Tales of Teams, Trophies & Trinkets - Vol 2
By
Ron Pesch
MHSAA historian
February 9, 2017
By Ron Pesch
Special for Second Half
A picture may be worth a thousand words – but often, we can learn as much from a traveling trophy, game ticket, and even an old megaphone.
Michigan’s high school sports history is more than a century old and filled with legends passed on of games, teams and athletes and the roles they played as our communities rolled forward toward present day. Following up last year’s “Tales of Teams, Trophies & Trinkets,” we present a second chapter highlighting artifacts that tell some of those stories.
|
1909 |
Saginaw vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill |
Football Trophy |
This bronzed football was the original used in the 1909 Thanksgiving Day contest played between Saginaw High and Saginaw Arthur Hill, and won by Saginaw, 5-0 at Burkart Park. In 1948, the ball was stylized into a trophy by the Letterman’s Associations of the rival schools, designed to travel between schools as the reward for winning the annual contest. When the Lumberjacks of Arthur Hill ripped off 24 straight victories beginning in 1971 (the teams played twice in 1974), ownership of the trophy was mostly forgotten. When talk of closing Saginaw High School mounted, the trophy was placed on display at Saginaw’s Castle Museum, then donated to the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame.
According to Jeffrey Cottrell, the multi-media specialist at the Historical Society of Saginaw County, when plans to close Saginaw High did not materialize, “it was decided amongst the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame and the Arthur Hill Letterwinners Association that it was time to put it back into use. This past fall, the Sports Hall of Fame awarded the trophy to Saginaw High when they beat Arthur Hill 40-0.”
Going forward, the Letterman's Trophy will continue to be presented to the winner of the football game between the Trojans and the Lumberjacks.
|
1921 |
Detroit Cass Tech vs. Flint Central |
Football Program |
A crowd of 2,500 was on hand for this contest as Detroit Cass Tech downed Flint Central, 34-20, in an aerial battle between the squads. The Detroit Free Press arraigned for a special interurban run, with special railcars earmarked for Cass Tech students interested in attending the Saturday game at Flint. Between 200 to 300 made the trip to cheer their team to victory.
Flint Central completed 14 of 34 passes for 176 yards, but was intercepted on six occasions. Cass Tech arms were accurate on only 7 of 24 attempts for 160 yards, with four interceptions, but two completions went for touchdowns of 18 yards and 50 yards. A third pass of 35 yards helped set up the visitor’s first score. Bruno Murkobred, Cass Tech’s speedy quarterback, was the star of the contest, scoring three of his team’s five touchdowns.
|
1939 |
Kalamazoo Central vs. Battle Creek Central |
Basketball Program |
This tattered memento, from a scrapbook kept by historian Dick Kishpaugh, illustrates the modest design of a high school basketball program back in 1939. Likely created by the high school print shop, this single sheet, printed specifically for distribution at the game, features autographs gathered by its owner. Wes Clark, one of the names captured on the cover, led Battle Creek Central with 10 points, including a pair of buckets in the final minute to secure a 27-26 win by the Bearcats.
Newspaper reports from the time indicate that halftime of the contest would feature “a table tennis exhibition between Helen Van Dyke of Flint, four-time state champion, and Floyd Painter, Battle Creek champion.” Miss Van Dyke was a sophomore at Olivet College at the time.
|
1940 |
Lansing Eastern vs. Lansing Central |
Football Program |
This is the program cover from the 13th annual Football Classic between the Quakers of Eastern and the Big Reds of Central. Fans were requested to “refrain from making unnecessary noise as they drive away from the stadium … due to the nearness of Sparrow Hospital.”
At the time of the 1940 contest, Lansing Central led the series with six wins against five defeats. The series featured a single tie, a 6-6 result in 1935.
Eastern’s 1940 squad, coached by Walter Graff, was able to knot the series at six wins apiece with a thrilling 7- 6 victory over the crosstown rivals, coached by Al Bovard.
