Unified Sports: Unified Goal, Unified Effort
By
Mark Uyl
MHSAA Executive Director
April 11, 2019
The following publisher's note and cover story were featured in this winter's edition of the MHSAA benchmarks magazine.
At its best, sport breaks down barriers and differences through promoting teamwork, inclusiveness and humility. At its worst, we’ve seen sport do the opposite.
Obviously those involved in school sports aim to create a culture within every school which fosters the best of what all of us can be. Those places that do this best have created a culture in every hallway, classroom, playing field and gymnasium filled with diverse students pulling for one another and working together regardless of the different backgrounds, races, religions, abilities, physical stature or academic acumen of each person. A culture of understanding and acceptance is what we strive for in each of our school communities.
On Nov. 24, such a scene played out on the grand stage of the playing surface at Ford Field in Detroit. In what we hope will be the launching pad for many more such events, Unified Sports competitors from four MHSAA member schools competed simultaneously in two games prior to the MHSAA Division 7 Football Final.
Unified Sports is an inclusive sports program within Special Olympics which pairs students with and without intellectual disabilities as teammates for training and competition.
From the time competitors walked through the tunnel to perform in front of family, friends, and the appreciative crowds from New Lothrop and Madison Heights Madison awaiting kickoff for the 10 a.m. game, the enthusiasm was unmatched.
Following competition these Unified teams were given tours of the facility, including a visit to the Detroit Lions locker room. We intended to deliver a day filled with an experience and memory for a lifetime for our guests, and feedback suggests that was accomplished. But, make no mistake, the session left lasting impressions on the staff here at the MHSAA, as well.
Brighton, Holt, Mason and Sparta – schools represented at the 2018 Football Finals – are among the 300-plus schools statewide which are Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools®, and it is our hope that the number continues to grow around Michigan and throughout the country.
The MHSAA and Michigan Special Olympics have a wonderful relationship, and we will continue to plan with our valued partner for future events as opportunities present themselves.
There is no limit to the benefits of these games and such a partnership. And, no limit to the enthusiasm of its participants who are helping to redefine school cultures by helping us break down barriers and build inclusive school communities around this great state.
***
By Rob Kaminski
MHSAA benchmarks editor
The pass was lofted high, and floating toward the end zone nearest the tunnel where teams enter the playing surface at Ford Field.
As players from both teams converged, the intended receiver came away with the ball, clutching his prize and raising his arms in jubilant triumph.
It was arguably the best catch of the Thanksgiving weekend football feast in Detroit, and undoubtedly a memory this player will never forget. Moments later, the ear-to-ear grin remained as he high-fived spectators and family members on the way to the tunnel and up to the locker room.
And all of this happened before the second day of MHSAA 11-Player Football Finals kicked off Saturday, Nov. 24.
The play was one of many memorable moments to take place during the first-ever Unified Champion School event held in conjunction with the MHSAA Football Finals. If this year’s exhibition was any indication, it will be the first of many to come.
“The event far exceeded our expectations, and in discussions with the students, coaches and parents involved, I think it exceeded their expectations as well,” said MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl. “The feedback was positive, and the thanks and appreciation we received was overwhelming.”
Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® (UCS) is an education-based project that uses sports and education programs to activate young people to develop school communities where all youth are agents of change – fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities.
Last summer, as Uyl was settling into his role as executive director at the MHSAA, Tim Hileman was acclimating himself to a similar role with Michigan Special Olympics. Both were replacing long-time leaders – Jack Roberts at the MHSAA and Lois Arnold at Special Olympics, who both had served their organizations for more than three decades.
The similarities brought Uyl and Hileman together, and they began to nurture seeds that had been planted by their predecessors.
“Mark reached out when the announcement was made that I was to become CEO of Michigan Special Olympics,” said Hileman. “We strongly believed in the benefits of a partnership between the two organizations. We talked about long-term plans and the goal of growing a culture of inclusion within our schools. A more immediate component was exploring existing opportunities to highlight a partnership, and what greater way to do that than at Ford Field during one of the most prominent weekends of the MHSAA sports season?”
The inaugural event included students from Brighton, Holt, Mason and Sparta school districts, each of which sponsor Unified teams.
Brighton, which has been in the game since 2016-17 and involves a combined 75 general education students and students with intellectual disabilities (I.D. students), recently earned national recognition for its Unified program.
