Pixellots top 500 in Michigan
September 22, 2020
By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
The number of Pixellot units installed or ordered for MHSAA member schools topped the 500 mark last week as the NFHS Network program to provide units to schools across the country for the cost of installation has more than doubled the number of Pixellots in the Great Lakes State over the past few months.
Pixellot is the NFHS Network’s automated production solution. Installed on the facing of a stadium press box or a gymnasium wall, Pixellot follows the action, complete with a scoreboard connection to show the teams, game score, time remaining, quarter or period – and in sports like football, down and distance. Schools can see revenue from subscriptions and from displaying a sponsor logo on the screen. Schools also can add announcer teams to Pixellot events to enhance the game for viewers.
Nearly 700 events in multiple sports at multiple levels of play fill the coming week’s schedule for the NFHS Network and MHSAA.tv.
In the coming week, nearly 350 varsity events – about half of them in volleyball - will be available. Monthly subscriptions are $10.99. Click for lists of upcoming games and on-demand games.
Fans also can type their school name into the search field on the MHSAA.tv page to search for events. A complete list of schools participating in the School Broadcast Program can be found at the end of this release.
Here is a list of varsity broadcasts scheduled over the coming week (Home team listed first):
Football
Thursday, Sept. 24
New Lothrop vs. Byron Area - 7 PM
Friday, Sept. 25
East Grand Rapids vs. Greenville - 5:30 PM
Lowell vs. Grand Rapids Northview - 6:55 PM
Portage Central vs. Battle Creek Lakeview - 7 PM
Cass City vs. Reese - 7 PM
East Lansing vs. River Rouge - 7 PM
Walled Lake Northern vs. South Lyon - 7 PM
Bloomfield Hills vs. Royal Oak - 7 PM
Peck vs. Carsonville-Port Sanilac - 7 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Harper Woods - 7 PM
Bay City John Glenn vs. Birch Run - 7 PM
Saginaw Swan Valley vs. Frankenmuth - 7 PM
Mt Morris vs. Durand - 7 PM
Freeland vs. Alma - 7 PM
Watervliet vs. Fennville - 7 PM
Jackson Lumen Christi vs. Hastings - 7 PM
Lake Orion vs. Oak Park - 7 PM
Chesaning vs. Montrose - 7 PM
Vicksburg vs. Three Rivers - 7 PM
Marquette vs. Sault Ste. Marie - 7 PM
Suttons Bay vs. Central Lake - 7 PM
Saginaw Heritage vs. Midland - 7 PM
Ithaca vs. Midland Bullock Creek - 7 PM
Mayville vs. Kingston - 7 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Lutheran Westland - 7 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Davison - 7 PM
Sturgis vs. Allegan - 7 PM
Harbor Beach vs. Sandusky - 7 PM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Allen Park - 7 PM
Mason vs. Eaton Rapids - 7 PM
Fenton vs. Flint Kearsley - 7 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. Detroit Loyola - 7 PM
Novi vs. Canton - 7 PM
Northville vs. Brighton - 7 PM
Niles vs. South Haven - 7 PM
Caro vs. Bad Axe - 7 PM
Manchester vs. Napoleon - 7 PM
Calumet vs. Gwinn - 7 PM
East Kentwood vs. Grandville - 7 PM
Troy vs. Walled Lake Central - 7 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg - 7 PM
Kinde North Huron vs. Bay City All Saints - 7 PM
Birmingham Seaholm vs. Farmington - 7 PM
Haslett vs. Fowlerville - 7 PM
Zeeland West vs. Grand Rapids Union - 7 PM
Ovid-Elsie vs. Otisville LakeVille - 7 PM
Birmingham Groves vs. Rochester Adams - 7 PM
Ortonville Brandon vs. Goodrich - 7 PM
Gladstone vs. Negaunee - 7 PM
Saturday - Sept. 26
White Lake Lakeland vs. South Lyon East - 7 PM
Warren De La Salle Collegiate vs. Orchard Lake St. Mary Prep - 1 PM
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs. Clarkston Everest Collegiate - 1 PM
Munising vs. Newberry - 7 PM
Boys Soccer
Tuesday - Sept. 22
Jackson Lumen Christi vs. Battle Creek Harper Creek - 5 PM
East Grand Rapids vs. TBA - 5:45 PM
