time' Becomes Best of All as Notre Dame Prep Scores Season High in Repeat
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
March 7, 2026
MOUNT PLEASANT – In the moment before Pontiac Notre Dame Prep started its final routine of the season, as thousands of fans waited in hushed anticipation, coach Jocelyn Welsh said three words from the coaching podium through tears:
“One last time.”
It was the final performance of Round 3 on Saturday at Central Michigan University’s McGuirk Arena, and the Fighting Irish delivered another powerhouse routine to clinch their second-consecutive Division 3 title and seventh in school history.
Welsh’s emotional words certainly registered with her team on the mat.
“When she said that and got choked up, it brought all of our emotions together,” said NDP senior Maddie Rennwald. “At that moment, I just knew that we were going to be state champs.”
Notre Dame Prep, which won five consecutive Division 3 titles from 2014 to 2018, delivered the best score of the eight competing schools in all three rounds.
Despite posting a season-best total score of 787.84 (more than eight full points better than any other team), the Irish were not the most excited team on Saturday – not by a long shot.
That was definitely Armada, which used an incredible Round 3 performance to rise from fourth place to second, earning the Tigers their first “mitten” – the nickname given to the MHSAA team trophy for champions and runners-up, which is a wooden cutout in the shape of Michigan.
Armada, which is located in the Thumb and placed third at both Districts and Regionals behind perennial powers Notre Dame Prep and Richmond, had never placed higher than fourth at the Finals.
“We told our girls that they had to step up and force a change, because in our meets it’s always the same two teams at the top,” said 10th-year Armada coach Deanna Misiak. “I’m just so happy because we tell our girls that their hard work will pay off and, today, it happened.”
Armada finished second with 779.04 points, followed by Grosse Ile (777.50) and Richmond (769.48).
The huddled Tigers broke into hysterics when Grosse Ile was announced as third place, meaning their impressive final round had moved them up to the best Finals finish in school history.
“When we realized we got second, we were all like: ‘Is this real life? Is this actually happening right now?’” said Armada’s Abby Groen, one of just five seniors on a 25-member team which features 18 sophomores or freshmen. “This is a huge stepping stone for Armada cheer, for sure.”
Notre Dame Prep senior flyer Jenna Robin said her team was extremely motivated to repeat as champion, especially after the Irish had finished second in four of the previous six seasons.
“Our goal was to prove to everybody that we really are the best team in the state, and we couldn’t do that by dropping back to second,” said Robin. “Even though we had the lead today, we wanted to do our best each round and make that gap even bigger.”
Robin and junior Eva Thomas were both returning first team all-staters for NDP, while Rennwald, junior Sadie Shook and sophomore Holly Haras were all honorable mention selections.
Welsh, who is in her third season as head coach after serving as an assistant at Division 1 power Rochester Adams, noted that this championship was especially satisfying for her, as the Irish had to rebuild after losing a standout group of seniors from last year’s team.
The Irish, who do not compete in a conference, finished second to Richmond at Districts, but then won their Regional by more than six points and the Finals by almost nine.
“It was more of a gradual climb for us this season,” said Welsh, who is assisted by Alivia Tate and Shelley McGuire. “We had to replace about half of the girls in every round, so it took a little time, but they were ready and confident today.”