Get Prepped for a Fantastic Finale
May 24, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We love this time of year. And not just because school is nearly out for summer.
There’s little argument that the week ahead is the most exciting of each MHSAA school year. And you’ll want to set your bookmarks for MHSAA.com and Second Half for updated results and coverage not just next week – but through the rest of this spring season.
The MHSAA.com Score Center is our home for scores from all District softball, baseball and soccer games, which begin Tuesday. You also can view real-time brackets for every District by going to the “Sports” page for each, and updated brackets for lacrosse by visiting our girls and boys pages for that sport as well.
In the Lower Peninsula, we’ll have same day or next morning results as golf Districts are played, and first-day results from next weekend’s Girls Tennis Finals on May 31 – followed by final results at the conclusion of play June 1. We’ll post Finals results for Upper Peninsula golf and tennis as we receive them Wednesday and Thursday, and then results for all seven Lower and Upper Peninsula Track and Field Finals as they come in June 1.
But results are only the start. As we have during the fall and winter, Second Half will provide coverage including photos from every MHSAA Final – beginning with Wednesday’s Upper Peninsula Girls and Boys Golf and Boys Tennis Finals. Keep an eye on Second Half throughout the week, or follow the Second Half feed on the cover page of MHSAA.com.
Transfer rule clarification
We released Monday the actions our Representative Council took earlier this month at its Spring Meeting, including an addition to the athletics-related portion of our transfer rule. Based on some questions we’ve received and read, here’s some further explanation of what will be installed for 2014-15:
The longer period of ineligibility for athletes who transfer because of athletics is not new. This has previously existed for cases in which a school could prove that it lost a student to another school purely for sports-related reasons.
What’s new is what must be proven and by whom for the longer ineligibility period to take effect. Now, a school that lost a student does not have to file a report with the MHSAA for the case to be considered. As long as one of a set of offending activities can be verified – including practicing, competing or training with a member of the new school’s coaching staff during summer or non-school sports activities or seasons – that student will have to sit 180 days instead of the usual period of roughly a semester. The 15 exemptions that allow a student to be eligible immediately – like making a full move to a new district or a student’s school closing – may still apply.
So, to conclude: The longer athletics-related ineligibility period is not new, just how athletics-related transfers are considered and reported. Click to read the full release.
Kickoff is coming
And that means we’re collecting varsity football schedules.
In fact, we have most of them thanks to our athletic directors, their secretaries, coaches and many others who chip in to help us keep complete and accurate information throughout the season.
But there are still plenty of steps in getting ready for August – and a huge one is locking down correct leagues for our teams this season, especially as schools continue to switch things up.
Check out your school’s schedule page by click on the “Schools” button in the menu bar at the top of MHSAA.com and searching for your school. Once on the school page, click the blue “Boys” button next to football. The schedule will appear in the middle of the page, with standings to the left.
See an error in a schedule or the standings? Email me at [email protected]. I thank you in advance.
Kramer’s words of wisdom
Long before Roy Kramer served as athletic director at Vanderbilt University, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference and creator of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) for Division I college football, he coached multiple sports at East Lansing High School.
He recently was named winner of this year’s Duffy Daugherty Award, given in honor of the former Michigan State University coach to a valued coach or contributor to college football. The award, presented in East Lansing, is among those recognized by the College Football Hall of Fame.
Kramer finished his acceptance speech with a stirring endorsement of the sport that brought the crowd of more than 300 to its feet. If you’re a fan, former or current player or coach, see below.
PHOTO: Athletes race toward the finish of a relay during this spring's Alma College Invitational. (Click to see more at HighSchoolsSportsScene.com.)
Country Day Dominates Offensively, but Dominant Defense Sets Tone in Title Clincher
By
Drew Ellis
Special for MHSAA.com
June 13, 2026
EAST LANSING – Detroit Country Day collected its seventh MHSAA girls soccer state championship Saturday with a 1-0 win over Grand Rapids West Catholic in the Division 3 Final at DeMartin Field.