“Andy Doupe, a faculty member who teaches special education here, brought the initiative to our district and it was a no-brainer that we needed to implement the program,” said John Thompson, athletic director at Brighton High School and a member of the MHSAA Representative Council. “It was a great opportunity to be supportive of all students in our community.”
Brighton Unified coach and faculty member Jody Renicker has helped take the lead.
“The foundation of Unified Sports is pretty simple,” Renicker said. “It's the idea that training and competing together is one of the fastest ways to friendship and understanding. The students discover that they are much more alike than they are different. This helps to dissolve the preconceptions and stereotypes often associated with people with disabilities.”
Just up the road in Holt, that community was gaining its own recognition, bringing home the Gold Medal from the USA Flag Football Championships in Seattle last summer. The lessons and experiences proved even more valuable.
“Athletes roomed with UCS partners,” said Val Suszko, a coach for the Holt/Mason program, which involves roughly 80 students with and without disabilities and is in its sixth year of existence. “The friendship that they developed over those 10 days was priceless. They are friends for life. They care for and protect each other. Without this experience, they wouldn’t have ever met.”
That’s the overriding goal of Unified athletics: to break down barriers within schools and communities while introducing young people to those with various challenges, offering opportunities to lead and assist.
“The inclusion of special needs kids and how it makes them feel is a wonderful part of the school community and program,” Thompson said. “We have a young lady with a prosthetic leg who never wore shorts because she was embarrassed. Now, being part of our basketball team, she wears shorts all the time.
“Naturally there’s a huge upside for the special needs students, but the general ed kids are being provided an opportunity to grow and develop leadership skills. The experiences open some eyes and break down some divisions that exist to make for an improved culture throughout the school. The melding of kids with different backgrounds of any kind is always good for perspective.”
Unified programs offer increased participation opportunity for the general education population as well as the I.D. students. For students who may not make the cut for school teams, or prefer to focus on academics or part-time jobs, the Unified option provides just what they are seeking. Others are varsity athletes looking for competition outside their preferred sport seasons.
“We receive a lot of interest from those partners who might have wanted to play on freshman, JV, or varsity teams but couldn’t meet the eligibility requirements or physically do not make the cuts at those levels of team tryouts,” said Renne Wyman, Unified coach at Sparta High School. “So they wander into the gym and join us. What happens is, the level of play ratchets up a notch or two. These kids initially come here to play, not necessarily help the intellectually disabled kids.
“But, then they start giving shooting advice, or directing them where to move offensively or whom to cover defensively. Suddenly they are talking to each other, and no adult staged the mentoring. It carries on between quarters, at halftime, before games and practices. They start texting and offering a seat in the cafeteria at lunch. I’m talking about major culture change in our building.”
This type of interaction serves to reduce the number of negative incidents in the hallways.
“Statistics show that these programs have proven to reduce bullying of the intellectually disabled population,” said Suszko of Holt/Mason. “To have an organized sports team and school support team is invaluable. The students with intellectual disabilities gain so much. They train together, play together and develop friendships through sports with the general school population.”
With such important life lessons in the balance, and 300-plus schools around Michigan sponsoring school programs, the time was right to further shine a spotlight on the product. In the past, Unified basketball events have been showcased during MHSAA Hoopfest events in conjunction with the Boys Basketball Finals, and it was time to take the next step.
“A partnership between the MHSAA and Special Olympics is a natural fit, and our goal is to assist in promoting inclusiveness and leadership components of Unified Champion Schools as opportunities at our tournaments allow,” Uyl said. “These are such worthwhile endeavors, and the student-athletes involved truly symbolize the best in school sports.”
The Ford Field event provided a chance for some serious competition on the field, along with countless smiles – and some tears – from onlookers and support groups following the action.
“My favorite story from that day came as Mark (Uyl) was addressing the group in the Lions locker room and thanking them for being there,” Hileman said. “I looked into the corner of the room and there’s a man – pretty good sized, tough-looking – standing there with his wife, and they’ve got tears in their eyes. The dad came up and told me, ‘I never thought I’d see my son play any kind of sport, and here he is at Ford Field. I’ll never forget this, and never watch a Lions game without thinking of this.’
“So many of our athletes are told what they can't do. Special Olympics is about showing what they can do.”
For Suszko, the highlights began earlier in the morning.
“The most memorable moment for me was watching the expressions on all of the athletes’ faces as they walked through the tunnel onto the field,” she said. “What a great opportunity. The hospitality that Mark Uyl, Nate Hampton, and the rest of the staff gave us was appreciated so much. The parents were excited. They loved seeing their athlete participating alongside the other high school football teams. Watching barriers being broken and teamwork being established is what inclusion is all about.”
