East Kentwood Friends Continuing to Excel as NCAA Champ, Pro Soccer Keeper
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
August 8, 2022
Maia Perez and Gabriela Leon saw it coming.
In fact, the two 2017 East Kentwood all-staters each predicted remarkable post-high school success for each other long before graduation.
Perez was a four-year letterwinner as a soccer goalkeeper who led the Falcons to the Division 1 Semifinals as a sophomore and now plays professionally in Los Angeles. Leon, an all-state pole vaulter in high school, recently became University of Louisville's first NCAA champion in that event.
The two say the success doesn't come as a surprise to either, that part of that success can be explained because they continually pushed each other athletically at East Kentwood.
"Obviously there are a lot of good athletes at East Kentwood, and she was one of those amazing athletes," Perez said of Leon. "When she accomplished something, I wanted to do something big, too. I was all-state in soccer, she was all-state in track, and it was nice to have someone push you, even on days when you didn't feel like being pushed."
Leon credits Perez for helping her grasp the difference between toiling as an ordinary athlete and rising to an elite status as early as the ninth grade.
"When you see high-caliber athletes in the state finals, I think you see the struggles that others don't see," Leon said. "I saw what she was doing, and I learned from that. I learned, and I think she did too, that you have to work hard to be good, to achieve your goals. There is definitely mutual respect between us."
The two met as freshmen and quickly became friends. They originally had soccer in common as both played junior varsity as freshmen before Perez was promoted to varsity later that spring. The teammates began hanging out together off the field, be it at the beach or while taking the school's advanced physical education class together. By the time they were sophomores, however, it had become apparent that Perez's future – despite being a good basketball player – would remain in soccer, while Leon – who had also lettered in volleyball and cross country – narrowed her focus to track.
Both excelled after leaving East Kentwood. Leon had earned her first top-eight MHSAA Finals places as a sophomore, and as a senior placed fourth in pole vault, third in long jump and ran on the fourth-place 400 relay and third-place 1,600 relay as East Kentwood finished third in Lower Peninsula Division 1. Her high school personal records were 13 feet in pole vault and 18-11 in long jump (with a wind-aided 19-7). She broke Louisville's indoor and outdoor records in the pole vault as a sophomore and never looked back. She won the 2022 NCAA outdoor championship in June with a jump of 15-feet, one inch (4.6 meters) while becoming just the fourth collegian ever to amass three clearances over 4.6 meters.
Perez was a three-time Ottawa-Kent Conference Red soccer pick in high school who helped the Falcons in 2015 to their best postseason finish, when they lost to 1-0 in a Semifinal to eventual Division 1 champ Saline. She went on to play at University of Hartford after attracting interest from other programs including Western Michigan, Coastal Carolina and Pittsburgh. She wound up playing every minute of all 37 of her starts as a sophomore and junior while missing just 45 minutes over 19 games as a freshman. COVID-19 wiped out the program's season when Perez was a senior. Still, she is eighth on the school's all-time saves list with 206 while ranking 10th in shutouts with 12.
Following college, Perez was signed by the Los Angeles-based Angel City FC of the National Women’s Soccer League. While she wasn't drafted by any NWSL club, Perez impressed coaches enough during a tryout to land a spot on the team's "Discovery List" as the youngest of three goalkeepers.
"Things have been going real well for me there," Perez said. "I feel like I've improved a ton."
While Perez credits Leon with pushing her as an athlete, she said the two didn't necessarily dwell on what they accomplished in high school. They did, however, compare notes on the similarities it took for both to succeed, both physically and mentally.
"We didn't necessarily talk about (honors) a lot," Perez said. "We both knew what each other accomplished, and I don't think we need to talk about it. But I just knew one day she would be really good in track."
Leon said the trait which stuck out about Perez in high school was her competitive drive. She hated to lose, Leon said.
"She was always a very impressive athlete," Leon noted. "She always had (success) in her because she was a real hard worker. Going into high school you could see her work ethic. We had a mutual friendship, and I saw what a work ethic and being humble could do for you."
