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.)
Preview: Finals Forecast Includes Potential Career Sweeps, 1st-Time Team Opportunities
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 19, 2025
A pair of seniors seeking to complete MHSAA Finals championship sweeps and a favorite pursuing a first team title are among storylines heading into this weekend’s Lower Peninsula Girls Swimming & Diving Finals.
West Bloomfield star Elizabeth Eichbrecht in Division 1 will attempt to finish her career with four championships in both the 200 and 500-yard freestyle races. In Division 3, Dearborn Divine Child standout Ella Dziobak is swimming for a fourth title in the 500 as well.
The team competitions also have familiar favorites, as Ann Arbor Pioneer, Farmington Hills Mercy and East Grand Rapids all are seeking to add to multi-year title streaks – but in Division 2, Grosse Pointe South may have the lineup to outpace Mercy and earn a first championship.
Due to facility repairs beginning Friday evening, the Division 1 Finals at Oakland University will begin Thursday and conclude Friday afternoon, with Division 2 and 3 following the traditional Friday-Saturday schedule.
Competition begins at noon for first-day preliminaries and the following day’s championships at all three sites. Tickets cost $11 both days, and all three Finals will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv. Click for information on purchasing tickets, plus schedules and qualifiers for all three meets.
Lower Peninsula Division 1 at Oakland University
Reigning champion: Ann Arbor Pioneer
2024 runner-up: Jenison
2025 top-ranked: 1. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 2. Northville, 3. Jenison.
Pioneer will be looking to claim a sixth-straight Division 1 title – which would tie it with East Grand Rapids (1981-86) and East Lansing (1973-78) for the third-longest championship streak in MHSAA girls swimming & diving history. The Pioneers’ mix of stars and depth will be tough to catch, with three relays and 22 individual entries seeded to score plus a diver competing. Northville finished third last season and is seeking its first championship to go with a runner-up finish in 2022. All three Mustangs relays and eight individuals are seeded to score, with three divers making that a strength as well. Jenison has finished a Finals runner-up two of the last four years – second in Division 2 in 2022 and then right behind Pioneer last fall. The Wildcats have all three relays and 11 individuals seeded to score, with two divers competing.
Kia Alert, Ann Arbor Pioneer freshman: She’ll make her Finals debut top-seeded in the 50-yard freestyle (23 seconds) and 100 breaststroke (1:04.16) and likely to swim on the top-seeded 200 freestyle and second-seeded 200 medley relays.
Dalila Brown, Jenison sophomore: She debuted by swimming on the winning 200 medley relay and finishing sixth in the backstroke last year while also competing in two more events, and this week she’s seeded first in the backstroke (55.37), seventh in the butterfly and likely to swim on the top-seeded medley and second-seeded 400 freestyle relays.
Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield senior: One of the most accomplished swimmers in MHSAA history will look to finish career Finals sweeps in the 200 and 500 freestyles, seeded first in both in 1:45.48 and 4:41.54, respectively – times that would break all-Finals records.
Madison Ensing, Zeeland senior: The reigning champion in the 50 and 100 freestyles is this time seeded first in the 100 (50.75) second in the 50 (23.22) and slated to swim on two top-three seeded relays.
Natalie Mazur, Brighton sophomore: She’s seeded first in the 100 butterfly (56.69), 10th in the 200 individual medley and slated to swim on two top-five seeded relays, after swimming the backstroke and as part of two relays last season.
Cecilia Walusek, Ann Arbor Pioneer junior: She finished sixth in the 500 and seventh in the 200 freestyle last season and also swam on the runner-up 200 medley relay. She returns as the top seed in the IM (2:05.24), third seed in the backstroke (56.86) and slated to swim on the top-seeded 200 free and second-seeded medley relays.
Ann Arbor Pioneer 200 freestyle relay: A potential group of Alert, Walusek, sophomore Yahanna Silva Castro and senior Katelyn Van Ryn could make a run at the LPD1 (1:32.85) and all-Finals (1:32.77) records in this race, entering with a seed time of 1:32.97. Van Ryn was part of last year’s champion.
Kiya Bowman, Kalamazoo Central senior: She finished eighth in diving last season but third among non-seniors and enters this meet having posted the highest Division 1 Regional qualifier score of 408.95 points.
Lower Peninsula Division 2 at Eastern Michigan University
Reigning champion: Farmington Hills Mercy
2024 runner-up: Grosse Pointe South
2025 top-ranked: 1. Grosse Pointe South, 2. Farmington Hills Mercy, 3. Birmingham Seaholm.
South has finished Division 2 runner-up three of the last six seasons and is seeking its first championship, but against familiar rivals. The Blue Devils are seeded first this weekend in all three relays and with 15 individual entries seeded to score – with five top seeds – plus a top diving contender. Mercy has won the last two championships, including last season 120.5 points ahead of South. The Marlins have three relays and 16 individuals seeded to score, and eight divers competing. Seaholm was the Division 2 runner-up in 2023 and third last year, just 11 points behind GPS. The Maples have three relays and eight individuals seeded to score, plus a diver.
