Powerful Voice for High School Sports
December 19, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Paul Carey was home from the U.S. Army only a few months and just shy of 25 years old when Beal City embarked on its first trip deep into the MHSAA boys basketball tournament.
On the call for local radio station WCEN from gyms at Saginaw Arthur Hill and Lansing Sexton, Carey served as the voice of the previously “laughable” Aggies as they reached the Class D Semifinals before falling just six points short of playing for the title.
“All of Beal City emptied out. They’d never had anything before,” Carey recalled during his annual Thanksgiving weekend visit to the MHSAA Football Finals at Ford Field. “When I got home, within the next two weeks I got a letter from every citizen of Beal City thanking me for broadcasting their games. That’s the kind of appreciation that meant so much.”
During 42 years on the airwaves, Carey was best known as a voice of the Detroit Tigers bounding out of transistor radios all over Michigan, thanks to WJR’s powerful signal.
But for the state’s high school sports community, his legacy is similarly memorable as the voice of the longtime football and basketball scoreboard show and a voter for various all-state teams and wire polls over the decades.
Now 86 and retired since 1991, Carey remains a regular during the first day of the Football Finals, taking in games he broadcast for the MHSAA during the late 1970s and that continue to hold his eye as they have for more than a half-century.
“It was a passion of mine. High school sports always has been,” Carey said. “I think because my dad was a high school coach, and teacher initially, and my brother was a high school coach and teacher, I just grew up in families that appreciated coaching and athletics. I was not a great athlete, but it kept my hand in following sports that way.”
Now, the scores
Carey partnered with Ernie Harwell for Tigers radio broadcasts from 1973-91, including during the march to the 1984 World Series championship. He was named Michigan Sportscaster of the Year six times and to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
But Carey’s early career included sitting on top of a car, plugged into a phone pole, for a Sacred Heart football game at old Fancher Field just a few blocks from his family’s Mount Pleasant home. Among many more accolades are a Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan High School Coaches Association and a place in the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame.
In fact, the start of his weekly announcing of statewide football and basketball scores preceded his baseball career by 16 years and ended two months after he announced his final professional out.
The Michigan High School Scoreboard show was a staple of WJR’s late Friday nights from 1957-91. Carey would read every score he could collect from a variety of sources, often organized by league and with state rankings and context mixed in.
His idea came from something similar read by Len Colby for Kalamazoo’s WKZO. Carey’s brother Terry was coaching at Niles during the second half of the 1950s, and he and other coaches would get together to listen to the Friday night scores from the southwestern part of the state.
Carey, who left WKNX in Saginaw for WJR in 1956, explained to then-sports director Bob Reynolds that the station’s strong signal could provide for a truly statewide scoreboard experience.
Carey then connected with Edgar Hayes of the former Detroit Times, who gave the OK for Carey to call the paper on Friday nights to get scores from the Detroit metro area. For the rest, Carey relied on wire services – there were three at the time – who relied on newspapers from all over Michigan to call in scores over the course of an evening.
Before every Friday during high school football season – and later Tuesdays and Fridays during boys basketball season – Carey typed up lists of games based on schedules in the newspaper, with spaces to add scores. More than a few times, Carey raced down a back ramp at Tiger Stadium after a Friday night game, back to the WJR studio, with 15 minutes to prep for the show’s 11:30 p.m. start.
“If the Flint Journal, the Grand Rapids Press, the Traverse City paper didn’t call in scores to the AP, then I was out of luck too. And that happened all the time,” Carey said. “I would call back occasionally, say, ‘Did you get anything more?’ It was a rat race.”
The show originally was set for 10 minutes and then extended to 15. American Airlines sponsored a record show that followed, and Carey’s scoreboard show had a sponsor only once in 35 years. Finishing up on time was expected, even with more than 200 scores to read.
But Carey said he always went 20 minutes, sometimes 25.
“Because I wasn’t done. I just kept right on going,” Carey said. “Jay Roberts did the all-night show most of the time, and he was patient with me. He didn’t say too much on the air about ‘that guy ahead of me took all of my time.’”
