Tales of Teams, Trophies & Trinkets
By
Ron Pesch
MHSAA historian
March 30, 2016
High school athletics leaves behind an amazing array of treasures – although while buried in a keepsake box, or trophy case, the awards stand silent.
For many, their meaning and worth only continues to grow in value. Yet, in other cases, time can be cruel. For some trophies and trinkets, their worth diminishes as the stories contained within are lost behind retirements, neglect, administration decisions and death.
Following are a few tales that live on from more than a century of Michigan high school sports.
|
1909 |
Muskegon High School |
Track Trophy |
The search continues for the oldest state title trophy presented to a high school in the state of Michigan. This beauty, on display at Muskegon High School within the school’s storied trophy cases, currently leads the pack. In 1909, Muskegon coach Robert Zuppke’s team tallied 43½ points to win the fourth annual Michigan Agricultural College Interscholastic meet in Lansing. The total was the largest sum in the history of the meet, exceeding Detroit University School’s total of 27½ points and Detroit Central’s third-place total of 25 points.
Dominant in the field events, Muskegon was led by George Shaw, who set a new record in the pole vault at 11 feet, 2 inches, and by George Cowley, whose 4:47 time in the mile also set a new mark. Cowley’s time in the mile ranked among the top in the middle west.
Zuppke moved on a year later to coach at Oak Park, Ill., then to the University of Illinois where he became known as one of the great coaching minds in the history of college football. Shaw would school at Northwestern University while Cowley spent some time at the University of Chicago following graduation.
|
1923 |
Dollar Bay |
2nd U.P. Class B Tournament |
Someone within the Dollar Bay roster was once the proud owner of this silver basketball fob, given to team members by Northern Michigan Normal College for finishing second in the 6th annual Class B High School Basketball Tournament hosted at Northern State Normal College. According to documentation on the event, six sessions were held, and during presentation of the awards, only seven fobs were awarded to each of the top three teams. As was quite common at the time, only last names of players were mentioned in the game program and newspaper coverage. I guess back in the day, everyone who needed to know already knew the player’s first name.
Purchased on Etsy, perhaps this medal was owned by Stevens, who played one of the guard spots and served as team captain. He was responsible for all nine of the team’s points in the Class B championship game. Perhaps it belonged to Penphrase or Mattson, who each scored four points in the semifinal round, where Dollar Bay trounced Stambaugh 21-12. Munising defeated Newberry 15-10 in the semifinal, setting the stage for the title game. Munising won the Saturday evening contest, 17-9, and earned the right to play the Class A winner for the “supremacy of the Upper Peninsula." One week later at the Normal Gym, Munising topped Escanaba, winner of the Class A tournament, for the honor.
|
1927 |
J. Perry Austin |
Three Oaks |
4:57.3 |
Along with his brother Phil, Joseph Perry Austin was one of 20 graduates in the class of 1927 at Three Oaks High School (Today known as Three Oaks River Valley). The most famous of the group was perhaps Joe Savoldi, who would star at Notre Dame.
The Austin boys moved to Three Oaks from Waukegan, Ill, when they reached high school age. There, Perry, as he was known among family and friends, would excel athletically and academically, winning the Class C MHSAA state championship in the mile and serving as valedictorian of his class. Phil was salutatorian. This medal, presented at Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science (now Michigan State University) was found on Ebay.
Following graduation, Perry attended the University of Michigan, where he was crowned Big Ten Champion in the two mile in 1931. That same year, Austin was honored by the Big Ten with the conference’s prestigious Medal of Honor, awarded one per sport, for athletic and academic achievement in Track & Field. He would remain at Michigan, earning a doctorate in chemistry in 1935.
After graduation, he worked for Abbot Labs in Chicago. In the 1940s, Austin joined the seminary and became an Episcopalian priest, serving parishes in Wisconsin, Texas and Michigan. Ultimately, he returned to education, teaching high school chemistry in Toledo, Ohio. He passed away in 1991.
His brother Phil would ultimately become an internationally renowned watercolorist and a member of the exclusive American Water Color Society.
|
1940 |
Merrill Vandals scoreboard |
Castle Museum, Saginaw |
As the story goes, Merrill High School students built this scoreboard in shop class sometime during the late 1930s for use in their high school gymnasium. The board served the district for approximately the next 50 years. “It was always an honor to be selected as one of the kids to operate the scoreboard,” recalled Keith Clark, a former Merrill student who in later years served as a coach, then administrator in the district. “One kid would operate the home side and the other would operate the away side.”
