10 to Remember: Fall 2014
December 12, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
This fall saw the start of numerous championship legacies all over the Michigan, the continuation of a few more and the end of one that likely will be recalled for decades to come.
All championship runs are memorable for those fortunate enough to achieve them. But because of historical reference, dramatic impact or in rare cases national significance, some stay in our discussions a little bit longer.
Below is one person’s thoughts on the most memorable finishes from this fall’s MHSAA Finals.
10. Novi, East Kentwood Rise to the Top
Among a number of first-time champions this fall, the Novi boys tennis team and East Kentwood girls golf team celebrated taking final steps after some recent close misses. Novi had finished second at the 2013 Lower Peninsula Division 1 Final, by a point, as Ann Arbor Huron won its third straight title. The Wildcats clinched their first ever this season, by eight points, while the East Kentwood golfers finished 22 strokes better than their LP Division 1 field after finishing 10th and sixth the last two seasons, respectively. Senior Emily White capped her high school career with a 51-foot putt to win the individual title.
9. Saline Clinches on Final Swim
The Saline girls swimming and diving team trailed reigning champion Farmington Hills Mercy by a half-point entering the final event of the LP Division 1 Final. But the Hornets outpaced Mercy by three seconds in the 400-yard freestyle relay to move ahead and claim the team championship by 5.5 points. Saline had finished runner-up to Mercy by 20 points in 2013.
8. St. Mary’s Football Keeps Promise
From an incredible story point of view, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 7-0 win over Muskegon in the Division 3 Football Final was easily the most memorable of the fall. Showing immense courage, Eaglets running back Brandon Adams took the field only two days after his mother died after fighting cancer. He scored the game’s lone points midway through the first quarter.
7. Kestrels Give Coach Best Retirement Gift
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central’s Diane Tuller coached teams to 595 wins over 17 seasons – and in her final match took the Kestrels to their fifth MHSAA championship. St. Mary downed Schoolcraft in four sets despite dropping the first to claim its third Class C title in five seasons. The Kestrels became the eighth team to win at least five MHSAA titles, claiming all five under Tuller’s guidance.
6. Concord’s Hersha Joins Elite Company
Only 14 runners in MHSAA boys cross country history have won at least three individual championships. Concord’s Jason Hersha became the latest, claiming the LP Division 4 title in 15:23.0, the second-fastest time in LP Division 4 Finals history. He became only the third to win three boys titles since team and individual qualifiers began running the same race in 1996; he also finished first as a sophomore and junior.
5. Canton Never Loses on Division 1 March
Just one on-target kick can change a soccer game. That makes Canton’s undefeated run to this season’s Division 1 boys championship even more impressive. Finishing without a loss in any sport is something – but the Chiefs defeated Rochester Adams 1-0 in the Final to end 24-0-3 and as the 13th undefeated champion in MHSAA boys soccer history. Canton posted 16 shutouts this fall.
4. Spring Lake Surges to First Championship
Despite trailing annual power Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood by six strokes after the first round, Spring Lake rolled through the second at the LP Division 3 Girls Golf Final to best the field by a final margin of 18 strokes and claim the school’s first MHSAA golf championship. The achievement was a crowning one for the program started by George Bitner, who has coached at the school since 1968 and fielded his first girls team in 1980.
3. Fisher Finishes Among Fastest in MHSAA History
Grand Blanc senior Grant Fisher finished his high school career with a second straight Lower Peninsula Division 1 championship – and the third-fastest time since the Finals moved to Michigan International Speedway 19 seasons ago. Fisher finished in 14:52.5, 1.5 seconds off the second-fastest time in MHSAA Finals history since 5K (3.1 miles) became the distance in 1980. The only runners who have come in faster than Fisher went on to the Olympics (Dathan Ritzenhein) and top American finishes (twice) at the Boston Marathon (Jason Hartmann).
2. St. Philip Stands Alone with 9 Straight Titles
Battle Creek St. Philip continued its near-decade dominance of Class D, but this time with another historical twist. The Tigers downed Leland in four sets in this season’s Final to win their ninth straight MHSAA championship – setting a record for consecutive titles after formerly being tied with the Marysville teams from 1997-2004. St. Philip entered the postseason ranked No. 3 in D but defeated both No. 2 Mendon and the top-ranked Comets during the final week.
1. Monroe St. Mary Ends Ithaca’s Record Run
Much of the credit for this topping the list goes to Ithaca, which brought a 69-game winning streak into the Division 6 Football Final. The streak was the longest active streak nationally among 11-player football teams, and a win would've allowed the Yellowjackets next fall an opportunity to break the MHSAA winning streak record of 72. But St. Mary controlled the clock with a workmanlike running game and held an Ithaca offense averaging 43 points to nearly a quarter of that in winning 22-12.