The 16-page document was hand set and printed by the Eastern and Central High School Vocational Printing Classes, and included rosters, messages from the two school principals and athletic directors, as well as comments from each member of the coaching staffs, team captains, student council presidents and numerous team members from each school with their views on the game. Of course there is a photograph of each high school football team, but also photos of each band, their directors, and a list of the band members for both Eastern and Central. Finally, there are photos of the Eastern and Central Yell Leaders, nine for the Quakers and six for the Big Reds.
It is a true work of art.
|
1950 |
Central Michigan College Relays |
Track Medal |
More than 2,300 athletes from 97 high schools descended upon Mt. Pleasant for the Tenth Annual Central Michigan Relays. Ecorse in Class B and Flint School for the Deaf in Class D earned team titles on Friday, May 5th while on Saturday, the 6th, Flint Northern and Milan won Class A and Class C, respectively. Six event records fell during the two-day event, three in the broad jump.
This medal, honoring a member of the winning Class C sprint relay team, was awarded at the event. The winning team, and therefore, the name of the individual awarded the medal, remain a mystery.
|
1962 |
Saginaw Sacred Heart |
Megaphone |
As at the majority of schools across the state at the time, athletic competition against other schools was not an option for Gloria Groll and her female classmates during her days as a student at Saginaw Holy Rosary High School. So, from the fall of 1959 until her graduation with 27 other students in the spring of 1962, she was a cheerleader for the Greyhounds. This beautiful megaphone, donated by Groll to the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame, is a memento from those times.
Holy Rosary was one of nine Catholic high schools operating in the Saginaw area in the 1950s and 1960s. Population shifts from the cities to the suburbs over the coming years would impact enrollment figures at schools nationally. In Saginaw, the opening of the Buena Vista School District in 1956 directly impacted Holy Rosary. In 1970 the school closed. A year later only three schools – SS Peter and Paul, St. Mary and Saginaw St. Stephen – remained. In 1984, those schools were consolidated to form Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central.
|
1963 & 1930 |
Grosse Pointe St. Paul |
League Trophies |
On the left, we find the trophy awarded to Grosse Pointe St. Paul's after winning the 1963 city championship. Bob Martin, a 6-foot-6 junior who earned first division all-Catholic honors, scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Lakers to a 55-46 upset-victory over Detroit Pershing. The game was played at University of Detroit Memorial before 6,979 spectators. It was the first time since 1958 that the Catholic League won the annual matchup with the champions of the Public School League.
To the right is the trophy awarded to St. Paul for winning the first golf tournament of the South Michigan Catholic High School League. The school's four golfers shot 710 over 36 holes on the day, 69 fewer strokes than second-place Detroit St. Rose. Played at Clinton Valley, the event saw Bill Beaupre win individual honors with a total of 158, including 76 in the morning. His cousin and teammate, Harold Beaupre, finished second with 169, while Peter Bononis of Detroit Holy Name was third with 171 strokes.
|
1965 |
Fennville vs. Kalamazoo Hackett |
Ticket Stub |
This ticket stub from a doubleheader hosted at Western Michigan University’s Read Fieldhouse on February 18, 1965 was the first chance for many to witness lightning in a bottle. A capacity-plus crowd of 9,100 fans slid through the gate to watch a rumor.
The antics of 5-foot-7½ guard Richie Jordan had been talked about around the Kalamazoo area, but few had actually seen him play. His skills were on full display on this Thursday night, as he netted a fieldhouse scoring record with 49 points in a come-from-behind 76-72 win over a much taller team from Kalamazoo Hackett. Jordan’s output during the evening’s second game eclipsed the 45 points Manny Newsome scored for Western Michigan University against Toledo, just over a year before.
The evening hadn’t started well. According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, “Jordan hit only six of his 13 field shots in the first half and threw the ball away eight times. Trailing Hackett by 17 points, 50-33, with two minutes to play in the third quarter, the Blackhawks were able to cut the deficit to 13, 60-47 as the teams entered the final frame.