Portage Northern vs. Portage Central - 6:30 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Ada Forest Hills Eastern - 6:45 PM
Northville vs. Brighton - 7 PM
Howell vs. Novi - 7 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist - 7 PM
West Bloomfield vs. Bloomfield Hills - 7 PM
Walled Lake Northern vs. Walled Lake Western - 7 PM
Waterford Kettering vs. Auburn Hills Avondale - 7 PM
South Lyon East vs. South Lyon - 7 PM
Clare vs. Taylor Prep - 7 PM
Walled Lake Central vs. Highland Milford - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. Troy - 7 PM
East Kentwood vs. Grandville - 7:15 PM
Wednesday - Sept. 23
Saginaw Swan Valley vs. Freeland - 4:30 PM
Cass City vs. Bad Axe - 5:30 PM
Ithaca vs. Standish-Sterling - 5:30 PM
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Garden City - 6 PM
Vicksburg vs. Otsego - 6 PM
Corunna vs. Ortonville Brandon - 6:15 PM
Saginaw Heritage vs. Midland Dow - 6:45 PM
Cedar Springs vs. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills - 6:45 PM
Manchester vs. Hillsdale Academy - 7 PM
Clare vs. McBain Northern Michigan Christian - 7 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. TBA - 7:30 PM
Thursday - Sept. 24
Bay City John Glenn vs. Saginaw Swan Valley - 4:30 PM
Warren De La Salle Collegiate vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice - 6 PM
Chesaning vs. Ovid-Elsie - 6 PM
Fenton vs. Clio - 6:15 PM
Portage Central vs. Kalamazoo Loy Norrix - 6:30 PM
St. Joseph vs. Battle Creek Central - 6:30 PM
Cadillac vs. Gaylord - 6:45 PM
Bloomfield Hills vs. Royal Oak - 7 PM
Troy vs. Dearborn Heights Crestwood - 7 PM
Birmingham Groves vs. West Bloomfield - 7 PM
Birmingham Seaholm vs. Rochester - 7 PM
Saline vs. Ann Arbor Skyline - 7 PM
Holt vs. Okemos - 7 PM
Riverview Gabriel Richard Catholic vs. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard - 7 PM
White Lake Lakeland vs. Walled Lake Northern - 7 PM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. Lansing Catholic - 7:15 PM
Friday - Sept. 25
Vicksburg vs. Parchment - 5:30 PM
South Lyon vs. Walled Lake Central - 7 PM
Saturday - Sept. 26
Multi-team Event @ Troy Athens - 10 AM
West Bloomfield vs. Rochester - 10 AM
Plainwell vs. Mattawan - 10:30 AM
St. Joseph vs. Paw Paw - 11:30 AM
West Bloomfield vs. Rochester - 11:45 AM
Holt vs. Grand Ledge - 12 PM
Warren De La Salle Collegiate vs. Grosse Pointe North - 12 PM
Mason vs. Haslett - 1 PM
Jackson Lumen Christi vs. Battle Creek Harper Creek - 1 PM
Saline vs. An Arbor Pioneer - 2 PM
Northville vs. Canton - 4:30 PM
Multi-team Event @ Troy - 6:30 PM
Monday - Sept. 28
Saginaw Swan Valley vs. Shepherd - 4:30 PM
Watervliet vs. Lawton - 4:30 PM
Cass City vs. Harbor Beach - 5:30 PM
Manchester vs. Grass Lake - 5:30 PM
Ithaca vs. Saginaw Nouvel - 5:30 PM
Bad Axe vs. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker - 5:30 PM
Warren De La Salle Collegiate vs. Imlay City - 6 PM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Wyandotte Roosevelt - 6 PM
Holt vs. Lansing Waverly - 6 PM
Fenton vs. Lake Fenton - 6:15 PM
Plainwell vs. Edwardsburg - 6:30 PM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. TBA - 6:45 PM
Saginaw Heritage vs. Grand Blanc - 6:45 PM
Cedar Springs vs. Lowell - 6:45 PM
East Kentwood vs. Ada Forest Hills Eastern - 6:45 PM
Walled Lake Western vs. South Lyon - 7 PM
Walled Lake Central vs. Waterford Mott - 7 PM
White Lake Lakeland vs. Royal Oak - 7 PM
Brighton vs. Northville - 7 PM
Waterford Kettering vs. South Lyon East - 7 PM
Clare vs. Roscommon - 7 PM
Tuesday - Sept. 29
Chesaning vs. Durand - 6 PM
Stevensville Lakeshore vs. St. Joseph - 6:30 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Grand Rapids West Catholic - 6:45 PM
Petoskey vs. Alpena - 6:45 PM
Troy vs. North Farmington - 7 PM
Freeland vs. Essexville Garber - 7 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Oakland Christian - 7 PM