Carey continued the “rat race” until his final scoreboard show, Dec. 20, 1991. He retired from WJR at the end of that calendar year. And it's important to note: Carey was never paid a dime extra for doing the program. .
“I think Paul is really just a sports fan, and that came across to the listener on his broadcasts,” MHSAA historian Ron Pesch said. “Paul would gather as much as possible off the wire. He'd interject if scores were missing from sections of the state. Press polls from the Free Press, News, AP and UPI were big, so he could point out close calls and upsets.
“He provided immediacy, or the closest thing to it in the days before cable TV and the Internet, and because of his scoreboard show, you could get the results before the morning paper. For listeners, he brought life to something as simple as game scores.”
First team all the way
Carey, who resides in Rochester, also served as the engineer on Tigers broadcasts for 16 years, through 1990. He broadcast Pistons games on the radio for six seasons and did the first broadcast of a Central Michigan University football game, in 1949.
Harry Atkins, covering Detroit’s teams while with The Associated Press for 29 years including the last 21 as its sports editor for Detroit, took note of his colleague's hard work – and especially that Carey was one of few broadcasters who was a journalist in addition to a voice.
That made Carey's other major role in high school sports a natural fit.
Atkins split The Associated Press all-state selection panels for football and basketball into 11 regions, and Carey represented the Detroit area for a number of years. He also was a longtime voter in those sports' weekly polls.
“Paul is just that kind of guy. He thought it was important and he made time in his busy schedule to do it,” Atkins said “And it had an impact on the other 10 voters on the All-State panels, too.
“Some of them were from small out-state newspapers or radio or TV stations. Yet every one of them knew who Paul Carey was. And when he spoke, of course, with what often is called "The Voice of God," those voters paid attention.”
And he still does, as well.
At the end of each fall, Carey still puts together a compilation of the three high school all-state football teams – Associated Press, Detroit Free Press and Detroit News – and files them with years of research and results.
“It’s important to me. Nobody sees it but me, but I get a certain kick,” Carey said. “Once in a while I’ll see a kid playing at Central, Western or (Michigan) State or Michigan, and they’ll say he came from Clawson. I’ll go into my all-state collections, say that would’ve been 2009 he played, and I find a name.”
In addition to the Football Finals on WJR, Carey was part of the Baseball Finals broadcasts into the early 1990s, continuing to contribute even after his retirement from his fulltime gig.
He spent high school games over the years sitting next to legends like the Free Press’ Hal Schram and remembers when current Free Press longtime scribe Mick McCabe was just a rookie. One of Carey's final broadcasts was a 1992 Baseball Final with his nephew Mike Carey, who continues to broadcast MHSAA championship games to this day.
“I am eternally grateful to Paul Carey. His contribution to high school sports in Michigan has been great and significant,” Atkins said.
“We are lucky to have him.”
PHOTO: Paul Carey (left) and nephew Mike Carey broadcast the MHSAA 1992 Class D Baseball Final between Hillman and Athens for PASS.
Preview: New Home, New Schedule, Newcomers, Reigning Champions Headline Finals
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 1, 2023
There is plenty of new heading into this weekend’s MHSAA Competitive Cheer Finals – and some more could spring up before Friday’s last championship meet is complete.
The two-day event has a new home – McGuirk Arena at Central Michigan University – and a new schedule with two Finals on Thursday and two on Friday, at 1 and 6 p.m. both days. A series of first-time qualifiers also help fill the field.
Four teams have had a hold on their respective divisions the last few years, as Richmond in Division 3 is seeking its fifth-straight championship and Rochester Adams in Division 1, Allen Park in Division 2 and Hudson in Division 4 all are competing for fourth-consecutive titles. A new champion or more would surely be among headliners during a busy Finals weekend across three sports.
The full schedule, plus information on purchasing tickets and how to watch online are all available on the Competitive Cheer page of MHSAA.com.
Division 1
BRIGHTON
League finish: Second in Kensington Lakes Activities Association
Coach: Christina Wilson, 10th season
Championship history: Class A runner-up 1999.
Top score: 787.74 at District.
