10 to Remember: Spring 2015
June 25, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The close of June officially ends of another school year. And this season’s MHSAA Finals provided another strong finish with a number of memorable moments sure to be recalled for years to come.
Below is one person’s list of the 10 most significant, drawn from the title-earning performances of 129 teams and hundreds of individuals this spring.
10. Rockford Holds On for Third Straight Girls Lacrosse Title
The Rams saw an 8-1 lead dissolve to a one-goal advantage after Bloomfield Hills Marian scored in the 22nd minute of the second half of their Division 1 Final. Rockford goalie Katie Elwell turned away a shot to tie the game with 55 seconds left, and her team won a jumpball deep on its side of the field with 36 seconds to play to hold on to a 10-9 victory – and claim a third straight MHSAA championship. Rockford is one of three programs to win four MHSAA titles during the 11 seasons of tournament sponsorship. Marian is a two-time runner-up.
9. Hartland Baseball Goes 10 Innings to Win First MHSAA Title
Hartland scored in the first inning of the Division 1 Final in pursuit of its first MHSAA championship in the sport – but then didn’t score again until the bottom of the 10th inning. Junior pitcher John Baker threw all 10 innings for the Eagles, allowing only five hits and striking out 11 batters, and he also had two hits and drove in the game’s first run. Portage Northern also was making its first MHSAA Final appearance in baseball.
8. Northville Girls Tennis Joins First-time Champs; Nguyen Joins Elite
The Northville girls tennis team was one of 32 teams over all sports that won their first MHSAA championships during the 2014-15 school year. The Wildcats finished an impressive five points ahead of Midland Dow, winning three doubles and two singles flights. Utica’s Davina Nguyen, meanwhile, finished as one of the most accomplished champions in MHSAA history, becoming only the sixth player to win at least three titles at No. 1 singles. Nguyen also won in Division 1 as a freshman and junior.
7. Cranbrook Kingswood Regains Boys Lacrosse Title on Last-Second Winner
Johnny Wagner scored 177 goals over his three-season varsity career for Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, but his last had to be the most spectacular. Three days after sending the Cranes to the Final with an overtime game-winning goal, Wagner scored in the Division 2 championship decider with 10.5 seconds to play to give his team the final edge in a 10-9 victory over Okemos. The winner was his fifth goal of the game.
6. Gull Lake Girls Soccer Wins Again on Shootout Success
The only shots to find the net in the Division 2 Final came during an overtime shootout won by Gull Lake to give the Blue Devils a 1-0 victory and their third straight MHSAA championship. That’s not to say the game lacked for excitement, with the teams combining for 37 shots. Gull Lake had also won its Regional Semifinal in a shootout and finished the spring 25-1-1. Fenton was making its first MHSAA Finals appearance in the sport, seeking its first title in any sport since 1993.
5. Warren Regina Softball Stuns After Slow Start
Teams that open 3-11 usually don’t finish as championship contenders – but those teams don’t have the MHSAA’s winningest coach, Diane Laffey, running the show to go with a strong group of upperclassmen who emerged from a competative Detroit Catholic League Central. Regina won its sixth MHSAA title and first since 2007 by downing favored Caledonia 5-0 in the Division 1 Final. Senior Marissa Tiano struck out nine batters in giving up only two hits after giving up only four hits in a 7-1 Semifinal win over Mattawan.
4. DeWitt Boys Golf Sticks Winning Shots; Carlson Goes All-Time Low
DeWitt senior Geoffry Croley birdied off the flagstick on the No. 18 hole at Forest Akers East to help the Panthers edge Cranbrook Kingswood 594-595 and claim the Lower Peninsula Division 2 title, its first since 2011. His younger brother, freshman Joey, made par on his final hole (No. 16) to also help secure the win. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s Nick Carlson finished his high school career with a second individual title and the all-time low 36-hole score in MHSAA Finals history, a 134, to edge Matt Harmon’s 135 for East Kentwood in 2001.
3. Saline Unbeatable in Claiming First Girls Soccer Title
The Hornets compiled one of the most impressive seasons in MHSAA girls soccer history in making their first Final and then winning it. Saline gave up a mere four goals – tied for third-fewest in MHSAA history – in 25 games and finished with a 22-0-3 record capped by a 4-0 win over Grand Blanc in the Division 1 championship game. The team’s 22 shutouts also rank tied for third in MHSAA girls soccer history. Senior Taylor Mulder set a school record with 43 goals this season with her second of this game.
