10 to Remember: 2012-13 Finals
June 27, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Championships are culminations of season-long journeys, concluding with the most exciting competitions of the year but steeped in back stories that make those crowning achievements mean so much more.
The Michigan High School Athletic Association awards 127 team championships each school year. Anyone picking 10 favorites could come up with at least 13 different lists.
So the list that follows likely won’t agree with many others. But here’s one person’s take on the 10 most incredible MHSAA Finals performances – focusing mostly on the final competition but with some back story built in – from the 2012-13 school year. (Click on headings for full stories.)
10. Special teams lead to special accomplishment for Brother Rice
Birmingham Brother Rice and Muskegon had combined for 12 MHSAA football championships entering the Finals. But in winning their eighth, the Warriors also accomplished a first in 44 seasons under coach Al Fracassa – their first back-to-back titles. They went ahead in the eventual 35-28 win on a cross-field lateral that turned into a 91-yard kickoff return with 2:13 to play.
9. Lakewood volleyball ends championship wait ...
Lake Odessa Lakewood coach Kellie Rowland has won 787 matches during her 15 seasons over two tenures leading the program, and frequently had brought the Vikings to the cusp of their first MHSAA title. They finally got it by defeating perennial power North Branch in three games in the Class B championship match.
8. ... and so does Bay City Western baseball
The Warriors earned coach Tim McDonald his first MHSAA championship game victory to go with 562 more wins over 21 seasons. Bay City Western won 1-0 in both the Semifinal and then Final over Brother Rice to secure its first baseball title and a 42-2 finish.
7. “Core 4” leave Mona Shores with four more
Seniors Hailey Hrynewich, Morgan Smith, Britni Gielow and Kelsey McKinley finished their high school careers as starters on four MHSAA championship teams, including the one that won the Lower Peninsula Division 2 Final this school year by 41 strokes. Hrynewich and Smith both posted top-five individual finishes as Mona Shores shot a two-day 666 at their final championship tournament.
6. Grand Ledge gymnastics sets the bar
Number six on this list makes sense for the Comets, who won their sixth straight MHSAA team championship to set the all-time longest title streak in the sport. They did so with the fifth-highest score in MHSAA Finals history – 149.350 – and despite graduating the Division 1 all-around champion the spring before.
5. Seniors say good-bye at LP Division 1 Final
Grosse Pointe South’s Hannah Meier and West Bloomfield’s Erin Finn brought national acclaim to the Detroit suburbs over the last two years with dominating performances in track and cross country. They finished their careers at the LP Division 1 Track & Field Final, where Meier set all-MHSAA Finals records in the 800 and 1,600 and Finn set an all-Finals record in the 3,200. In the fall, Finn and Meier finished first and second, respectively, at the LP Division 1 Cross Country Final.
4. Fowlerville standout reaches the stars
Gladiators senior Adam Coon, once an aspiring astronaut now turned aspiring aerospace engineer, became the 17th wrestler in MHSAA history to win four individual Finals championships. And he became the first to do so at the two heaviest weights, earning his titles at 215 and 285 pounds. He graduated with a career record of 211-3 and a 194-match winning streak.
3. Swimming with speed in Saline
Saline also won its fourth straight MHSAA title, in Lower Peninsula Division 1, anchored by seniors David Boland, Josh Ehrman, Michael Bundas and Adam Whitener. Combined, they hold four Finals individual and two relay records, and Ehrman graduated with all-Finals records in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke. Those four also leave with the 200 medley relay all-Finals record – with their time of 1:30.01 good for third-best in the national record book.
2. Michell sits atop MHSAA medal count
Reed City’s Sami Michell is one of two girls in MHSAA history to win four events at a Track & Field Final – a feat she accomplished both this season and last. And she finished her career this month with 12 individual titles overall, two more than the previous Lower Peninsula record. She graduated with LP Division 3 Finals records in both hurdles races and the long jump, and her 300 hurdles time of 42.23 is an all-Finals record.
1. Football Finals end in overtime classic
The most exciting MHSAA Football Final likely was the last of Thanksgiving weekend – a 40-37 overtime win by Grand Rapids Christian over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s that gave the Eagles the Division 3 title. And at least on this list, it counts as the most exciting of all the buzzer-beating, one-point, by one millimeter endings to the MHSAA’s 127 Finals this school year.
The Saturday night crowd at Ford Field was treated to an incredible performance by Eagles receiver Drake Harris, who had eight catches for a record 243 yards and touchdown and was nearly unstoppable as Grand Rapids Christian drove down the stretch. Quarterback Alex VanDeVusse threw for 307 yards, fourth-most in MHSAA Finals history, as the frazzled nerves of fans, players and coaches alike hung on every play. St. Mary’s ran for 459 of the single-team Finals record 579 yards of total offense; the teams combined for another record of 1,033 total yards between them. And at the end, the game was decided on a 27-yard field goal by Joel Schipper, who had connected on a 28-yarder with four seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime.
PHOTO:Saline swimmers take a celebratory dip after claiming their fourth straight Lower Peninsula Division 1 championship.
