Standouts Climb Career Record Lists

April 13, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Vicksburg’s runs to back-to-back District titles – and the Division 2 championship game last spring – were keyed by a productive offense, including contributions by a pair who are seniors this spring.

Shaidan Knapp and Grace Stock both are entered into the MHSAA record book for single-season doubles from the last two seasons and for career doubles with a season to play – Stock has 39 and Knapp has 49, both over three seasons and 116 games. Knapp also ranks on the career RBI list with 188.

As a team, Vicksburg made the single-season wins list finishing 36-9 last season, when it had the second-most hits in MHSAA history with 522 over 45 games. The 2015 and 2016 teams are listed for various team accomplishments, also most notably for 366 RBI (third all-time) in 2016 and a .460 batting average (tied for second all-time) in 2015.

Click the softball heading below to see that record book in full, and also read on for more recent additions in boys basketball, football, boys soccer and volleyball.

Boys Basketball

Nearly two decades have passed since Rojelio Parra-Grady scored 49 points for Dearborn Fordson in its 2001 Class A District Final win over Allen Park. His total tied for ninth-most points in an MHSAA Tournament game at any level. He scored 15 points in the fourth quarter of the 76-49 win and made six 3-pointers in the game.


Football

Ithaca kicker Adam Culp is climbing the charts for his position with a season yet to play. Culp made the single-season extra-point list with 59 as a sophomore and 46 this past fall as a junior, and his 105 career extra points also already rank among the best. Culp also had nine field goals in 11 attempts last season. Teammate Joey Bentley, also a junior, was added after throwing for 2,056 yards in 12 games in the fall.

Paul Verska finished a coaching career spanning four decades in 2015 with a record of 218-174-1 at seven Michigan schools – Lincoln Alcona, Allegan, Detroit Servite, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, Cadillac, Ann Arbor Huron and Warren DeLaSalle. He finished with the Pilots, taking over in 2002 and leading them to the Division 2 title in 2014.

Boys Soccer

Marshall goalkeeper Kurt Kraushaar finished his high school career in the fall with 22 shutouts over four seasons to make the MHSAA career list in that category. He also made the single-season list as a junior in 2015 with 13 shutouts.

Grand Ledge finished 10-2-5 in the fall in part because of a strong defense; its seven goals given up tied for fourth-fewest in one season. Keeper Blaine Teahan also made the MHSAA records with a stretch of six straight shutouts from Aug. 20-Sept. 14.

Softball

Last season was a record-setting one for Coleman and a group of four-year varsity seniors. As a team, the Comets finished 39-3, setting MHSAA single-season records with 555 hits and 432 runs batted in, while tying for second with a .460 batting average and ranking second all-time alone with 510 runs scored in reaching the Division 4 Quarterfinals. Six players combined for 22 individual record book entries. Now-graduated Cassidy Tucker made the lists for 84 runs, 78 hits and 13 home runs in a season and 178 runs and 23 triples over her career (plus seven RBI in one game last May). Her 84 runs last spring were second-most in MHSAA history. Carley Starnes also made the single-season runs list with 74 and career lists with 224 runs, 231 hits and 34 doubles; and Grace Staley was added for 73 runs last season, 200 in her career, 81 hits last season and 238 in her career. Senior Laken Berthume had 71 RBI last season, 165 in her career and walked 77 times over four varsity seasons. Senior Kaylie Scott put together a 33-game hitting streak that stretched over nearly a year from May 2015-May 2016, while freshman MacKenzie Miller was among those added for six RBI in a game. Tucker is playing at Alma College and Starnes and Berthume are playing at Delta College.

Kalamazoo Christian has played in three MHSAA Finals over the last decade, and a number of entries from that time also were added. Kara Gjeltema, a senior last spring, was entered 18 times, most notably for 40 career home runs (tied for sixth most), 71 RBI in 2015 (tied for 11th) and 238 career RBI (tied for second). Also-2016 senior McKena Razenberg was added for 66 runs in 2015 and 180 over her four-year career, while 2014 graduate Tori Sides was added for 77 hits in 2014, 230 during her career and 183 career runs. Stephanie VanderLugt (class of 2013), Katie Dwyer (2009), Alex Hatfield (2005), Megan Rozeveld and Hannah Doorn also were added at least once; Hatfield’s 35 career triples are tied for fifth most. Kalamazoo Christian as a team earned 15 entries, with its 32 triples in 1999 (tied for 10th) most notable. Gjeltema is playing this season at Olivet College, while Razenberg is at Cornerstone, Sides played for Kellogg Community College, Dwyer for Huntington University (Ind.) and Rozeveld at Calvin College.

