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.
Breslin Bound: 2024-25 Girls Quarterfinal Preview
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 18, 2025
We always try to celebrate the rare or unique when it comes to MHSAA Tournament success, and we welcome two first-time Regional champions and a few more first-time-in-a-long-time contenders who have advanced to tonight’s Girls Basketball Quarterfinals.
But you’re right on if this field also looks a little familiar.
Of 32 teams competing to reach Breslin Center this time, 16 also played in Quarterfinals in 2024. Of those 16, 10 advanced to last year’s Semifinals – so there is plenty of championship week experience to go around as we look at tonight’s matchups below.
“Breslin Bound” is powered by MI Student Aid and based on results and schedules posted for each school at MHSAA.com. (Abbreviations below denote ppg - points per game, rpg - rebounds per game, apg - assists per game, spg - steals per game, and bpg - blocks per game.)
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Tecumseh 50, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard 39 In this Regional Final, Tecumseh (24-1) avenged last season’s five-point Quarterfinal loss to FGR (24-2), which went on to finish Division 2 runner-up.
2. Grandville Calvin Christian 39, Pewamo-Westphalia 36 Calvin (20-6) clinched a Division 3 Regional championship by handing the Pirates (25-1) their lone loss of the winter.
3. Goodrich 58, Haslett 56 The Martians (23-3) claimed a Division 2 Regional title with their closest win of the season; the Vikings finished 22-4.
4. Fowler 57, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart 36 The Eagles advanced to this week in Division 4 by dealing Sacred Heart (21-1) its only defeat.
5. Genesee Christian 45, Kingston 40 The Soldiers (23-2) moved on to championship week by edging a Kingston team that ended 21-3 coming off last year’s Division 4 runner-up finish.
Quarterfinals at a Glance
DIVISION 1
DeWitt (25-1) vs. Belleville (25-1) at Holt
Belleville is seeking a second-straight trip to the Semifinals and is led again by sophomore guard Sydney Savoury (26.1 ppg, 3.0 apg, 4.2 spg) and junior guard Se’Crette Carter (19.3 ppg). But the Panthers can counter with a pair of 1,000-point career scorers in senior guards Tara Kurncz (13.4 ppg) and Madi Uyl (12.2 ppg, 2.4 apg), the former having become the program’s all-time leading scorer last month. Both teams avenged their lone defeats.
West Bloomfield (18-8) vs. Utica Ford at University of Detroit Mercy, 7:30 p.m.
The reigning Division 1 champion Lakers graduated four starters from last season’s team, but the new crew has won 15 of its last 18 games led by that lone returning starter, junior guard Sheridan Beal (16 ppg, 54 3-pointers). Ford has taken a strong step this season, winning its first Regional title since 1984. Senior guard Anayya Davis leads with 21.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and just over a block per game.
Wayne Memorial (20-6) vs. Temperance Bedford (24-2) at University of Detroit Mercy, 5:30 p.m.
Wayne is the lone team to defeat Belleville this season, splitting with the Tigers to share the Kensington Lakes Activities Association East title. Junior Mariah Cross (19.4 ppg) and senior Colleena Bryant (17.2 ppg) make up a high-scoring backcourt, and Bryant was a Miss Basketball Award finalist. Bedford is returning to the Quarterfinals for the second-straight season and with plenty of power in the post. Senior forward Victoria Gray sets the pace at 20.6 points, 15 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.
Rockford (25-1) vs. Grand Haven (22-3) at Muskegon Mona Shores
Senior forward Anna Wypych (21.8 ppg, 85 3-pointers) was named Miss Basketball on Monday, and tonight she’ll attempt to lead the Rams to back to Breslin with a third win over Grand Haven this season after Rockford won the first two meetings by 12 and 11 points. The Buccaneers are making their first Quarterfinal appearance since winning the Class A championship in 2013, and their only other defeat this winter was to Hudsonville.
DIVISION 2
Gladstone (24-2) vs. Frankenmuth (22-4) at Cheboygan
Gladstone is making its first Quarterfinal appearance since 2012 having avenged its only losses with a District Final win over Negaunee. Junior guard Lillie Johnson has made her name known statewide, averaging 22.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.6 steals per game. Frankenmuth has reached at least the Quarterfinals three of senior Clare Conzelmann’s four seasons and avenged its two losses to Division 2 opponents this winter in winning last week’s Regional.
Goodrich (23-3) vs. Tecumseh (24-1) at Northville
All three of Goodrich’s losses came to opponents that reached at least Regional Finals, and the Martians follow a pair of playmakers in junior guard Kayla Hairston (12 ppg, 3.6 apg) and sophomore guard Baylor Lauinger (11.3, 4.4). Tecumseh’s only defeat came to Rockford two months ago on the way to reaching the Quarterfinals for the second-straight season. Senior 6-foot-2 forward Alli Zajac (14.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and sister 6-0 sophomore center Addi Zajac (13.8 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 1.1 bpg) combine to give their team a powerful post presence, and Alli was a Miss Basketball finalist.
Grand Rapids West Catholic (22-3) vs. Grand Rapids South Christin (24-2) at Hudsonville Unity Christian
These Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold co-champions split their regular season meetings, West Catholic winning the first by 13 points and South Christian taking the rematch by seven. West Catholic was the Division 2 runner-up in 2022 and reached the Semifinals the last two seasons, and senior guard Elisha Dykstra (10.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.2 apg) has started all four years. South Christian will attempt to reach Finals weekend for the first time since 2016 led by junior guard Sophia Prins (14.3 ppg, 4.1 apg, 3.2 spg).