There were plenty of emotions to go around, from the guests and the hosts.
“The kids and parents were over the moon when the invitation came. Ford Field, the MHSAA Finals, it really resonated with the kids, the school and families,” Thompson said. “Nate and Mark and all staff involved went out of their way to make it a wonderful and meaningful experience. They did more for the families and kids than anyone expected. We are very appreciative of the MHSAA continuing to work toward inclusion, and events like these help to spread the word.”
Spreading the word will help bolster an already strong movement both in Michigan and nationally. Hileman is excited for the future in partnering with the MHSAA for events like the one in November, which generate a high level of enthusiasm. In the near future, he has some more immediate goals.
“We are concentrating on expanding league play. That’s what sports are; athletes competing, and our athletes want to compete,” Hileman said. “We have league play in the O-K Conference, and in the Lansing area. Our goal and vision is to continue to build on the Unified conference experience; more competitions during the season.”
The Sparta program has been in place for four years, and numbers have increased from a handful to a total of 60 partners and Special Olympics athletes combined. Volunteers are a vital part of the initiative, and Wyman says hundreds of people donate their time at affiliated service projects held twice yearly. The school offers Unified flag football at the league/conference level each fall, Unified ski/snowboard on a smaller scale, Unified basketball at the league/conference level in the winter, and is looking to add Unified track & field at the league/conference level this spring.
Make no mistake; athletes of all kinds like to compete.
“My kids are learning the game like they never did before. The partners don’t dumb down the vocabulary or slow down what they teach. This occurs in real-time scrimmaging with a need to adjust quickly,” said Wyman. “So our Unified athletes are being coached and challenged to increase their skill and conditioning at a level I just can’t replicate in my Special Olympics Physical Education class where no partners are present.”
One also cannot replicate the related successes outside the gyms and away from the fields, where Wyman reports that I.D. students are now being offered rides to school for dances and athletic events, improving their grades to be eligible to participate in the program and becoming healthier through the activities, all while gaining confidence in themselves.
Renicker believes that seeing is believing, and encourages people to attend events in neighboring communities. The impression will likely spur action.
“My No. 1 suggestion would be to come and witness how special a Unified Game is,” Renicker said. “It will give you hope for our future and highlight some pretty amazing things that are going on in schools every day that don't make the front page of the newspaper. I feel so lucky to be part of a school community that values this program and the culture it has created.”
Hileman recently attended a national Special Olympics event and heard International Chairman of Special Olympics Dr. Timothy Shriver proclaim his dream: that just as every high school sponsors boys and girls athletic programs, he hopes that one day every high school in the country will become a Unified Champion School.
It is a big dream, but the slightest nudge can put things in motion, as Wyman has seen.
“It can start small. You only need one or two partners to commit and you can get something going,” Wyman said. “A lot of kids would love to help in supporting roles, whether it’s running sporting events, officiating, keeping stats, designing, or organizing. In the beginning, it is one person reaching out to one school seeing if they can get together and play the game.”
With that, the guidance of Special Olympics, and assistance from partners like the MHSAA, maybe the ball can keep rolling all the way around the state.
***
Inclusion is Primary Mission of Special Olympics UCS
Team sports bring people together. Special Olympics Unified Sports® teams do that, too, and much more.
About 1.4 million people worldwide take part in Unified Sports, breaking down stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities in a really fun way. ESPN has served as the Global Presenting Sponsor of Special Olympics Unified Sports since 2013, supporting the growth and expansion of this program that empowers individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to engage through the power of sports.
Promoting Social Inclusion Through Sport
Special Olympics is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. In Unified Sports, teams are made up of people of similar age and ability. That makes practices more fun and games more challenging and exciting for all. Having sport in common is just one more way that preconceptions and false ideas are swept away.
States Embracing Unified Sports
Young people with disabilities do not often get a chance to play on their school sports teams. More and more states are adopting the Unified Sports approach that Special Olympics pioneered.
Unified Sports is also an integral part of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools, which was founded in 2008 and funded through the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education to use Special Olympics as a way to build inclusion and tolerance in schools. Unified Sports are now in more than 4,500 elementary, middle and high schools in the United States. Seventy percent of Unified Champion Schools (Pre-K through Grade 12) are engaging in Unified Sports! Also 215 U.S. colleges and universities have Special Olympics College Clubs on campus, providing ongoing Unified and inclusionary activities for students and Special Olympics athletes. Seventy-three of the 215 U.S. colleges and universities activating Special Olympics College conduct ongoing Unified Sports on their campuses. Learn how to get involved at www.playunified.org.