West Bloomfield vs. Oxford - 7 PM
Saline vs. Ypsilanti Community - 7 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. Detroit U Of D Jesuit - 7 PM
Birmingham Seaholm vs. Troy Athens - 7 PM
East Kentwood vs. Caledonia - 7:15 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. TBA - 7:30 PM
Detroit Catholic Central vs. Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice - 7:30 PM
Girls Volleyball
Tuesday - Sept. 22
Rockford vs. Caledonia - 5 PM
East Lansing vs. Grand Ledge - 6 PM
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Detroit Community - 6 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Hazel Park - 6 PM
Grand Rapids Catholic Central vs. Cedar Springs - 6 PM
Holt vs. DeWitt - 6 PM
Grand Rapids South Christian vs. Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills - 6 PM
Dryden vs. Mayville - 6 PM
New Lothrop vs. Montrose - 6:15 PM
Ovid-Elsie vs. Byron Area - 6:15 PM
Otisville LakeVille vs. Durand - 6:15 PM
Chesaning vs. Mt Morris - 6:15 PM
Galesburg-Augusta vs. Parchment - 6:30 PM
Ishpeming vs. Manistique - 6:30 PM
Watervliet vs. Martin - 6:30 PM
Riverview Gabriel Richard vs. Clarkston Everest Collegiate - 6:30 PM
Frankfort vs. Onekama - 6:30 PM
Flint Powers Catholic vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill - 6:30 PM
South Lyon vs. Waterford Kettering - 6:30 PM
Petoskey vs. Alpena - 6:30 PM
Macomb L'Anse Creuse North vs. Sterling Heights Stevenson - 6:30 PM
Suttons Bay vs. Maple City Glen Lake - 6:30 PM
Zeeland West vs. Zeeland East - 6:30 PM
Painesdale Jeffers vs. Baraga Area - 6:30 PM
Oakland Christian vs. Plymouth Christian Academy - 6:30 PM
Howell vs. Northville - 6:30 PM
South Lyon East vs. Lakeland - 6:30 PM
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Delton Kellogg - 6:30 PM
Cadillac vs. Traverse City West - 7 PM
Bear Lake vs. Walkerville - 7 PM
Hart vs. Montague - 7 PM
Saline vs. Ypsilanti Community - 7 PM
Escanaba vs. Gladstone - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. North Farmington - 7 PM
Lake Orion vs. Birmingham Seaholm - 7 PM
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Warren Regina - 7 PM
Marcellus vs. Mendon - 7 PM
St Charles vs. Coleman - 7 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Brighton Charyl Stockwell Prep - 7:30 PM
Wednesday - Sept. 23
Holly vs. Flint Kearsley - 5:15 PM
Fenton vs. Linden - 5:15 PM
Niles vs. Bridgman - 6 PM
St. Joseph vs. Stevensville Lakeshore - 6:30 PM
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs. Riverview Gabriel Richard - 6:30 PM
Hart vs. Mason County Central - 7 PM
Saginaw Swan Valley vs. Frankenmuth - 7 PM
Freeland vs. Birch Run - 7 PM
Bay City John Glenn vs. Essexville Garber - 7 PM
Hemlock vs. Carrollton - 7:30 PM
Clare vs. Harrison - 7:30 PM
Thursday - Sept. 24
Fremont vs. Shelby - 5:30 PM
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. St. Clair Shores South Lake - 6 PM
Vicksburg vs. Three Rivers - 6 PM
Mayville vs. Deckerville - 6 PM
DeWitt vs. Mason - 6 PM
Williamston vs. Portland - 6 PM
Sturgis vs. Allegan - 6 PM
South Lyon vs. Salem - 6:30 PM
Novi vs. Franklin - 6:30 PM
Westland Huron Valley Lutheran vs. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian - 6:30 PM
Brighton vs. Westland John Glenn - 6:30 PM
Northville vs. Livonia Stevenson - 6:30 PM
Highland Milford vs. Walled Lake Western - 6:30 PM
Watervliet vs. Kalamazoo Christian - 6:30 PM
Houghton vs. Ishpeming - 6:30 PM
White Lake Lakeland vs. Waterford Kettering - 6:30 PM
Negaunee vs. Gwinn - 6:30 PM
South Lyon East vs. Walled Lake Central - 6:30 PM
Harbor Beach vs. Capac - 6:45 PM
Dearborn Heights Robichaud vs. Romulus - 7 PM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Trenton - 7 PM
Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian vs. Wyoming Godwin Heights - 7 PM
Pentwater vs. Bear Lake - 7 PM
Troy Athens vs. Farmington - 7 PM
Traverse City West vs. Petoskey - 7 PM