Team composition: 27 total (four seniors, seven juniors, six sophomores, 10 freshmen).
Outlook: After ending last season fifth at its Regional, Brighton is headed back to the Finals. The Bulldogs finished second at both their District and Regional and have broken 785 points four times this season – including at those two postseason events and the KLAA championship meet. Senior Natalie Rodgers led four returnees who earned all-District recognition in 2022.
GRANDVILLE
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Coach: Julie Smith-Boyd, 42nd season
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2015), 10 runner-up finishes.
Top score: 790.28.
Team composition: 30 total (two seniors, 17 juniors, four sophomores, seven freshmen).
Outlook: After finishing runner-up in 2021, Grandville placed seventh a year ago and will look to jump back into contention with scores of at least 782 in six of their last seven events. Juniors Brie Vanderplow, Lexsee Pawloski, Jodi O’Dell and Avery Polinskey all earned all-Regional honors last season.
HARTLAND
League finish: First in KLAA
Coach: Candace Fahr, sixth season
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2013.
Top score: 789.98
Team composition: 27 total (seven seniors, 11 juniors, seven sophomores, two freshmen).
Outlook: Hartland returned to the Finals last season after a year away with a fourth-place finish, and the Eagles are primed to contend coming off District and Regional championships and three straight overall scores of 787 or higher. They’ve won seven of 10 competitions this season. Senior Ashley Kretz and junior Molly Woolf made the all-state first team last year, while juniors Grace DeYoung and Samantha Mollard made the second team and juniors Kaylee Balagna and Aspen Smith earned honorable mentions.
MACOMB L’ANSE CREUSE NORTH
League finish: Second in Macomb Area Conference Red
Coach: Lauren Turner, second season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 791.70 at District.
Team composition: 24 total (five seniors, 10 juniors, six sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: The Crusaders have strung together their four best total scores over their last five competitions and followed up their District championship with a fourth-place Regional finish after the three Rochester-area teams posted the top three scores at either Division 1 meet last weekend. Juniors Ina Harding and Hannah Waters were among top returnees after making the all-District first and second teams, respectively, last season.
MILFORD
League finish: First in Lakes Valley Conference
Coach: Patti Warzecha, 12th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 777.94
Team composition: 23 total (three seniors, nine juniors, eight sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Milford reached Regionals for the fourth-straight season and took the next step in making the Finals for the first time. The Mavericks have topped 772 points in five of their last six competitions and 777 three times. Senior Leah Fitzgerald made the all-District first team last year, and sophomores Emme Dreffs and Kenleigh Bailey made the second team.
ROCHESTER
League finish: First in Oakland Activities Association Red
Coach: Samantha Koehler, first season
Championship history: 14 MHSAA titles (most recent 2017).
Top score: 793.16
Team composition: 26 total (nine seniors, four juniors, 10 sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Koehler, who formerly led a strong program at Plymouth from 2016-22, took over this one from Susan Wood – who had led Rochester to all 14 of its championships dating back to the first year of Finals in 1994. Koehler has watched the Falcons score 790 or higher their last three competitions and finish first or second in all of them this winter. After missing the Finals in 2021, Rochester returned with a fifth-place finish last year. Senior Martina Dedvukaj earned an all-state honorable mention.
ROCHESTER ADAMS
League finish: Second in OAA Red
Coach: Brooke Miller, ninth season
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), three runner-up finishes.
Top score: 794.16
Team composition: 28 total (12 seniors, eight juniors, four sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: Adams has won three straight Division 1 championships and strung together five straight seasons finishing among the Finals top two. The Highlanders have won their last four competitions this winter and topped 791 points in their last three including District and Regional wins. Seniors Katie Burgin, Alex Ris and Ashley Rosati are returning all-state second-team selections, and seniors Emma Maynard and Peyton Regalado earned honorable mentions in 2022.
ROCHESTER HILLS STONEY CREEK
League finish: Third in OAA Red
Coach: Tricia Williams, 20th season
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2019), Division 1 runner-up 2022.
Top score: 792.76 at Regional.
