Moment: Pendery Caps GRCC Comeback

April 9, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

When Jack Pendery scored 5 minutes and 25 seconds into overtime on March 11, 2016, he finished Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s comeback from a two-goal deficit and sent the Eagles to the Division 3 hockey championship game with a 3-2 win over Chelsea.

The Bulldogs quickly took a 2-0 first-period lead in this Semifinal. But the Cougars scored once in the second period and again in the third to tie the score, and for the game outshot Chelsea 53-24.

“All I heard was a bunch of screaming and roaring,” Pendery said postgame of his winning goal. “I didn’t honestly didn’t see the goal clearly go in, but at that moment I felt relief off my chest.”

Click for Grand Rapids Press coverage – Jack Pendery’s OT goal lifts Grand Rapids Catholic Central past Chelsea, into D3 state championship – and watch the game winner below with coverage from the NFHS Network.

Performance of the Week: Bay City Western's Nash Leonard

December 20, 2024

Nash Leonard headshotNash Leonard ♦ Bay City Western
Senior ♦ Hockey

Leonard, the goalie for the Bay City Wolves cooperative team, had 31 saves during a 2-0 win over Rockford and 27 more saves in a 1-0 shootout victory over Chippewa Valley United during the Bay City Showcase as the Wolves improved to 7-2 this season. Leonard is in his fourth season in net for the Bay City program, which includes students from Bay City Central and Western.

Leonard’s goals-against average hovered at 2.80 per game over his first two seasons, then improved to 2.18 last winter, and he totaled a combined nine shutouts over his first three seasons. His goals-against average this winter has improved to 1.58 after the weekend’s pair of shutouts as he’s been in net for seven of the team’s nine games. Leonard also is a standout golfer and led Bay County in scoring average in that sport as a freshman. He hopes to play either of his sports in college and intends to study finance.  

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MHSAA.com's "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). 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.

Previous 2024-25 honorees

Dec. 11: Blake Cosby, Dundee wrestling - Report
Dec. 4:
Keaton Hendricks, Zeeland West football - Report
Nov. 29:
Kate Simon, East Grand Rapids swimming - Report
Nov. 22:
Ella Kokaly, Essexville Garber softball - Report
Nov. 15:
Caroline Bryan, Grosse Pointe South swimming - Report
Nov. 8:
Kaylie Livingston, Whitmore Lake cross country - Report
Oct. 25:
Oliver Caldwell, Grand Rapids West Catholic tennis - Report
Oct. 18:
Alex Graham, Detroit Cass Tech football - Report
Oct. 11:
Victoria Garces, Midland Dow cross country - Report
Oct. 4:
Asher Clark, Bay City John Glenn soccer - Report
Sept. 26:
Campbell Flynn, Farmington Hills Mercy volleyball - Report
Sept. 19:
TJ Hansen, Freeland cross country - Report
Sept. 12:
Jordan Peters, Grayling soccer - Report
Sept. 6:
Gabe Litzner, Sault Ste. Marie cross country - Report
Aug. 30:
Grace Slocum, Traverse City St. Francis golf - Report

(Photos courtesy of the Bay City Western athletic department.)