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.
Lowell's Blum Joins Pair of Elite Clubs with 4th Individual Finals Title
By
Drew Ellis
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2025
DETROIT – Lowell senior Jackson Blum entered rarefied air Saturday at the 2025 MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals.
Not only did Blum become one of 40 wrestlers to win a fourth individual championship, but he also became one of just seven in MHSAA history to win four individual titles and four team titles when he claimed the 132-pound championship in Division 2.
“It’s an amazing feeling. God has blessed me so much,” Blum said of the accomplishment. “The road has had a lot of ups and downs, but in the end, I was able to come out on top because of Him.”
Blum was one of three wrestlers to become a four-time individual champion Saturday, and he admitted the pressure of fulfilling that goal got to be challenging this season.
“At the beginning of this year, I felt pressure on myself. I felt like I had to win my fourth and be the next one,” Blum said. “But, that’s when I really just tried to let God guide me and take off that pressure.”
Blum (47-0) was in control of his opponent, Gull Lake junior Rasler Warner (33-4), throughout the bout.
Blum scored four takedowns in the first round and added two more in the second to secure the 19-4 technical fall 2:53 into the contest. He was one of four Lowell wrestlers to claim an individual title Saturday.
106
Champion: Pilot Swab, Stevensville Lakeshore, Soph. (45-7)
Decision, 8-1, over Tyler Cooper, Plainwell, Fr. (39-10)
Behind a late takedown in the third period that led to near-fall points, Swab claimed his first championship with a decision win over Cooper.
Swab avenged a pair of losses to Cooper during the season to claim the title.
“I just decided to pick up the pace during the last 30 seconds of the match,” Swab said. “I knew I had to pick it up. It means a lot to be a state champion.”
113
Champion: Jarrett Smith, Lowell, Jr. (42-3)
Major Decision, 8-0, over Carson Blum, Lowell, Fr. (37-7)
Facing off with a teammate at the Finals for the second consecutive season, Smith came away with a second championship.
“It’s tough, but it’s also really cool because you know you are training with the best guy in the state at your weight, every day in practice,” Smith said. “I have some years on (Blum), but he’s going to be great. He’s a great wrestler.”
Smith managed a takedown in each of the first two rounds and then scored a reverse to control the match and keep Blum off the scoreboard.
120
Champion: Cristian Haslem, St. Clair, Jr. (41-0)
Decision, 17-12, over Devan Garcia, Battle Creek Harper Creek, Soph. (37-2)
Haslem avenged a loss to Garcia at the 2024 Finals at 113 pounds, coming away with a win in a high-scoring championship match.
“I had been working all season toward getting my revenge and getting that title,” Haslem said. “It motivated me every step of the way this season. I made sure to wrestle my match at my pace this time around, and it feels amazing to be a state champion.
The key moment came in the second period when Haslem got a takedown on an ankle pick that put him ahead for good at 9-6. He followed that up with a takedown to open the third and controlled things from there.
126
Champion: Jeremiah Brown, Flint Kearsley, Sr. (25-0)
Decision, 6-5, over Quinten Cassiday, Cedar Springs, Soph. (47-2)
Trailing 5-3 late in the third period, Brown scored a takedown to go up 6-5 and held on from there to complete an unbeaten senior season.
“I knew I had nothing to lose at that point,” Brown said of the late takedown. “I was already down, it was my senior year, I had to just go. It feels great. I am living on a high right now.”
They had met in the Regional Final last weekend with Brown winning 13-7, but he knew Saturday’s rematch wouldn’t be so easy.
“I wasn’t sure if I could beat (Cassiday) again. He improved a lot,” Brown said. “He’s just a sophomore, and he’s a phenomenal wrestler. I’m really happy to have been able to win.”
138
Champion: Trenden Bashore, DeWitt, Sr. (59-1)
Decision, 8-4, over Luke Egan, Cedar Springs, Jr. (50-3)
Takedowns in the second and third rounds allowed DeWitt’s Bashore to close out his high school career with his first championship.
“All I ever wanted to be was a state champion, and I always came up short. But, not this time,” Bashore said after the win.
Bashore finished runner-up at 132 pounds at the 2024 Finals, but took the loss to heart and let it motivate him to Saturday’s victory.
“Last year, I got my butt kicked by one of the best, and I took what happened and let it drive me,” he said. “This year, I put focus on the small part of my technique and being on the attack.”
144
Champion: Jaron Bensinger, Gaylord, Jr. (47-0)
Ultimate Tie-Breaker, 2-2, over Buddy Leonard, Freeland, Sr. (46-3)
Bensinger let the pain of finishing runner-up last season drive him to winning his first title.
A 1-1 match in regulation was ultimately decided on an ultimate tiebreaker, with Bensinger riding out Leonard to claim the championship in the final stage.
“I knew it was going to be a battle, but I never stopped wrestling and never stopped pushing the pace,” Bensinger said. “I was confident I could ride (Leonard) for those 30 seconds. I worked my whole life to be a state champ.”
Leonard and Bensinger each scored escape points in regulation and in the overtime periods to force the ultimate tie-breaker.
