Highlight Reel: Girls & Boys Lacrosse Finals
June 6, 2015
By John Johnson
MHSAA communications director
The boys and girls lacrosse seasons came to a close Saturday with four MHSAA Finals.
Below are video highlights from each from MHSAA.tv broadcasts.
Division 1 Girls: Rockford 10, Bloomfield Hills Marian 9
Fisher Knocking On The Door Bloomfield Hills Marian gets on the board first on a pretty pass to Claire Fisher who is camped out on the doorstep of the goal. Rockford would eventually prevail in this Division 1 championship game, 10-9.
Rams Rip Off Eight Straight Rockford responded to the first Marian goal with eight in a row. Here's the last goal in the bunch, when Alex Vandermolen takes the feed straight to the net.
Mustangs Bounce Back Bloomfield Hills Marian ended the Rockford run with three goals of its own later in the half. Michaella Renaud goes up high to score.
Vandermolen All The Way Off The Draw Bloomfield Hills Marian battled back to within two goals at 9-7, then Rockford's Alex Vandermolen won the ensuing draw and took it all the way in for a goal which proved to be the game winner.
Katie Comes Up Huge We don't often show goalie saves, but here's a big one late in the game by Rockford's Katie Elwell. Elwell stoned Bloomfield Hills Marian's Caroline Forester on a restart to preserve a two-goal lead.
Forester Bounces Back Caroline Forester got another chance on a restart a couple of minutes later to score for Marian. It would be the last goal of the game.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Boys Division 1: Birmingham Brother Rice 16, Detroit Catholic Central 6
Rocco Rolls Detroit Catholic Central scored first against Birmingham Brother Rice in the Division 1 title game when Rocco Mularoni wheels from the back of the net to score.
Lockwood On The Run John Lockwood scoops up a long clearing pass in front of the bench and motors to the goal for Birmingham Brother Rice. Lockwood's goal was part of a six-goal run for the Warriors in the first quarter.
Baker Ends The Run Justin Baker of Detroit Catholic Central ended an eight-goal run by Brother Rice early in the second quarter with this tally.
Pickens In Transition Late in the first half, Brother Rice got a pair of quick goals to expand its lead. The first came in transition when Scott Pickens is left free to shoot and score.
Macko Makes It Here's the second goal for Brother Rice in the closing moments of the Division 1 Final against Detroit Catholic Central. Morgan Macko takes the pass and blasts it into the upper corner of the net.
First Third Period Goal For Rice Brother Rice works the transition game to perfection off the Catholic Central shot, working the ball downfield quickly for another Morgan Macko goal.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Girls Division 2: East Grand Rapids 19, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 6
Elder Statement Liza Elder of East Grand Rapids makes it look easy for her team's first goal of the game, taking a restart pass and scoring.
Cranbrook Ties It Up Cranbrook Kingswood ties the game with East Grand Rapids at 2-2, with Ari Vespa taking the pass and driving to the goal.
Duca's Double Lindsay Duca of East Grand Rapids scores her second goal of the game for the Pioneers late in the first half against Cranbrook Kingswood. It proved to be the game winner in East's 19-6 Division 2 title game victory.
Scane Scores Cranbrook Kingswood gets off to a nice start in the second half, winning the opening draw with Isabella Scane scoring on a nice pass from Grace Giampetroni.
Lexie Hits The Shot Lexie Duca circles around the goal and scores in the second half for East Grand Rapids against Cranbrook Kingswood.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Boys Division 2: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 10, Okemos 9
Sherman Ties The Game Okemos ties the game late in the first quarter at 2-2 when Bennett Sherman slices through the defense of Cranbrook Kingswood for a goal.
Aikens Boosts The Halftime Lead Cranbrook Kingswood gets a late first half goal from Greg Aikens to take a 5-2 lead at halftime over Okemos.
Chiefs Force The Turnover - Tie The Game Okemos tied the game with 80 seconds to go after forcing a Cranbrook Kingswood turnover. In transition, Monty Frankfort gets the ball to Charlie Ciuk, who scored.
Johnny On The Spot For The Win! Like something out of the movie “Hoosiers,” Johnny Wagner of Cranbrook Kingswood runs the clock down before moving in to score the game-winning goal against Okemos with 10 seconds to go.
Last Chance For Chiefs Okemos had one last chance with 7 seconds to go, but the shot went wide and Cranbrook Kingswood held on.
Watch the entire game and order DVDs by Clicking Here.
Century of School Sports: State's Storytellers Share Spring Memories
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 8, 2025
With the start of spring sports, the MHSAA’s “Century of School Sports” celebration has begun its final lap.
Every week we’ve told at least a few stories from these last 100 years – and today, we present our third and final installment of favorite sports memories from statewide media, our historian and MHSAA staff.
Below are their most unforgettable moments from spring.