When the new high school opened in 1956, the scoreboard remained in place at the building where it served junior high school teams until the 1980s. It was ultimately presented to Walt Krause, a longtime employee of the Merrill school district. Thanks to the efforts of Clark, and the kindness of the Krause family, the board eventually made its way to the Saginaw Sports Hall of Fame with a single stipulation – that the score displayed should always show Merrill leading.
|
1947 |
Brethren Dickson |
Basketball Team |
A scan of a photo cherished by the son of one of the team members, this team picture would likely go unnoticed mixed in with a stack of others. Yet, standing in the back row, wearing number 27, is an individual with a likeness, and most certainly a voice, that would be recognized by tens of millions. The Brethren Dickson basketball team of 1947 was eliminated early in the tournament. The 1932 team finished the year as runner-up to Portage for the Lower Peninsula’s Class D title. In 1963, Brethren lost in the state semifinals to eventual Class D state champion Britton.
Using his full given name, one can argue that James Earl Jones ranks with Earvin “Magic” Johnson as the state’s most famous basketball player, though his fame is for something entirely different than his ability to shoot a basketball.
|
1967 |
Ann Arbor University High School |
Track Trophy |
Found at a thrift store in Ann Arbor, it was purchased for $2.12, tax included. Showing its age, the trophy was earned by Ann Arbor University High’s track team that finished second to Detroit St. Charles.
Ann Arbor University High was a demonstration school operated by the University of Michigan’s School of Education. In 1922, the State of Michigan legislature approved $525,000 for the construction and furnishing of the building near the campus of the university. In the fall of 1924, the school was opened with 123 students in grades 7-12. In 1930, an elementary school was added. According to U-M’s Bentley Historical Library, “the school was used as a demonstration center for educators in the newer practices of educating children.”
University High’s athletic teams were nicknamed the Cubs, an obvious nod to the University of Michigan’s Wolverines. University High continued to operate into the 1960s, when a decision was made by U-M’s School of Education to close the school.
The 1967 team, led by Dave Shipman, finished second to Detroit St. Charles in point total, 64 to 47. Shipman, an individual winner in both the 100 and 220-yard events, also ran on University’s victorious 880 relay team. A year later, the final senior class graduated from the school.
|
1984 |
Brimley High School |
Volleyball |
This medal dates to the days when champions were crowned in volleyball in both upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan. (In the year 2000, the tournament was unified.) This is another Ebay find.
Between 1980 and 1990 the U.P. staged a single open tournament for all schools north of the Mackinac Bridge. Despite competing against schools with much larger enrollment, the Brimley Bays captured seven titles during those 11 years of competition. Located just off I-75, coach Charles Compo’s team traveled extensively into the Lower Peninsula to gain experience. The time and travel paid dividends as the team captured five straight titles between 1981 and 1985. The 1984 title came with 15-3, 15-11 wins over Bessemer. That season, Compo was named U.P. Coach of the Year.
“Compo retired in 1990 with an amazing record of 408 victories and only 74 losses,” notes the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing the achievements of those squads. “Seventeen of Compo's players would earn all-state honors, a total of 32 times.”
|
2009 |
Allison Pall |
East Grand Rapids |
1:50:09 |
“When the boys on the football team got whiny about practice, their coach would bring them to one of our practices,” remembered Allison Pall, discussing the hours spent training before earning this medal as a member of the East Grand Rapids 200 medley relay team. Those practices were run by legendary swimming coach Milton “Butch” Briggs, Jr. Since taking on the task in fall of 1975, Briggs has led the girls to 19 MHSAA championships and the boys to 10 titles.
Pall, along with schoolmates Ally Bremer, Molly Lundquist, and Karly Surman won the 200 medley relay with an MHSAA Finals time of 1:50.09 at Eastern Michigan. A year later Pall, Bremer, Emily Lundquist and Katie Lachance again won the 200 medley relay, at 1:48.82 at Holland Aquatic Center. The girls clocked a 1:48:75 in the prelims the day prior, establishing a then-school record.
