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 But because of historical reference, dramatic impact or in rare cases national significance, some stay in our discussions a little bit longer.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.)
Preview: Contenders Lining Up to Slow Down UP Boys Reigning Champions
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 28, 2026
This decade has seen only six schools win an MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals team championship in boys track & field – out of 15 opportunities – and all three meets this weekend feature returning winners seeking to stretch current title streaks already measuring multiple seasons.
But there are several more contenders in position to play stopper as they seek to begin their own championship eras.
All three divisions will be hosted by Kingsford High School, with preliminaries leading off the day at 9 a.m. local (Central) time. Tickets cost $11 and are available digitally only via GoFan.
MHSAA.tv will live-stream the meets beginning at 9 a.m. (CDT)/10 a.m. (EDT), viewable with subscription. Check out the Boys Track & Field page for meet information and lists of all qualifiers.
Those described as "seeded" below have received those seeds based on Regional performances or early qualification during the regular season. (Although not noted for most, several individuals below also will run on contending relays.)
Following is a glance at team contenders and individuals to watch in all three divisions:
Division 1
Team forecast: A sixth-straight championship Saturday would tie Marquette with the Gladstone teams from 2004-09 for the second-longest championship streak in Upper Peninsula history. But the Sentinels’ depth will have to shine through as last year’s Finals runner-up Sault Ste. Marie edged Marquette by a point at their Regional, and Kingsford and Houghton have several potential scorers as well.
Lucas Ballard, Marquette junior: The reigning champion in the 800 is seeded first in that race (2:02.82), second in the 1,600 (4:42.00) and third in the 3,200 (10:08.60).
Gabe Litzner, Sault Ste. Marie senior: He’ll graduate among the top distance runners in Upper Peninsula history. He’s won the 3,200 the last two seasons – setting the meet record at 9:31.20 a year ago – and is seeded first in that race (10:00.18) and the 1,600 (4:41.31).
Jacob Norman, Marquette senior: He’s seeded first in the 110 hurdles (15:82) after winning that race last spring.
Michael Solena, Houghton junior: He finished second in the discus a year ago but could have a much bigger day this time seeded first in that throw (144-2) and shot put (50-3¾) as well.
Gaige Sorenson, Kingsford junior: He finished second in the long jump last spring and also has multiple scoring opportunities, seeded first in long jump (20-8), running the 100 and also on two top-three seeded relays.
Division 2
Team forecast: Pickford has won three straight Division 2 championships and held of Munising by 31 points in 2024 and 50 a year ago to build the streak. Pickford has entries all over this meet again and three top-seeded relays. Rudyard is another team to watch with several potential scorers.
John Anderson, Pickford senior: The high jump champion the last two seasons is seeded first in that event (6-4) and the long jump (19-5) and second in the 110 (15.95) and 300 (45.32) hurdles.
Gunner Bennin, Pickford senior: He’s won the 400 the last two seasons and also the 200 as a sophomore, and could finish his high school career by doubling that count seeded first in the 100 (11.60), 200 (23.25) and 400 (52.61).
Talon Hughes, Ironwood senior: After winning the 100 and 200 a year ago, he’s seeded second in the 100 (11.63), third in the 200 (24.09) and also third in the 110 hurdles (16.83).
Steven Kirschner, Rudyard senior: He’s looking to move up a spot or more after finishing second in the 3,200 and third in both the 800 and 1,600 last season, and is seeded first in the 800 (2:08.51) and 3,200 (11:01.68) and third in the 1,600 (5:04.77).
Gionni McDonough, Bark River Harris junior: He won the 110 hurdles last year and is seeded to repeat (15.59) and win the 300 as well (44.64) while also competing in the 100 dash and long jump.
Division 3
Team forecast: Newberry also has built a winning streak with two straight championships, and a third is possible especially thanks to strong relays. But Rapid River dominated its Regional and should be in the hunt, and Stephenson and Lake Linden-Hubbell have qualifiers all over the lineup as well. LL-H is the returning team runner-up.
Lukas Axford, Lake Linden-Hubbell junior: After winning the 300 hurdles last season, Axford is seeded third in the 400 (56.11) and also set to run the 800.
Connor Kemppainen, L’Anse junior: The reigning 110 hurdles champion is seeded first in that race (16.87) and third in the 300 hurdles (44.07).
Brady Leblanc, Brimley junior: He’s seeded first in the 300 hurdles (43.20) and second in the 110 (16.93) after finishing fourth in the latter last season.
Ethan Snyder, Cedarville/DeTour junior: After finishing second in the 800 and 1,600 and third in the 3,200 last season, he’s seeded first in all three races in 2:06.67, 4:45.36 and 10:41.43, respectively.
Will Spranger, Eben Junction Superior Central senior: Last season’s Finals highlight was a third place in the 400, but he returns as the top seed in the 100 (11.61) and 200 (23.62) and also slated to run the 300 hurdles.
PHOTOS (Top) Negaunee's Cole Prusi (6), Kingsford's Sid Olson (5), Marquette's Jacob Norman (4), and Negaunee's Cole Pekrul (3) race the 110 hurdles May 8 at the Lions Invitational in Negaunee. (Middle) Ishpeming's Kemper Gearhart (1) leads the beginning of the 1,600 with Stephenson's Canon Kuntze (2) getting into position to follow during the UPD3 Regional on May 18 at Ishpeming. (Photos by Cara Kamps.)