Team composition: 26 total (four seniors, 12 juniors, six sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: Stoney Creek is coming off missing the championship last season by just more than 2.3 points, and finished third at least week’s Regional but just 42 hundredths of a point off tying the highest score in Division 1 for the weekend. That 792.76 was the second time the team had broken 790 this season and its third time above 789. Juniors Kacey Bauer and Abigail DeGraw made the all-state second team last season, and junior Alison Kalaj earned an honorable mention.
Division 2
ALLEN PARK
League finish: Second in Downriver League
Coach: Julie Goodwin, 17th season
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), four runner-up finishes.
Top score: 795.42.
Team composition: 27 total (11 seniors, 11 juniors, three sophomores, two freshmen).
Outlook: The Jaguars have finished first or second in Division 2 the last seven seasons, claiming the last three titles. After finishing second at the Downriver League championship competition, Allen Park has responded with three of its top four scores this season, including also a 794.98 to win its District and 789.40 to win its Regional. Seniors Kristina Beste, Alyssa Rios and Madisyn Setser made the all-state first team last season, while seniors Aleia Breckenridge and Emma Buffa made the second team and seniors Madison Buchanan and Emma Williams earned honorable mentions.
BAY CITY WESTERN
League finish: Second in Saginaw Valley League
Coach: August Jaynes, fifth season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 776.36 at Regional.
Team composition: 19 total (seven seniors, three sophomores, nine freshmen).
Outlook: Western has finished first or second at its last nine competitions and won both its District and Regional, with that 776.36 five points higher than its previous best for this winter. Both championships were program firsts, and this will be the Warriors’ first trip to the Finals. Senior Bella Glumm was named SVL MVP this season, and with senior teammates Gabbie Goulette, Ambria Nagel, Shea Walli and Allison Kaczmarczyk was among first and second-team all-District honorees in 2022.
DEARBORN DIVINE CHILD
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Bishop
Co-coaches: Amber Genevich, 18th season; Shelley McClorey, sixth season
Championship history: Four Finals runner-up finishes (most recent 2014).
Top score: 789.34 at District.
Team composition: 19 total (two seniors, eight juniors, six sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Divine Child returned to the Finals last season after two away and finished fourth, a solid springboard as they look to jump into contention this weekend with that District score one of three times the Falcons have broken 784 this winter. Seniors Abby Krizmanich and Elena Solomon both earned all-state honorable mentions last season.
GIBRALTAR CARLSON
League finish: First in Downriver League
Coach: Alyssa Tocco, second season
Championship history: 11 MHSAA titles (most recent 2019), seven runner-up finishes.
Top score: 793.98.
Team composition: 27 total (nine seniors, three juniors, five sophomores, 10 freshmen).
Outlook: Carlson finished runner-up last season, the second time over the last three. The Marauders return to the Finals this weekend after placing just ahead of Allen Park in the league and winning their District, but finishing two hundredths of a point behind the Jaguars at the Regional. Carlson has gone over 781 points its last six competitions and 788 four of those six including the Regional (789.38). Senior Kaitlyn Demers is a returning all-state first teamer, while seniors Tiaira Michalik, Ellen Szucs and Emilee Bain made the second team last season and senior Ciana Caliguire and junior Mya Oikarinen earned honorable mentions.
GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS NORTHERN
League finish: First in O-K White
Coach: Carly Sienkiewicz, sixth season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 771.50.
Team composition: 18 total (seven seniors, three juniors, four sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: Forest Hills Northern returned to the Finals last season for the first time since 1998, and placed sixth, and the Huskies are returning after jumping 16 points from a third-place District finish to qualify fourth at their Regional. They entered the postseason with two straight scores of 770 or higher and cleared the Regional cut line by almost eight points. FHN is among teams with valuable experience heading into this weekend, as all three of last year’s all-state honorees are back – seniors Julie Fiser (first team), Alexis Linder (second team) and Jennessa Byl (honorable mention).
MASON
League finish: Tied for first in Capital Area Activities Conference Red
Coach: Angela Boerkoel, 11th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 765.82.
Team composition: 20 total (six seniors, four juniors, four sophomores, six freshmen).