Century of School Sports: State's Storytellers Share Spring Memories
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 8, 2025
With the start of spring sports, the MHSAA’s “Century of School Sports” celebration has begun its final lap.
Every week we’ve told at least a few stories from these last 100 years – and today, we present our third and final installment of favorite sports memories from statewide media, our historian and MHSAA staff.
Below are their most unforgettable moments from spring.
Homer Sets Standard with 56-Game Baseball Winning Streak
Ron Pesch, MHSAA historian
Recognizing the contrasting challenges that face teams in various eras to set or break records, it was great fun to track Homer's successful attempt to match, then exceed Grand Haven's 43-year-old record, then chase a national record for consecutive baseball victories.
There's something about the small-town excitement knitted into such a chase. Grand Haven set the mark back before an MHSAA-sponsored state tournament commenced in 1971. Inherently built into such an accomplishment is an evolving roster that spans multiple seasons, when a single season featured only 20 to 30 or so games. (Only one Buccaneer player was part of all the Buccaneers' 56-straight victories.)
Because of the postseason, Homer's annual slate featured more games, but came with the additional challenge of squaring off against more talented teams as the playoffs progressed. Homer's record-setting win came during a homefield doubleheader against Reading during the 2005 regular season – ironically against the school which gave the Trojans their last loss in the 2003 Regional Semifinal. Victorious in both games that day against Reading, Homer extended the run through 75-consecutive contests – a national record, since topped – that ended in June with a 7-6 loss to Saginaw Nouvel in the MHSAA Division 3 Final.
Truly an Unforgettable Classic
Tim Staudt, WILX (Lansing), in 54th year of broadcasting
The one memory from the spring season that immediately jumps to mind is the 2006 Diamond Classic final between Homer and Grand Ledge. Grand Ledge would come back to win the game 7-6 with players from the Lansing Lugnuts in the dugout watching to see how the game was going to end.
This was one more remarkable Grand Ledge baseball achievement under coach Pat O’Keefe. It would be Homer’s only loss of the 2006 season, as they went 38-1 and won the Division 4 championship, a year after winning a then-national record 75 straight games.
Career Crosses Paths with State’s 2 Winningest on Baseball Diamond
Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal
In two media markets I have worked in in the state, I’ve had the privilege to cover two of the state’s most decorated baseball coaches in Blissfield’s Larry Tuttle and Grand Ledge’s Pat O’Keefe, who are both members of the Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame.
I worked in Adrian when Larry Tuttle joined the 1,000-win club in June of 2008. After moving to the Lansing market, I got to document the final portion of O’Keefe’s special career that he ended as the all-time wins leader before eventually being passed by Tuttle.
Legendary Softball Team Ends Legendary Run
Geoff Kimmerly, MHSAA Communications Director and formerly of Lansing State Journal
I stepped into the Lansing State Journal fulltime lineup in January 2000 amid the senior years of two of the greatest athletes in local and statewide high school sports history – Lansing Waverly’s Marcus Taylor, who led his team to the Class A basketball title that March, and Okemos’ Jessica Beech, who had pitched her softball team to the Division 1 championship in 1999 and remains the most accomplished three-sport athlete in mid-Michigan history.
Dating back to that title run, Beech had earned an MHSAA-record 57 straight pitching victories heading into a Division 1 Regional Semifinal on June 10, 2000, at Lansing Everett. Up next was undefeated Portage Northern. Beech struck out 11 hitters against the team Okemos coach Dan Stolz called “the best his team has faced the past two seasons.” But Northern prevailed 2-0, with sophomore Anna Ollgaard throwing a one-hitter, and went on to finish the season 41-0 and Division 1 champion for the first of three consecutive seasons. The Huskies’ 52-game winning streak started that spring remains the second-longest in MHSAA softball history.
Lectka Becomes Unstoppable in Leaving Livonia Franklin Legacy
Brad Emons, Detroit Free Press (formerly of Observer & Eccentric newspapers)
After falling to Mount Clemens L’Anse Creuse North in the 1985 championship game, 5-0, Livonia Franklin redeemed itself by beating Waterford Kettering, 1-0, in the 1986 Class A Softball Final for its first state title as senior pitcher Tracy Lectka’s threw a no-hitter at Lansing’s Ranney Park.
Lectka tossed back-to-back shutouts, including a 2-0 Semifinal win over South Lyon in a two-day continuation game halted by darkness where Lectka pitched all 20 innings to secure the victory.
Glen Lake’s Superwoman Finishes with Another Historic Run
Mick McCabe, Detroit Free Press since 1970
Heading into the 1992 Class D track & field state championships at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, Maple City Glen Lake’s Marnie Peplinski had to balance the emotions of being confident without being overconfident.
She looked at the performances of the other girls in the Finals and compared them to her efforts. “I knew they were not going to make up two or three seconds in that one day unless they were Superwoman.”
Well, Superwoman did show up at the Finals that day, but she was wearing a Glen Lake uniform.
