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: LP Girls Finals Lineup Loaded with Past Champs, Potential Record-Setters
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 29, 2026
Years from now, or perhaps much sooner, this weekend’s MHSAA Lower Peninsula Girls Track & Field Finals might be remembered as one of the most star-studded we’ve seen in some time.
Returning qualifiers have won a combined 29 individual Finals championships over the last three seasons, and at least a few meet records are in danger of being rewritten Saturday as athletes compete at four Grand Rapids-area sites.
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. (Although not noted for most, several individuals below also will run on contending relays.)
Below is a glance at team contenders and individuals to watch in all four divisions:
Division 1 at Rockford
Team forecast: Oak Park has won the last three Division 1 championships, and Detroit Renaissance has finished second two of the last three seasons after claiming the title in 2022. Oak Park is certainly the favorite again Saturday, but Detroit Cass Tech might offer the greatest challenge this time, with 2024 runner-up Ann Arbor Pioneer another school to watch for at the top.
Nevaeh Burns, Oak Park junior: She’s won the 400 both of her first two seasons and run on five relay champs as well, and enters this weekend seeded first in the 400 (54.21), running the 100 and 200 and as part of the top-seeded 800 relay (1:38.62).
Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer sophomore: The Division 1 cross country record-setting champion this past fall will attempt to build on her second place in the 3,200 and fourth in the 1,600 last spring, seeded first in the 3,200 (10:01.05) and running on the top-seeded 3,200 relay (9:08.39) after scratching from the 800 and 1,600 despite being the top seed in the latter as well.
Payton Gee, Oak Park sophomore: She was part of two relay champions last year, and could add to that haul seeded first in the 100 hurdles (13.88) and 300 hurdles (44.49), slated to run on two top-seeded relays but also qualified in the 100, 200 and 400.
Kamryn Tatum, West Bloomfield senior: She’ll close a celebrated high school career seeking a fourth championship in the 200 and second-straight in the 100. She’s seeded first in the 200 (23.68) and second in the 100 (11.77) and could also run on two relays after scratching as the third seed in the 400, which she won as a freshman.
Collette Wierks, Holland West Ottawa junior: The reigning champion in the 800 also has run on two 3,200 relay winners and enters this weekend seeded second in the 800 (2:11.31) and running on 3,200 and 1,600 relays.
Lorelai Zielinski, Traverse City Central junior: The all-Finals records for shot put and discus could fall to the Trojans’ standout, whose top-seeded tosses of 52-6 and 167 feet, respectively, would be all-time bests. She swept the throws last season.
Division 2 at Hamilton
Team forecast: Sturgis claimed its first Finals championship last season, and Spring Lake is among contenders with a chance to do the same. Sturgis should be heard from again, and 2024 champion Dearborn Divine Child also has the capability to follow its standouts back to the top.
Evie Mathis, Wayland senior: The reigning pole vault champion posted a Regional-best 13-0 and will also run on two relays.
Eliza Schwass, Ludington freshman: She’s enjoyed an incredible first season and enters her first Finals seeded first in the 800 (2:08.61) by almost three seconds, first in the 1,600 (4:40.34) by nearly nine and first in the 3,200 by nearly 14.
Macy Subka, Spring Lake junior: She finished third in the 300 hurdles and 17th in the 100 hurdle prelims last season, and enters this weekend seeded second in the 100 hurdles (14.91), first in the 300 (44.13) and likely to run on two top-seeded relays.
Leigha Whitman, Stevensville Lakeshore junior: The reigning long jump champion is seeded first (18-10½) and likely to run on two relays as well.
Aubrey Wilson, Dearborn Divine Child junior: She’ll pursue her third 100-meter title and second-straight in the 200, and is seeded first in those two races (11.52 and 23.77, respectively) and the 400 (56.14) and could also long jump or run a relay.
Division 3 at Kent City
Team forecast: Olivet broke through last season for its first Finals team championship, and the Eagles have entries seeded at or near the top in every running event as they pursue a repeat. Lansing Catholic is seeking its first girls track championship and has the potential to put up major points in the distance open races and relays. Traverse City St. Francis and Pewamo-Westphalia are others to watch.
Julia Hughes, Ida senior: The reigning 100 hurdles champion is seeded first in that race (14.60) and second in the 300 hurdles (46.03).
Giuliana Nastale, Erie Mason senior: She’s seeking repeats in both the 100 and 200 dashes, and she’s a contender in three races seeded fourth in the 100 (12.25), third in the 200 (25.58) and second in the 400 (58.88).
Emily Peters, Olivet senior: She’s running for a fourth 300 hurdles championship and seeded first in that race (45.32) and third in the 100 hurdles (15.17) with opportunities as well to run the 100 and long jump (in which she’s seeded fourth) or on any of three contending relays.
Addyson Stiverson, Montrose junior: She swept the throws last season and won shot put as a freshman as well, and her Regional shot put of 51-10 also would break the all-Finals record this weekend. She’s seeded second in the discus (145-5).
Grace Wonch, Lansing Catholic junior: She’s seeded first in the 1,600 (4:59.96) and 3,200 (10:37.02) and second in the 800 (2:18.96) after finishing eighth in the 3,200 but running on the winning 3,200 relay in 2025.
Division 4 at Hudsonville Baldwin
Team forecast: Fowler has won the last two Division 4 team titles, and the Eagles remain in the conversation with potential point scorers all over this meet. But last season’s runner-up Frankfort may be the team to watch as it runs for a first championship, entering with three top-seeded relays plus contenders in sprints and pole vault. Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep also is seeking a first Finals win and has possible contributors spread among several events.
Ryleigh Ewald, Unionville-Sebewaing senior: The reigning discus champion had the top Regional throw of 124-8 and also will compete in shot put.
Kaylie Livingston, Whitmore Lake junior: She’s won two Division 4 cross country championships plus the 3,200 the last two springs, and she’s seeded first in that race (11:01.75) and the 1,600 (5:07.55) and fourth in the 800 (2:23.01).
Claire Long, Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central junior: She won the 400 and finished third in the 200 a year ago, and this time she’s seeded first in the 400 (57.32), fifth in the 200 (25.77) and seventh in the 100.
Annie Saenz, Concord sophomore: The reigning high jump champion had the highest Regional jump this spring (5-7) by four inches and also could run on two contending relays.
Clara Slattery, Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep junior: She finished second in the 200 and 100 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles during a strong 2025 meet, and could follow that up substantially seeded first in the 200 (25.01) and 300 hurdles (43.86) and second in the 400 (58.12) and 100 hurdles (15.51).
PHOTOS (Top) Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Natasza Dudek, front left, and Gaylord’s Kate Berkshire take the early lead in the Diamond 1,600 at Romeo’s Barnyard Invitational this season. (Middle) West Bloomfield’s Kamryn Tatum, middle, sprints to an Oakland County championship Friday. (Photos by Dave McCauley, at Oakland County, and John Brabbs at Romeo/RunMichigan.com.)