10 to Remember: Winter 2012-13
April 4, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
This winter in Michigan will be remembered by some as lasting seemingly forever. But at least we had plenty to enjoy over the five weeks from the end of February through March.
Below are 10 stories from this winter's Finals that we're likely to recall for years to come. They aren't necessarily the 10 most exciting moments, but rather 10 stories of particular significance covering every sport the MHSAA sponsors during this mostly-indoor season.
A few that just missed the list: Livonia Stevenson winning that hockey town's first hockey title, St. Ignace's first perfect girls basketball finish, Flint Beecher's last-second success in the Class C Boys Basketball Final, East Grand Rapids' four-point win in Division 3 swimming and diving and the emergence of Troy's Christina Shabet as the MHSAA's top gymnast.
There are plenty of others we could mention as well. Feel free to post about them after checking out our 10.
Saline Seniors Leave Mark
One of the most impressive swimming and diving classes in MHSAA history finished its high school career March 9 in Holland the same way it began four seasons ago. Saline won its fourth-straight Lower Peninsula Division 1 championship anchored by seniors David Boland, Josh Ehrman, Michael Bundas and Adam Whitener, who combined hold four Division 1 Finals individual and two relay records. Ehrman finished his prep career with the all-class/division records in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke, and those four hold the all-class/division record in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:30.01 – good also for third in the national record book. Click to read more.
Fowlerville’s Coon Finishes with 4
Only 16 others had accomplished what Fowlerville’s Adam Coon achieved to finish his MHSAA wrestling career. And none had done so wrestling at the heaviest weights. On March 2 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Coon became the 17th athlete to win four MHSAA wrestling individual titles by picking up his second at 285 pounds after also winning two at 215. He finished his career with a record of 211-3 and won 194 straight matches dating to his freshman season. Click to read more.
Comets Shine for 6th Consecutive Gymnastics Win
Despite graduating the Division 1 all-around champion (again) and facing a talented Canton team (again), Grand Ledge won the team title again – for the sixth-straight time, the longest streak in MHSAA gymnastics history. On March 8 at Canton High School, the Comets scored 149.350 points – fifth-most in MHSAA Finals history. What are the chances for seven in a row? They’ll have a strong start: junior Presley Allison won the Division 2 all-around title the next day, and freshman Rachel Hogan won the Division 1 floor competition. Click to read more.
Hudson Completes Drive for 5
The Tigers won three of the final four matches to edge Hesperia 32-24 in the Division 4 Team Wrestling Final on Feb. 23 at Kellogg Arena and earn their fifth-straight MHSAA title – tying the 2002-06 Davison teams for the longest such streak since the Team Finals began in 1988. Hudson was loaded with 11 Individual Finals qualifiers, including three who went on to win their weights the following weekend. Click to read more.
This Time, It’s Romulus’ Turn
Romulus advanced to Boys Basketball Finals weekend at Breslin Center for the fourth time in six seasons, and on March 23 left with its first MHSAA championship since 1986. The Eagles had just fallen short a number of times during the recent run, but controlled from the tip in downing Detroit Southeastern 61-49 to claim the Class A title. Romulus finished this season 27-1. Click to read more.
Grand Haven Wins Repeat Class A Final
Only a few things about Grand Haven were the same this season as in 2011-12, including one significant advantage – 6-foot-5 center Abby Cole. After putting up 23 points, 19 rebounds and 12 blocks in a Semifinal win over Westland John Glenn, she tallied 11 points, seven rebounds and eight blocks in a 60-54 overtime win over Grosse Pointe South on March 16 at the Breslin Center to give the Buccaneers two straight Class A title wins – both over the Blue Devils. Click to read more.
Puck Stops Here as Brighton Marches On
The Bulldogs claimed their second-straight Division 1 hockey championship March 9 at Compuware Arena with what has become a characteristic defensive stand, this time in a 2-1 win over 10-time champ Detroit Catholic Central. Brighton goalie James Milletics stopped 37 of 38 shots against him, and his team finished a 12-game winning streak during which it gave up only 12 goals total. Click to read more.
No Stopping Carlson’s Cheer Dynasty
All four MHSAA cheer champions March 2-3 at the Grand Rapids DeltaPlex were repeat winners from 2012, but Carlson faced an intriguing set of circumstances. Although coach Danielle Jokela basically had served as a co-coach with Christine Wilson through four titles over the previous five seasons, this was her first time leading the team solo with Wilson now coaching Brighton. And the Marauders pulled out a third-straight title despite losing all-stater Annie Hajec to an injury during the Regional the weekend before. Click to read more.