The Yellowjackets (14-4-3) held a sizable advantage in most key offensive stats, but the Falcons (18-6-2) remained within reach until the final seconds.
In the end, it was a dominant defensive effort, led by senior captain Jenna Shaban, that carried Country Day to its first championship since 2021.
“It’s Jenna Shaban leading the back line,” Yellowjackets coach Laura Hamway said. “There were minimal opportunities going at the goal because she’s collected and she understands pressure-cover-balance. She gives room for her teammates to make mistakes and steps in when needed.”
Country Day had a pretty young attack spark the lone goal, but the veteran defense of Shaban, senior Isabella Schimizzi and juniors Charlotte Duross and Julia Goetz pushed the Yellowjackets to the victory.
“Julia next to (Shaban) was outstanding the last two games, and then Charlotte and Bella’s ability to release at times and play the direct ball when needed,” Hamway added. “The back line just did a beautiful job recognizing if there is space and can we build, or did we need to go direct.”
The first 20 minutes were back-and-forth before Country Day started to develop stronger offensive opportunities.
In the 31st minute of play, sophomore Scarlett Lossia played a ball that went over the top of a pair of West Catholic defenders and found the foot of freshman Aliya Saad. Saad then played a perfect lob over the Falcons’ keeper that found the back of the net.
“The adrenaline was really pumping, and my teammate Scarlet played a really good ball over the top. I just saw it skim the center back’s head and I saw the goalie coming out, and knew I just had to put it over the top,” Saad said of her goal. “I just got my foot right there and stuck it to the laces, and it went right where I wanted.”
Hamway had a lot of praise for the intelligent shot that Saad played, showing the maturity of an upperclassman as opposed to a freshman.
“She can get in the seam, and we can play into her feet,” Hamway said of Saad. “She recognizes when she’s got to go back and cross-field dribble. She has so much confidence for a freshman. It’s rare for a kid to be creative, physically enough, and put a ball in the back of the net.
The goal was the only one to get past West Catholic senior keeper Katelyn Adams, who put up a strong effort in net.
Country Day put on even more pressure in the second half, but Adams shut the door on some great looks.
“She made some huge saves in the second half,” Falcons coach Ryan Smith said of Adams, who finished with seven saves in the match. “We went into a three-back and we pushed up and left some one-on-ones back there, and she made some huge saves.”
Country Day finished with a 15-1 shot advantage and had a 12-1 edge in corner kicks for the match. Hamway credited junior Georgia Hopkins, senior Ava Amezcua, junior Megan Mateer, and Lossia for their ball control as the reason for the offensive edge.
“Georgia really controls the game on offense. She wins all those flooded balls,” Hamway said. “Ava was in underneath, and it allowed Megan and Scarlett to be creative in the space out wide today.”
Despite the opportunities, West Catholic was never out of it. They had a few opportunities in Country Day territory during the closing minutes, but couldn’t put a shot on goal.
“(DCD) was good, obviously. They were super skilled,” Smith said. “They had some size that was tough for us to match, and they were a little deeper. Our girls battled to the end. We had it down with those long throws, so we gave it everything we had.”
The Falcons were appearing in their first Final on Saturday, and Smith beamed about the incredible run his team had this spring, including its first Regional championship.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of. When I started here 10 years ago, and as a head coach seven years ago, we wanted to build a program. We’ve had so many teams come through here that have helped lay the foundation. I said to the girls, ‘You set the bar almost as high as you can,’” Smith said. “The last three months and the last three weeks of the playoffs was a heck of a ride.”
PHOTOS (Top) Detroit Country Day’s Megan Mateer (21) and Aliya Saad (22) enjoy a moment during their team’s Division 3 championship win Saturday at DeMartin Stadium. (Middle) Mateer controls possession while Grand Rapids West Catholic’s Elise Savickas (6) pursues. (Photos by Adam Sheehan/Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)