Outlook: The Bulldogs are back after missing the Finals last season and nearly equaled their high score getting here with a 765.78 to place third at their Regional. It’s been another nice jump after the team fell one spot shy of making Regionals in 2022. Boerkoel, who formerly coached Brighton, has led Mason to three league titles and now two Finals appearances over the past three seasons, and her team finished third or better at all of its competitions this winter. Senior Eleana Young made the all-District second team last season.
MIDDLEVILLE THORNAPPLE KELLOGG
League finish: First in O-K Gold
Coach: Adrian Nichols, third season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 772.64 at Regional.
Team composition: 15 total (three seniors, four juniors, two sophomores, six freshmen).
Outlook: The Trojans are returning to the Finals for the first time since 2015. They made a magnificent jump at their Regional, with the 772.64 nearly 14 points higher than their previous high total score this season. MTK was second at the Regional after winning the District, and has won 10 competitions total and finished second in its other three. Juniors Mali Holland, Ava Jahnke and Kenady Smith all made the all-District second team last year.
SOUTH LYON EAST
League finish: Second in LVC
Coach: Julia Tilt, fourth season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 780.06.
Team composition: 20 total (five seniors, five juniors, six sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: South Lyon East has made an incredible climb under Tilt to reach the Finals for the first time – from not qualifying for Regionals in 2020, to placing seventh at Regionals in 2021 and fifth last year and now advancing with a fourth-place finish. After finishing second at their District two weeks ago, the Cougars were nearly 27 points better at the Regional with a 769.18 and have gone 771 or higher five times. Senior Cassie Ryan made the all-Regional second team last season, and senior Hannah Westlund and junior Natalie Tilt earned honorable mentions.
Division 3
CROSWELL-LEXINGTON
League finish: Second in Blue Water Area Conference
Coach: Katie Tomlinson, eighth season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 783.38 at District.
Team composition: 28 total (eight seniors, six juniors, 12 sophomores, two freshmen).
Outlook: Croswell-Lexington has finished fourth, fifth and fourth the last three seasons and last year scored within nine points of the lead. The Pioneers could push even higher this time. They finished second to four-time reigning Division 3 champion Richmond in the BWAC this winter, then second at their District to Pontiac Notre Dame Prep by fewer than three points and third at their Regional to those two powers but less than six points off the lead. Junior Shelby Oliver made the all-state second team last season, and junior Cora Katulski earned honorable mention.
GROSSE ILE
League finish: Second in Huron League
Coach: Angela Raithel, sixth season
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2010), Division 3 runner-up 2009.
Top score: 768.92 at Regional.
Team composition: 17 total (one senior, six juniors, seven sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Grosse Ile has earned its first Finals trip since 2014, climbing from third at its District to fourth at its Regional to qualify. Raithel has been building toward this moment, with the Red Devils also claiming District titles the last two seasons and just missing out on the Finals with a fifth place at their Regional last year. Lone senior Amanda Hancock made the all-Regional first team last season, while junior Sienna Ross made the second team and sophomores Marissa Trombley and Virginia West earned honorable mentions.
HOWARD CITY TRI COUNTY
League finish: First in Central State Activities Association
Coach: Jennifer Laskey, 16th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 757.38.
Team composition: 24 total (five seniors, five juniors, 11 sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Tri County returned to the Finals last season after two years away, and is making a repeat trip with a top score this time 10 points higher than a year ago. That jump also has included a District title and runner-up finish at its Regional, and eight competition wins overall. Senior Madalynn Laskey is a returning all-state first-team selection, and senior MaLeea Neely earned honorable mention last season.
LAKE ODESSA LAKEWOOD
League finish: First in Greater Lansing Activities Conference
Coach: Kim Martin, 31st season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 766.81
Team composition: 20 total (four seniors, seven juniors, eight sophomores, one freshman).
Outlook: Lakewood is making its second-straight Finals appearance and seventh over the last 11 seasons, and placed seventh a year ago. The Vikings have won six competitions and placed second at two others including the District before finishing fourth at their Regional. Lakewood also has won 14 straight league titles. Senior Emily Root made the all-Regional second team last season.
