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.)
Rockford Begins New Reign by Ending South Lyon United Winning Streak
By
Drew Ellis
Special for MHSAA.com
June 5, 2026
HOWELL – It took one record to stop another record.
The Rockford girls lacrosse team prevented South Lyon United from claiming a second-consecutive title with a 16-9 victory Friday at Howell Parker. In doing so, the Rams claimed their MHSAA-record 10th Division 1 Finals championship and ended South Lyon United’s 48-game win streak, the longest in D1 history.
"I think it was teamwork," Rockford coach Mark Neumen said of Rockford's win. "This team started really believing in themselves and loved one another. It was just a really good team effort. This means so much."
The pressure of being a favorite is something Rockford (12-8) understands well. His program having won eight consecutive titles at one point, Neumen knew if the Rams could start strong, it would put South Lyon on its heels. Rockford did just that, with senior Brooke Gordon scoring a pair of goals during the first 90 seconds of play.
"We've kind of had a similar pressure all year because we've won nine state championships and everybody expects us to be (in the Finals) and when we're not, it's tough on the girls mentally to have to think about," Neumen said. "Today, the girls seemed pretty relaxed, like that pressure was gone. Then we scored those two quick goals, and I think that set the stage for us mentally for the rest of the game. It got us not thinking about championships or South Lyon's record and got us focused on just playing lacrosse."
Rockford would push its lead to 6-2 after one quarter, thanks in part to its play on the draw. The Rams won six of the nine draws during the opening period, allowing them to control possession early on.
"South Lyon is a very good team, especially offensively, so we didn't want to have to play from behind," Neumen said. "So our goal was to come out firing, and our draw circle girls were amazing for us today. South Lyon hasn't been behind much this season, so we wanted to put pressure on them and try and make them feel uncomfortable."
Each time South Lyon (27-1) would seem to get some momentum, Rockford had an answer. In the first half, Gordon was the answer. She netted five of her game-high six goals over the opening 24 minutes.
"I was just doing my own thing. I know what I am capable of doing, so I just kept trusting myself," Gordon said of her performance. "I just really wanted this, so I did everything I could to make it happen."
Rockford held a 9-6 lead at the break. South Lyon would get the deficit down to two goals twice in the third quarter thanks to goals from Alyssa Jakubiec and Gianna Lucchesi, but SLU wouldn't get any closer.
"We had moments where we would come back and then have a silly mistake," South Lyon United coach Deanna Radcliffe said. "That just kind of kept throwing us off when we had a chance to get back in the game. It just wasn't our day."
A big key for Rockford in the second half was the play of sophomore goalie Mia Mabry. She shut the door on some good opportunities, recording nine saves to keep the Rams in the lead.
"I'm not going to lie, I wasn't really thinking, I wasn't anticipating, I was just trying to do what I have been coached to do," Mabry said of her second-half work.
Rockford retained a three-goal lead after three quarters, but then blew the game open with the first five goals in the fourth, including two from Ava Wekenman and the sixth from Gordon.
"She's amazing. She had a great game," Neuman said of Gordon. "She's been amazing these last several weeks. A lot of teams have been focusing on some of our other players and people have been ignoring her, but there's no reason. She is one of our best players by far. Brooke is a threat no matter what."
Gordon had one assist to go with her six goals, while Wekenman finished with three goals and five assists for the Rams. Avery Maag, who took many of the draws, scored three goals as well.
South Lyon United had a balanced attack with Reagan Shields, Gianna Lucchessi, Shaelyn Perry and Jakubiec each netting two scores.
"One game definitely doesn't define this team," Radcliffe said. "We know we didn't play our best today, but that happens. It's bound to happen when you're going up against really good teams. We just lacked a little bit of confidence today and played a little unsure of ourselves. When you do that against good teams, they can capitalize on that quickly."
PHOTOS (Top) Rockford players celebrate during their championship win Friday. (Middle) The Rams' Jordyn Coretti (24) looks to pass near the opposing goal. (Below) South Lyon United's Shaelyn Perry (2) considers her optoins as Rockford's Lyla Vogt defends.