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.)
Heivilin Caps Three Rivers Career in Powerful Fashion
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 11, 2021
Kali Heivilin graduated from Three Rivers this spring with 20 record book entries and as one of the most accomplished hitters in state softball history – despite not being able to play as a junior because the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
She tied her single-season runs record with 88 and set the single-season home runs record with 29, to go with a number of single-game and career accomplishments as well. She ended her prep career with 238 runs (10th all-time), 201 hits, 66 home runs (second), 208 RBI (15th), a .568 batting average (14th) and 86 walks, all over 118 games and three varsity seasons.
Her senior teammate Shantel Blyly also was added to the record book five times for achievements this season, including finishing a three-year career with 33 doubles and hitting 19 this spring, and sophomore Ava Forman was added for her 17 doubles this season. Three Rivers as a team was added for 447 hits, 73 doubles, five homers in a game May 7 and 48 total, and 308 RBI this season over 39 games.
Heivilin is continuing her career at Alabama, and Blyly will play at Calvin.
See below for more recent additions to the softball record book.
Otsego’s Kendra VanderLugt closed her varsity career this spring among the most accomplished run producers in MHSAA history – and despite also not getting to play a junior season because of COVID-19. Over three seasons and 108 games she scored 173 runs, hit 43 doubles, 49 home runs (tied for fourth all-time) and drove in 229 runs (tied for seventh on that career list). Her 26 home runs last season broke the previous record and are now tied for second all-time for one spring. Additionally, Otsego junior Jada Bolhuis added two more record entries with 82 hits and 79 runs, the latter tying for seventh-most in one season. VanderLugt will continue at University of Toledo.
Novi picked up a pair of record book entries early this season. Sophomore Reganne Bennett struck out 14 in a five-inning no-hitter against Livonia Churchill on April 16, making the list for most strikeouts in a five-inning game. Junior Ally Sharnowski make the single-game home run list with three in an April 15 game against Livonia Franklin.
Junior Haley Scott and freshman Julia Babcock became the latest from Niles Brandywine to earn record book entries, both doing so with six RBI in a game this spring. Scott drove in six runs during a win over St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic on May 5, with a grand slam part of her total. Babcock’s against Cassopolis on May 19 included a three-run walk-off homer.
Kamryn Troyer earned four record book entries with a powerful performance against Brandywine on May 7. The Centreville junior hit two first-inning home runs, tying a state record, and then a third in her third at bat of the game to make two more lists. She also made the single-game RBI list with six total in the victory.
A pair of Warren Fitzgerald standouts also earned single-game entries this spring. Sophomore Clarice Chapaton tied the record with four triples during an April 19 win over Clinton Township Clintondale, and junior Alexis Lesh drove in seven runs during her team’s May 5 win over Warren Lincoln.
Center Line teammates Emma Hastings and Harley Limberger had a pair of matching accomplishments during an April 26 win over Madison Heights Lamphere. Both drove in eight runs – Hastings on a pair of home runs and Limberger on three hits including two homers. Hastings was a senior this spring and will continue at Ohio Christian University, while Limberger was a sophomore.
Liberti Fair also tied the single-game record for triples this season, hitting four in four at bats (and scoring three runs with four RBI) in Clinton’s win over Hillsdale on May 18. A senior this spring, she’ll continue her career at Grand Valley State.
Sophomore Madison Jamrog was near-perfect in making the MHSAA record book with 14 strikeouts in Hamilton’s five-inning win over Holland Christian on May 17. She allowed just two hits.
Recent Napoleon grad Becca Daoust had to miss out on her junior season as well, but she made the most of the rest and landed on two record book career lists – with 27 triples over her other three seasons, and a .619 average that ranks sixth all-time. Her .747 average this spring ranks second on the single-season list, and she also made the runs scored list with 69. She also will continue at Toledo.
PHOTO: Kali Heivilin’s many Three Rivers accomplishments were on display during an interview this spring with State Champs! Sports Network. (Photo courtesy of State Champs! Sports Network.)