PAW PAW
League finish: First in Wolverine Conference
Coach: Stefanie Miller, 14th season
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2022 and 2021.
Top score: 768.86 at Regional.
Team composition: 16 total (two seniors, five juniors, two sophomores, seven freshmen).
Outlook: Paw Paw has finished a point or less behind champion Richmond the last two seasons and returns to the Finals with District and Regional titles and victories in all but one competition overall this season. While nine seniors topped last year’s lineup, this one has experience too but just among younger athletes. Junior Molly Goodwin made the all-state first team last season, while juniors Naveh Davenport and Maya Leonard and sophomore Ashley Olsen made the second team and junior Madison Lasinski earned an honorable mention.
PORTLAND
League finish: First in CAAC White
Coach: Mindy Blaschka, 10th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 764.34.
Team composition: 22 total (four seniors, 10 juniors, four sophomores, four freshmen).
Outlook: A younger team that finished sixth last year in its first Finals trip now has that experience and a large junior class as it returns coming off league and District titles and a third place at its Regional. The Raiders have broken 753 three times over their last six competitions. Senior Lily Buckland earned an all-state honorable mention last season, and juniors Abigail Rice and Autumn Schafer were second-team all-Regional selections.
PONTIAC NOTRE DAME PREP
League finish: Does not compete in a league.
Coach: Beth Lockhart, 11th season
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2018), three runner-up finishes.
Top score: 786.08 at District.
Team composition: 17 total (three seniors, three juniors, six sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: The Fighting Irish last finished runner-up in 2020 and placed third the last two seasons, just a half-point off the lead a year ago. They should be in the mix again with wins in all of their competitions except one, a runner-up finish at the Rochester Adams Invitational. The District and Regional titles came against fields including reigning champion Richmond. Junior Alaina Byrne and sophomore Haleigh Campbell earned all-state honorable mentions last season and were joined by senior Ashley Quinn and sophomore Grace Kincade in also receiving all-Regional recognition.
RICHMOND
League finish: First in BWAC
Coach: Kelli Matthes, 15th season
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), five runner-up finishes.
Top score: 783.74
Team composition: 25 total (seven seniors, three juniors, eight sophomores, seven freshmen).
Outlook: Richmond has finished among the top two in Division 3 eight straight seasons and won the last four titles, but faces an interesting challenge after finishing third at its District and second at its Regional with NDP winning both. Still, the Blue Devils have topped 781 twice and 777 two more times, and bring back plenty of standouts with championship experience. Juniors Annabell Loftis and Ana Moskwa and sophomore Faith Thompson made the all-state first team last season, while senior Nicole Ostaszewski, junior Alyssa DeBlouw and sophomore Camryn Moore made the second team.
Division 4
ADRIAN MADISON
League finish: Does not compete in a league.
Coach: Sarah Kope, fourth season
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2022.
Top score: 731.52 at District.
Team composition: 14 total (four seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Madison is back after its history-making finish a year ago and with a top score 10 points higher than at this point last season. The Regional third place was the team’s first finish outside of the top two this season. Sophomore Mya Solis made the all-state first team last winter, while seniors Abby Griewahn, Danielle Vallejo and Kaylee Paulette made the second team and junior Delaney Dopp earned honorable mention.
HART
League finish: First in West Michigan Conference
Co-coaches: Jennifer Hlady, 12th season; Ashleigh Andritsis, first season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 752.84.
Team composition: Seven total (three seniors, two juniors, two sophomores).
Outlook: Hart missed the Finals last season while competing in Division 3 after finishing eighth in Division 4 in 2021, and has been unstoppable so far this winter with victories in all 14 competitions including by 36 points at the District and 23 at the Regional. The 744.93 at that District was the team’s second-highest total score. Sophomore LexieBeth Nienhuis made the all-Regional second team last season, and junior Jasmyne Villanueva earned an honorable mention.
HUDSON
League finish: First in Lenawee County Athletic Association
Coach: Kelly Bailey, 26th season
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), six runner-up finishes.
Top score: 774.94
Team composition: 19 total (seven seniors, seven juniors, two sophomores, three freshmen).