As for herself, Leon, like many athletes, explored playing many sports. But she always came back to track.
"I always wanted to be the best athlete I could be," she said. "I was never just satisfied with just doing something. I always had this deep desire to perform to the best of my ability."
Perez remembers the first sport which interested her was skateboarding. In fact, the first time Perez met then-East Kentwood coach John Conlon, she told him she was only marginally interested in soccer. Conlon, who led East Kentwood’s girls and boys programs to a combined 654 wins and the boys varsity to five Division 1 championships, quickly made a convert of Perez.
"It's funny how things work out," Perez said. "I was looking for something that I could really be a part of, and now it's my job and I'm so happy I can say I'm getting paid for something I really like."
2021-22 Made in Michigan
Aug. 3: 3-Time Finals Champ Cherishes Memories, Considering Golf Future - Read
Aug. 1: Lessons Learned on Track Have Jibowu's Business Surging to Quick Success - Read
July 28: Running Set Life's Stage for Grosse Pointe South's Record-Setting Meier Sisters - Read
July 25: 2005 Miss Basketball DeHaan Cherishing Newest Title: 1st-Time Mom - Read
July 21: Championship Memories Still Resonate with St. Thomas Star Lillard - Read
July 14: Portage Central Champ Rolls to Vanderbilt, Writing Next Chapter in Alabama - Read
July 12: Coaching Couple Passing On Knowledge, Providing Opportunities for Frankfort Wrestlers - Read
June 30: Hrynewich's Star Continuing to Rise with Olympic, Pro Sports Arrivals - Read
PHOTOS (Top) Clockwise from left, Gabriela Leon competes for the East Kentwood and University of Louisville track & field teams, and Maia Perez plays soccer for East Kentwood and trains for the NWSL's Angel City FC. (Middle) Leon holds up her NCAA championship trophy in June. (Below) Perez is one of three keepers for Angel City FC. [Photos courtesy of East Kentwood's athletic department (2017 soccer), Run Michigan (2017 track & field), the Louisville athletic department (2022 track & field) and Will Navarro/Angel City FC (2022 soccer).]
Preview: Returning Champs Lined Up to Lead Again at LP Girls Track & Field Finals
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 30, 2024
The power programs that led the way during the 2023 Lower Peninsula Girls Track & Field Finals could be the teams to chase again during this weekend’s meets across the Grand Rapids area.
Buckley in Division 4 and Hart in Division 3 return significant point scorers from last year’s respective title runs, and Oak Park and Detroit Renaissance again look like strong pacesetters in Division 1.
Division 2 might be the most contested meet of the day in the Lower Peninsula – but it’s impossible to count out two-time reigning champion East Grand Rapids.
All four LP Finals will begin with pole vault and long jump beginning at 9 a.m., followed by race semifinals and the 3,200 relay at 10 a.m. and the rest of the running finals starting at noon. Tickets cost $11 and are available digitally only via GoFan.
MHSAA.tv will live-stream all four meets beginning at 10 a.m., viewable with subscription. Check out the Girls Track & Field page for meet information for all four sites and lists of all qualifiers. Those described as "seeded" below have received those seeds based on Regional performances.
Below is a glance at team contenders and individuals to watch in all four divisions:
LP Division 1 at East Kentwood
Team forecast: Oak Park or Detroit Renaissance has won the last five LPD1 team titles, with the other finishing runner-up the last four seasons (not counting COVID-canceled 2020). A year ago it was Oak Park first and Renaissance second, and the Knights have first or second seeds (or both) in five individual races and three relays this weekend. Renaissance has similarly-seeded contenders in three individual races and three relays. Holland West Ottawa is seeking its first team championship and will need some middle-seeded entries to climb but does have Helen Sachs seeded first in both distance races and as part of the top-seeded 3,200 relay.
Brooke Bowers, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central senior – The reigning pole vault champion is top-seeded in that event at 13-0, nine inches higher than her Finals-winning height a year ago, and she’ll also run on the fifth-seeded 400 relay.