Homer Sets Standard with 56-Game Baseball Winning Streak
Ron Pesch, MHSAA historian
Recognizing the contrasting challenges that face teams in various eras to set or break records, it was great fun to track Homer's successful attempt to match, then exceed Grand Haven's 43-year-old record, then chase a national record for consecutive baseball victories.
There's something about the small-town excitement knitted into such a chase. Grand Haven set the mark back before an MHSAA-sponsored state tournament commenced in 1971. Inherently built into such an accomplishment is an evolving roster that spans multiple seasons, when a single season featured only 20 to 30 or so games. (Only one Buccaneer player was part of all the Buccaneers' 56-straight victories.)
Because of the postseason, Homer's annual slate featured more games, but came with the additional challenge of squaring off against more talented teams as the playoffs progressed. Homer's record-setting win came during a homefield doubleheader against Reading during the 2005 regular season – ironically against the school which gave the Trojans their last loss in the 2003 Regional Semifinal. Victorious in both games that day against Reading, Homer extended the run through 75-consecutive contests – a national record, since topped – that ended in June with a 7-6 loss to Saginaw Nouvel in the MHSAA Division 3 Final.
Truly an Unforgettable Classic
Tim Staudt, WILX (Lansing), in 54th year of broadcasting
The one memory from the spring season that immediately jumps to mind is the 2006 Diamond Classic final between Homer and Grand Ledge. Grand Ledge would come back to win the game 7-6 with players from the Lansing Lugnuts in the dugout watching to see how the game was going to end.
This was one more remarkable Grand Ledge baseball achievement under coach Pat O’Keefe. It would be Homer’s only loss of the 2006 season, as they went 38-1 and won the Division 4 championship, a year after winning a then-national record 75 straight games.
Career Crosses Paths with State’s 2 Winningest on Baseball Diamond
Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal
In two media markets I have worked in in the state, I’ve had the privilege to cover two of the state’s most decorated baseball coaches in Blissfield’s Larry Tuttle and Grand Ledge’s Pat O’Keefe, who are both members of the Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame.
I worked in Adrian when Larry Tuttle joined the 1,000-win club in June of 2008. After moving to the Lansing market, I got to document the final portion of O’Keefe’s special career that he ended as the all-time wins leader before eventually being passed by Tuttle.
Legendary Softball Team Ends Legendary Run
Geoff Kimmerly, MHSAA Communications Director and formerly of Lansing State Journal
I stepped into the Lansing State Journal fulltime lineup in January 2000 amid the senior years of two of the greatest athletes in local and statewide high school sports history – Lansing Waverly’s Marcus Taylor, who led his team to the Class A basketball title that March, and Okemos’ Jessica Beech, who had pitched her softball team to the Division 1 championship in 1999 and remains the most accomplished three-sport athlete in mid-Michigan history.
Dating back to that title run, Beech had earned an MHSAA-record 57 straight pitching victories heading into a Division 1 Regional Semifinal on June 10, 2000, at Lansing Everett. Up next was undefeated Portage Northern. Beech struck out 11 hitters against the team Okemos coach Dan Stolz called “the best his team has faced the past two seasons.” But Northern prevailed 2-0, with sophomore Anna Ollgaard throwing a one-hitter, and went on to finish the season 41-0 and Division 1 champion for the first of three consecutive seasons. The Huskies’ 52-game winning streak started that spring remains the second-longest in MHSAA softball history.
Lectka Becomes Unstoppable in Leaving Livonia Franklin Legacy
Brad Emons, Detroit Free Press (formerly of Observer & Eccentric newspapers)
After falling to Mount Clemens L’Anse Creuse North in the 1985 championship game, 5-0, Livonia Franklin redeemed itself by beating Waterford Kettering, 1-0, in the 1986 Class A Softball Final for its first state title as senior pitcher Tracy Lectka’s threw a no-hitter at Lansing’s Ranney Park.
Lectka tossed back-to-back shutouts, including a 2-0 Semifinal win over South Lyon in a two-day continuation game halted by darkness where Lectka pitched all 20 innings to secure the victory.
Glen Lake’s Superwoman Finishes with Another Historic Run
Mick McCabe, Detroit Free Press since 1970
Heading into the 1992 Class D track & field state championships at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, Maple City Glen Lake’s Marnie Peplinski had to balance the emotions of being confident without being overconfident.
She looked at the performances of the other girls in the Finals and compared them to her efforts. “I knew they were not going to make up two or three seconds in that one day unless they were Superwoman.”
Well, Superwoman did show up at the Finals that day, but she was wearing a Glen Lake uniform.