Quickly, everyone in the fieldhouse knew who was getting the ball during the comeback attempt. Jordan grabbed control; with his drives for layups and “softly-arched” jump shots against intense pressure, he hit seven of nine field goals, wowing the crowd. With 2:36 to play, Jordan nailed a pair of free throws to tie the game at 72 all. Then, with 57 seconds left, the “Fennville Flash” nailed the go-ahead basket, followed by two insurance free throws to seal the win. For many, his 24 points in the fourth quarter sealed his journey from rumor to legend and, no doubt, inspired the single-sentence first paragraph of the next morning’s coverage in the Gazette.
“Yes, there is a Richie Jordan!”
(P.S. – Kalamazoo Central upset eighth-ranked Lansing Sexton, 67-57, in the evening’s opening contest).
Ron Pesch has taken an active role in researching the history of MHSAA events since 1985 and began writing for MHSAA Finals programs in 1986, adding additional features and "flashbacks" in 1992. He inherited the title of MHSAA historian from the late Dick Kishpaugh following the 1993-94 school year, and resides in Muskegon. Contact him at [email protected] with ideas for historical articles.
PHOTO: Fennville's Richie Jordan pulls up for a jumper, showing off the form that's become iconic when recalling the high school phenom. (Photos of Letterman's Trophy and Megaphone were provided by Jeffery Cottrell, and photo of Grosse Pointe trophies was provided by Bill Roose.)
Preview: Kellogg Arena to Set Stage Again for 16 Historic Opportunities
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 20, 2024
An opportunity to play this Finals weekend at Kellogg Arena, much less win a championship, will be historic for all 16 volleyball teams taking the court.
But there are a few storylines that especially pop out as we head into Thursday’s first matches.
In Division 4, Clarkston Everest Collegiate is playing for a repeat – and to become the first undefeated champion since Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard in Class B in 2015.
In Division 3, all four semifinalists are back from a year ago – but this time the bracket features a rematch of last year’s title decider, with reigning champion Kalamazoo Christian taking on Traverse City St. Francis.
In Division 2, two teams are making their first trips to the Semifinals, and we are guaranteed a first-time champion – in fact, out of 16 teams total over the four divisions, 10 are playing for a first Finals title this weekend. Among those as well is Northville in Division 1, which finished runner-up two seasons ago.
Action begins Thursday with Division 1 and 4 Semifinals, with Divisions 3 and 2 on Friday and all four title matches Saturday. Tickets cost $11 for both rounds, and one ticket is good for all four matches that day. All 12 matches also will be broadcast on MHSAA.tv. Find more information, including how to purchase tickets, on the Volleyball page.
This weekend’s schedule:
Division 1 – Thursday
Bloomfield Hills Marian vs. Northville, 4:30 p.m.
Rockford vs. Fenton, 6:30 p.m.
Division 2 - Friday
Tecumseh vs. Essexville Garber, 4:30 p.m.
Battle Creek Harper Creek vs. Detroit Country Day, 6:30 p.m.
Division 3 – Friday
Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central vs. Cass City, Noon
Traverse City St. Francis vs. Kalamazoo Christian, 2 p.m.
Division 4 – Thursday
Clarkston Everest Collegiate vs. Hancock, Noon
St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic vs. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, 2 p.m.
Finals – Saturday
Division 1, Noon
Division 2, 4:30 p.m.
Division 3, 2:30 p.m.
Division 4, 10 a.m.
Below is a glance at contenders in each division. (Statistics are through Regional Finals.)
Division 1
BLOOMFIELD HILLS MARIAN
Record/rank: 46-7, No. 4
Michigan Power Rating: No. 5
Coach: Mayssa Cook, seventh season (315-41-2)
League finish: Second in Catholic High School League Central
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), six runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Allie Davison, 5-11 jr. S/RS (948 assists, 240 digs); Sophia Smith, 6-2 soph. RS (266 kills, 67 blocks, 207 digs); Isabelle Busignani, 6-1 sr. OH (548 kills, .304 hitting %, 276 digs).