Trojans Skiers Second No Longer
Traverse City Central’s girls skiing team had finished MHSAA runner-up five straight seasons before hoisting its first championship trophy since 2005 on Feb. 25 at Boyne Mountain. The Trojans finished with 81 points, 11 better than runner-up Walled Lake Central. Shannon Weaver was the individual runner-up in both the slalom and giant slalom to lead the effort. Click to read more.
Vandercook Lake Wins Battle of Bowling Powers
After facing each other and splitting the last two Division 4 titles, it seemed fate that Vandercook Lake and Sandusky should meet again in the 10th year of the MHSAA tournament on March 1 at Sunnybrook Golf and Bowl. The teams were separated by only six pins with three frames to roll before Vandercook Lake pulled away for a 1,322-1,166 win. The Jayhawks' Malloree Ambs won the individual title the next day. Click to read more.
Preview: Soccer Returns with Past Champs, New Contenders
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 17, 2021
Four first-time finalists – one playing in each championship game – will make their MHSAA Girls Soccer Finals debuts this weekend at DeMartin Stadium.
They'll be joined by reigning champions in Bloomfield Hills Marian and Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, and two more past champs looking to climb once again as the first titles are awarded since 2019 after last season was canceled due to COVID-19.
Following is this weekend’s schedule:
Division 1 - Saturday - 4 p.m.
Troy Athens vs. Hartland
Division 2 - Friday - 4 p.m.
Bloomfield Hills Marian vs. Spring Lake
Division 3 - Friday - 1 p.m.
Boyne City vs. Detroit Country Day
Division 4 - Saturday - 1 p.m.
North Muskegon vs. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic
Tickets cost $9.40 and may be purchased online only at GoFan. One ticket is good for all girls soccer, softball and baseball games at MSU’s Old College Field that day. All four Finals will be broadcast and available with subscription from MHSAA.tv, with free audio broadcasts on the MHSAA Network.
Below is a glance at all eight teams taking the field, with statistics through Regionals:
Division 1
HARTLAND
Record/rank: 19-4-1, unranked
League finish: Third in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Coach: Andrew Kartsounes, 16th season (189-80-42)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Hannah Kastamo, jr. F (20 goals, 10 assists); Justina L’Esperance, sr. M (22 goals, 8 assists); Julia Pietila, sr. F (16 goals, 7 assists); Morgan Seog, jr. GK (0.27 goals-against average, .939 save %).
Outlook: Hartland has won 10 straight games and now reached the Semifinals for the first time. The Eagles shut out their first five postseason opponents – including reigning champ Novi and No. 14 Lake Orion – before defeating No. 11 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central 3-2 in the Semifinal. Senior midfielder Jaden Frigerio had a team-high 13 assists entering the week as Hartland has outscored its opponents by a combined 89-15. Sophomore Leila Al-Qallaf (0.83 goals-against average) has split time with Seog in goal, and they’ve combined for 13 shutouts.
TROY ATHENS
Record/rank: 17-1-4, No. 2
League finish: Third in Oakland Activities Association Red
Coach: Todd Heugh, 10th season (119-46-35)
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2000), two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Nitya Balusu, sr. GK (0.77 goals-against average, 11 shutouts); Abby Mayne, jr. M (20 goals, 13 assists); Gillian Ciak, jr. M (11 goals, 7 assists); Alyssa Carnes, jr. D (9 goals, 4 assists).
Outlook: In 2019, Heugh coached the Athens boys team to its first championship since 1997, and this weekend his girls team will attempt something similar in their first title game appearance since the 2000 win. The Red Hawks have eight straight shutouts, including a 2-0 win over No. 20 Ann Arbor Skyline in the Semifinal. Junior Casey Gruber (9 goals/2 assists), sophomore Amanda Leonard (8 goals/8 assists) and freshman Alex Haggerty also share in a balanced scoring effort.
Division 2
BLOOMFIELD HILLS MARIAN
Record/rank: 12-3-1, No. 12
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Central
Coach: Barry Brodsky, 20th season (345-30-37)
Championship history: Eight MHSAA titles (most recent 2019), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Lauren Briggs, sr. M (3 goals, 6 assists); Abby Lucchesi, jr. M (4 goals, 5 assists); Elle Ervin, fr. F (23 goals, 3 assists); Maria Askounis, sr. F (10 goals, 8 assists).
Outlook: Marian is seeking its fourth-straight Division 2 championship and also hasn’t given up a goal during the postseason with senior Izabel Toma a standout in net. The tournament run has included wins over top-ranked DeWitt, No. 6 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood and No. 13 Dearborn Divine Child. Askounis and now-senior Emily Rassel scored Marian’s goals in the 2019 Final, and now-senior Olivia DeConinck started that Final as a sophomore. Askounis earned all-state honorable mention that season.