A late beginner in the sport, Pall took up competitive swimming in seventh grade. Following high school graduation, Pall headed to Ann Arbor to enroll at the University of Michigan, where she left behind her swimming career. Her height, an advantage in swimming, meant she was recruited to join the University Rowing team. She stayed for a season, deciding to dedicate herself to studies. Today, Allison is in pursuit of her Master’s degree in Public Health. Her medals will not be found for sale online. They still mean the world to her.
Ron Pesch has taken an active role in researching the history of MHSAA events since 1985 and began writing for MHSAA Finals programs in 1986, adding additional features and "flashbacks" in 1992. He inherited the title of MHSAA historian from the late Dick Kishpaugh following the 1993-94 school year, and resides in Muskegon. Contact him at [email protected] with ideas for historical articles.
PHOTO: George Shaw prepares for the pole vault for Muskegon High in 1909. (Photos gathered by Ron Pesch.)
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Boys District Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 24, 2025
March is finally on the horizon, our state finally seems to be thawing out from a long, snowy winter – and all signs point to East Lansing as Districts tip off the MHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament tonight for more than 700 teams.
We always switch up our “Breslin Bound” format once the MHSAA Tournament starts, as last week’s most intriguing results below are followed this time by glances at three District brackets of note in each division. Host sites are bolded, and teams playing in those brackets are listed by seed as determined by Michigan Power Ratings (MPR).
Everything you could want to know this week about tickets, brackets and more can be found on the Boys Basketball page. To watch any of several games online, visit the NFHS Network.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com.
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 76, Detroit Renaissance 73 Catholic High School League champion St. Mary’s (15-6) claimed its second-straight Operation Friendship victory, in a close one this time over the Detroit Public School League-winning Phoenix (14-8).
2. Novi 66, Wayne Memorial 64 After edging Northville by two points four days earlier to clinch the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West title outright, Novi (18-4) moved past East winner Wayne (19-3) for the overall league championship.
3. Flint Kearsley 75, Goodrich 73 Kearsley (16-6) jumped from third in the Flint Metro League Stripes last season to a three-way tie for first this winter, then edged Lake Fenton by three and Goodrich (17-5) by a bucket to claim the overall league title.
4. Kingsford 72, Marquette 60 The Flivvers (17-3) avenged a 58-53 loss to Marquette (19-3) from Jan. 3 to pull even with the Sentinels and share the Great Northern Conference championship.
5. Hartford 61, Centreville 50 The Huskies (19-2) avenged their lone league defeat, 59-50 on Jan. 27, to pull even with Centreville (18-3) and share the Southwest 10 Conference title.
Districts at a Glance
These could be among our most competitive brackets. Host sites are in bold, and teams are listed by seed:
DIVISION 1
Auburn Hills Avondale
1. Waterford Mott (19-3), 2. Auburn Hills Avondale (15-7), 3. Clarkston (15-7), 4. Lake Orion (15-7), 5. Waterford Kettering (1-21).
Clarkston would be the favorite most seasons but enters after finishing fourth in the Oakland Activities Association Blue and having been swept by its Wednesday opponent, league runner-up and District host Avondale (15-7). On the other side, Mott was the co-champion from the Lakes Valley Conference and fell just a pair of overtime losses from a perfect league run. Lake Orion was runner-up in the OAA White and fell to Clarkston 49-38 on Dec. 4 – a few months ago but sure to be mentioned if they meet again Friday.
Grosse Pointe South
1. Detroit Martin Luther King (17-4), 2. Detroit Cass Tech (19-3), 3. Grosse Pointe North (18-4), 4. Grosse Pointe South (7-14), 5. Detroit East English (9-10), 6. Detroit Western (2-15).
King/Cass Round 3 is likely the expected Friday title matchup. They’ve met in District play the last three seasons and split their meetings this season with Cass winning 54-42 on Dec. 17 and King taking the rematch in the Detroit Public School League Tournament 58-52. Grosse Pointe North will do its best to crash the party coming off a Macomb Area Conference Blue championship and riding an 11-game winning streak that’s included a 58-43 win over Adrian (18-4).
Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
1. Rockford (20-2), 2. Muskegon (19-2), 3. Greenville (21-1), 4. Muskegon Mona Shores (10-12), 5. Cedar Springs (9-13), 6. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer (6-16).