Finals forecast: After winning three straight Division 1 championships from 2020-22, Marian was stopped by rival Farmington Hills Mercy in the Quarterfinals last year – but has returned to Battle Creek with wins over No. 5 Clarkston and No. 7 Utica Eisenhower among others during this run. The win over Eisenhower avenged a pair of regular-season losses, and the other defeats also all came against top-10 teams in Division 1 – as did four regular-season wins. Busignani made the all-state first team last season, and sophomore outside hitter Calli LeFevre (172 kills) made the third team. Busignani has committed to continue at Cincinnati and was a candidate for the Miss Volleyball Award.
FENTON
Record/rank: 37-4, honorable mention
Michigan Power Rating: No. 8
Coach: Jenna Long, fifth season (137-42-9)
League finish: First in Flint Metro League Stripes and overall
Championship history: Three Class B runner-up finishes (most recent 1992).
Players to watch: Eva Long, 5-11 jr. S (784 assists, 205 kills, .365 hitting %, 238 digs); Megan Gornick, 6-1 sr. MH (222 kills, .439 hitting %, 89 blocks); Anna Logan, 5-8 sr. OH (269 kills).
Finals forecast: Fenton will play in its first Semifinal since 2016 coming off a repeat league title and first District and Regional championships under Jenna Long’s leadership. The Tigers’ only losses this fall were to Mercy, Northville twice and Country Day, and Fenton otherwise has given up only five more sets all season. One of several sweeps came over honorable mention Brighton in the District Final. Eva Long earned an all-state honorable mention last season. Junior middle Marley Pihlstrom (191 kills, 54 blocks) is another key contributor at the net.
NORTHVILLE
Record/rank: 39-2, No. 2
Michigan Power Rating: No. 2
Coach: Sarah Lindstrom, fourth season (182-14)
League finish: First in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West and overall
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2022.
Players to watch: Molly Reck, 6-0 sr. OH (9.2 kills per game, .327 hitting %, 2.1 aces per game, 7.0 digs per game); Ella Craggs, 5-10 sr. S (23.6 assists per game, .387 hitting %, 8.4 digs per game); Mallory Reck, 6-0 sr. OH (10 kills per game, 7.7 digs per game).
Finals forecast: Northville’s run over the last four seasons has included league, District and Regional titles all four years, and Craggs set for the 2022 runner-up team while the Reck twins were contributors and now-junior libero Giselle Burlingame also saw the floor. Craggs made the all-state first team last season and was a Miss Volleyball Award candidate, and Molly Reck earned an all-state honorable mention in 2023. Molly Reck signed with Oakland, Mallory Reck signed with Marist (N.Y.), and Craggs will continue at Illinois State. Northville has lost only nine sets all season and eliminated top-ranked Mercy in the Regional Semifinal, with the lone losses to No. 5 Clarkston and No. 8 Jenison.
ROCKFORD
Record/rank: 39-9, No. 6
Michigan Power Rating: No. 3
Coach: Kelly Delacher, 20th season (769-321-15)
League finish: First in Ottawa-Kent Conference Red
Championship history: Class A champion 2011, two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Mallory Wandel, 6-1 soph OH (493 kills, 224 digs); Isabella Delacher, 5-9 jr. S (922 assists, 231 digs, 117 kills); Olivia Hosford, 6-0 j. OH (464 kills, 386 digs).
Finals forecast: After winning its third Regional title in four seasons, Rockford is back at Battle Creek for the first time since finishing Division 1 runner-up in 2018. The Rams defeated No. 3 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, No. 8 Jenison, No. 10 Grand Rapids Northview and honorable mention Traverse City Central over their last four matches to advance – with the Jenison win avenging a pair of regular-season losses. Seven of Rockford’s nine defeats came to top-10 teams in Division 1, and an eighth came to a top-10 team in Division 2. Hosford made the all-state second team last season.
Division 2
BATTLE CREEK HARPER CREEK
Record/rank: 52-4, No. 3
Michigan Power Rating: No. 2
Coach: Terra King, 19th season (563-385-80)
League finish: First in Interstate 8 Activities Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Cassidy Pratley, 6-1 sr. MB (719 kills, .392 hitting %, 110 blocks, 206 digs); Taegen Anderson, 5-9 jr. S (1,391 assists, 72 aces); Camille Robinson, 5-9 soph. OH (500 kills, 70 aces, 325 digs).