Mission: Inclusion
As part of the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International “Mission: Inclusion” partnership, the LCI youth network-Leos have become a strong global partner in expanding and implementing Unified Sports together with Special Olympics. The Leos have helped start and sustain Unified Sports in a number of nations worldwide, and serve as one of the movement’s strongest youth leadership networks in bringing inclusive programming to communities across the world. From Zimbabwe to Brazil and from California to India, the Leos continue to amplify the voice of athletes and embody the creed: Play Unified. Live Unified.
Major sports organization, league and event support to Play Unified
Many high-profile, professional sports organizations and events have also showcased Unified Sports as a vehicle to show the power of inclusive sports! This support includes:
• National Basketball Association (NBA)
• Major League Soccer (MLS)
• Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)
• National Collegiate Athletic Association, D-III
• ESPN's X Games Aspen
• National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
• National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA)
PHOTOS: (Top) Unified teams from Brighton and Mason/Holt play during the second day of the MHSAA 11-Player Football Finals at Ford Field. (Top middle) Participants from those three schools and Sparta took part in the morning's games. (Middle) Sparta athletes stand together for the national anthem. (Below middle) A Brighton coach and players exchange high fives. (Below) Brighton's Unified basketball team plays during a celebration for receiving national recognition last fall. (Photos by John Johnson.)
Preview: Familiar Favorites, New Challengers Sure to Energize Competitive Cheer Finals
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 5, 2026
The return of the top four placers in all four divisions – and 23 of 32 teams total – from last year’s MHSAA Competitive Cheer Finals guarantees renewed rivalries, fierce competition and plenty of storylines this weekend at Central Michigan University’s McGuirk Arena.
It’s also easy to anticipate that an expected 7,000+ fans pouring in over the next two days will follow tradition in creating one of the most electric atmospheres of any MHSAA championship event this school year.
Division 4 leads off the weekend at 2 p.m. Friday, followed by Division 1 at 6:30 p.m. Division 3 starts Saturday’s competitions at 11 a.m., with Division 2 finishing the weekend at 3:30 p.m. The full schedule, plus information on purchasing tickets and how to watch online are all available on the Competitive Cheer page of MHSAA.com.
Division 1
BRIGHTON
Ranking: No. 3
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West & overall
Coach: Christina Wilson-Peacock, 14th season
Championship history: Class A runner-up 1999.
Top score: 792.10.
Team composition: 27 total (seven seniors, 11 juniors, five sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: Brighton improved from sixth in 2024 to fifth at last season’s Final and enters this weekend coming off District and Regional championships. The Bulldogs have scored 779 or more points in every competition and broken 790 three times. Seniors Sofia Tepper and Aubrie Sutton-Gates earned all-state honorable mention last season.
GRANDVILLE
Ranking: No. 4
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Coach: Julie Smith-Boyd, 45th season
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2015), 10 runner-up finishes.
Top score: 791.22.
Team composition: 32 total (seven seniors, eight juniors, 14 sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Grandville could be on the verge of another jump after winning its District, finishing second at its Regional and improving from eighth in 2024 to sixth at last season’s Final. A 790.48 at the District was the team’s second-highest score of the season, and the Bulldogs also have broken 790 three times total. Senior Avery Johnson made the all-state second team last season, and senior Maddy Denman earned honorable mention.
HARTLAND
Ranking: No. 7
League finish: Second in KLAA West
Coach: Candace Fahr, ninth season
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2013.
Top score: 788.14 at District.
Team composition: 30 total (four seniors, seven juniors, 10 sophomores, nine freshmen).
Outlook: The Eagles are coming off back-to-back fourth-place Finals finishes and will make another push after finishing a close runner-up to Brighton in the KLAA West and also placing second at the overall league championship meet. Junior Mia Marra made the all-state second team last season, and senior Chloe Setlock earned honorable mention.
MACOMB L’ANSE CREUSE NORTH
Ranking: No. 8
League finish: First in Macomb Area Conference Red
Coach: Lauren Turner, sixth season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 786.50 at Regional.
Team composition: 30 total (10 seniors, eight juniors, eight sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: L’Anse Creuse North is back at the Finals for the third time in four seasons and after not qualifying a year ago, and advanced by posting its season-best score to finish fourth at a Regional that included six ranked teams. The Crusaders have broken 780 four times this season, all over their most recent five meets. Senior Addison Waters earned all-region honorable mention last season.
