Title IX at 50: Meah Bajt's Story

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 6, 2022

Meah Bajt took every opportunity to compete in Spring Lake athletics during her high school career, playing volleyball, basketball and soccer and making significant impacts in all three programs – but especially on the pitch.

Bajt set a school single-season scoring record with 45 goals this spring – including 11 over two District games – on the way to leading the Lakers to a 17-3-1 record and berth in the Division 2 Regional Finals. The all-state forward capped her Spring Lake soccer career with 92 goals over just three seasons. She’s continuing her academic career this fall at Michigan State University, where she’s studying business.

What the opportunity to compete as a female athlete means to Meah Bajt:


"It’s become a big part of my life, just being in sports and just doing them, and without the outlet of doing that I feel like it wouldn’t make life as enjoyable as it is. Letting females experience that stuff just like males did is a great thing to do, and it is a step forward for athletics.

"I’ve been the captain of all three of my sports teams this past year, and a lot of younger people on the team even – just because we have sophomores, juniors, seniors – they’ve come up to me and I’ve always felt like they were comfortable asking questions. And even younger girls in soccer would come up, and I always would try to embrace them because I know when I was that age, how it meant to talk to somebody older and be in that sport. Helping them embrace themselves in a sport is just something that I try to do."

Second Half's weekly Title IX Celebration posts are sponsored by Michigan Army National Guard.

Previous Title IX at 50 Spotlights

Aug. 30: Morgan Brunner's Story - Read
Aug. 23:
Ava Brizard's Story - Read
Aug. 16:
Paige Miller's Story - Read
Aug. 9:
Gracie Olsen's Story - Read
Aug. 2:
Maddy Stern's Story - Read
July 26:
Reese Miller's Story - Read
July 19:
Macy Irelan's Story - Read
July 12:
Bridget Boczar's Story - Read
July 5:
Ella Boose's Story - Read
June 28:
Kaila Jackson's Story - Read
June 23: 
We Celebrate Our Past, We Look Forward to Our Future - Read
June 21: Assistant Directors Have Been Difference Makers - Read
June 14: 
Girls Lacrosse Finals Officials Set Empowering Example - Read
June 7: 
From Gymnastics to Wrestling, Girls Opportunities Continue to Grow - Read
May 31: 
Mumford Sprinter's Magnificent 2006 Final Remains Unmatched - Read

May 24: Scane, Whiteside Alone on 400-Goal, 500-Point Girls Lacrosse Lists - Read
May 17: Over 8 Days in 1988, Pair of Champs Set No. 1 Singles Standard - Read
May 10: 
Portage Central's Tarpley Scores as State's Superstar, U.S. Soccer Hero - Read
May 3: 
Prychitko 'Legend In Her Own Time,' Legend for All Time - Read
April 26: 
Braddock vs. Verdun Still Striding Among All-Time Sprint Matchups - Read
April 19: 
Holmes' Strikeout Record Rarely Approached, May Be Unbreakable - Read
April 12: 
Anticipation High as 45,000 Girls Return to Spring Sports - Read
April 5: 
Regina's Laffey Retiring as Definition of Legendary - Read
March 29: 
Edison's Whitehorn named 2022 Miss Basketball - Read
March 22: 
Carney-Nadeau Sets Girls Hoops Standard with 78-Win Streak - Read
March 15: 
Binder Among Voices Telling Our Story on MHSAA Network - Read
March 8: 
29 Years, Thousands of Cheers - Read
March 1: 
Kearsley Rolls On Among Girls Bowling's Early Successes - Read
Feb. 22: Marquette Ties Record for Swim & Dive Finals Success - Read
Feb. 15: Jaeger's 2004 Winter Run Created Lasting Connection - Read
Feb. 8: Marian's Cicerone to Finish Among All-Time Elite - Read
Feb. 1: WISL Award Honors Builders of State's Girls Sports Tradition - Read
Jan. 25: Decades Later, Edwards' Legend Continues to Grow - Read
Jan. 18: Iron Mountain Completes Championship Climb - Read
Jan. 11: Harrold's Achievement Heralds Growth of Girls Wrestling - Read
Dec. 20: Competitive Cheer Gives Michigan Plenty to Cheer About - Read
Dec. 14: 
Evelyn's Game Had Plenty of Magic - Read
Dec. 7: 
Council Term Ends, But Leinaar Leaves Lasting Impact - Read
Nov. 30: 
Basketball Season Ready to Add to Rich Tradition - Read
Nov. 23: 
Marysville Builds Winning Streak Yet to be Challenged - Read
Nov. 16: Wroubel Has Championed Girls School Sports from Their Start - Read
Nov. 9: Pioneer's Joyce Legendary in Michigan, National Swim History - Read
Nov. 2: Royal Oak's Finch Leading Way on Football Field - Read
Oct. 26: Coach Clegg Sets Championship Standard at Grand Blanc - Read
Oct. 19: Rockford Girls Set Pace, Hundreds After Have Continued to Chase - Read
Oct. 12: 
Bedford Volleyball Pioneer Continues Blazing Record-Setting Trail - Read
Oct. 5: 
Warner Paved Way to Legend Status with Record Rounds - Read
Sept. 28: Taylor Kennedy Gymnasts Earn Fame as 1st Champions - Read
Sept. 21: 
Portage Northern Star Byington Becomes Play-by-Play Pioneer - Read
Sept. 14: 
Guerra/Groat Legacy Continues to Serve St. Philip Well - Read
Sept. 7: 
Best-Ever Conversation Must Include Leland's Glass - Read
Aug. 31: We Will Celebrate Many Who Paved the Way - Read