Finals forecast: After playing in Division 1 the last two seasons – and winning a District title a year ago – Harper Creek moved back into Division 2 this fall and advanced to its first Semifinals since 2015. Pratley made the Division 1 all-state third team last season and was a Miss Volleyball Award candidate this fall, and she has signed with Western Michigan. The Beavers defeated No. 6 Grand Rapids South Christian on Tuesday to reach this weekend, and their only losses were to Division 1 teams – and Harper Creek also owns wins over No. 8 Lake Odessa Lakewood, No. 9 Hudsonville Unity Christian and Division 1 No. 8 Jenison.
DETROIT COUNTRY DAY
Record/rank: 34-1, No. 2
Michigan Power Rating: No. 6
Coach: Kim Lockhart, 10th season (254-101-16)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Elise Heimstra, 6-0 jr. OH (320 kills, .308 hitting %, 86 aces, 226 digs); Olivia Grenadier, 6-1 sr. MH (378 kills, .478 hitting %, 245 digs); Payton Woodruff, 5-8 fr. S (890 assists).
Finals forecast: After winning its first Regional title in this sport three years ago, Country Day is making its first trip to the Semifinals and has been considered among championship favorites all season. The Yellowjackets defeated No. 4 North Branch and honorable mentions Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Richmond during this tournament run, and their only loss came to Mercy during a season-opening quad. Grenadier earned an all-state honorable mention last season and was a Miss Volleyball Award candidate, and she’s signed with Colorado.
ESSEXVILLE GARBER
Record/rank: 43-12-2, honorable mention
Michigan Power Rating: No. 17
Coach: Kim Kokaly, 11th season (383-162-30)
League finish: Third in Tri-Valley Conference Red
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Audrey Ball, 5-11 sr. MB (492 kills, 93 blocks, 583 digs); Ella Kokaly, 5-6 jr. S (1,233 assists, 91 aces, 326 digs); Jeana Lenhard, 6-0 soph. OH (699 kills, .311 hitting %, 75 aces, 351 digs).
Finals forecast: Garber emerged from a league that included Division 2 honorable mentions Freeland and Frankenmuth, later defeated Freeland in a District Final and Tuesday swept honorable mention Fruitport to earn a trip to the Semifinals for the first time. The Dukes have won 12 straight matches and are 17-2-1 since the start of October. Lenhard made the all-state third team last season and adds a sophomore to a starting lineup with two seniors and one player from all four classes. Senior libero Rylee Jatczak (470 digs) is another important defender.
TECUMSEH
Record/rank: 56-2-1, No. 7
Michigan Power Rating: No. 5
Coach: Morgan Skelton, fourth season (153-47-9)
League finish: First in Southeastern Conference White
Championship history: Class B runner-up 2011.
Players to watch: Maddy Vanblack, 5-11 jr. OH/DS (337 kills, 68 aces, 309 digs); Lily Gnodtke, 5-7 jr. S (1,186 assists); Emma Eldred 5-11 jr. OH/MB (524 kills, 250 digs).
Finals forecast: Tecumseh won a third-straight league championship this season before beginning the program’s longest tournament run since the 2011 runner-up finish. The only losses this fall came to Dexter and Division 3 top-ranked Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, and the former was avenged a week later. The starting lineup includes five juniors, with the lone senior middle Lauren Kilbarger (201 kills, 83 blocks). Senior Alli Zajac – who has signed to play basketball at Eastern Michigan – adds another 6-2 presence in the middle and entering the week had added 300 kills and 105 blocks.
Division 3
CASS CITY
Record/rank: 37-9-1, No. 5
Michigan Power Rating: No. 8
Coach: Amy Cuthrell, ninth season (209-64-15)
League finish: First in Big Thumb Conference White
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Isabelle Phillips, 5-7 sr. S (656 assists, 253 digs); Kacee Gray, 5-8 sr. OH/DS (412 kills, 344 digs); Shelby Ignash, 6-1 sr. M/DS (451 kills, .305 hitting %, 81 blocks, 353 digs).