ROCHESTER
Ranking: No. 2
League finish: Second in Oakland Activities Association Red
Coach: Samantha Dean, fourth season
Championship history: 15 MHSAA titles (most recent 2023), one runner-up finish.
Top score: 793.78 twice, including at Regional.
Team composition: 30 total (10 seniors, 12 juniors, four sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: After finishing second at last season’s Final by just 32 hundredths of a point, Rochester is rallying in a big way as it upped its score 4.3 points between the District and Regional to go from third to first place, respectively, at those events. The Falcons have broken 790 points seven times this winter and reached 793.70 three times. Seniors Natalie Cote and Claire O’Neill and junior Kara Sawicki made the all-state second team last season.
ROCHESTER ADAMS
Ranking: No. 1
League finish: First in OAA Red
Coach: Brooke Miller, 12th season
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), five runner-up finishes.
Top score: 793.30.
Team composition: 28 total (12 seniors, 10 juniors, four sophomores, two freshmen).
Outlook: Adams placed third at last year’s Final after two straight runner-up finishes, but entered this postseason ranked No. 1 and won its District before finishing third at its Regional. All six of the team’s scores of 790 or higher have come over the Highlanders’ last seven meets. Senior Nikala Hall earned all-state honorable mention a year ago, and senior Libby Schultz and junior Gabriella Montgomery earned all-state recognition in 2024.
ROCHESTER HILLS STONEY CREEK
Ranking: No. 5
League finish: Third in OAA Red
Coach: Tricia Williams, 23rd season
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2025), Division 1 runner-up 2022.
Top score: 791.98 at Regional.
Team composition: 26 total (13 seniors, six juniors, six sophomores, one freshman).
Outlook: Stoney Creek is seeking to become the 13th competitive cheer program in MHSAA history to win at least three Finals championships in a row. The Cougars will attempt to do so coming off runner-up finishes at both their District and Regional, where they posted their two highest overall scores this season. Seniors Mia Badalucco, Audrey Harvath and Natalie Marco made the all-state first team last season, seniors Taylor Brandimarte and Kendall Keller and sophomore Kate Kacy made the second team, and senior Cassidy Niester and junior Isabel Willams earned honorable mentions.
ROMEO
Ranking: Unranked
League finish: Fourth in MAC Red
Coach: Jaclyn Delamielleure, 12th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 780.74 at Regional.
Team composition: 24 total (eight seniors, five juniors, eight sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Romeo qualified for the Finals for the first time by posting its top score this season and snagging fourth place at its Regional by less than a point. The Bulldogs also placed third at their District but are the only team from that group still competing. Romeo bumped up its overall score 3.08 points from the District to the Regional. Senior Claudia Berry made the all-district first team last season.
Division 2
ALLEN PARK
Ranking: No. 1
League finish: First in Downriver League
Coach: Julie Goodwin, 24th season
Championship history: Seven MHSAA titles (most recent 2025), five runner-up finishes.
Top score: 796.10.
Team composition: 23 total (four seniors, seven juniors, seven sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: Allen Park is seeking a third-straight Division 2 championship and sixth over the last seven seasons, and has finished first in all of its competitions this winter. The Jaguars have surpassed 790 points in seven straight meets, and the 796 score in nearly four points higher than their best heading into the Final a year ago. Senior Sophia Ramey and juniors Ella Brown, Peyton Keys and Isabella Robinet made the all-state first team last season, junior Daryn Bailey made the second team, and junior Ava Rice and sophomore Claire Barry earned honorable mentions.
CARLETON AIRPORT
Ranking: No. 6
League finish: First in Huron League
Coach: Emily Dusik, fourth season
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2024), five runner-up finishes.
Top score: 788.34.
Team composition: 21 total (five seniors, nine juniors, four sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Airport finished second in 2024 and third at last season’s Final, and has shown the potential to pile up points again this winter with three scores of at least 782 including at their Regional where they finished fourth among a field that included seven ranked teams. Seniors Kaddie McDonald and Jocelyn Kleman made the all-state first team last season, seniors Reese Kopsi and Lilyann Books made the second, and juniors Isabella Mulvin and Grace Post earned honorable mentions.
GIBRALTAR CARLSON
Ranking: No. 2
League finish: Second in Downriver League
Coach: Alyssa Tocco, fifth season
Championship history: 12 MHSAA titles (most recent 2023), eight runner-up finishes.
