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.)
Morgan Caps Championship-Filled Career as Greenhills Adds to Title Streak
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
May 31, 2025
MIDLAND – Maddie Morgan added the final triumphs to a nearly unmatched high school tennis career Saturday at Midland Tennis Center.
The Ann Arbor Greenhills senior had helped the Gryphons to three straight Lower Peninsula Division 4 Finals team titles entering this weekend. Along the way, she had won two No. 1 singles titles after reaching only the semifinals as a freshman.
Top-ranked Greenhills entered the second day of play one point ahead of Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, the No. 2-ranked team in the state. And the Gryphons proceeded to finish the four-peat in resounding fashion, securing the title even before Morgan played for the singles championship against Notre Dame Prep freshman Marissa Bitoni.
Morgan then pulled out a 6-1, 6-4 victory for her third championship at the top flight.
“It was nice knowing we had won even before I started playing,’’ said Morgan. “It was just so much fun playing that last match. Knowing it was my last high school match, that propelled me through it even though we had already won. It helped me. The freshmen and sophomores came through.’’
Greenhills finished with 38 points to 28 for the Fighting Irish. Traverse City St. Francis was third with 20.
Being everyone’s target didn’t faze Morgan.
“I try not to think about it like that,’’ she said. “I approach each match the same way. Do my routine. I just think about the tennis, and I think that’s the key.
“I really enjoy cheering and just being with this team. Individual state champions – they mean a lot, but the team state championships are what really matters to me. … I’m so grateful to be a part of this team environment we have in high school tennis. We had 11 of the 12 back from last year and we lost one senior the year before, so it has been the same group.’’
Greenhills won all but two flights, instead finishing runners-up at Nos. 2 and 4 doubles.
“Our motto is ‘all joy, no fear, can’t lose,’” said Greenhills coach Mark Randolph, who concluded his 31st year as a head coach and 52nd overall. “We knew we’d be competing with Notre Dame, but they aren’t our enemies. This is about relationships.
“One of our great stories is Jessica Shi at No. 2 doubles. She has been around the program for four years but didn’t expect to be here other than to cheer us on. We suffered an injury and we put her in the lineup, now she’s competing in the Finals. That’s a great story.’’
Greenhills’ first champion came at No. 1 doubles as Danica Rakic-Dennis and Shangyang Xia defeated Wixom St. Catherine’s top-seeded Julia Ivezaj and Stephanie Lisch, 6-0, 6-2. The Gryphons pair dropped only six games over four matches on the weekend.
“This was our first year playing together,’’ said Rakic-Dennis. “It was one of our best matches. It was a challenge to work on our chemistry during the season, but we pulled through. I’m really proud of us.’’
Said Xia: “It was one of our best matches. Notre Dame Prep has always been a big rival. We knew that coming to states. I have a lot of faith in our team.’’
Notre Dame’s flight title came at No. 4 doubles as Vanessa Artinian and Elana Vandieren, both freshmen, defeated Greenhills’ top-seeded Meera Pandey and Meera Tewari, 6-3, 6-0.
Maddie Morgan’s freshman sister Hazel captured her first Finals title, at No. 3 singles, as she downed Notre Dame’s Ava Jarvis, 6-2, 6-0.
“I think I played her during the regular season,’’ said Hazel. “It was a good match. I’m proud of our team. We’re doing so well. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished this season. (Jarvis) is a great person, and she should be proud.’’
Greenhills sophomore Ellie Kim won her second-straight title with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over St. Francis’ Elliana McClellan at No. 2 singles.
“It feels great to get the second one,’’ said Kim. “She’s a really good player. Her forehand is really strong. I think in the second set I got a little tight. I was hitting more balls short to her forehand. I honestly don’t think I was playing bad. It was a good, fun match.’’
Greenhills sophomore Nina Malani secured the No. 4 singles title with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over St. Francis’ Anna Cate Maday. Wixom St. Catherine’s No. 2 doubles team of Lily Wolocko and Loren Nafso defeated Greenhills’ Shi and Sophia Kleer, 6-3, 6-3 to claim that flight, but Greenhills also pulled out No. 3 doubles as Lauren Ye and Alyssa Hong knocked off Nore Dame Prep’s Erin Delaney and Adriana Johnson 6-3, 6-1 in the clincher.
PHOTOS (Top) Ann Arbor Greenhills’ Maddie Morgan follows through on a backhand during a Friday match at Midland Tennis Center. (Middle) Players meet at the net at the conclusion of another early-round match. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)