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.)
Marquette Boys Repeat as Moore Takes Next Step to Top Finals Leaderboard
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
May 28, 2025
BARK RIVER— Marquette junior Boden Moore prides himself on being a team player and supporting teammates.
But he admitted finishing one shot behind teammate Kaleb Chipelewski at last year’s Upper Peninsula Division 1 Final provided incentive going into this year’s event.
“It definitely motivated me a little bit,” Moore said.
This time, it was Moore who got to celebrate being on top of the leaderboard, as he carded a sizzling 2-under-par round of 70 on a tough Sage Run course to win the medalist honor Wednesday.
Moore eagled the short par-4, No. 8 hole, and recorded birdies on two par-5s, Nos. 3 and 9.
“I was just making all the six and seven-footers and hitting good drives,” Moore said. “I was throwing darts with the irons. The irons were locked in. Just putting them close and making some putts.”
Moore’s total and Marquette’s depth helped propel the Sentinels to their second straight team title.
Marquette finished with a total of 311, 11 shots ahead of runner-up Escanaba. Menominee (331), Houghton (334) and Kingsford (335) rounded out the top five in the 15-team field.
“We’ve had a really solid year as a group and individually,” Marquette head coach Ben Smith said. “Boden was playing the five slot today. Based on our scoring averages, that’s how it fell. These kids grind, they play really well together, they compete a lot, but they also know they are pulling for each other.”
In addition to Moore, junior Easton Aho shot a 78, junior Jack Pond shot an 80 and sophomore Seve Swanson carded an 83, meaning Chipelewski’s solid score of 85 could be thrown out from the team total.
“Today, they really didn’t have good vibes of things going the right way the whole time,” Smith said. “But they hung in there.”
On a pleasant day with little wind, individuals took advantage, with nine golfers breaking 80.
Ishpeming Westwood senior Tanner Annala finished as the runner-up with a 1-over-par round of 73, while Iron Mountain senior Cooper Pigeon was third with a 77.
For Escanaba, it was its best finish at the tournament since winning the second of back-to-back titles in 2018. Sophomore Carson Artley shot a 79 to finish in a tie for seventh and lead the way. Sophomores Jared Plourde (80) and Lincoln Bradfield (81), and junior Graham Johnson (82) weren’t too far behind and helped keep Escanaba within striking distance of Marquette.
“We’ve been looking at Marquette multiple times this year, and I think a lot of our success today was due to the fact we’ve been battling that team,” Escanaba coach Brian Robinette said. “Drafting off of them. We know they are going to play well, they’re not going to relent and not going to give us much. They made it a little interesting on the front nine, which allowed us to get a taste there. That’s just what golf does to you. As good as you are, you have to perform.”
PHOTOS (Top) Marquette's boys golf team poses with the championship trophy after capturing its second-straight UP Division 1 title Wednesday at Sage Run Golf Course. (Middle) Carter Campioni of Houghton gets ready to tap in a putt on the ninth hole. (Photos by Keith Dunlap.)