Howell Puts Heart Into Memorial Meet
August 29, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
An online tribute to Mackenzie Watts describes how she “made the people and world around her better.”
The Howell swimming and diving community continues to work so that her memory makes those who come after her safer as well.
Watts died in 2005 after suffering a cardiac arrhythmia. She was a 15-year-old sophomore and key cog on her high school team.
This past weekend, for the sixth straight season, the Highlanders hosted the Kenzie Classic, an invitational that served as a fundraiser for the Howell program and annual Mackenzie Watts scholarship – plus served to promote heart screenings by local National Diagnostic Services in their “HeartMobile” parked outside the pool.
NDS, which also has held screening events at Northville, Canton and Middleville Thornapple Kellogg schools among others, screened 20 students during this Kenzie Classic, said Wellness Director Heidi Enders.
Tests are ultrasound-based and non-invasive, and include an EKG to examine the heart’s electrical system for arrhythmias and an echocardiogram to examine the heart’s structure in case there is a thickening of the muscle (known as hyperthrophic cardiomyopathy). Adults were charged $199 and students $75, with discounted rates for adults in groups and children.
Click to check out coverage of the event from the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus.
Records Revamp
While tracking down 660 football schedules (give or take a few) took up most of the summer, there still was time for a few additions to the MHSAA record book – with more to come.
Track and field fans will notice records from retired yardage events (pre-1982 or earlier depending on the MHSAA class) have been added to the online records here for boys and here for girls.
Cross country fans should check out our lists of top MHSAA Finals times for every division and every class, plus overall top 10 lists for both boys and girls since the race was set to five kilometers in 1980. Click here for girls and here for boys.
Also added or updated were team championship counts for both cross countries, volleyball and girls golf. Click to check out girls golf here and volleyball here.
Fond Football Memories
It has been 30 years since former Genesee all-state running back Don Robinson became the fourth player in Genesee County history to run for more than 300 yards in one game – which he did in gaining 317 on Sept. 23, 1983.
High school football and those memories remain close to his heart even after going on to play at Eastern Michigan University, a stint in the U.S. Navy and a move to Georgia.
He’s paid attention over the years as that “300 club” has grown to 22 players including current New Orleans Saints back Mark Ingram, Jr., and the University of Michigan’s Thomas Rawls.
He’s also a regular reader of Second Half, and asked to send along some words of wisdom to those who will be taking the field to begin the season this weekend:
“When you run out onto the field this season, do me a favor. At least once, pause.
“Look around you. Look at the lights in the sky. See the faces of those that have come to see you play. Listen to the band and the cheerleaders. Look into the eyes of your teammates ...
“Take it all in. When you’re older and miss this amazing game that you are playing, you’ll be glad you did.”
PHOTOS: (Top) A swimmer takes the lead during a race at Saturday's Kenzie Klassic at Howell High School. (Photo courtesy of Howell High School.) (Middle) Genesee graduate Don Robinson runs the ball during the 1983 season. (Photo courtesy of Don Robinson.)
Bissett Aiming to Lead 2025 Runner-Up South Lyon Back to MSU for Another Title Try
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
April 9, 2026
SOUTH LYON — For those who thought the South Lyon softball program was going to take a serious drop after Ava Bradshaw graduated two years ago, one of the players she helped mentor has ensured that hasn’t happened.
Bradshaw was arguably the best player to come through South Lyon’s program, pitching the Lions to the Division 1 championship as a freshman in 2021 and leading South Lyon to a Quarterfinal appearance as a sophomore and Semifinal appearance as a senior last spring to conclude her comeback after missing her entire junior year with a knee injury.
While Bradshaw was at South Lyon, she often would have conversations with Havanna Bissett, who entered the program as a freshman when Bradshaw was a junior.
The advice from Bradshaw was really helpful two years ago when she was a senior and Bissett was a sophomore. During the Division 1 Semifinal loss to Lake Orion, Bissett had to relieve Bradshaw in the circle in the second inning after Bradshaw suffered a knee injury.
“Ava helped me a lot with my confidence,” Bissett said. “I really struggled to this day with confidence with pitching. I remember after the Semifinal game my sophomore year, I was talking to her and I was obviously upset. She was just talking, walking me through what I needed to do to get my confidence and how she struggled with confidence. How I just needed to take deep breaths and trust the process.”
Now heading Into her senior year, Bissett might end up being just as impactful for the program as Bradshaw.
After coming on in relief during that 2024 Semifinal — a 5-4 defeat to the Dragons — Bissett was back on the state’s biggest stage last year, pitching South Lyon to an appearance in the Division 1 championship game where it fell 5-2 to Saline.
With two trips to the Seccia Stadium rubber under her belt, Bissett aims to make it three in a row. Just as was the case last year, she and the rest of South Lyon’s roster want to show the program can remain among the state’s best with Bradshaw now playing at Duke.
“I think a lot of teams looked down on us because we didn’t have Ava,” Bissett said. “I think that’s what motivated us.”
Bissett went 19-5 with a 2.84 ERA and 151 strikeouts last year, but she is more than just a pitching ace. She also was one of the team’s best hitters, batting .439.
Over the offseason, Bissett said her biggest focus in preparing for this spring was to enhance movement on her drop ball and her rise ball to help complement what South Lyon head coach Jerry Shippe said is her best pitch, a changeup.
“She’s just been basically honing on what she already has and trying to get a little more pinpoint control,” Shippe said. “But nothing like starting over or reinventing the wheel. She’s pretty much sticking to what she’s doing.”
Shippe said he has also noticed a big improvement in Bissett’s bat so far in practices and scrimmages.
“Her bat speed increased and her confidence has increased as well,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do at the plate.”
Bissett, who will play next at Huntington University in Indiana, said she played both softball and soccer growing up. While she was thrown into the fire unexpectedly during that Semifinal game in 2024, the same was also true during Bissett’s freshman year when she saw a lot of innings as Bradshaw was unavailable all year due to a torn ACL.
But those experiences have only made her better and figure to make her one of the state’s best seniors this year for an experienced South Lyon squad.
The Lions return 12 players from their 2025 runner-up team, with junior Bella Bracali (.469, 28 stolen bases), senior Ella Glowacki (.398, 32 RBI) and junior Kailyn Highstrom (.486) also key returnees.
With that core, don’t be surprised if Bissett is back on the rubber at Michigan State again, this time recording the final out to help South Lyon win another Division 1 championship and finish off what’s already been a stellar high school career.
“Coach Shippe has a lot more expectations for us this year because he’s seen what we’re capable of doing,” Bissett said. “But I’m excited for it. I like that pressure. I like that fire. I think the team likes that, and we’re all so excited.”
Keith Dunlap has served in Detroit-area sports media for more than two decades, including as a sportswriter at the Oakland Press from 2001-16 primarily covering high school sports but also college and professional teams. His bylines also have appeared in USA Today, the Washington Post, the Detroit Free Press, the Houston Chronicle and the Boston Globe. He served as the administrator for the Oakland Activities Association’s website from 2017-2020. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Havanna Bissett (4) and her South Lyon teammates prepare for the start of an inning during last season’s Semifinal against Utica Ford. (Middle) Bissett delivers a pitch during the Division 1 championship game against Saline.