Milena Chevallier, Farmington Hills Mercy senior – She set the LPD1 Finals record at 5-foot-11 last year and was just a quarter-inch off tying the all-Finals all-time best height. She’ll also long jump.
Jayla Dace, Detroit Renaissance junior – She was first in the 100, third in the 200 and ran on two winning relays in 2023, and returns this weekend at the top seed in the 100 (12.05), one of several contenders in the 200 and running on the top-seeded 400 relay (47.19) and second-seeded 800 relay (1:40.41).
Rachel Forsyth, Ann Arbor Pioneer senior – The fastest champion in Michigan girls cross country history is looking to add to her 800 and 1,600 titles last season and 3,200 relay titles last year and in 2021. She’s seeded first in the 800 (2:11.26), second in the 1,600 (4:54.92) and 3,200 (10:35.05) and listed as likely to run on the second-seeded 3,200 relay (9:09.35).
Keyanna O’Tey, Sturgis junior – She won the 100 and 200 last season in LPD2, the 100 in a time that would’ve won LPD1 as well, and she’s top-seeded this weekend in this division in the 200 (24.77) and second-seeded in the 100 (12.10) while set to run on both sprint relays as well.
Morgan Roundtree, Oak Park senior – The 2022 champion in 300 hurdles finished second in that race last season and third in the 100 hurdles, but is seeded first the latter (14.08), second in the 300 (43.12) and will run on the top-seeded 800 relay (1:38.37) and second-seeded 400 relay (47.95).
Abigail Russell, Allen Park senior – She’s won the discus the last two seasons and also won shot put as a sophomore, and she enters this weekend as the top seed in both at 151-10 and 47-3½, respectively.
Kamryn Tatum, West Bloomfield sophomore – She made her Finals debut by winning the 200 and 400, and she’ll run both again plus on 400 and 800 relays.
LP Division 2 at Hamilton
Team forecast: East Grand Rapids has won the last two LPD2 Finals championships, last season followed by Sturgis, which is competing in Division 1 this weekend. The Pioneers’ strength has been in distance races, and they have possibilities again. But a couple of teams strong in the sprints could be leading the way this time. Romulus Summit Academy is seeking its first team championship and has the top-seeded 400 and 800 relays and contenders in the individual 100 and 200. Dearborn Divine Child last won a Finals in 2013 and has potential scorers in at least five individual races, plus the top-seeded 1,600 relay and two more seeded fourth or higher. Petosky is another to watch with competitors all over the meet.
Janae Hudson, Marysville senior – The reigning champion in the shot put and fourth-place finisher in discus is top-seeded in discus (146-10) by nearly nine feet and second-seeded in shot (43-3) with a toss six inches farther than last year’s winner.
Kaitlyn Molnar, Grosse Ile senior – Last season’s long jump champion is coming off Regional titles in that event and 300 hurdles.
Drew Muller, East Grand Rapids senior – She’s won the 1,600 the last two seasons and was the LPD2 cross country champion in 2022, and enters this weekend set to run the 1,600 and 800 and on two top-five seeded relays.
Allison Shelton, Ortonville Brandon senior – Last season’s pole vault champion at 12 foot is one of three coming into this meet after winning their Regionals at 11-3, joined by Cadillac’s Madisyn Lundquist and Plainwell’s Ava Collier.
Natalie VanOtteren, Grand Rapids Christian senior – The 2023 winner in the 3,200 and fifth-place finisher in the 1,600 is set to run both and as part of the 3,200 relay.
LP Division 3 at Kent City
Team forecast: Even with last season’s 3,200 winner Jessica Jazwinski out of the lineup this weekend, two-time reigning champion Hart may be the team favorite again. Contenders in two sprints and the two distance races plus the top-seeded 400 relay (50.51) and possible scorers in three field events should keep the Pirates in the mix. Jackson Lumen Christi was fifth last season and is seeking a first team title, and has the top-seeded 1,600 relay (4:09.36) and 3,200 relay (9:33.68) plus the favorite in the 800 among possible scorers throughout the distance portion of the meet. Traverse City St. Francis is seeking its first team title since 2013 and has competitors all over the meet to bolster the top-seeded 800 relay (1:47.11).
