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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: 3/12/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 12, 2025

Boys Basketball Quarterfinals

DIVISION 1

East Lansing 72, Ann Arbor Huron 49 The Trojans avenged last season’s Quarterfinal loss to the River Rats – Lansing State Journal

Flint Carman-Ainsworth 54, Byron Center 51 Fred Thomas IV sank the game-winner at the buzzer for Carman-Ainsworth – WNEM

Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 73, Macomb L’Anse Creuse North 42 The reigning champion Eaglets will play for a repeat opportunity – MLIVE-Detroit

Wayne Memorial 70, Detroit Martin Luther King 44 Wayne followed Carlos Medlock Jr. in continuing its run – Detroit Free Press

DIVISION 2

Grand Rapids Catholic Central 59, Marshall 43 The Cougars will return to Breslin for the fourth time over the last seven seasons – Grand Rapids Press

Kingsford 48, Freeland 46 The Flivvers held off the Falcons’ comeback attempt to earn a trip to East Lansing -- MyUPNow

Romulus Summit Academy North 68, Lansing Sexton 41 Summit will return to the Breslin Center for the second time in three seasons – WILX

Warren Lincoln 49, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 30 The reigning Division 2 champion earned a return trip to Finals weekend – Macomb Daily

DIVISION 3

Riverview Gabriel Richard 62, Jackson Lumen Christi 30 Gabriel Richard finished a three-game sweep of the league-rival Titans – Southgate News-Herald

Arts & Technology Academy of Pontiac 74, Flint New Standard Academy 44 ATAP earned its first trip to the Semifinals to go with last week’s first Regional title – Oakland Press

Ishpeming Westwood 48, McBain 40 The Patriots extended their trip downstate into Finals weekend by holding off the Ramblers – Upper Michigan’s Source

Pewamo-Westphalia 50, Schoolcraft 45 The Pirates came back from a halftime deficit to advance – WLNS

DIVISION 4

Allen Park Inter-City Baptist 63, Kingston 50 Inter-City will make a repeat trip to Breslin after winning this Quarterfinal rematch from a year ago – Southgate News-Herald

Crystal Falls Forest Park 45, Pickford 43 Forest Park scored the game-winning points during the final minute to pull past Pickford – Upper Michigan’s Source

Fowler 65, Bellaire 27 The Eagles earned their first Semifinals trip since 2002 – Lansing State Journal

Wyoming Tri-unity Christian 56, Adrian Lenawee Christian 43 The reigning champ Defenders will continue to pursue a repeat – WOOD TV