Bloomfield Hills vs. Oxford - 7 PM
Cadillac vs. Gaylord - 7 PM
Escanaba vs. Marquette - 7 PM
Lake Orion vs. West Bloomfield - 7 PM
Birmingham Seaholm vs. Rochester Adams - 7 PM
Troy vs. Birmingham Groves - 7 PM
Kingston vs. Peck - 7:30 PM
Bad Axe vs. Pigeon Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port - 7:30 PM
Caro vs. Cass City - 7:30 PM
Friday - Sept. 25
Dollar Bay vs. Baraga Area - 6:25 PM
Westland Huron Valley Lutheran vs. Taylor Prep - 6:30 PM
Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood vs. Detroit Country Day - 6:30 PM
Dearborn Divine Child vs. Wixom St. Catherine - 7:15 PM
Saturday - Sept. 26
Northville vs. TBA - 8:30 AM
Williamston vs. TBA - 9 AM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. TBA - 9 AM
Rockford vs. DeWitt - 9 AM
Niles vs. Stevensville Lakeshore - 9 AM
Grandville vs. Lowell - 9 AM
Flint Powers Catholic - 9 AM
Mt Morris vs. TBA - 2 PM
Monday - Sept. 28
Madison Heights Lamphere vs. Warren Fitzgerald - 6 PM
Romulus Summit Academy North vs. Canton Prep - 6 PM
Plainwell vs. Vicksburg - 6:30 PM
St. Joseph vs. Battle Creek Lakeview - 6:30 PM
Calumet vs. Ishpeming - 6:45 PM
Marquette vs. Gladstone - 7 PM
Pentwater vs. Big Rapids Crossroads Charter Academy - 7 PM
Linden vs. Hartland - 7 PM
Tuesday - Sept. 29
Part 1 | Durand Area vs. New Lothrop - 4:30 PM
Williamston vs. TBA - 5 PM
Norway vs. Bark River-Harris - 6 PM
Bear Lake vs. Manistee Catholic Central - 6 PM
DeWitt vs. East Lansing - 6 PM
North Huron vs. Akron-Fairgrove - 6 PM
Wayland Union vs. Ada Forest Hills Eastern - 6 PM
Fowlerville vs. Haslett - 6 PM
Peck vs. Deckerville - 6 PM
Holt vs. Lansing Waverly - 6 PM
Mayville vs. Genesee - 6 PM
St Johns vs. Grand Ledge - 6:05 PM
Montrose vs. Otisville LakeVille - 6:15 PM
Mt Morris vs. Ovid-Elsie - 6:15 PM
Dollar Bay vs. Ontonagon - 6:20 PM
St. Clair Shores Lake Shore vs. Warren Cousino - 6:30 PM
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Schoolcraft - 6:30 PM
Negaunee vs. Hancock - 6:30 PM
Westland Huron Valley Lutheran vs. Whitmore Lake - 6:30 PM
Northville vs. Brighton - 6:30 PM
Walled Lake Central vs. South Lyon - 6:30 PM
Novi vs. Howell - 6:30 PM
Walled Lake Western vs. Waterford Mott - 6:30 PM
Walled Lake Northern vs. South Lyon East - 6:30 PM
Watervliet vs. Parchment - 6:30 PM
Grand Blanc vs. Bay City Western - 6:30 PM
Southfield Christian vs. Oakland Christian - 6:30 PM
Manchester vs. Michigan Center - 6:30 PM
Hopkins vs. Wyoming Godwin Heights - 7 PM
Macomb Lutheran North vs. Algonac - 7 PM
Robichaud vs. Ferndale University - 7 PM
Troy vs. Farmington - 7 PM
Brownstown Woodhaven vs. Allen Park - 7 PM
Fremont vs. Grant - 7 PM
Escanaba vs. Menominee - 7 PM
St. Charles vs. Carson City-Crystal - 7 PM
Big Rapids vs. Reed City - 7 PM
Marcellus vs. White Pigeon - 7 PM
Bloomfield Hills vs. West Bloomfield - 7 PM
Riverview Gabriel Richard Catholic vs. TBA - 7:15 PM
Livonia Clarenceville vs. Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest - 7:30 PM
Pellston vs. Onaway - 7:30 PM
Bad Axe vs. Unionville Sebewaing - 7:30 PM
Kingston vs. Dryden - 7:30 PM
Part 2 | Durand Area vs. New Lothrop - 7:30 PM
Cass City vs. Reese - 7:30 PM
Now in its 12th year, the School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics. Pixellot – The NFHS Network’s automated streaming solution – is used by schools wishing to live stream games, but lacking the ability to staff the events. The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.
NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 a month. Subscribers will have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. All content becomes available for free, on-demand viewing 72 hours after being shown live. A portion of every subscription sold by an SBP school goes to benefit its program.
A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA Website.
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.)