2. Legend of Beaubien Grows with Monroe St. Mary Softball Title
Meghan Beaubien already was known by those who follow softball statewide – not many sophomores get a chance to commit to the University of Michigan so early. But what she and the Kestrels did in winning the program’s first MHSAA championship was pretty legendary. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central outscored its postseason opponents by a combined 29-0 over seven games, beating Bronson 2-0 in the Division 3 Final with Beaubien taking a perfect game into the seventh inning and hitting a two-run homer.
1. Fisher, Saline Finish Strong in Boys Track and Field Final
The Lower Peninsula Division 1 Final was filled with notable finishes – including a pair that will be listed in the national record book next month. Saline won its second MHSAA title in the sport and first since 2006, finishing ahead of East Kentwood – champion five of the last six seasons. The Hornets were keyed by a 3,200 relay of Logan Wetzel, Josiah Humphrey, Austin Welch and Kevin Hall that finished in 7:38.97 to rank among the best all-time in U.S. high school history Grand Blanc senior Grant Fisher posted the second-fastest 1,600 time in U.S. high school history, going 4:00.28.; he graduated with five individual MHSAA Finals titles. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills’ Donavan Brazier also re-set the all-Finals record in the 800, running 1:48.98.
PHOTO: Grant Fisher, far right, set an MHSAA all-Finals record in the 1,600 that also ranks as the second-fastest in U.S. high school history. (Click to see more from RunMichigan.com. Photos by John Brabbs.)
Block Party: 2026 Girls Volleyball Week 8 Report
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 14, 2026
Girls Volleyball District play begins in three weeks, and you won’t find any contenders slowing things down as we speed toward the beginning of the postseason.
Arguably this fall’s most prestigious tournament – the Beast of the East – will be played Saturday with all four state divisions sending ranked teams into the field, and the Upper Peninsula also is hosting one of its most competitive events this season, at Crystal Falls Forest Park. Several teams are attempting to put finishing touches on league championships, and many more have lined up other contenders as they prepare for the playoffs and the ultimatum of win to play again.
Records below are those reported and tracked on this website, and rankings referred to below reflect the latest polls posted by the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association (MIVCA).
Week in Review
The countdown of last week’s five most intriguing results:
1. Bloomfield Hills Marian d. Farmington Hills Mercy (25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-17) After suffering two earlier losses to Mercy, Marian (28-3) took this match in four sets, clinched their Catholic High School League Tournament title and has taken over the No. 1 ranking in Division 1, sending the Marlins (20-4) to No. 2.
2. Parma Western d. Hanover-Horton (26-24, 25-17) Division 2 No. 3 Western’s 6-0 run through Hanover-Horton’s Karen Abbott Invitational pushed its record to 32-0 and also included wins over Division 3 No. 7 Grass Lake, No. 6 Traverse City St. Francis, Hudson, Brooklyn Columbia Central and Division 4 No. 1 Adrian Lenawee Christian, in addition to the Division 3 No. 10 Comets (21-7-5).
3. Midland Dow d. Saginaw Valley Lutheran (30-28, 20-25, 25-20) The Chargers (36-4-4) also handed Division 2 No. 4 Frankenmuth its first during this home quad, but the night’s most exciting set may have been the first one of this win over Division 3 top-ranked Saginaw Valley Lutheran (38-6-1).
4. Traverse City Central d. Grand Rapids South Christian (25-20, 25-18) The Trojans (22-2-1) finished 4-0 at the Hudsonville Unity Christian Invitational, with this sweep of the Division 2 No. 8 Sailors (22-7) the highlight but a three-set win over honorable mention Vicksburg also of note.
5. Roscommon d. Traverse City St. Francis (25-20, 25-15) These two top-10 teams in Division 3 locked up as part of a quad, with the No. 3-ranked and host Bucks (29-6-5) avenging last year’s loss to the No. 6 Gladiators (24-13-2).
Watch List
With an eye toward November, here are two teams in each division making sparks:
DIVISION 1
Clarkston (20-2) The Wolves have held down the No. 3 ranking in Division 1 since Sept. 8, trailing only Mercy and Marian after falling to both in August. Those are Clarkston’s only losses this season as it looks to bounce back from last year’s District exit against Oxford – which the Wolves defeated to start this season and again last week. A pair of wins over No. 8 Lowell and singles over No. 10 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern and No. 5 South Lyon East also pop off the page.
