Through the Years: Lacrosse 2005-2015
July 22, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The MHSAA Girls and Boys Lacrosse Finals honored their 12th series of champions last month as four of the most successful programs in the sports' young histories added to their respective legacies.
Today's "Through the Years" takes a look at some of the prevailing stories that have emerged in just more than a decade of these sports having MHSAA sponsorship.
This feature is from the spring issue of benchmarks, built and written by Rob Kaminski. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a link to our previous installments. We'll look at more MHSAA postseason events every Tuesday and Friday throughout this summer and fall.
Previous installments
July 19: Boys/Girls Tennis - Read
July 15: Boys/Girls Golf - Read
July 12: Girls Soccer - Read
July 8: Boys Track & Field - Read
July 5: Girls Track & Field - Read
July 1: Baseball - Read
June 28: Softball - Read
Moment: 'Back-to-Back Mek' Paces Rams
May 26, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Vander Molen sisters have been constants over Rockford’s record string of seven consecutive Division 1 girls lacrosse championships.
The 2016 Final was the last high school game for oldest sister Alexandra. And middle sister Mekenzie made sure her mentor finished her time with the Rams as a four-time champion.
Mekenzie Vander Molen found the net with 5:46 and 4:50 to play against Birmingham United to give Rockford its first lead as the Rams scored the game’s final four goals for a 12-9 title-clinching victory.
“It meant a lot for me to be on the same team as my sister for this last championship for her,” Mekenzie Vander Molen said that day. “I’ve learned almost everything from my older sister. I’ve learned how to take better shots, better passes, certain things in certain situations.
“She said, ‘You’ve played a very good game. I’m very proud of you.’”
While Alexandra was held to just one goal that day, Mekenzie scored three and youngest sister Karrington also scored once. All three eventually graduated as four-time champions.
Click for coverage of the 2016 championship game from Second Half and watch below for the Rams’ tying and go-ahead goals from the NFHS Network.