Calumet Invite Produces Northern Stars
September 18, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Calumet Invitational dates back roughly 30 years as an annual staple of the cross country schedule for schools at the northernmost tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
A creative move by the Copper Kings last year added some statewide prestige to the event.
Last week, for the second season, Calumet ran the series of races at Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, a resort near Copper Harbor and the northern bank of the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Calumet is the northernmost high school in Michigan. And moving this race another 35 miles northeast more or less guaranteed it's the northernmost event run in the state.
"We figured it was pretty safe. We're the northernmost school in the state, and you can only go four more miles and you're in Lake Superior," Calumet athletic director Sean Jacques said. "Nobody else is going to do anything more north than that."
A total of 10 schools were represented this fall in the races for boys and girls varsity, junior varsity and middle schoolers.
Jacques said the event formerly was run at a golf course in Calumet. But a few years ago, Calumet graduate and former Copper Kings cross country runner Dan Harri moved home from Florida to become general manager at the Mountain Lodge (he's also a renowned chef and has owned restaurants in Miami with Hall of Fame Dolphins coach Don Shula).
Harri had asked a few times about bringing a cross country or golf event to the lodge. Jacques told him last year they'd give it a try, so Harri set up a course that includes golf course, a couple of bridges, trails and finishes with a climb on the No. 1 fairway. It also provides various points for fans to watch runners go by, not always available on other courses.
"We were looking for a little bit of a change, and it's a beautiful course," Jacques said. "We thought if people were willing to make the extra drive, it would be really nice."
Calumet won the boys race this season, just ahead of runner-up Houghton. Houghton's girls were victorious, followed by the host Copper Kings.
Click to read more about this year's event from the Houghton Mining Gazette.
Michigan's claim to an NFL evolution
As part of its NFL preview this month, Sports Illustrated reported on one of the most significant developments for offenses over the last few decades – the silent snap count, which is used regularly by visiting teams because offensive linemen can’t hear the quarterback calling for the ball over the clamor of the home crowd.
And the article explained that the silent snap count might’ve gotten its start at one of Michigan’s smallest high schools – Flint’s Michigan School for the Deaf.
Offensive linemen during the 1980s were feasted on by pass rushers like Lawrence Taylor and Bruce Smith, who built record sack totals by blasting past blockers who seemed a step slow. Turns out, that was true. Defensive players were getting an edge by attacking as soon as they saw the ball move. But blockers (especially offensive tackles), focused instead on the defensive ends and linebackers lined up across from them, and didn’t have the luxury of watching the ball – and since they also couldn’t hear the snap count, started each play a step behind.
Enter the silent count. The quarterback signals to the center that he is ready to receive the ball (with a pat on the back, by raising a foot, etc.). The center then raises his head, and after a predetermined count of at least one second snaps the ball without a sound. This means an offensive tackle doesn’t have to listen for a snap count – he just counts after seeing the center get set.
The SI report recognized longtime offensive line coach Howard Mudd as the guru of the silent snap count. But Mudd recalled a conversation he’d had while working for the Seattle Seahawks with another coach, the late Andy MacDonald, who also had coached early in his career at a school for the deaf in Michigan.
The article doesn’t mention Michigan School for the Deaf by name. But it seems to make sense that the Tartars were the first to use the now-revolutionary count. MacDonald – who played at Central Michigan University and went on to coach at Michigan State and four other colleges and also for the Buffalo Bills – grew up in Flint and attended Flint Northern before playing for the Chippewas from 1950-53. The historical web site Michigan-football.com has results for Flint’s Michigan School for the Deaf dating to 1950, making it a decent assumption that MacDonald might’ve gotten in a little early coaching experience at the school down the road from his home.
Click for the SI story and go to page 4 for the mention of Michigan’s school.
Michigan mourns trooper, running standout
The law enforcement community is mourning the death of Michigan State Police trooper Paul Butterfield, who was shot Sept. 9 during a traffic stop in Mason County. He also was a well-known distance runner during the 1980s and the MHSAA Class A cross country champion running for Bridgeport in 1987.
According to a Ludington Daily News report, Butterfield continued running after high school at the University of Tennessee, and also competed at the 1989 Pan American Junior Games in Argentina.