Finals forecast: Cass City has reached the Semifinals for the third-straight season and will attempt to take another step with five seniors anchoring the starting lineup including Miss Volleyball Award candidate Ignash. She made the all-state first team last season, and Gray made the third. Another of those seniors, Lexi Champagne, entered the week with 234 kills, 57 aces and 241 digs. Six of the nine losses this fall came to teams ranked or honorable mentions in Divisions 1 and 2, with the only loss to a team in Division 3 or 4 coming against potential championship match opponent Kalamazoo Christian – and Cass City also defeated K-Christian during tournament play that day.
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 31-8-2, No. 3
Michigan Power Rating: No. 4
Coach: Carlie Southland, third season (110-20-8)
League finish: First in Southwestern Athletic Conference Valley
Championship history: Division 3 champion 2023, two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Reagan Zuiderveen, 5-8 jr. S (998 assists, 294 digs); Hayden Deming, 5-11 sr. OH (301 kills, 67 aces); Annelise de Jong, 6-0 sr. OH (493 kills, .326 hitting %, 63 aces, 322 digs).
Finals forecast: Kalamazoo Christian graduated three players who earned all-state recognition during last season’s championship run, but is right back at the Semifinals for the third-straight year after also finishing Division 3 runner-up in 2022. Deming and de Jong were in the starting lineup for last year’s Final, and they’ve taken top hitting roles for a team that’s won 10 of its last 11 matches. Only two losses this fall came against opponents in Division 3 or 4, including one in the split with Cass City noted above. Sophomore hitter Elliana VanDusen had added another 220 kills entering the week.
MONROE ST. MARY CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 37-4-1, No. 1
Michigan Power Rating: No. 1
Coach: Kim Windham, first season (37-4-1)
League finish: First in Huron League
Championship history: Seven MHSAA titles (most recent 2020), four runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Jessica Costlow, 5-11 sr. OH (469 kills, .405 hitting %, 381 digs); McKenna Payne, 5-7 sr. S/RS (330 assists, 163 kills, 224 digs); Madeline Dettling, 6-0 jr. OH (217 kills, 290 digs).
Finals forecast: Make it five Semifinals trips in six seasons for the Kestrels, this time returning its top three players from a year ago with Costlow and Payne coming off all-state first-team selections and Dettling making the second team in 2023. Costlow and Payne also were Miss Volleyball Award candidates this fall; Costlow will continue at Illinois State, and Payne has signed with Utah. SMCC hasn’t lost a set over five tournament matches, including a sweep of No. 2 Plymouth Christian Academy in the Regional Final. The only losses were to top-10 or honorable mention Division 1 teams, and the Kestrels have wins over Division 1 No. 3 Forest Hills Northern and No. 7 Eisenhower. Sophomore Alexa Turner had a team-leading 662 assists heading into the week.
TRAVERSE CITY ST. FRANCIS
Record/rank: 34-12-3, No. 6
Michigan Power Rating: No. 3
Coach: Kathleen Nance, sixth season (173-79-10)
League finish: Does not play in a conference.
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2023, Class C runner-up 2012.
Players to watch: Quinn Yenshaw, 6-0 jr. OH (463 kills, 91 aces, 302 digs); Reese Jones, 5-4 jr. S (655 assists, 274 digs); Avery Nance, 5-4 sr. L (101 aces, 530 digs).
Finals forecast: Last season’s runner-up is back with four starters and the libero from last season’s championship match lineup, with Avery Nance a returning all-state first-team selection and Yenshaw a third-teamer. Nance is the only senior in this season’s starting lineup as the Gladiators advanced with wins over No. 7 Elk Rapids in the District Final, No. 4 Calumet in the Regional Final and honorable mention Roscommon in the Quarterfinal. The subs are super, as senior Landry Fouch is second on the team with 246 kills, and senior Tessah Konas had 529 assists entering the week.
Division 4
CLARKSTON EVEREST COLLEGIATE
Record/rank: 36-0-1, No. 1
Michigan Power Rating: No. 1
Coach: Danielle Walker, second season (67-4-3)
League finish: First in CHSL Intersectional #2
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2023.