That day, her final day of being a Michigan high school athlete, Peplinski became the first girl in state history to win four state titles in consecutive years, helping Glen Lake to its second-straight team title. She set Finals records when she won the 100 hurdles (15.06 seconds) and 300 hurdles (44.80). She also won the long jump (17 feet, 5 inches) and was part of the winning 1,600 relay team (4:03.90). She also had won all of those events as a junior, and as a sophomore she won the 300 hurdles, the long jump and the 1,600 relay, which she was a part of as a freshman as well.
The day capped a brilliant high school career for Peplinski, who also earned first-team all-state honors in basketball and volleyball. She went on to compete in track & field and basketball at Central Michigan University.
Brother Rice Sets Standard in Boys Lacrosse
Perry Farrell, MHSAA.com and formerly of Detroit Free Press
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice's run in lacrosse was a showcase of dominance as they started a stretch that saw them win 13 of the first 14 Division 1 championships starting in 2005.
Watch the 2017 Division 1 Final, which Brother Rice won over Detroit Catholic Central 8-7, on the NFHS Network, and see highlights below from that game from State Champs! Sports Network.
Beal City Provides Celebration to Remember
Greg Miller, formerly of 9&10 News (Cadillac)
The 2023 season for Beal City baseball was a special one that ended with a Division 4 championship celebration on the field at McLane Stadium in East Lansing. A year prior, the Aggies, who had been top-ranked nearly the entire season, fell short in the championship game, and they were back seeking redemption.
In a tightly-fought battle in the title game against Plymouth Christian Academy, Beal City answered after surrendering the game's first run in the fourth inning, tying the game in the bottom half of the frame. They then took the lead in the bottom of the sixth.
Star pitcher Cayden Smith, after hitting his pitch limit with one out in the seventh, moved to shortstop and was able to catch the final out of the game, performing a celebratory backflip on the infield grass before being mobbed by his teammates in one of the coolest celebration moments I ever witnessed.
Watch the 2023 Division 4 Final on the NFHS Network.
Previous "Century of School Sports" Spotlights
April 2: Sharp Leadership Synonymous with MHSAA Success - Read
March 25: Athletic Directors Indispensable to Mission of School Sports - Read
March 18: 2025 Finals Begin Next Half-Century of Girls Hoops Championships - Read
March 11: Boys Basketball's Best 1st to Earn MHSAA Finals Titles - Read
March 5: Everything We Do Begins with Participation - Read
Feb. 25: Slogans & Logos Remain Unforgettable Parts of MHSAA History - Read
Feb. 19: MHSAA Tickets Continue to Provide Fan-Friendly Value - Read
Feb. 11: We Recognize Those Who Make Our Games Go - Read
Feb. 4: WISL Conference Continues to Inspire Aspiring Leaders - Read
Jan. 28: Michigan's National Impact Begins at NFHS' Start - Read
Jan. 21: Awards Celebrate Well-Rounded Educational Experience - Read
Jan. 14: Predecessors Laid Foundation for MHSAA's Formation - Read
Jan. 9: MHSAA Blazes Trail Into Cyberspace - Read
Dec. 31: State's Storytellers Share Winter Memories - Read
Dec. 17: MHSAA Over Time - Read
Dec. 10: On This Day, December 13, We Will Celebrate - Read
Dec. 3: MHSAA Work Guided by Representative Council - Read
Nov. 26: Finals Provide Future Pros Early Ford Field Glory - Read
Nov. 19: Connection at Heart of Coaches Advancement Program - Read
Nov. 12: Good Sports are Winners Then, Now & Always - Read
Nov. 5: MHSAA's Home Sweet Home - Read
Oct. 29: MHSAA Summits Draw Thousands to Promote Sportsmanship - Read
Oct. 23: Cross Country Finals Among MHSAA's Longest Running - Read
Oct. 15: State's Storytellers Share Fall Memories - Read
Oct. 8: Guided by 4 S's of Educational Athletics - Read
Oct. 1: Michigan Sends 10 to National Hall of Fame - Read
Sept. 25: MHSAA Record Books Filled with 1000s of Achievements - Read
Sept. 18: Why Does the MHSAA Have These Rules? - Read
Sept. 10: Special Medals, Patches to Commemorate Special Year - Read
Sept. 4: Fall to Finish with 50th Football Championships - Read
Aug. 28: Let the Celebration Begin - Read
PHOTOS (Top) From left: Homer's Josh Collmenter throws a pitch during the 2004 Finals, Maple City Glen Lake's Marnie Peplinski long jumps in 1992, the Brother Rice boys lacrosse team celebrates its 2019 championship, and the Portage Northern softball team takes a photo after finishing an undefeated 2000 season. (2) The Lansing State Journal sports section details Grand Ledge's comeback to defeat Homer at the Diamond Classic in Lansing. (3) Livonia Franklin's softball team takes a team photo after finishing its 1986 Class A title run. (4) Cayden Smith's backflip kicks off Beal City's 2023 championship celebration. (MHSAA file photos.)