Detroit Edison (18-6) vs. Detroit Country Day (20-5) at St. Clair County Community College
Edison is playing for a second-straight Division 2 title and third over the last four seasons, and with three of its losses this winter to teams still playing. Senior Isis Johnson-Musah (17.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.9 apg, 3.7 spg) was another Miss Basketball Award finalist and the team’s leading scorer in last year’s championship win. Country Day is seeking to return to the Semifinals for the second time in four seasons and keyed in part by high-scoring guards junior Jayla Jackson (19.6 ppg) and sophomore Cece Arico (16.5).
DIVISION 3
Calumet (21-5) vs. Sanford Meridian (23-3) at Manistique
The Copper Kings have jumped from 11-12 a year ago to reach the Quarterfinals for the second time in five seasons, and downed reigning Division 4 champion Ishpeming in the District Final. Guard Jackie Kiilunun is the lone senior starter and lead scorer at 14 ppg. After falling a win shy last season, Meridian won its first Regional title last week and also follows a talented senior guard in Halen McLaughlin (28 ppg, 77 3-pointers, 8.4 rpg, 3.4 apg, 4.5 spg).
Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (19-6) vs. Sandusky (24-2) at West Bloomfield, 6 p.m.
Northwest won this same matchup last season 38-16 to reach the Semifinals and has four starters back from that team, with junior forward Addie Troska moving up from super sub last winter and becoming the fifth starter and leading scorer (10.2 ppg). Sandusky has won three straight Regional titles and is seeking to return to the Semifinals for the first time since 1999. Sophomore guard Caroline Reinke fills the stat sheet at 10 points, 7.2 rebounds, four assists and 5.8 steals per game.
Jackson Lumen Christi (19-6) vs. Ypsilanti Arbor Prep (14-12) at Dansville
Lumen Christi has reached its first Quarterfinal since 1988 by defeating three straight opponents that finished with at least 18 wins this season. Center Kathleen Doane is the lone senior. Reigning Division 3 champ Arbor Prep has navigated injury and inexperience to stack up seven straight wins. Senior guard Eliza Bush is the lone returning starter from last year’s team, although junior guard Angela Meggisson was a top sub and starts now.
Grandville Calvin Christian (20-6) vs. Niles Brandywine (26-0) at Kalamazoo Loy Norrix
After heading into the postseason with two straight losses, Calvin has won three straight games by three points or fewer including handing Pewamo-Westphalia its only loss, in the Regional Final. Junior forward Addyson Rhodes (13.6 ppg) and junior guard Leila Nelson (13.3) set the scoring pace. Next up is reigning Division 3 runner-up Brandywine, which is a combined 52-2 over the last two seasons and has six players scoring at least five points per game led by senior Adeline Gill (12.5 ppg).
DIVISION 4
Ewen-Trout Creek (25-1) vs. St. Ignace (25-1) at Gladstone
A loss to Division 2 Negaunee is all that’s kept Ewen-Trout Creek from a perfect season, and this will be the Panthers’ first Quarterfinal since 2005. Freshman guard Bree Besonen (16.9 ppg, 4.5 apg) and junior center Irelyn McGeshick (16.5 ppg, 10.2 rpg) lead a team with no seniors and only three juniors among eight players total. St. Ignace’s lone defeat came to Division 2 Sault Ste. Marie, and the Saints are pursuing their first Semifinal trip since 2019 with guard Jillian Fraser (17 ppg, 6.2 apg) and center Addison Cullen (16.8 ppg, 11.2 rpg) two of only three seniors of their roster.
Byron Center Zion Christian (20-6) vs. Concord (21-4) at Battle Creek Harper Creek
Zion has won 16 of its last 18 games to emerge from third in the Alliance League and claim its first Regional title. Junior forward Audra Kaptein (13 ppg) and junior guard Jayda Steenbergen (12.2 ppg, 5.9 apg, 4.4 spg) lead a lineup with only one senior starter. Concord has won 10 of its last 11 games to reach the Quarterfinals for the second time and first since 2012. Senior Grace Thorrez, at 6-2, is strong in the post with 14.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, and sophomore guard Bradie Lehman (13.7 ppg, 4.2 apg, 4.5 spg) provides balance in the backcourt.
Frankfort (18-6) vs. Fowler (24-2) at Cadillac
Frankfort is seeking to reach the Semifinals for the second-straight season and after an 0-3 start and two losses over its final three games heading into the playoffs. They’ve bounced back again, with lone senior Savina Anhalt (12.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg) combining with junior Addie Jarosz (13.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg) to form a solid frontcourt duo. Fowler has reached five straight Semifinals (not counting 2020, when the season ended prior to that round), and three starters are back from last year’s run led by senior guard Katie Spicer (12.5 ppg, 4.5 apg).
Morenci (24-1) vs. Genesee Christian (23-2) at Brighton
A one-point overtime loss is all that’s kept Morenci from a perfect run as the Bulldogs return to the Quarterfinals seeking their first Semifinal trip since 2011. Junior guard Emersyn Bachelder (15.6 ppg) is again the leading scorer, upping her average more than five points from a year ago. Genesee Christian has emerged from 14-10 last winter to reach the Quarterfinals for the second time in four seasons, this time with lone senior starter Haven Chapman (20.7 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.8 apg, 4.2 spg, 1.3 bpg) setting the pace.
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PHOTOS (Top) Ewen-Trout Creek coach Jacky Besonen presents the Division 4 Regional trophy to her team after last week's win over Norway. (Middle) Fowler's Paige Thelen (10) drives to the basket during her team's Regional clincher over Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart. (E-TC photo by Cara Kamps. Fowler/Sacred Heart photo by Kolleth Photo.)