150
Champion: Lane Button, Wayland, Sr. (52-0)
Decision, 11-4, over Dylan Granger, Mason, Jr. (44-2)
Button closed out a two-year undefeated run with a decision win over Granger to win his second consecutive championship and finish 100-0 over his final two prep seasons.
The senior celebrated by honoring the Detroit Lions in their home, doing an Amon-Ra St. Brown headstand, following by the Kerby Joseph cartwheel and back flip.
“That was the plan all along,” Button said of the celebration. “(Granger) was my last high school loss, so it was good motivation for me all year. I felt like I had the pace and the speed and knew what I needed to do to finish with a win.”
Button’s early takedown in the first period set the tone, and he followed up with two more in the match, as well as a reversal, to keep Granger from getting within striking distance.
157
Champion: Johnathan Ford, Bay City John Glenn, Soph. (42-6)
Decision, 7-3, over Drew Ladach, New Boston Huron, Sr. (55-4)
After an injury during the District tournament kept him from competing for a Finals title in 2024, Ford made the most of this opportunity, winning a hard-fought contest with Ladach.
“It was a stressful match, but I knew I had to just keep attacking,” Ford said. “I’ve been envisioning this moment for a long time. Getting injured last year really motivated me and pushed me this weekend.”
Ford held a 4-1 lead in the second period before Ladach was able to cut the margin to one thanks to an escape and a stalling point. As the match closed, Ford secured another takedown to seal the deal.
165
Champion: Owen Segorski, Lowell, Sr. (45-4)
Decision, 9-7, over Zane Willobee, Gaylord, Jr. (32-2)
In a matchup of two 2024 champions, Segorski, the 144-pound title winner last year, overcame a deficit to grind out a 9-7 win over Willobee, the 157-pound champion from a year ago.
“I just had to trust in my training. I know the match is only six minutes, so I know I can go hard for six minutes, no matter how tired I get,” Segorski said.
Segorski trailed 6-5 early in the third period, but tied the match up with an escape and then scored a takedown on Willobee with 35 seconds remaining to get the win.
It was the third Finals championship for Segorski, who also won the 125-pound title as a freshman.
“It feels a lot better to win here, for sure,” Segorski said. “It was really important (to win). I didn’t want to go out with any regrets.”
175
Champion: Fabian Facundo, Freeland, Sr. (43-1)
Decision, 8-1, over Zachary Taylor, Gibraltar Carlson, Sr. (53-2)
Coming up one match shy of a championship in 2024, Facundo pushed himself late to break a 1-1 tie with Taylor and earn his first title.
The two were tied 1-1 in the closing moments of the match before Facundo blitzed for a takedown and got near-fall points to secure the victory.
“I could see (Taylor) was backing up and that’s what I wanted,” Facundo said of the late takedown. “It feels good, really good.”
190
Champion: Casey Engle, Lowell, Sr. (42-8)
Decision, 9-3, over Martin Knight, North Branch, Jr. (53-3)
The Lowell senior came out fast, scoring nine points in the opening period and then fending off Knight from there to secure the 190-pound title.
“I was just trying to score the first points of the match and set the tone. It always puts you in a good place,” Engle said. “I knew (Knight) was going to throw everything at me in a state final. I just had to stay composed and not get too excited.”
Engle would be the fourth and final Red Arrow to win a championship on the night.
“It’s just being part of the legacy,” Engle said. “It means a lot to be a part of it and to be able to be a champion for the program.”
215
Champion: James Mahon, Goodrich, Sr. (38-3)
Fall (1:35), over Holden Otter, Carleton Airport, Soph. (49-5)
After winning the 285-pound championship in 2023 and 2024, Mahon made the move down to 215 pounds this season.
The change didn’t keep him from adding a third title, as he scored a takedown early in the match and eventually worked it into a pinfall.
“It was tougher (this season at 215). I wasn’t used to people shooting on me. I had to make my stance a lot lower. I couldn’t just run through people,” Mahon said. “At points, (I doubted if I could win), but it didn’t last long. If I had that thought, I just told myself, ‘I am the best. I am going to win a third (title).’”
285
Champion: Dustin Warner, Sparta, Sr. (56-3)
Decision, 4-0, over Caden Sides, Gaylord, Sr. (42-4)
In a rematch of a Regional championship from last weekend, Warner avenged a loss to Sides with a 4-0 victory.
“I wrestled smarter this time around,” Warner said. “I took advantage of my strengths. I felt really good coming into the match, and it feels awesome to be a state champ.”
The two were scoreless through two periods, but Warner opened the third with an escape and then added a takedown with 34 seconds left in the match.
“I had to use my conditioning. I know I am in better shape than everyone,” he said. “So, if the match lasts, they’re going to gas. I had to keep pushing the pace.”
PHOTOS (Top) Jackson Blum’s arm is raised in victory Saturday after he claimed his fourth MHSAA Individual Finals championship. (Middle) Wayland’s Lane Button, right, prepares to lock up with Mason’s Dylan Granger at 150 pounds. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)