A potential championship matchup of Ottawa-Kent Conference Red champion Rockford and O-K Green title winner Muskegon is what most will anticipate, and that makes sense – all four of their combined losses came to teams ranked among the top seven in statewide Division 1 or MPR, and traditionally they are two of the strongest West Michigan programs in any division. But River Cities Alliance champion Greenville definitely gives this bracket an intriguing wild card – its only loss came to Allendale (16-6), and 17 of the Yellow Jackets’ wins were by double digits.
DIVISION 2
Adrian
1. Onsted (20-1), 2. Adrian (18-4), 3. Adrian Madison (18-3), 4. Tecumseh (16-6), 5. Milan (5-17).
The top two teams from the Lenawee County Athletic Association and Southeastern Conference White top this bracket, as Onsted and Madison shared the LCAA title and Adrian High was first and Tecumseh second in the SEC White. Onsted and Madison split, with Madison winning the second meeting Jan. 30, and that may become notable if they meet one more time as that was Onsted’s only loss. Adrian defeated Tecumseh by 11 and 19 and also Madison by 16 on Dec. 16 – but the Maples are coming off a 73-60 loss to Brooklyn Columbia Central (18-4).
Grand Rapids Catholic Central
1. Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (19-3), 2. Hudsonville Unity Christian (20-2), 3. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (15-7), 4. Allendale (16-6), 5. Grand Rapids West Catholic (9-12), 6. Wyoming Lee (8-14).
Covenant Christian moved into Division 2 this season after reaching the Division 3 Quarterfinals a year ago, and the Chargers loaded their schedule with several Division 1 and 2 teams and contenders from Divisions 3 and 4 – notably handing North Muskegon its only loss but also falling to Unity 46-39 on Dec. 3. That was some time ago but will provide some familiarity if Covenant and the O-K Black champion Crusaders meet again. Don’t count that as a sure thing, however. Unity saw potential Wednesday opponent GRCC at Calvin University on Dec. 14, winning but in overtime 53-49. And Covenant saw its potential Wednesday opponent Allendale on Dec. 20, winning 58-52 in another close matchup.
Otsego
1. South Haven (17-3), 2. Paw Paw (19-3), 3. Parchment (19-3), 4. Plainwell (14-6), 5. Allegan (9-11), 6. Otsego (5-15).
The top four-seeded teams in this bracket either won or finished runners-up in their respective leagues – Parchment winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley, Paw Paw winning the Wolverine Conference, Plainwell placing second in the Wolverine and South Haven second in the SAC Lakeshore but still earning the top seed this week. South Haven did defeat Parchment 57-45 at Kalamazoo College on Nov. 30, and also has notable wins over Galesburg-Augusta (18-4) and Berrien Springs (17-4). Parchment has won 17 of its last 18 games, falling only to Battle Creek Pennfield (18-4) by three during that time.
DIVISION 3
Bark River Harris or Higher Seed (non-traditional)
1. Iron Mountain (19-3), 2. Munising (19-2), 3. Menominee (11-11), 4. Gwinn (9-13), 5. Bark River-Harris (7-15), 6. Manistique (4-18).
Western Peninsula Athletic Conference East champion Iron Mountain has pairs of wins over Gwinn and Manistique and a 16-point victory Feb. 3 over Menominee, which knocked the Mountaineers out of the District a year ago. Munising won the large schools division of the Skyline Central Conference and also has a pair of wins over Manistique and one over Gwinn – and may have to defeat Menominee in the District Semifinal to reach Friday’s championship game. Bark River-Harris is the named host for this non-traditional bracket and will host all games it plays; otherwise the highest seed in each game will host that contest.
Hanover-Horton
1. Jackson Lumen Christi (19-3), 2. Grass Lake (21-1), 3. Hanover-Horton (14-8), 4. East Jackson (11-11), 5. Napoleon (9-13), 6. Vandercook Lake (4-18).