Top score: 795.20.
Team composition: 26 total (two seniors, eight juniors, 10 sophomores, six freshmen).
Outlook: After finishing first or second at 16 of the last 18 Division 2 Finals, Carlson is sure to be in the championship mix again and has scored at least 780 points in all but one meet this season – and 790 or higher five times. All of this is more impressive as the team has only two seniors, but still a solid group with big-meet experience. Junior Kaitlyn Skinner and sophomore Jillian Gates made the all-state second team last season, and juniors Josi Farago and Payton Archer earned honorable mentions.
MASON
Ranking: No. 8
League finish: First in Capital Area Activities Conference Red
Coach: Angela Boerkoel, 14th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 783.94.
Team composition: 24 total (four seniors, four juniors, five sophomores, 11 freshmen).
Outlook: Mason is back at the Finals after two seasons away and has put together an impressive run finishing first or second at all of its competitions and winning its District and Regional. The Bulldogs jumped from seventh at last year’s Regional to win by nearly 12 points this time. Seniors Chloe Showers, Ella Bahl and Hayden Surbrook and junior Mikayla Rice made the all-district first team in 2025.
MIDDLEVILLE THORNAPPLE KELLOGG
Ranking: Unranked
League finish: First in O-K Gold
Coach: Madelynn Lula, third season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 773.94 at District.
Team composition: 22 total (eight seniors, one junior, eight sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: MTK also is back after a year away and will compete at its third Final in four seasons. The Trojans have placed among the top three at all of their competitions and followed up the league championship with runner-up finishes at both their District and Regional. Senior Mia Hilton made the all-region first team last season, and senior Claira Kovich earned honorable mention.
PLAINWELL
Ranking: No. 10
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference
Coach: Kylie Cook, seventh season
Championship history: Class B champion 2000, Class B runner-up 2001.
Top score: 777.28 at District.
Team composition: 22 total (10 seniors, seven sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: Plainwell has finished first or second at 10 of its 12 meets this winter and posted its top score by nearly 12 points in winning its District. The Trojans improved from seventh at the 2024 Final to fifth last season and could climb again – the 777.28 is nearly 10 points higher than their top score heading into last year’s Final. Senior Mackenzie Meert earned an all-state honorable mention last season.
WALLED LAKE WESTERN
Ranking: No. 5
League finish: Second in Lakes Valley Conference
Co-coaches: Amber Stocks, 16th season; Michelle Frey, 14th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 785.50.
Team composition: 20 total (eight seniors, four juniors, six sophomores, two freshmen).
Outlook: Western placed fourth at last season’s Final and is building toward another big finish with its top two overall scores this winter coming while taking second at its District and third at its Regional, the latter as part of a field that included seven ranked teams. The Warriors also finished first or second at 10 of their 12 meets. Senior Hannah Fore and junior Audrey Breitmeyer made the all-state second team last season, and juniors Ella Spiess and Mariana Gonzalez earned honorable mentions.
ZEELAND WEST
Ranking: Unranked
League finish: First in O-K Black/White
Coach: Emillie Gort, 14th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 766.18 at District.
Team composition: 23 total (three seniors, seven juniors, six sophomores, seven freshmen).
Outlook: After the making the Finals last season for the first time, West is headed back for the second year in a row and coming off a third-place finish at its Regional after taking fourth at its District. The Dux won seven of their nine regular-season competitions, and their top score is nearly five points higher than heading into last year’s Final. Senior Addysen Miller earned an all-state honorable mention last season.
Division 3
ARMADA
Ranking: No. 3
League finish: Second in Blue Water Area Conference
Coach: Deanna Misiak, 10 season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 783.04.
Team composition: 25 total (five seniors, two juniors, 11 sophomores, seven freshmen).
Outlook: Armada has finished an impressive fourth the last two seasons and will once again look to contend after placing third at both their District and Regional while competing against BWAC champ Richmond and reigning Division 3 winner Notre Dame Prep. The Tigers finished first or second at all of their regular-season competitions. Senior Madison Porter and sophomore Madelyn LaMontagne made the all-state second team last season, and sophomores Hannah Koss and Chloe Langbeen earned honorable mentions.
CHARLOTTE
Ranking: Unranked
League finish: Third in CAAC White
Coach: Jade Bowhall, third season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 752.76.
Team composition: 19 total (eight seniors, five juniors, two sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: Charlotte returned to the Finals last season and finished sixth, and will seek to climb after finishing among the top three at all of its competitions this winter. Seniors make up nearly half the roster, and Ava Waterman made the all-state second team last season.