Performance of the Week: Bloomfield Hills' Ava Badallo

June 23, 2022

Bloomfield Hills soccerAva Badallo ♦ Bloomfield Hills
Soccer ♦ Senior

The Black Hawks’ leading scorer this season ended her career Saturday by helping deliver the most monumental win in program history. Badallo scored the team’s lone goal during regulation in the Division 1 Final against undefeated Northville, then scored the clinching shootout goal as Bloomfield Hills claimed its first Finals championship in girls soccer with a 2-1 victory over the Mustangs. The week also began with a Badallo highlight, as she scored the lone goal of the 1-0 Semifinal win June 14 over Portage Central.

Badallo finished with 17 goals and eight assists this season, and Bloomfield Hills ended 16-2-3 after entering the postseason ranked No. 12 in Division 1. The Black Hawks also defeated 2021 champion Hartland during their championship run and went 12-0-3 over the season’s final two months. Badallo made the Division 1 all-state third team and will continue her career at West Virginia Wesleyan.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Second Half’s "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

2021-22 Honorees

June 17: Ella Boose, Brighton lacrosse - Report
June 10:
Kaila Jackson, Detroit Renaissance track & field - Report
June 3:
Armon Howard, Rochester Adams track & field - Report
May 27:
Brock Porter, Orchard Lake St. Mary's baseball - Report
May 20:
Brady Schultz, Menominee track & field - Report
May 13:
Robert Burns, Flint Powers Catholic golf - Report
May 6:
Bo Lockwood, Hartland lacrosse - Report
April 28:
Nonah Waldron, Oak Park track & field - Report
April 21:
Theryn Hallock, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central soccer - Report
April 14: 
Kaitlyn Pallozzi, Farmington Hills Mercy softball - Report
April 7:
Mason Docks, Williamston basketball - Report
March 24:
Mya Petticord, Ypsilanti Arbor Prep basketball - Report
March 16:
Charley Bayer, East Grand Rapids diving - Report
March 9:
Ja'Marcus Smith, Detroit Mumford wrestling - Report
March 2:
David Schaberg, Holt bowling - Report
Feb. 24:
Adelaide McRoberts, Kingsford swimming - Report
Feb. 17:
Christopher Kavanaugh, Petoskey hockey - Report
Feb. 10:
Ira Jenkins, Whitehall wrestling - Report

Feb. 3: Emma Stewart, Salem gymnastics - Report
Jan. 28:
Tyler Ray, Pinckney swimming - Report
Jan. 21:
Elle Craven, Traverse City Central skiing - Report
Jan. 14:
Nevaeh Williams, Mount Clemens basketball - Report
Dec. 2:
Lucas Dunn, Chelsea football - Report
Nov. 25:
Riley Nugent, Plainwell swimming - Report
Nov. 18:
Harper Murray, Ann Arbor Skyline volleyball - Report
Nov. 11:
Abby VanderKooi, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian cross country - Report
Nov. 4:
Arianne Olson, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Oct. 28:
Jack Guggemos, Okemos soccer - Report
Oct. 21:
Sachiv Kumar, Northville tennis - Report
Oct. 14:
Kate Brody, Grand Blanc golf - Report
Oct. 7:
Lilly Nelson, Negaunee tennis - Report
Sept. 30:
Stella Chapman, Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming - Report
Sept. 23:
Riley Hough, Hartland cross country - Report
Sept. 16:
Josie Bloom, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Report

PHOTO Bloomfield Hills' Ava Badallo (17) celebrates with her teammates after scoring the Division 1 title-clinching penalty kick at DeMartin Stadium. (Photo courtesy of Ava Badallo.)