Addison Hovey, Hart junior – She won the high jump and was third in the 100 last year, and could supply many more points this time as the top seed in the 100 (12.4) and 200 (25.51) and part of the top-seeded 400 relay (50.51) as well as a strong contender again in her field event.
Destiny McDaniels, Bath junior – She’s looking to follow up last year’s 100 hurdles win and third place in long jump, and is a top-seven seeded contender in both.
Madison Osterberg, Jackson Lumen Christi senior – The reigning champion in the 1,600 also was second in the 800 and fifth in the 3,200 last season, and ran on the runner-up 3,200 relay. She’ll be a big part of any Titans team title pursuit as the top seed in the 800 (2:13.20), second seed in the 1,600 (5:02.97) and running on the top-seeded 1,600 relay (4:09.36) and 3,200 relay (9:33.68).
Emily Peters, Olivet sophomore – She won the 300 hurdles and was part of the winning 1,600 relay as a freshman, and finished seventh in the 100 hurdles as well, and she’ll enter this weekend top-seeded in the 300 (46.10), a potential placer again in the 100 hurdles and running on two top-six seeded relays.
Emmry Ross, Onsted junior – Her 400 and 800 wins last year supplied 20 of Onsted’s eighth-place 24 points, and as the team’s lone qualifier this spring she could make a solo run at an even higher team finish with the top seed in the 400 (56.62) and 1,600 (4:58.73), second seed in the 800 (2:13.79) and ninth seed in the 3,200.
LP Division 4 at Hudsonville Baldwin
Team forecast: Reigning champion Buckley won last season with 52 points, and the two runners who combined for 41 of those are back for the repeat pursuit. Portland St. Patrick was only three points back and has three top-four seeded relays and four individual racer entries seeded fourth or higher. Fowler was fourth last season and might be the strongest all-around hopeful with contenders in every race and relay plus two field events. Hillsdale Academy will look to move up from fifth last season with plenty of power in the distance races and all four relays seeded fourth or higher.
Molly Brown, Addison junior – Last season’s 100 hurdles champion and runner-up in the 100 dash and 300 hurdles is the top seed in the 100 hurdles (14.86) and the 100 dash (12.6) and third-seeded in the 200 (26.39) and 300 hurdles (47.04).
Aiden Harrand, Buckley senior – She’s won six track and two cross country championships total, including in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 last spring. She’s top-seeded this weekend in the 400 (59.10) and second-seeded in the 800 (2:21.37) and 1,600 (5:09.42), the latter of which she’ll be trying to win for the fourth time.
Olivia Findlay, Marlette senior – The reigning high jump title winner at 5-4 jumped that at the Regional to receive the top seed this weekend and also could contend in long jump and the 100 hurdles.
Brooklyn Frazee, Buckley sophomore – She won the 100, was second in the 200 and sixth in the 400 as a freshman, and returns this weekend as the second seed in the 100 (12.67), fourth seed in the 200 and running the 400 again and competing in long jump unless she enters one or more qualifying relays.
Rebecca Moeller, Deckerville junior – She won the pole vault last season at 10-6 and is one of four who won their Regionals at 10-0 to tie for the top seed this time. She’ll also run both hurdles races and the 200.
Rylee Scheurer, Portland St. Patrick senior – The reigning champion in the 200 and third-place finisher in the 100 is top-seeded in the 200 (26.11), third-seeded in the 100 (12.74) and part of the top-seeded 800 relay (1:46.75) and third-seeded 400 relay (51.58).
PHOTO Oak Park’s Kelis Hunter-Young begins her leg of the 1,600 relay during last season’s LP Division 1 Finals. (Photo by Carter Sherline/RunMichigan.com.)