Lumen Christi has emerged as a basketball contender the last two seasons, reaching the Quarterfinals a year ago and finishing CHSL AA runner-up this season to another Division 3 contender in Riverview Gabriel Richard. Grass Lake has made a jump too after finishing 11-13 a year ago, winning the Cascades Conference East and overall championships with its only loss last week to Clinton, 42-40. Grass Lake has a Dec. 3 53-48 win over Hanover-Horton, a possible Wednesday opponent and the runner-up from the Cascades Conference West. East Jackson finished fourth in the Cascades East, also enjoying a nice bump after going 8-15 a season ago.
Quincy
1. Schoolcraft (16-6), 2. Centreville (18-3), 3. Union City (14-8), 4. Bronson (11-11), 5. Quincy (11-10), 6. Homer (5-17).
This could be one of the most evenly-matched brackets in any division. Schoolcraft was the SAC Valley runner-up but defeated Centreville 62-54 on Feb. 5. Centreville shared the Southwest 10 Conference title. Union City was one of three runners-up in the Big 8 Conference (where Bronson finished fifth and Quincy sixth), sweeping Bronson but winning the second meeting only 63-61 and splitting with Quincy losing the second meeting 58-48 just last week – although those two are on Schoolcraft’s side of the bracket and Union City must instead defeat Homer and Centreville to get to Friday. Schoolcraft reached the Regional Final a year ago before falling to eventual Division 3 champion Niles Brandywine.
DIVISION 4
Crystal Falls Forest Park or Higher Seed (non-traditional)
11. Crystal Falls Forest Park (20-2), 2. Norway (17-5), 3. Powers North Central (10-11), 4. Stephenson (15-7), 5. Hannahville Nah Tah Wahsh (15-7), 6. Carney-Nadeau (6-16).
Skyline Central Conference small-schools division champion Forest Park swept third-place Powers North Central and also has a pair of wins over Norway and one over Stephenson as the Trojans seek to match and surpass last season’s run to the Quarterfinals. Their only losses were to Great Northern Conference co-champions Marquette and Kingsford. Norway finished second to Munising in the SCC large-schools division, with four of its five losses to teams with at least 19 wins. North Central has won only three of its last 11 games, but two straight including last week over Hannahville Nah Tah Wahsh 68-63. Stephenson also has a win over Nah Tah Wahsh and split with North Central – avenging a 34-point loss with a 12-point win a month later.
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary
11. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (18-3), 2. Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central (13-8), 3. Coleman (13-9), 4. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary (13-9), 5. Merrill (5-17), 6. Midland Calvary Baptist (5-16).
Mid-State Activities Conference champion Sacred Heart is seeking to return to the Division 4 championship game after finishing second last season, and went 2-2 in nonleague play this winter stacking the schedule with Beal City, Marine City Cardinal Mooney, Maple City Glen Lake and Jackson Lumen Christi. Nouvel finished second in the Tri-Valley Conference Blue but played Ithaca (17-4) last week for a share of the title and loaded its nonleague schedule as well. Among potential stoppers, Coleman is enjoying its first winning season since 2019-20, and MLS its first since 2020-21 and with a split with Nouvel – although the Panthers avenged losing the first game by seven points by winning the second by 15.
Vestaburg
1. Fowler (19-3), 2. Fulton (17-5), 3. Portland St. Patrick (14-7), 4. Vestaburg (12-8), 5. Breckenridge (10-11), 6. Ashley (1-21).
While Fowler may be the favorite – the Eagles finished second in the Central Michigan Athletic Conference to Division 3 Pewamo-Westphalia (19-3) and have double-digit wins over Fulton and St. Patrick – there are opportunities to shake things up. Fowler did win its one matchup with Fulton 62-32, but the Pirates went on to finish second in the MSAC and downed Sacred Heart 70-62 last week. St. Patrick finished third in the CMAC and cut its deficit against Fowler from 22 to 13 between their first and second meetings. Vestaburg was fourth in the MSAC, losing the second meeting to Fulton by 11 but winning the first by six, and Breckenridge took Fulton to overtime in their second game.
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PHOTOS (Top) Haslett's Wardrell Wicker (5) gets in defensive position as Okemos' Branden Pruitt (21) considers his options during a 58-48 win Feb. 3. (Middle) Flint Carman-Ainsworth's Jaden Green (5) drives to the basket during his team's 90-88 triple-overtime win over Flint Powers Catholic on Tuesday. (Haslett/Okemos photo by John Johnson. Carman-Ainsworth photo by Terry Lyons.)