Butterfield was stationed in Hart after previously serving in Manistee, and lived in Mason County. He also had served in the U.S. Army. Click to read more from the Ludington Daily News.
PHOTO: Calumet's Chelsea Jacques (right) won this season's Calumet Invitational with a time of 21:08.06, just ahead of Ironwood's Jessica Gering at 21:46.16. (Photo courtesy of Calumet athletic department.)
Holland Christian's Morgan Finishes Unforgettable Career in Net
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 18, 2023
In guiding Holland Christian to the Division 3 championship last fall, senior keeper Daniel Morgan capped a three-year varsity career among the most accomplished in state history at his position.
He posted 16 shutouts in 22 games last season – including six straight at one point – and finished with 34 for his career. Holland Christian actually had 10 straight shutouts from Sept. 19 through Oct. 20, 2022, and 18 total over 24 games, giving up only seven goals for the season.
See below for more recent record book updates in boys soccer.
Boys Soccer
Henry Plumstead became the first Maple City Glen Lake player to be added to the record book, thanks to a stellar 2020 season. He was added for both 47 goals and 67 points over 20 games. He’s a sophomore now playing at Kalamazoo College.
Adrian Lenawee Christian’s Zach Riordan completed his four-year varsity career in 2019 among the highest-scoring players in MHSAA history. His 181 career goals continue to rank second, and he’s also listed for 61 as a junior and 52 as a senior. He’s also on the points lists for 79 as a junior, 61 as a senior and 221 over his career.
Senior season was filled with highlights for Okemos’ Jack Guggemos, as he helped his team to the 2021 Division 1 championship and won the Mr. Soccer Award. He’s also entered into the MHSAA record book for his 46 goals and 62 total points over 24 games. Okemos’ run to the championship included a streak of 40 straight games without a loss that began with the team going 20-0-4 that season and 12-0-4 to start the fall of 2022. Okemos was a combined 32-0-8 during the stretch. Additionally, Brian Guggemos was added for his 306 win over 21 seasons of coaching. He retired after last season with a 306-85-47 record. Jack Guggemos is continuing his playing career at Michigan State.
Mason Garcia’s major performance for Shelby last Aug. 22 netted him a spot among the highest-scoring players in MHSAA history. His seven goals in a win over Newaygo tied him for 10th-most in one game. He was a senior last fall.
Two of the most notable seasons in Macomb Lutheran North history were added for their defensive achievements. The 1987 team had 16 shutouts in 23 games on the way to winning the Class B title, while the 2002 team also had 16 shutouts over 21 games on the way to winning a District championship.
Wyoming Lee’s league championship season last fall also included the program’s first entry in the record book. Lee didn’t allow a goal from Sept. 12-Oct. 6, a stretch of 10 games that tied for the ninth-longest shutout streak all-time.
Berkley finished a combined 38-6-3 over the last two seasons, and defensive strength certainly played a part. The Bears started the 2021 season with seven straight shutouts and the 2022 season with eight shutouts in a row, both making the record book. They also earned entries with 17 shutouts and giving up only 10 goals total last season over 24 games.
Muskegon Oakridge then-junior Arturo Romero created statewide buzz at the start of last season when he put together hat tricks (three or more goals) in seven straight games from Aug. 20-Sept. 7. He had a high of six goals in a game and finished the season with 40 goals over 22 games total.
Josh Pugh finished his career at Marshall last fall with a pair of entries for ace goal-scoring. He made the single-game list with six Oct. 12 against Charlotte, and he tallied 110 goals over 81 games and four seasons.
Longtime St. Joseph coach Steve Lohrke also was added to the all-time wins list in this sport. He put together a 313-155-24 record leading the Bears from 1985-2008.
Austin Townsend tied Alpena’s single-game goals record and made the MHSAA record book with six in his team’s win over Oscoda on Sept. 28, 2022. He was a senior.
Fruitport’s Justin Laus finished up his career last fall on the career shutouts list with 25 total over 75 games and four varsity seasons. He became the second from his school to make the individual record book for boys soccer.
PHOTO Holland Christian keeper Daniel Morgan, center, pulls in the ball in front of his net during his team’s Division 3 Final win over Grosse Ile.