Caroline Bryan, Grosse Pointe South sophomore: The reigning champion in the butterfly and as part of the medley relay is seeded first in both the butterfly (54.15) and IM (2:05.19) and could swim on any of the team’s three top-seeded relays. Her butterfly seed time is only 19 hundredths of a second off the Division 2 meet record.
Mischa Eng, Grosse Pointe South sophomore: She placed fifth in the butterfly and third in the backstroke and swam on the winning medley relay as well last year. She’s seeded first in the backstroke (56.89) and second in the butterfly (57.11) this weekend.
Whitney Handwork, Grosse Pointe South senior: She’s seeded first in the 50 (23.48) and 100 (51.19) freestyles and also is a candidate for all three relay favorites after winning the 50, finishing fifth in the 100 and swimming on the runner-up 200 free relay in 2024.
Amelia Malarz, Midland Dow sophomore: The reigning champion in the breaststroke and fourth-place finisher in the IM is seeded first in the breaststroke (1:02.64), third in the IM (2:06.67) and likely to swim two relays.
Adrienne Schadler, Ann Arbor Skyline junior: She’s won the 200 freestyle the last two seasons and added the 500 freestyle title a year ago, and is seeded first in both races in 1:47.10 and 4:51.08, respectively, while also likely to swim on two relays.
Campbell Shore, Farmington Hills Mercy junior: She’s been part of freestyle relay championships her first two seasons and won the 100 and finished sixth in the 50 last year as well. She’ll swim both individual races and potentially two relays this weekend.
Morgan Rea, Rochester Adams junior: She outpaced the entire Division 2 field with a Regional score of 433.20 and will be making her second Finals appearance after also competing as a freshman.
Aubrey Yarger, Hastings sophomore: She clinched last season’s diving championship as a freshman by 1.9 points and will return after winning her Regional by more than 27 with a score of 398.85.
Lower Peninsula Division 3 at Holland Aquatic Center
Reigning champion: East Grand Rapids
2024 runner-up: Bloomfield Hills Marian
2025 top-ranked: 1. East Grand Rapids, 2. Bloomfield Hills Marian, 3. Hudsonville Unity Christian
East Grand Rapids has won four straight Finals championships – including the last two in Division 3 – and can reach five consecutive for the fifth time in program history. That’s likely the expectation as the Pioneers have all three relays and 21 individual entries seeded to score, plus three divers in contention. Marian finished second a year ago and in 2021 and won the championship in 2022 when EGR competed in Division 2. The Mustangs have all three relays and 14 individuals seeded to score, and four divers. Unity Christian is a new addition to the contenders after finishing sixth a year ago. The Crusaders are seeking their first top-two Finals finish and bringing three relays and 10 individuals seeded to score.
Ellery Chandler, East Grand Rapids senior: She heads into her last Finals with three individual titles and four relay championships, with wins in the breaststroke, butterfly and as part of two relays a year ago. She’s seeded first in the butterfly (56.40) and breaststroke (1:04.54) and likely will swim on the top-seeded 200 free and second-seeded medley relays.
Ella Dziobak, Dearborn Divine Child senior: She’s pursuing a career Finals sweep in the 500 and is seeded fourth (5:22.70) in that race and fourth as well in the 200 free (1:59.50) – in which she placed third in 2024.
Addie Hein, East Grand Rapids junior: The reigning champion in the IM also finished third in the breaststroke and swam on the winning medley relay a year ago. She’s seeded third in the IM (2:10.87), fourth in the breaststroke (1:08.89) and could swim on two top-two seeded relays.
Quinn Norlander, Detroit Country Day junior: She’s looking to add to third-place finishes in both the IM and backstroke from last season, seeded first in the 100 freestyle (52.34), second in the backstroke (55.11) and also swimming on two relays.
Sophia Pierangeli, St. Joseph junior: The top seed in the IM (2:06.64) and third seed in the backstroke (57.33) finished fifth in the IM, sixth in the backstroke and swam on two runner-up relays last season. Two of her potential relays this weekend are top-seeded.
Camryn Siegers, Holland Christian junior: She’s won three Finals titles so far – two in the backstroke and also the 50 last year – and she’s seeded first this weekend in the 50 (23.01) and backstroke (54.46) with the latter only three hundredths of a second off the meet record. She’ll also likely swim on two third-seeded relays.
Alyssa Volkers, Hamilton junior: She could make significant jumps from sixth in the 200 freestyle and fourth in the 500 last year, seeded first in both races in 1:54.60 and 5:11.29, respectively.
Anna McAllister, Chelsea junior: She won last season’s diving championship by nearly 43 points and her Regional last week by 40 with a score of 384.25.
Josi Popma, Hamilton junior: She posted the highest Division 3 Regional score of 397.25, winning her site by 42 points after placing third at last year’s Final.
PHOTO West Bloomfield's Elizabeth Eichbrecht swims the 500 freestyle at last season's Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)