Irish Celebrate Homecoming Sky High

October 4, 2013

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

You’ve got to see this – from high in the sky – to believe it.

The disappointing news for Pontiac Notre Dame Prep from its Homecoming game last Friday was that the Fighting Irish fell to Detroit Catholic League AA leader Detroit Loyola by seven points.

But the Irish will remember fondly (and probably click on frequently) the video of this sky high view of the game including the team’s entrance to the field.

Thanks to a camera attached to a helicopter-like apparatus flown by local Aerial Imagery Works, Notre Dame was able to capture a rarely-seen view. See more by watching the brief video embedded at the bottom of this post. 

SLC-TV Rolls 300

It's fair to assume few television stations in Michigan have been as dedicated to the local football team as South Lyon's SLC-TV, which will celebrate a milestone broadcast Oct. 11 when South Lyon faces South Lyon East.

SLC-TV has followed South Lyon football home and away games for 31 years and will broadcast its 300th game that night. SLC-TV’s games appear on WOW network channel 19 and Comcast Southfield channel 90, which reaches 33 communities in metro Detroit.

Sports director Tedd Wallace will have done play-by-play for 298 of those games, and said he believes no station in America has done TV broadcasts of a team’s home and away games as consistently. Check out more about the network’s weekly work on its Facebook page

Friendly gesture to opponent in need

One of the most heart-warming parts of following high school sports is experiencing the camaraderie among athletes from opposing teams they likely know nothing about except for what they learn during competition.

Concord’s volleyball team shined especially brightly in this way last week.

Amazingly, Union City junior Marissa Mead played in her team’s match against Concord on Sept. 24 despite her home being destroyed by a fire that morning. As told by the Jackson Citizen-Patriot’s Leanne Smith, Concord’s players had heard about the tragic event and were surprised to then see Mead take her place as defensive specialist that night.

On the bus ride home, the Concord players decided they needed to do something to help Mead and her family. As a team, the players collected $80 – and then pushed the total to $300 with the help of teachers, parents and administrators. They delivered the funds in a card to Mead at Union City’s home match two days later.

It’s a gesture that might seem small, but speaks loudly to the awesome way our athletes relate to each other not just on, but off the court as well. Click to read the entire report.

Official of the Year

Marcy Weston, Central Michigan University’s Executive Associate Director of Athletics/Sports Administration and a longtime contributor to MHSAA officiating initiatives, has been named the Naismith Women’s College Official of the Year.

Weston spoke at the 2001 MHSAA Officials Banquet and has served as part of the association's officials committee and with the National Federation of State High School Associations as a liaison to its Basketball Rules Committee.

She also served as NCAA national coordinator of women’s basketball officiating from 1991-2005 after working as a women’s college basketball official from 1964-84. Click to read more from CMUChippewas.com

Hartland's Fundich Puts 'Fun' In Finals Championship Run, Ends Career No. 1

By Brad Emons
Special for MHSAA.com

March 7, 2026

HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP – Hartland’s Alexis Fundich was on a mission during Saturday’s MHSAA Individual Finals at Milford High School.

The senior, who led the Eagles to their second-straight team championship just the night before, captured the Division 1 all-round with a score of 38.625 after placing runner-up a year ago.

Huron Valley United’s Stella Musialowski was second (36.60), with Farmington United’s Mikayla Dicks (37.25), Tecumseh’s Isabella Janiga (35.875) and Northville’s Michelle Walker (35.85) rounding out the top five.

“Mostly I just tried to have fun and not let the nerves take over, which happened, so it went well,” Fundich said. “I definitely was nervous, but I didn’t want to let it control me throughout the meet. I let fun control me instead.”

Fundich, who joined the Hartland team her sophomore year, captured three events including the balance beam (9.725), uneven bars (9.4) and floor exercise, while adding a second in the vault (9.8).

Fundich, left, and Huron Valley United’s Stella Musialowski hold hands for their salute from the podium.“I was really happy with my floor score,” Fundich said. “I broke the record for floor on my team, so I was really excited about that.”

Fundich hopes to continue her gymnastics career in college, but is undecided about her next destination.

“That’s my goal. I’m still figuring that out,” Fundich said.

Musialowski, competing on her home floor, also turned in a stellar performance to pass Dicks (37.25), who was competing at her first MHSAA Finals.

The Milford gymnast had finished sixth a year ago after taking 15th as a sophomore. This time, she placed runner-up on beam (9.625), tied for third on bars (9.15) and floor (9.425), and fourth on vault (9.4),

“I was just definitely trying to do my best today,” Musialowski said. “I wanted to finish off my last competition well, and I definitely think I did.

“Beam always clicks a little bit more than the others for me. It’s my favorite. I find it really peaceful to do.”

Musialowski, who plans to attend Michigan State and study nursing, also juggled gymnastics during the winter with competitive cheer.

“I helped out our cheer team, but other than that I’ve solely been doing gymnastics my whole life,” said Musialowski, who joined the Huron Valley team her sophomore year. “My freshman year I did cheer, and then I realized I liked gymnastics and came back.”

Musialowski said most likely her competitive gymnastics days are over.

“It’s been a long run – 15 years – I’m definitely starting to get tired of it, but I’m not fully certain on it yet,” she said.

Hartland’s Kate Gostlin was the other D1 individual victor with a 9.8 in the vault.

Haslett United’s Phoebe Elder, right, receives a hug after her bars routine. “They all went out there, they had a mission and took care of business,” Hartland coach Gavin Kress said. “It’s gymnastics, they’re always nervous. Today coming in strong. They came in knowing what they were doing.”

Meanwhile, the Division 2 all-around title went to Haslett United’s Phoebe Elder, who placed first with a total of 36.675.

She was able to hold off challenges by three Rockford competitors including Lillian Green (36.550), Rae DeFrang (36.025) and Reese DeFrang (35.900). Farmington United’s Aubrey Woodman took fifth (35.625).

Elder finished runner-up on bars (9.1), third on floor (9.425), fourth on the beam (9.1) and tied for sixth in the vault (9.05).

“Very surprised and very happy for sure,” said Elder, who will attend Northwestern University and study biology. “I stuck a vault, which I don’t think I have all season.”

Other individual D2 winners included Rockford’s Green in vault (9.625), Rae DeFrang on bars (9.125) and Kenzie Todd on beam (9.275). East Lansing Catholic DeWitt’s Taliyah Andrews won the floor exercise (9.555).

Click for full results.

PHOTOS (Top) Hartland’s Alexis Fundich vaults during Saturday’s Individual Finals at Milford. (Middle) Fundich, left, and Huron Valley United’s Stella Musialowski hold hands for their salute from the podium. (Below) Haslett United’s Phoebe Elder, right, receives a hug after her bars routine. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)