South Lyon East (25-5) The No. 5 Cougars’ most recent win also was the best of several memorable ones this fall, as they downed No. 2 Mercy in three sets last week after losing the first 25-12. They also have defeated No. 10 Forest Hills Northern twice, honorable mention Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and No. 9 Grand Haven once, and honorable mention South Lyon twice after the Lions ended East’s 2025 season in their District. Those two rivals are headed to the same District again next month.
DIVISION 2
Detroit Country Day (12-6-1) The Yellowjackets haven’t played as many matches as most contenders, but they’ve tested themselves against some of the state’s elite with losses to Division 1 No. 2 Mercy, top-ranked Marian and honorable mention St. Mary’s among others. The two-time reigning Division 2 champion is ranked No. 2 currently and tonight has an opportunity to avenge its Sept. 30 defeat against the Eaglets. Country Day also will see Division 1 No. 5 South Lyon East a second time Oct. 22 after winning their first matchup Sept. 3.
Marshall (23-9-1) The unranked Redhawks have navigated tough competition all season, going five sets before falling to No. 3 Parma Western in Interstate 8 Athletic Conference play, but defeating honorable mention Vicksburg, Division 3 No. 2 Plymouth Christian Academy, No. 4 Clinton and honorable mention Morley Stanwood and going 1-2 against Division 1 honorable mention Battle Creek Lakeview. Total, five defeats have come against teams ranked or honorable mention in Divisions 1 and 2.
DIVISION 3
Cass City (18-6-4) These Red Hawks have tested themselves substantially as they look next month to run their District title streak to six and potentially return to the season’s final weekend for what would be the fourth time this decade. Cass City went 2-2-1 at the opening Cadillac Invitational, 0-2-2 at the MI Elite Program Cup and 1-2-1 at the D3/D4 Showdown, facing elite and/or often much larger opponents at all three. The Red Hawks are otherwise 15-0 this fall.
Muskegon Western Michigan Christian (26-6) WMC matched up with a tough crew of larger opponents at the Unity Christian Invitational over the weekend and finished only 1-3 there. But the No. 5-ranked Warriors are otherwise 25-3 this season with a 5-0 day over a field that included honorable mention Hart and Fruitport in winning Mona Shores’ Best of the West, plus an earlier victory over Division 2 previously-honorable mention Fremont.
DIVISION 4
Atlanta (25-0) The Huskies are an honorable mention in this week’s poll and one of three teams statewide still undefeated. They’ve won Regional titles the last two seasons and this fall have lost only six sets. Atlanta went 5-0 winning all 10 sets during the Onaway Tournament and finished 6-0 winning all 12 sets it played at the Oscoda Invitational last month. The Huskies will travel Oct. 20 to face Hale, which delivered their only regular-season defeat of 2025.
Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (23-6-3) The No. 2-ranked Irish have won nine of their last 10 matches, the lone loss during that time to Division 3 top-ranked Valley Lutheran, and they also defeated Division 4 No. 7 Ubly that day. Three losses total have come to Valley Lutheran, with the other three to Division 2 No. 8 North Branch, Division 3 No. 3 Roscommon and No. 9 Elk Rapids. Sacred Heart also can count a win over Division 4 No. 4 Traverse City Christian and a tie with No. 9 Crystal Falls Forest Park.
Can’t-Miss Contests
Be on the lookout for results of these matches and tournaments coming up:
Thursday – Grand Haven (26-8-1) at Hudsonville (28-3) – The best from the always-strong Ottawa-Kent Conference Red are the No. 9 Buccaneers and No. 6 Eagles, and Hudsonville won the first match Sept. 17 in three sets.
Thursday – Detroit Country Day (12-6-1) at Macomb Lutheran North (23-1) – The Nos. 2 and 6 teams in Division 2, respectively, face off in what could be a Regional Final preview.
Thursday – Elk Rapids (14-7-3) at Traverse City Christian (27-6) – The Division 3 No. 9 Elks and Division 4 No. 4 Sabres meet in one of northern Michigan’s most anticipated matchups of the season.
Saturday – Beast of the East at Trinity Health Sports Center – The field of 32 includes 18 teams currently ranked or receiving honorable mentions in Divisions 1-4, and a few others formerly in that group. Division 1 top-ranked Bloomfield Hills Marian and Division 2 No. 1 Grand Rapids Christian are among those taking the court.
Tuesday – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (11-18), Forest Hills Northern (22-8) at Grand Rapids Christian (22-3) – As noted above, the Eagles are ranked No. 1 in Division 2, and Forest Hills Northern is No. 10 in Division 1.
PHOTO (Top) DeWitt returns a volley during a match this season against Okemos. (Photo by TCP Photography.)