Players to watch: Sarah Bradley, 6-0 sr. OH (394 kills, .345 hitting %, 104 aces, 213 digs); Erica Walker, sr. S/RS (828 assists); Madelyn Krappmann, 5-10 jr. OH (337 kills, .300 hitting %, 214 digs).
Finals forecast: A year after entering Finals weekend as the lowest-ranked of four remaining contenders and coming away with the program’s first title, Everest has been nearly perfect in its encore. Only a split with Division 2 No. 4 North Branch has kept the Mountaineers from a flawless record, and their tournament sweeps of No. 4 Fowler and No. 9 Ubly are part of a run of nine straight as Everest has lost only five sets all season. The entire starting lineup and seven of eight players who saw action for all five sets in last year’s Final are back this weekend. Bradley and Krappmann both made the all-state first team last season, and Bradley is committed to continue at Calvin University.
HANCOCK
Record/rank: 25-6-2, unranked
Michigan Power Rating: No. 5
Coach: Brian Lamppa, first season (25-6-2)
League finish: Second in Western Peninsula Athletic Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Brooke Koskela, 5-7 sr. OH (385 kills, 100 aces, 320 digs); Emily L’Esperance, sr. S (542 assists); Alice Larson, jr DS (66 aces, 170 digs).
Finals forecast: After previously playing in Division 3, Hancock moved into Division 4 this fall and is making its first trip to the Semifinals after winning its first Regional title since 2009. Lamppa took over the program with more than two decades of college coaching experience including at the Division I level and after serving as head coach most recently at Finlandia. The Bulldogs stunned No. 5 Crystal Falls Forst Park in the Regional Final, avenging a September tournament sweep, and they’ve won 20 of their last 22 matches.
MOUNT PLEASANT SACRED HEART
Record/rank: 42-4-2, No. 2
Michigan Power Rating: No. 4
Coach: Krista Davis, 11th season (363-129-46)
League finish: First in Mid-State Activities Conference
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2022.
Players to watch: Sophie Hauck, 5-7 sr. S (808 assists, 112 kills, .319 hitting %); Erin Judge, 5-10 sr. MH (304 kills, .314 hitting %, 63 blocks); Chelsea Lynch, 5-8 sr. OH (216 kills, 434 digs).
Finals forecast: Sacred Heart has reached at least the Quarterfinals the last four seasons, and now the Semifinals three of the last four. The Irish have won 12 straight matches, with all of their losses and one of their two ties to Division 2 or 3 teams. Hauck made the all-state second team and Judge the third team last year, and Hauck and Lynch both started for the 2022 championship team. Sophomore outside hitter Karis Terwilliger added 153 kills heading into this week, and junior libero Isabel Rookard (546 digs, 64 aces) keys the defense.
ST. JOSEPH OUR LADY OF THE LAKE
Record/rank: 32-3-1, No. 8
Michigan Power Rating: No. 15
Coach: Erin Cashen, second season (57-11-4)
League finish: First in Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference
Championship history: Has never played in an MHSAA Final.
Players to watch: Nora Proos, 5-10 sr. MH/OH (449 kills, 101 aces, 370 digs); Rachel Kalamaros, 5-8 sr. MB/OH (244 kills, 85 aces, 377 digs); Aislin Sargent, 5-5 sr. S (1,070 assists, 75 aces, 238 digs).
Finals forecast: Our Lady has reached the Quarterfinals twice in Cashen’s two seasons, winning the first two Regional titles in program history, and now has reached the Semifinals for the first time as well. The team has just seven players – five seniors and two eighth graders (allowed because of the school’s small enrollment). The Lakers defeated No. 7 Wyoming Tri-unity Christian and No. 10 Concord during this tournament run. Proos made the all-state third team last season. Senior Jojo Marsh is another valuable hitter with 295 kills entering this week, as well as 109 aces and 323 digs.
PHOTO Fenton's Eva Long (2) sets during Tuesday's Division 1 Quarterfinal, as Battle Creek Lakeview's Karlee Gutsue (14) and her teammates anticipate the next hit. (Photo by John Johnson.)