10 to Remember: Winter 2014-15
April 2, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
As one might imagine, six straight weekends of MHSAA Finals produce enough highlights to distract us from our seemingly endless Michigan winters.
As explained to preface “10 to Remember” many times before, all championships are lifetime memories for those who achieved them. Those listed below are just one person’s thoughts on which moments from this season will continue to be discussed most in the seasons to come.
10. Brother Rice Rides Team Effort to Repeat
Birmingham Brother Rice repeated as Lower Peninsula Division 1 swimming and diving champion, and did so by winning by more than 100 points for the second consecutive season. But what made this Warriors finish so impressive was that it didn’t include a single individual championship – they won the opening and closing relays of the meet and took seven second-place individual finishes along the way.
9. Kearsley Sweeps Bowling Championships … Again
Flint Kearsley varsity bowlers are guaranteed one other title this season – MHSAA champions. Both the girls and boys teams won team titles in Division 2, just as they had in 2014. The Kearsley girls again defeated Bay City Western in the championship match, this time by a mere 30 pins, 1,242-1,212. The Kearsley boys also earned their title by defeating Bay City Western, and by only seven pins – 1,351-1,344.
8. Rockford/Sparta Owns the Weekend
Rockford hosted the MHSAA Gymnastics Finals, making the cliché “bringing home the title” a short trip – twice. The Rams, a co-op with Sparta, won the team competition by 1.750 points over reigning champion Canton; Rockford’s only other MHSAA gymnastics championship also was the first in any sport in school history, in the Lower Peninsula in 1989. Juniors Madi Myers and Morgan Korf led the effort with the third and fourth-highest all-around scores of the Team Final – and Korf came back the next day with a stunning move to take the Division 1 individual championship. She had finished 18th in Division 1 as a sophomore.
7. Breckenridge Returns to Cheer Elite
In its second season back as a competitive program, Breckenridge added to its stature as one of the most powerful competitive cheer programs in MHSAA history by claiming the Division 4 championship by nearly 24 points over runner-up Pewamo-Westphalia. Breckenridge has won eight MHSAA titles in cheer, but didn’t have a team for six seasons because of low participation until bringing back the program for 2013-14.
6. Cowboys Lasso First Basketball Title
First Detroit Western International won its first Detroit Public School League championship since 1922. Then it made its first MHSAA Semifinals since 1974. The Cowboys capped this season with its first MHSAA Final victory, a nail-biter 62-59 over Saginaw Arthur Hill in Class A. Western also defeated Detroit Catholic League A-B champion Detroit U-D Jesuit in the Semifinal, and finished the season 26-0.
No team traveled farther to the MHSAA Basketball Finals than the Calumet girls – and it can be argued that no team came from farther away in expectation to become an MHSAA champion. The unranked Copper Kings traveled more than 500 miles to arrive at the Breslin Center, then defeated top-ranked Laingsburg in a Class C Semifinal and perennial power Flint Hamady in the championship game to claim its first MHSAA title in the sport.
4. Skatzka, Olson Become Latest of the Greatest
Richmond’s Devin Skatzka and Davison’s Lincoln Olson pushed the list of MHSAA four-time individual champions to 21 by finishing their careers with big victories. Olson actually was the 20th, winning his match at 135 pounds by technical fall in Division 1. Skatzka then became No. 21 with four MHSAA titles, with a technical fall in the 160-pound match in Division 3.
3. Brighton Claims First Title in Final Match
Few Finals in any sport this winter carried the drama of Brighton’s 31-25 win over Hartland in Division 1 wrestling. Bulldogs 112-pounder Lee Grabowski entered the final match carrying his team’s three-point lead but facing the scenario that if he lost even by decision, and the team score went to 28-28, Brighton would lose the tie-breaker. Oh, and Grabowski was facing an opponent he’d lost to twice in league competition earlier in the winter. Grabowski won a 4-2 decision this time, and Brighton won its first team title.
2. Godwin Heights, Powers North Central Cap 3-Season Surges
Wyoming Godwin Heights and Powers North Central made the MHSAA record book by adding to a pair of the most successful three-season runs in boys basketball history – and capping them with championships. Godwin Heights won its first MHSAA title, downing Detroit Henry Ford 85-68 in the Class B Final, to finish the last three seasons a combined 74-5. North Central, meanwhile, downed Morenci 67-47 in Class D to win its first title since 1984 and cap a three-season 75-5 run.