Outlook: Hudson has finished first or second in Division 4 the last six seasons and won three straight titles, and last year’s 50-point Finals win could be a sign of what’s to come this weekend as well. The Tigers also are undefeated this winter with an average total score of 750.42 and scores above that in seven-straight competitions before posting a 740.38 to win the Regional. Seniors Cheyenne Eichler and Annalyse Ames and juniors Rylie Bloomer and Victoria Hawkins made the all-state first team last season, while seniors Ellie Bean, Shantzee Henderson and Isabella Moreno made the second team and junior Paige Clark earned an honorable mention.
LAWTON
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Coach: Holly James, 10th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 738.08.
Team composition: 13 total (four seniors, four juniors, one sophomore, four freshmen).
Outlook: Lawton has won 10 competitions this season including its District after the team improved from seventh in 2021 to third at last year’s Final. Its top score is nearly 30 points higher than when entering championship weekend a year ago. The Blue Devils are another team with plenty of returning star power, with seniors Rylee Oxley and Mikayla Reynolds and junior Kiera Banks returning all-state first teamers, senior Casandra Salgado and sophomore Amanda Aumaugher back from the second team and senior Samantha Gorenchan and junior Amanda Aumaugher having earned honorable mentions in 2022.
MASON COUNTY CENTRAL
League finish: Second in West Michigan Conference
Coach: Cheri Stibitz, 14th season
Championship history: Seeking first top-two Finals finish.
Top score: 731.56.
Team composition: 12 total (seven seniors, two juniors, one sophomore, two freshmen).
Outlook: MCC is headed to the Finals for the second-straight season after qualifying last year for the first time. The Spartans have finished first, second or third at all of their competitions, even stronger considering five were league meets that included undefeated Hart, as did the Regional. They also reached 731.22 in finishing runner-up at their District. Senior Geralyn Soberalski made the all-state first team last season, junior Emily Adams made the second and junior Marissa Quillan earned honorable mention.
MERRILL
League finish: Second in Mid-State Activities Conference
Coach: Jena Glazier, third season
Championship history: Division 4 runner-up 2014.
Top score: 717.50.
Team composition: 10 total (two seniors, six juniors, one sophomore, one freshman).
Outlook: The Vandals are returning to the Finals for the first time since 2018, with their six best total scores coming over their last seven competitions. Merrill made the jump after falling a place shy of reaching the Regional last season. Senior Brooke Breasbois made the all-District first team last season, and juniors Veda Gagne and Samantha Grubaugh made the second.
MICHIGAN CENTER
League finish: First in Cascades Conference
Co-coaches: Jessica Trefry, 22nd season; Bree Cash, first season
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2014), one runner-up finish.
Top score: 745.94 at District.
Team composition: 14 total (two seniors, five juniors, two sophomores, five freshmen).
Outlook: Michigan Center is making its first Finals appearance since 2019 and appears set to join the elite with four of their last seven scores 730 or higher and two 742 or better. The Cardinals finished second at their Regional to Hudson after winning their District with that season-high score. They just missed reaching Regionals in Division 3 last season, when junior Kate Paterson and sophomore Emma McIntyre made the all-District second team.
PEWAMO-WESTPHALIA
League finish: Second in GLAC
Coach: Staci Myers, 16th season
Championship history: Nine MHSAA titles (most recent 2019), 12 runner-up finishes.
Top score: 722.6.
Team composition: 13 total (two seniors, one junior, five sophomores, five freshmen)
Outlook: The Pirates are bringing another young team to the Finals after finishing sixth a year ago, but they are coming off runner-up finishes at their District and Regional and also finished second to Lakewood in the GLAC after joining the league for cheer this season. There’s a good deal of experience; senior Emma Flanigan made the all-state second team last season, and she was joined by senior Emily Schmitt, junior Sophia Simon and sophomores Miriam Downes and Jayde Ferguson in earning all-Regional recognition.
PHOTO Grosse Ile will be making its first MHSAA Finals appearance in competitive cheer this weekend since 2014. (Photo by Terry Jacoby.)