GRAND RAPIDS WEST CATHOLIC
Ranking: Unranked
League finish: Third in O-K Gold
Coach: Anna Ramirez, 12th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 743.80.
Team composition: 18 total (three seniors, five juniors, six sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: Grand Rapids West Catholic advanced from its District – finishing second – and scored its second-highest total of the season to finish fourth at the Regional and qualify for the Finals for the first time since 1996. Senior Kate Steffens earned an all-region honorable mention last season.
GROSSE ILE
Ranking: No. 4
League finish: Fourth in Huron League
Coach: Angela Raithel, ninth season
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2010), two runner-up finishes.
Top score: 782.02 at District.
Team composition: 21 total (two seniors, six juniors, seven sophomores, six freshmen).
Outlook: Grosse Ile finished runner-up last season, its best Finals performance since winning the Division 3 title in 2010. The Red Devils graduated seven from that team but have ascended again and won their District by 24 points before taking fourth at a Regional that had seven top-10 teams in the field. Juniors Laynie Gratz and Kamryn Waddell made the all-state first team last season, and juniors Rylie Gratz and Delaney Davis made the second team.
HOWARD CITY TRI COUNTY
Ranking: No. 5
League finish: First in Central State Activities Association
Coach: Jennifer Laskey, 22nd season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: N/A.
Team composition: 21 total (three seniors, one junior, eight sophomores, nine freshmen).
Outlook: Tri County has reached the Finals for the fifth-straight season and after moving up to fifth place a year ago, their best of this recent run. The Vikings also graduated seven last spring, but have returned with several underclassmen and by winning their District and Regional competitions both by at least 10 points. Senior Briana Cheatham made the all-state first team last season, and senior Violet Bellamy earned honorable mention.
LAKE ODESSA LAKEWOOD
Ranking: No. 6
League finish: First in CAAC White
Coach: Kim Martin, 32nd season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 763.86.
Team composition: 16 total (two seniors, seven juniors, four sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: The Vikings have returned to the Finals after a year away, and after placing third at their first competition won the rest during the regular season and finished second at their District and Regional. Senior Taylor Carpenter made the all-region second team last season, and junior Skylarr Anderson earned honorable mention.
PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP
Ranking: No. 2
League finish: Does not compete in a conference.
Coach: Jocelyn Welsh, third season
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2025), five runner-up finishes.
Top score: 787.50
Team composition: 22 total (seven seniors, six juniors, six sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: After two straight runner-up finishes, Notre Dame Prep won its first championship last winter since 2018 and will seek to repeat this weekend after finishing second to top-ranked Richmond at their District but winning their Regional by more than six points. The Fighting Irish have scored at least 782 points their last four competitions. Senior Jenna Robin and junior Eva Thomas made the all-state first team last season, and senior Madeline Rennwald, junior Sadie Shook and sophomore Holly Haras earned honorable mentions.
RICHMOND
Ranking: No. 1
League finish: First in Blue Water Area Conference
Coach: Kelli Matthes, 18th season
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), five runner-up finishes.
Top score: 788.62.
Team composition: 28 total (six seniors, seven juniors, nine sophomores, six freshmen).
Outlook: Richmond is looking to move up from third last season, and their scores certainly make that possible; the Blue Devils reached 788 in three straight meets before the Regional, winning their District ahead of No. 2 Notre Dame Prep by more than three points. Richmond also won all of its competitions this season before the Regional second place, impressive again as the BWAC has three teams competing this weekend and had four ranked among the top seven heading into the postseason. Sophomores Paisley Kolakowski and Ana Lovett made the all-state first team last season, senior Ava Widmaier made the second team, and senior Elizabeth Schafter and junior Anna Jagoda earned honorable mentions.
Division 4
HANOVER-HORTON
Ranking: No. 2
League finish: First in Cascades Conference
Coach: Sarah DuBois, fifth season
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2025.
Top score: 754.86 at District.
Team composition: 18 total (four seniors, four juniors, five sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: Hanover-Horton completed its ascent with its first Finals championship last season, and is pursuing a repeat after winning its District and finishing second at its Regional to top-ranked Pewamo-Westphalia. Prior to the Regional, the Comets had scored at least 748 opponents in three straight meets and have topped 751 twice this winter. Senior Aley Ketcham and juniors Maya Mason and Brynlee Swihart made the all-state first team last season, and senior Sydney Waffle and sophomore Renee Rodriguez earned honorable mentions.
