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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:

Today In The MHSAA

Today In The MHSAA: 4/23/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 23, 2021

Notable performances were not in short supply Thursday as softball, golf, baseball and soccer contributed to today’s top-10 list – with a major football coaching move added in as well.

1. Softball: Emma Trombly drove in 10 runs during a 23-11 win over Warren Cousino, giving her 84 RBI for her career to break the school record set in 1997 – Port Huron Times-Herald

2. Boys Golf: Detroit Catholic Central and Warren De La Salle Collegiate both put up stellar scores, with the Shamrocks emerging with a 311-312 win – Macomb Daily

3. Softball: Stevensville Lakeshore opened league play with an impressive sweep of Mattawan – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

4. Softball: Howell swept Plymouth as Highlanders’ pitcher Avrey Wolverton saw her scoreless innings streak end at 48 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

5. Baseball: Division 2 No. 7 Trenton opened its new stadium with a 4-3 win over Allen Park – Southgate News-Herald

6. Softball: Schoolcraft swept Kalamazoo Christian in a matchup of 2019 championship contenders – Kalamazoo Gazette

7. Girls Soccer: Salem scored all three of its goals during the second half to remain undefeated with a 3-0 win over Northville – Observer & Eccentric

8. Baseball: Division 1 No. 12 Grand Blanc swept Saginaw Heritage as Division I college-bound pitchers faced off – Saginaw News

9. Baseball: Brock Porter struck out 17 in the first game as Division 2 top-ranked Orchard Lake St. Mary’s went on to sweep De La Salle – MLive-Detroit

10. Softball: Lydia Heymes drove in a combined nine runs as Traverse City West swept Sault Ste. Marie – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Also of note …

Football: Coach Pat Collins, fresh off leading Montague to the Division 6 championship, is taking over at Holland West Ottawa – FOX 17