PHOTO: The East Kentwood girls golf team raised its first MHSAA Finals championship trophy this October. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Pioneer Piles Up Points From All Over Lineup to Claim 3rd-Straight Title
By
Dean Holzwarth
Special for MHSAA.com
June 3, 2023
HOLLAND – Juliana Pullen made her grandpa proud at Saturday’s Lower Peninsula Girls Tennis Division 1 Final.
The Ann Arbor Pioneer senior won her first state championship at No. 3 singles with her grandpa and coach, Tom Pullen, looking on.
Her victory helped the Pioneers win their third-straight team title ahead of runner-up Troy at DeWitt Tennis Center.
Ann Arbor Pioneer finished with 32 points, while Troy had 25.
“I'm glad I was able to live up to the expectations because anything could've happened, so I’m just glad things worked out,” Juliana Pullen said. “There was a lot of pressure, especially with our history as a team and being the coach’s granddaughter. A lot of pressure, but I’m glad I was able to pull through.”
Pullen, the top seed and lone senior on the team, closed her season with a perfect record as she ousted Ann Arbor Skyline’s Maddie Slade in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0.
“That was very satisfying since she is my granddaughter,” Tom Pullen said. “It was nice to see her end her career with a state championship.”
Juliana Pullen, who will play at Kalamazoo College, had an impressive comeback in the semifinals after dropping the first set.
“Everybody at this tournament are great players,” she said. “The girl I played in the semis was a fantastic player, and the same with the finals. Everyone was playing extremely well, and I’m happy to have pulled through and I’m super proud of my team.”
Tom Pullen said a talented and balanced lineup in both singles and doubles helped the Pioneers prevail.
“It takes effort from every member of the team, and this is what made it possible for us,” he said. “We got points from everybody, and Troy had a couple flights where they couldn't get as many points. We had a team that was strong from top to the bottom, and that’s what it takes to win a state championship.”
Pioneers’ top-seeded freshman Sophia Liang joined Pullen as a flight champion with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Clarkston’s Charlotte Partchenko at No. 4 singles.
Liang also finished the season undefeated.
“Being the No. 1 seed you have some pressure, but have to learn to relax and enjoy it,” she said. “At the end of the day it's all about the work and memories that matter the most.
“I just wanted to come out here and play my game and enjoy it. It feels even better to know that the whole team can come together and win, and it’s a nice feeling that we could keep this going.”
Ann Arbor Pioneer also claimed a flight title at No. 4 doubles as junior Noa Gluskin and freshmen Jessica Primus, seeded third, rallied to defeat Novi (4-6, 6-4, 6-1).
“I’m so proud of our No. 4 doubles,” Juliana Pullen said. “One is a freshman and the other one was an alternate for two years, so this was their first year on varsity and they won.”
Troy, which finished third a year ago, dominated in doubles as three flights captured championships.
“They played some very high-level tennis today,” Troy’s assistant coach Susie Moceri said. “We asked, and they delivered.
“Our head coach, Brian Miska, is in the hospital with his wife and he could not be here to watch all the work he has put into this team, but in his absence they really delivered.”
Senior Grace Zhu and junior Nika Tananko captured a straight set (6-2, 6-2) win over Bloomfield Hills at No. 1 doubles, while seniors Varsha Penumalee and Vienna Thieu upset the top-seeded Ann Arbor Pioneer tandem 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 at No. 2 doubles.
Juniors Hannah Lee and Michelle Baik outlasted Ann Arbor Pioneer’s top-seeded team, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to win at No. 3 doubles.
Ann Arbor Skyline’s Sari Woo won at No. 1 singles with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Rochester Adams’ Nicole Fu.
Woo, a junior, did not drop a set en route to her first championship. She was a finalist as a freshman as well.
“I’m pretty excited,” Woo said. “I was a little stressed out during my match, so I feel relieved right now. She played really well, but this means a lot and I’m grateful for everyone who stayed to watch me.”
Fu, a sophomore, upset two-time No. 2 singles champion Elise Van Wieren of Pioneer in the No. 1 semifinals.
Bloomfield Hills’ Raegan Tomina made the most of her final high school tournament and won at No. 2 singles as a third seed. She defeated Rochester Adams’ Katie Fu, 7-5, 6-0.
“It was just an amazing win for me because I’m a senior and this is literally my last competitive match ever,” Tomina said “It just means a lot because I’ve worked so hard.”
Tomina dropped the first set in her semifinal against Jenison’s Marta Gomez, but rallied to win the final two sets and move on.
“I wasn’t even supposed to win my semifinal match, and after that I went into the finals just to have fun,” Tomina said. “I have nothing to lose, and I just played like that and I played with confidence and that’s what I think helped me.”
PHOTOS (Top) Ann Arbor Pioneer celebrates its LPD1 team championship Saturday at DeWitt Tennis Center. (Middle) Ann Arbor Skyline’s Sari Woo returns a volley during her No. 1 singles match. (Below) Troy’s Grace Zhu sends back a shot at No. 1 doubles. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)