HUDSON
Ranking: No. 5
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Coach: Kelly Bailey, 29th season
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2024), six runner-up finishes.
Top score: 747.68 at District.
Team composition: 14 total (three seniors, five juniors, six freshmen).
Outlook: Hudson saw its five-year championship streak end last season, but still finished a notable fourth and has returned this weekend after winning its District by 17 points and finishing third at a Regional that included P-W and Hanover-Horton among five ranked teams total. Junior Emmalin Rodifer made the all-state first team last season, and juniors Brooke Worrell and Paige Butts made the second.
MERRILL
Ranking: Unranked
League finish: First in Mid-State Activities Conference
Coach: Jena Glazier, sixth season
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2014.
Top score: 702.36 at Regional.
Team composition: 15 total (four seniors, three juniors, four sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: Merrill is returning to the Finals for the first time since 2018 and put up a big performance to get here, bumping up its previous high score this season by nearly 27 points to advance. The Vandals also made the jump after finishing sixth at their District a year ago, this time placing third and then fourth at their Regional. Sophomore Alexis Monk earned all-district recognition last season.
NORTH MUSKEGON
Ranking: Unranked
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference
Coach: Melody Zziwambazza, fifth season
Championship history: Class D champion 1997, two runner-up finishes.
Top score: 710.34 at Regional.
Team composition: 15 total (three seniors, five juniors, two sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: North Muskegon is back at the Finals after a season away and made an impressive jump to earn the trip, besting its previous high score this season by 15 points to earn a third-place Regional finish. The Norsemen also moved up from fifth at last year’s District to second this time. Seniors Naomi Zziwambazza and Gabrielle Benedict and juniors Anna Koman and Maura McRae earned all-district honors last winter.
NORWAY
Ranking: No. 4
League finish: Does not compete in a conference.
Coach: Hailey Micoley, fourth season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 761.68 at District.
Team composition: 17 total (three seniors, nine juniors, four sophomores, one freshman).
Outlook: After returning to the Finals last season for the first time since 2009, Norway is a repeat qualifier and should make a run at climbing the standings after winning all of its competitions except the Regional, where the Knights finished runner-up. They’ve scored at least 726 points in five straight meets. Junior Jenna Ramlow made the all-state second team last season, and junior Amara Humphreys earned an honorable mention.
ONSTED
Ranking: No. 6
League finish: Second in LCAA
Coach: Michelle Goetz, 10th season
Championship history: Class C runner-up 1994.
Top score: 735.96.
Team composition: 12 total (four seniors, two juniors, three sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Onsted is returning to the Finals for the first time since 2020 after finishing second at their District and fourth at their Regional among a field that included five ranked teams. The Wildcats have topped 722 points at five meets and 734 twice. They competed in Division 3 previously, and senior Sofia Priest earned a Division 3 all-region honorable mention in 2025.
PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA
Ranking: No. 1
League finish: Does not compete in a conference
Coach: Staci Myers, 19th season
Championship history: Nine MHSAA titles (most recent 2019), 14 runner-up finishes.
Top score: 780.08 at District.
Team composition: 22 total (six seniors, two juniors, nine sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: The Pirates have finished second at the Finals the last two seasons and could be on the verge of breaking through for a first championship since 2019 after reaching 750 points six times this season and 765 twice – and averaging 748.48. They won their District by 56 points and their Regional by more than 15. Junior Brynn Feldpausch made the all-state first team last season, senior Karsyn Simmon and sophomore Lainey Thelen made the second, and senior Brianna Feldpausch and sophomore Kendalyn Grays earned honorable mentions.
SANFORD MERIDIAN
Ranking: No. 3
League finish: First in Jack Pine Conference
Coach: Val MacKenzie, 36th season
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2018.
Top score: 751.74.
Team composition: 16 total (one senior, seven juniors, three sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: Meridian has finished first or second at all but one competition this season, winning both its District and Regional, and topped 740 points eight times and 750 twice. The Mustangs also are seeking to climb after improving from fifth at the 2024 Final to third a year ago. Junior Marlee Kelly made the all-state first team last season, juniors Ellie Beach and Payton Mathe made the second team and junior Alyza Molski earned an honorable mention.
PHOTOS (Top) Division 1 contenders take the mat prior to the start of their 2025 Final at McGuirk Arena. (Middle) Pewamo-Westphalia competes at its Division 4 Regional last weekend. (P-W photo by Jim Pivarnik.)