1. Record Comeback Sends Saints Home as Champs
St. Ignace trailed undefeated Pittsford by 20 points two minutes into the Class D Final when it launched a comeback equaled by only one other team in MHSAA girls basketball history. The Saints tied the score with 35 seconds to play in regulation and continued the rally in the extra period to claim a 64-60 title-clinching victory. Detroit Cass Tech, in the 1987 Class A Final, also had come back from 20 down in the third quarter to win. The championship was St. Ignace’s fifth in girls basketball.
PHOTO: St. Ignace basketball players celebrate after the Saints tied the largest comeback in MHSAA Finals history on the way to claiming the Class D title. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Newberry Clinches 1st Track & Field Finals Repeat in 2 Decades
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 1, 2025
KINGSFORD — Nearly two decades ago, the Newberry boys became Upper Peninsula Division 2 track & field champs in back-to-back years.
They accomplished the same here Saturday, retaining their Division 3 title with 84 points, Runner-up Lake Linden-Hubbell scored 73, with Bessemer a surprising third at 46.
“We kind of did what we had all season,” Newberry coach Drew Schultz said. “We were kind of top heavy. We were lacking depth a little, but I knew if the guys did what they did all season, I liked our chances. This is the first time we won back-to-back years since I was in high school (2005-06). This is fun, bringing four championship trophies back to the eastern U.P. Pickford’s kids did a nice job (sweeping titles) in D-2.”
Newberry started this day on a positive note, winning the 3,200-meter relay in a season-best 8:42.67.
Senior Connor Carlson, who anchored that relay, also placed fourth in the 200 (24.31) and 400 (54.07).
“It feels good to win,” he said moments after finishing the relay. “I love winning. Garrett (Lewicki) ran a great first leg. Everyone was rolling. This sets the tone pretty good.”
Lewicki also anchored the 1,600 relay which placed second (3:42.47), and took third in the open 800 (2:09.83).
Newberry senior Matt Rahilly won long jump at 20-4½ and high jump (6-0), placed second in the 100 (11.51) and third in the 200 (24.24). Classmate Ethan Pavey added a first in shot put (43-6½).
Senior Dakota Taylor, who will run cross country at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey this fall, provided Engadine with a solid showing. He took second in the 3,200 in a personal-best 10:20.96 and third in the 1,600 (4:51.61), and helped the Eagles place fourth in the 3,200 relay (9:08.59).
Brimley swept the sprint relays, taking the 400 (46.78) and 800 (1:36.75), and senior Adrian Kunowski took pole vault (11-1).
“I’d say our handoffs went well,” Brimley sophomore Gus Vonseggem said. “We didn’t qualify last year. Cooper (Jones) and Trey (Lynn) joining the team made a difference. We really wanted to break the school record. We still need to make our handoffs a little better. It takes a lot of offseason work. Overall, we’re happy with the team’s performance.”
Chassell senior and Michigan Tech recruit Kalvin Kytta was a triple-winner, taking the 800 at 2:03.71, 1,600 in a personal-best 4:28.58 and 3,200 (10:11.42).
“I’m very happy with my season,” he said. “I was going for the record in the 3,200, but just couldn’t quite get that today. The PR (personal record) in the mile was kind of a reflection win.
“Glory to God for sure. He gives me the strength to do all this. I’m getting to know the guys a little at Tech. I’m thankful to God for providing me with this opportunity.”
Lake Linden-Hubbell sophomore Lukas Axford captured the 300 hurdles (42.46) and anchored the winning 1,600 relay (3:41.89). Watersmeet senior Thomas Caron was a double winner, taking the 200 (23.91) and 400 (52.36) and adding a fourth in the 100 (11.75).
Bessemer senior Bryce Martin won the 100 (11.44), and sophomore Jayden Verrett was runner-up in the 200 (23.92), third in the 100 (11.52) and anchored two second-place sprint relays.
PHOTOS (Top) Newberry's Garrett Lewicki hands off the baton to Danny Mikus during the 1,600 relay Saturday. (Middle) Lake Linden-Hubbell's Lukas Axford celebrates his team's win in that race. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)