Today in the MHSAA: 11/18/16

November 18, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Four volleyball teams secured matches on the final day of the season, and a champion football coach will be coming back from retirement to start a new era next fall.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.

Volleyball

Class C: Reigning champion and No. 2-ranked Bronson swept honorable mention Calumet – Coldwater Daily Reporter

Class C: No. 6 Brown City will play in its first championship match after edging Adrian Madison in five sets – Port Huron Times Herald

Class B: Reigning runner-up and No. 3-ranked North Branch will play for the title again after coming back to beat No. 5 Buchanan 3-2 – Flint Journal

Class B: Top-ranked Lake Odessa Lakewood will play in the championship match for the third time in five seasons after downing No. 7 Cadillac 3-1 – Grand Rapids Press

Football

Former Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central coach Jack Giarmo, who led the Falcons to the Division 6 title in 2014, has been hired at Gibraltar Carlson – Monroe Evening News

Bark River-Harris Lands 3-Peat, Shamion Joins Elite 4-Event Winners Club

By John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com

June 2, 2024

KINGSFORD  — The Bark River-Harris girls completed their season-long mission here Saturday, earning their third straight Upper Peninsula Division 2 track & field championship with 127½ points.

West Iron County brought home the runner-up trophy with 82, and third-place Ishpeming had 71.

“The girls have been working hard for this,” BR-H coach Jason Lockwood said. “Three U.P. titles under their belt is incredible. Everybody contributed, which is instrumental in putting up that many points.”

BR-H senior and Bay College basketball recruit Lauren Zawada captured the 100-meter hurdles in 17.74 seconds and 300s (50.92) and helped the Broncos win the 1,600 relay at 4 minutes, 24.4 seconds.

“My starts are what helped me this time,” she said. “That was my first individual U.P. title, which gives me a pretty good feeling. I’m pretty excited.”

Fellow senior and Bay College basketball recruit  Mckenzie Hoffmeyer won long jump at 16 feet, ½ inch, helped the Broncos win the 800 relay (1:49.92) and placed second in the 100 (13.03) and 200 in a personal-best 26.52.

“Even though I didn’t win the 100 or 200, I still got points for the team,” she said. “It feels pretty awesome for us to come together and win this three times in a row.”

Hoffmeyer was runner-up to West Iron County senior Danica Shamion, who took high jump with a record 5-1, the 100 at 12.65 and also set U.P. records in the 200 (26.17)  and 400 (56.94). She’s one of just nine girls to win four individual events at a Track & Field Finals.

West Iron County's Danica Shamion starts the 400, which she eventually wins. Shamion’s U.P. records took place four days after she set school records in the 200 (25.79) and 400 (56.74) and high jump (5-5) at Houghton.

“I went out with a bang, which is something I wanted to do as a freshman,” she said. “I kept thinking, ‘Take it one step at a time.’ The high jump runway was a little slippery (during brief rainfall). It was hard to get your grip.”

BR-H junior Marissa Ives, also part of the 800 relay, took third in the 200 (27.42) and fourth in the 100 (13.5).

“I think we did pretty good for having a young team (in the 800 relay),” she said. “The rain felt good during the race. It makes it a little harder coming out of the blocks, but it cools you off.”

Senior Julia Olson, who helped the Broncos win the 1,600 relay, set school records while taking fourth in the 400 (1:00.54) and 800 (2:29.2).

“This is honestly rewarding,” Olson said. “Part of this is due to our training in the weight room during the offseason. It really paid off. It’s also good to know I had good competition on top of it.”

Pickford sophomore Talya Schreiber won the 1,600 (5:19.16) and 3,200 (11:49.86) and was runner-up in the 800 (2:27.88).

“Lola (Korpi) is a great runner,” she said. “It definitely helps to have her here to push me. This feels really good. I’m happy to be here for our team. The atmosphere is awesome. Everyone is so nice.”

Ishpeming senior and Northern Michigan University recruit Korpi won the 800 (2:26.36) and placed second in the 1,600 (in a school-record 5:20.19) and 3,200 (12:12.63).

“I let her creep away from me a little too much and I couldn’t quite catch her in the 1,600,” said Korpi, who capped her career with 10 individual Track Finals titles. “She started her kick, too.

“I’m obviously happy with another school record. I feel I left my mark. I’m also happy for Talya. She worked so hard and helped me get my PR. Second place isn’t bad. I’m happy where I am.”

Sophomore Mya Hemmer added a first for Ishpeming in discus (114-6) and second in shot put (33-5¼), and Ironwood sophomore Emma Wardon took first in shot (34-5).

Click for full results.

PHOTOS (Top) Bark River-Harris's Carli Erickson crosses the finish line far ahead of her competition in the 800 Relay. Other members of the winning team were Mckenzie Hoffmeyer, Julia Nault, and Marissa Ives. (Middle) West Iron County's Danica Shamion starts the 400, which she eventually wins. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)