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.)
Preview: Historic Possibilities Await at Lower Peninsula Girls Track & Field Finals
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 30, 2025
While every championship result from Saturday’s MHSAA Lower Peninsula Girls Track & Field Finals will be considered historic for that athlete, her school and perhaps on a larger regional or statewide level, a few possibilities this weekend are especially notable.
From a team standpoint, Hart in Division 3 is seeking to become the fifth Lower Peninsula program to win a fourth-straight Finals championship in this sport. Individually, Onsted’s Emmry Ross could become only the second Lower Peninsula girl to win four individual events twice – joining Sami Michell from Reed City (2012 and 2013) – and Ross is seeded first in all four of her events. So is Addison’s Molly Brown as she seeks to follow Ross’ performance from a year ago and become the fourth Lower Peninsula girl to win four individual Finals titles.
All four LP Finals will begin with pole vault and long jump beginning at 9 a.m., followed by race semifinals and the 3,200 relay at 10 a.m. and the rest of the running finals starting at noon. Tickets cost $11 and are available digitally only via GoFan.
MHSAA.tv will live-stream all four meets beginning at 10 a.m., viewable with subscription. Check out the Girls Track & Field page for meet information for all four sites and lists of all qualifiers. Those described as "seeded" below have received those seeds based on Regional performances or meeting early qualification standards.
Below is a glance at team contenders and individuals to watch in all four divisions:
Division 1 at East Kentwood
Team forecast: Oak Park has won the last two Division 1 titles and eight of the last 10, and the Knights potentially could win all four relays Saturday plus open hurdles and sprint races. Detroit Renaissance has been a strong contender the last several seasons, winning in 2022, and could make another nice push. Holland West Ottawa is another team to watch.
Valerie Beeck, Grand Haven senior: After running relays and the 800 at last year’s Finals, she’s headed into this weekend as the top seed in the 800 (2:10.95) and 1,600 (4:48.03) and will run on both distance relays.
Nevaeh Burns, Oak Park sophomore: She debuted at the Finals last year with championships in the 400 and as part of the 800 and 1,600 relays with a sixth place as well in the 200. She’s seeded this time first in the 400 (54.91), third in the 200 (24.36) and will run on the top-seeded 800 (1:40.02) and 1,600 (3:48.42) relays.
Kamryn Tatum, West Bloomfield junior: The top seed in the 100 (11.78) and 200 (24.13) also is likely to run on two relays as she looks to add to her wins in the 200 the last two seasons and in the 400 as a freshman. She also ran on the runner-up 400 relay last season.
Lorelai Zielinski, Traverse City Central sophomore: After finishing runner-up in both the discus and shot put last season, she’s seeded first in both at 151-8 and 47-10¼, respectively.
Division 2 at Hamilton
Team forecast: Dearborn Divine Child broke East Grand Rapids’ two-year hold on the title last season as the top four teams finished within 13 points of each other at a low-scoring meet. Something similar Saturday wouldn’t be shocking, with individual stars potentially putting up big points to carry their teams into contention. To that end, keep an eye on Sturgis – back from finishing 14th in Division 1 last season – and Saginaw Swan Valley, which placed fifth in Division 2 a year ago.
Sadie Dykstra, Yale junior: She’s returning after winning the long jump and 300 hurdles and finishing second in the 100 hurdles last season, and enters this weekend seeded fourth in long jump and qualified to run both hurdles races, compete in both jumps and run on the 1,600 relay.
Bella Friddle, Hastings sophomore: She won the high jump and finished eighth in the long jump as a freshman, and is expected to compete in both again while entering tied for the second seed in the high jump (5-6).
Emma Hoffman, Otsego junior: After finishing ninth in the 1,600 and sixth in the 3,200 last season, she’s top-seeded in both at 4:54.21 and 10:19.98, respectively.
Layla Jordan, Goodrich senior: The reigning champion in the 800 is seeded second in that race (2:16.27) and also set to run the 400, 1,600 and potentially on the top-seeded 3,200 relay (9:20.19).
Sydney Kuhn, Saginaw Swan Valley senior: She’s capping a standout career seeking to repeat in the 200 and 400, seeded first this time in the 400 (53.90) and 300 hurdles (43.33), second in the 200 (24.55) and running on the top-seeded 1,600 relay (3:56.32).
Kaila Monroe, Eastpointe senior: The reigning champion in the shot put and seventh-place finisher in the discus will throw both again and is seeded second in the shot (43-2).
Keyanna O’Tey, Sturgis senior: She won the 100 in Division 1 last season and the 100 and 200 in Division 2 as a sophomore, and could carry Sturgis into team title contention seeded third in the 100 (12.02), fourth in the 200 (24.80) and running on top-seeded 400 (48.35) and 800 (1:42.28) relay teams.