SPRING LAKE
Record/rank: 15-3-2, No. 4
League finish: Second in Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue
Coach: Becky May, fifth season (69-8-5)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Meah Bajt, jr. F (31 goals, 8 assists); Zoe Komar, sr. F (10 goals, 4 assists); Eryn Bouwhuis, jr. D (7 goals, 8 assists); Jessica Stewart, fr. GK (0.95 goals-against average, 9 shutouts).
Outlook: Spring Lake has won District titles every season under May, who played at Michigan State, and this season took a few more steps reaching its first championship match. They advanced with a 2-1 Semifinal win over No. 7 Byron Center, and the Lakers’ only losses this spring were twice the Division 3 No. 2 Hudsonville Unity Christian and once to Division 1 No. 3 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern. This could be just the first of a few deep tournament runs; Spring Lake will graduate only three starters.
Division 3
BOYNE CITY
Record/rank: 21-1-2, No. 7
League finish: Tied for first in Lake Michigan Conference
Coach: Eduardo Fantozzi, fifth season (68-24-2)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Jordan Noble, sr. M/F (33 goals, 29 assists); Inanna Hauger, sr. M (12 goals, 22 assists); Taylor Noble, sr. M/F (33 goals, 13 assists); Ally Herrick, sr. M/D (3 goals, 3 assists).
Outlook: A star-studded group of sophomores who helped Boyne City to its first Semifinal in 2019 have the Ramblers headed to their first championship game this weekend. They’ve navigated one of the toughest tournament roads, defeating No. 6 Elk Rapids, No. 8 Cheboygan, No. 10 Big Rapids and No. 2 Hudsonville Unity Christian along the way. The lone loss was to Elk Rapids in April. Jordan Noble made the all-state first team, Hauger and Taylor Noble the second team and Herrick earned honorable mention in 2019. Sophomore Reagan Woodall (13 goals) and senior Megan Harmeling (14) also are finding the net regularly this season.
DETROIT COUNTRY DAY
Record/rank: 16-2-2, No. 1
League finish: Does not play in a league.
Coach: Laura Hamway, sixth season (74-21-6)
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2004), five runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Lila Bienhold, sr. GK (0.50 goals-against average); Calihan Bearden, sr. D (2 goals); Madison Salzenstein, sr. F. (11 goals, 4 assists); Jordan John, sr. F (6 goals, 4 assists).
Outlook: Country Day is making its first championship game appearance since back-to-back Division 3 runner-up finishes in 2014 and 2015. The Yellowjackets were in Division 2 the last season of play, in 2019, and Bienhold made the all-state first team with Bearden and Salzenstein earning honorable mentions. They’ve given up just one goal over five postseason games this spring while also navigating a difficult path, defeating No. 3 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, No. 5 Grosse Ile, No. 13 Williamston and No. 15 Clawson. Country Day also has wins over Division 1 finalist Troy Athens and Division 2 finalist Bloomfield Hills Marian.
Division 4
NORTH MUSKEGON
Record/rank: 19-1-1, No. 6
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference
Coach: Caleb Parnin, first season (19-1-1)
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Hope Johnson, sr. F (36 goals, 21 assists); Audrey Wilson, sr. M (18 goals, 15 assists); Emily Olsen, sr. M (21 goals, 21 assists); Syann Fairfield, sr. GK (5 goals scored, 2 assists; 14 shutouts).
Outlook: North Muskegon made back-to-back Semifinals in 2018 and 2019 and has taken another step into its first Final. Fairfield and Wilson made the all-state second team as sophomores, and Fairfield has given up only five goals over 17 games this spring. The Norsemen have allowed only one goal over five postseason games, with shutouts of top-ranked Grandville Calvin Christian and No. 16 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian along the way. Sophomore forward Natalie Pannucci (17 goals, 9 assists) also is among offensive catalysts.
ROYAL OAK SHRINE CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 14-3-1, No. 11
League finish: Third in Detroit Catholic League AA
Coach: Mark Soma, 21st season (record N/A)
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2019.
Players to watch: Ellie Plunkey, sr. F; Bridgette Drouillard, jr. M; Addy Vemulapalli, soph. GK. (Statistics not submitted.)
Outlook: Shrine reached and won its first Final in 2019, and then graduated a number of past all-staters last spring who would’ve given them a strong chance of returning in 2020 – but has come back this spring with just three senior starters. Shrine has given up only one goal over four playoff games, to No. 15 Bad Axe in the Semifinal, and also has defeated No. 9 Allen Park Inter-City Baptist and No. 12 Adrian Lenawee Christian during this run. All three losses came in April, to No. 3 Clarkston Everest Collegiate, Division 3 No. 17 Wixom St. Catherine and Division 2 No. 6 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood.
PHOTO: Marian's Maria Askounis makes a run at the goal during the 2019 Division 2 championship game.