That day, her final day of being a Michigan high school athlete, Peplinski became the first girl in state history to win four state titles in consecutive years, helping Glen Lake to its second-straight team title. She set Finals records when she won the 100 hurdles (15.06 seconds) and 300 hurdles (44.80). She also won the long jump (17 feet, 5 inches) and was part of the winning 1,600 relay team (4:03.90). She also had won all of those events as a junior, and as a sophomore she won the 300 hurdles, the long jump and the 1,600 relay, which she was a part of as a freshman as well.
The day capped a brilliant high school career for Peplinski, who also earned first-team all-state honors in basketball and volleyball. She went on to compete in track & field and basketball at Central Michigan University.
Brother Rice Sets Standard in Boys Lacrosse
Perry Farrell, MHSAA.com and formerly of Detroit Free Press
Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice's run in lacrosse was a showcase of dominance as they started a stretch that saw them win 13 of the first 14 Division 1 championships starting in 2005.
Watch the 2017 Division 1 Final, which Brother Rice won over Detroit Catholic Central 8-7, on the NFHS Network, and see highlights below from that game from State Champs! Sports Network.
Beal City Provides Celebration to Remember
Greg Miller, formerly of 9&10 News (Cadillac)
The 2023 season for Beal City baseball was a special one that ended with a Division 4 championship celebration on the field at McLane Stadium in East Lansing. A year prior, the Aggies, who had been top-ranked nearly the entire season, fell short in the championship game, and they were back seeking redemption.
In a tightly-fought battle in the title game against Plymouth Christian Academy, Beal City answered after surrendering the game's first run in the fourth inning, tying the game in the bottom half of the frame. They then took the lead in the bottom of the sixth.
Star pitcher Cayden Smith, after hitting his pitch limit with one out in the seventh, moved to shortstop and was able to catch the final out of the game, performing a celebratory backflip on the infield grass before being mobbed by his teammates in one of the coolest celebration moments I ever witnessed.
Watch the 2023 Division 4 Final on the NFHS Network.
Previous "Century of School Sports" Spotlights
April 2: Sharp Leadership Synonymous with MHSAA Success - Read
March 25: Athletic Directors Indispensable to Mission of School Sports - Read
March 18: 2025 Finals Begin Next Half-Century of Girls Hoops Championships - Read
March 11: Boys Basketball's Best 1st to Earn MHSAA Finals Titles - Read
March 5: Everything We Do Begins with Participation - Read
Feb. 25: Slogans & Logos Remain Unforgettable Parts of MHSAA History - Read
Feb. 19: MHSAA Tickets Continue to Provide Fan-Friendly Value - Read
Feb. 11: We Recognize Those Who Make Our Games Go - Read
Feb. 4: WISL Conference Continues to Inspire Aspiring Leaders - Read
Jan. 28: Michigan's National Impact Begins at NFHS' Start - Read
Jan. 21: Awards Celebrate Well-Rounded Educational Experience - Read
Jan. 14: Predecessors Laid Foundation for MHSAA's Formation - Read
Jan. 9: MHSAA Blazes Trail Into Cyberspace - Read
Dec. 31: State's Storytellers Share Winter Memories - Read
Dec. 17: MHSAA Over Time - Read
Dec. 10: On This Day, December 13, We Will Celebrate - Read
Dec. 3: MHSAA Work Guided by Representative Council - Read
Nov. 26: Finals Provide Future Pros Early Ford Field Glory - Read
Nov. 19: Connection at Heart of Coaches Advancement Program - Read
Nov. 12: Good Sports are Winners Then, Now & Always - Read
Nov. 5: MHSAA's Home Sweet Home - Read
Oct. 29: MHSAA Summits Draw Thousands to Promote Sportsmanship - Read
Oct. 23: Cross Country Finals Among MHSAA's Longest Running - Read
Oct. 15: State's Storytellers Share Fall Memories - Read
Oct. 8: Guided by 4 S's of Educational Athletics - Read
Oct. 1: Michigan Sends 10 to National Hall of Fame - Read
Sept. 25: MHSAA Record Books Filled with 1000s of Achievements - Read
Sept. 18: Why Does the MHSAA Have These Rules? - Read
Sept. 10: Special Medals, Patches to Commemorate Special Year - Read
Sept. 4: Fall to Finish with 50th Football Championships - Read
Aug. 28: Let the Celebration Begin - Read
PHOTOS (Top) From left: Homer's Josh Collmenter throws a pitch during the 2004 Finals, Maple City Glen Lake's Marnie Peplinski long jumps in 1992, the Brother Rice boys lacrosse team celebrates its 2019 championship, and the Portage Northern softball team takes a photo after finishing an undefeated 2000 season. (2) The Lansing State Journal sports section details Grand Ledge's comeback to defeat Homer at the Diamond Classic in Lansing. (3) Livonia Franklin's softball team takes a team photo after finishing its 1986 Class A title run. (4) Cayden Smith's backflip kicks off Beal City's 2023 championship celebration. (MHSAA file photos.)