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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:

Flat Rock players pile onto the Kellogg Arena floor after clinching their first trip to the MHSAA Finals on Friday.

Story in Photos: 2025 Volleyball Division 2 & 3 Semifinals

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 21, 2025

BATTLE CREEK – The final four championship contenders earned their ways to the season’s final day during Friday’s Division 2 and 3 Semifinals at Kellogg Arena.

Saturday’s Finals will see the following face off:

10 a.m. – Division 4 – Fowler (35-8-2) vs. Mendon (38-6-1)

Noon – Division 1 – Farmington Hills Mercy (41-5-3) vs. Bloomfield Hills (43-6-1)

2:30 p.m. – Division 2 – Detroit Country Day (28-9) vs. Flat Rock (39-8)

4:30 p.m. – Division 3 – Kingsley (56-4-1) vs. Kalamazoo Christian (30-11-3)

All four matches offer the opportunity for a first-time champion as Fowler, Bloomfield Hills, Flat Rock and Kingsley will be playing for an inaugural title. Country Day will be playing for a repeat after winning its first championship a year ago, while Mercy and Kalamazoo Christian won in 2023 and Mendon’s most recent Finals victory came in 2019.

Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured the following from Friday’s action.

Kalamazoo Christian junior Eliana Keller unloads a kill attempt during her team’s 25-23, 25-16, 25-20 win over Saginaw Valley Lutheran.

Kalamazoo Christian junior Eliana Keller unloads a kill attempt during her team’s 25-23, 25-16, 25-20 win over Saginaw Valley Lutheran. She finished with 11 kills.

Valley Lutheran sophomore Grace Parker (7) attempts to split by a block by Keller and senior Lydia Boley.

Valley Lutheran sophomore Grace Parker (7) attempts to split by a block by Keller and senior Lydia Boley. Parker had five kills for the Chargers (51-11-3).

Kingsley junior Aizlyn McKinley (10) follows through on a kill attempt as Monroe St. Mary’s Olivia Beaudrie (2) and Kiley Urbanski (9) set up a block during the Stags’ 17-25, 25-19, 25-23, 8-25, 17-15 victory.

Kingsley junior Aizlyn McKinley (10) follows through on a kill attempt as Monroe St. Mary’s Olivia Beaudrie (2) and Kiley Urbanski (9) set up a block during the Stags’ 17-25, 25-19, 25-23, 8-25, 17-15 victory.

SMCC junior Olivia Horning extends for a dig.

SMCC junior Olivia Horning extends for a dig. She finished with 11 for the Kestrels (36-6-1).

Flat Rock and Fremont players meet on a ball at the net during the Rams’ 25-20, 26-24, 23-25, 25-22 win.

Flat Rock and Fremont players meet on a ball at the net during the Rams’ 25-20, 26-24, 23-25, 25-22 win. Both teams were appearing in a Semifinal for the first time, and Fremont finished 38-14.  

Flat Rock junior Sarah Giroux connects on a kill attempt.

Flat Rock junior Sarah Giroux connects on a kill attempt. She finished with 30 kills and 24 digs.

Detroit Country Day’s Elise Hiemstra (9) winds up for a hit during her team’s 18-25, 30-28, 25-23, 25-23 win over Grand Rapids Christian.

Detroit Country Day’s Elise Hiemstra (9) winds up for a hit during her team’s 18-25, 30-28, 25-23, 25-23 win over Grand Rapids Christian. Hiemstra had 19 kills for the match.

Grand Rapids Christian junior Taylor Frost (4) sends a kill attempt toward a block by Country Day sophomore Sici Guerrant (11) and junior Leah Green.

Grand Rapids Christian junior Taylor Frost (4) sends a kill attempt toward a block by Country Day sophomore Sici Guerrant (11) and junior Leah Green. Frost had18 kills for the Eagles (36-10), and Green had nine blocks for the Yellowjackets.

TOP PHOTO Flat Rock players pile onto the Kellogg Arena floor after clinching their first trip to the MHSAA Finals on Friday.