Volleyball

Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard seniors Jurnee Tipton and Emma Nowak capped outstanding careers in the fall with record book-worthy totals in their final match, a 3-2 Regional Final loss to Adrian. Tipton had 40 kills, which tied for the seventh-most in one match since the beginning of the rally scoring era in 2004-05. Nowak had 63 assists, which tied for fourth-most in that category. Tipton will continue her volleyball career at Howard University.

Frankenmuth setter Lindsey Mertz never made the MHSAA single-season assists list during her four-year varsity career (needing a minimum of 1,200 to do so). But combined, her four seasons of more than 1,000 assists added up to 4,436 – the third-most for a career during the rally scoring era. Mertz will play next season at Hillsdale College.

PHOTO: Vicksburg shortstop Shaidan Knapp prepares to make a throw during last season’s Division 2 Final at Secchia Stadium.

Records Report: Pioneer 1st in Lacrosse

December 7, 2012

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

While we try to keep up with record book submissions all year long, the month of December is a key time for catch-up as fall sports are recently done and spring sports are just getting going before schools take a few weeks off.

Here are some of our most recent submissions, with plenty more updates to come over the next few weeks. Click on each sport to go to that MHSAA record book. 

Boys Lacrosse

  • The boys lacrosse record book is in its infancy. But Ann Arbor Pioneer is the early leader for most goals scored and fewest given up during one season. The Pioneers outscored opponents 213-67 on the way to finishing Division 1 runner-up this spring. They twice scored 20 or more goals, and also shut out two opponents.
  • Two Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central teammates are listed for single-game accomplishments from last season: Jeffrey Osment scored eight goals during an 18-6 win over Romulus on May 5, and Brandon Tata made 20 saves during a 14-4 win over Ypsilanti Lincoln on May 14.

Football

  • J.J. McGrath has built a career comparable to those of the best kickers in MHSAA history. He’s now listed in the record book for three field goals of longer than 50 yards – a 52 yarder last season as a junior, a 57-yarder this season on opening night and a 54-yarder a week later in Macomb Lutheran North’s second game.
  • Greenville kicker Caleb Wolfe registered on the career list with 95 extra points over his four-year varsity career. He made 31 straight at one point, and with a season-high of 47 as a sophomore.
  • Warren Michigan Collegiate’s 2011 team made the team record listings in two categories, including setting the record with 33 interceptions over 12 games. Nine players contributed to that total. The Cougars also scored 532 points while finishing 11-1. 

Softball

  • Beth Michalski drove in seven runs in Warren Fitzgerald’s 29-5 win over Southfield Lathrup on March 28 of this spring. She was 3 for 4 with all three hits being doubles, and scored four runs herself.
  • Lowell’s Morgan Groom struck out the first 10 batters she faced on the way to 17 total in a six-inning game against Hudsonville Unity Christian on April 12, 2011. She also struck out 20 twice in seven-inning games this spring.

Soccer

  • While younger brother Aaron Chatfield broke the MHSAA career goals record this season, older brother Paul also finished his Burt Lake Northern Michigan Christian career with some impressive numbers – 109 goals, 82 assists and 191 points – which all rank in the MHSAA record book. He graduated this spring.

Wrestling

  • Dearborn Heights Annapolis grad Justis Cummins has been added to the 200-win club with a record of 207-30 during his career from 2006-10.

Baseball

  • On May 6, 1999, Owosso senior Andrew Brooks hit two home runs against Durand – both in the seventh inning. He joins a list of 24 who have hit two round-trippers in an inning. 

PHOTO: Ann Arbor Pioneer attack Eric Loveless (right) and midfielder Erik Barroso (22) celebrate a goal during last season's Division 1 Final at Birmingham Seaholm.