Ava Schafer, St. Johns sophomore: She claimed the 3,200 title as a freshman and is seeded third in that race (10:43.80) and second in the 1,600 (4:57.61).
Aubrey Wilson, Dearborn Divine Child sophomore: She debuted with a championship in the 100, runner-up finish in the 200 and running on second and fifth-place relays in helping Divine Child to last year’s team title. She could pile up points again as the top seed in the 100 (11.82) and 200 (24.08) and running on the fourth-seeded 800 and second-seeded 1,600 (3:56.56) relays.
Division 3 at Kent City
Team forecast: Hart will pursue history with competitors in all four relays and five individual events. Onsted finished second last season, 13 points back, thanks to 40 points from Emmry Ross – and this time might add some relay points as well. Olivet (third last year) and Erie Mason (tied for sixth) also look like strong contenders.
Sohanny Gonzalez-Castillo, Wyoming Potter’s House Christian senior: Last season’s long jump champion also finished 13th in the high jump and will compete in both – tied for the third seed in the long jump (17-2½) – and run on two relays.
Addison Hovey, Hart senior: She claimed the 100, 200 and high jump titles last season and also ran on the third-place 400 relay. She enters her last Finals set to compete in the 100, high jump and run on the third-seeded 400 (50.63) and fourth-seeded 800 relays.
Giuliana Nastale, Erie Mason junior: She’s expected to score big after finishing fourth in the 200 and also running the 100 last season, as she enters this meet seeded first in the 100 (12.32) and 200 (25.23) and likely to run on two relays.
Emily Peters, Olivet junior: The reigning 300 hurdles champion also ran on the winning 800, second-place 1,600 and fourth-place 400 relays last season. She’s slated to run both hurdles races, seeded second in the 300 (45.99), and on two relays including the top-seeded 1,600 (4:06.05).
Emmry Ross, Onsted senior: She became the third Lower Peninsula athlete to win four individual events at a Finals last season, finishing first in the 400, 800, 1,600 and 3,200, and total she’s won the 400 three times, the 800 twice and also earned a 1,600 relay title as a freshman. She’s seeded first in her four races again, with a 54.48 in the 400, 2:03.84 in the 800, 4:46.11 in the 1,600 and 10:44.44 in the 3,200.
Addyson Stiverson, Montrose sophomore: She won the shot put and placed second in the discus at her first Finals and is seeded first this weekend by solid margins in both at 52-10¾ and 153-5, respectively.
Elli VanDusen, Kalamazoo Christian sophomore: She also impressed as a freshman winning the 100 hurdles and taking second in high jump, and this weekend she’s tied for the top seed in high jump (5-6) and set to run both hurdles races and a relay.
Emma Wildt, Homer senior: The reigning pole vault champion is tied for the top seed (10-6) and also will run a relay.
Division 4 at Hudsonville Baldwin Middle School
Team forecast: Fowler regained the championship last season for the first time since 2019, and with league rival Portland St. Patrick finishing second for the second-straight year. The Eagles have competitors in every event but one Saturday and could especially thrive in relays. Hillsdale Academy has some intriguing points possibilities, as do Gobles and Frankfort.
Layla Bolzman, Unionville-Sebewaing junior: The reigning champion in the 100 and 200 is seeded second in the 100 (12.42), third in the 200 (25.98) and fifth in the 400, and will run a relay as well.
Molly Brown, Addison senior: She’s won the 100 hurdles the last two seasons and added the 300 hurdles title and a seventh in the 100 dash last season. She will attempt to join the exclusive four-event champions list seeded first in the 100 dash (12.10), 100 hurdles (14.05), 300 hurdles (44.83) and long jump (17-4).
Payton Haynes, Mason County Eastern senior: The reigning pole vault champion is top-seeded in that event (11-0) and fifth-seeded in the 100 hurdles.
Eliza Keith, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian senior: She finished fourth in the 800 and ran on two relays last season, and this time is seeded second in the 400 (59.06) and first both in the 800 (2:15.48) and 1,600 (4:58.51)
Allie Nowak, Johannesburg-Lewiston senior: Last season’s champion in the 800 is seeded third in that race (2:22.11) and will run a relay as well.
Kaylie Livingston, Whitmore Lake sophomore: She opened her Finals career in this sport with 3,200 open and relay championships and a runner-up finish in the 1,600 run, and Saturday she’ll be seeded first in the 3,200 (10:58.93), third in the 1,600 (5:01.26) and will run on the top-seeded 3,200 relay (9:57.18).
PHOTO Onsted's Emmry Ross runs to one of her four championships during last season's Lower Peninsula Division 3 Finals. (Photo by Jamie McNinch/RunMichigan.com.)