10 to Remember: Winter 2012-13
April 4, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
This winter in Michigan will be remembered by some as lasting seemingly forever. But at least we had plenty to enjoy over the five weeks from the end of February through March.
Below are 10 stories from this winter's Finals that we're likely to recall for years to come. They aren't necessarily the 10 most exciting moments, but rather 10 stories of particular significance covering every sport the MHSAA sponsors during this mostly-indoor season.
A few that just missed the list: Livonia Stevenson winning that hockey town's first hockey title, St. Ignace's first perfect girls basketball finish, Flint Beecher's last-second success in the Class C Boys Basketball Final, East Grand Rapids' four-point win in Division 3 swimming and diving and the emergence of Troy's Christina Shabet as the MHSAA's top gymnast.
There are plenty of others we could mention as well. Feel free to post about them after checking out our 10.
Saline Seniors Leave Mark
One of the most impressive swimming and diving classes in MHSAA history finished its high school career March 9 in Holland the same way it began four seasons ago. Saline won its fourth-straight Lower Peninsula Division 1 championship anchored by seniors David Boland, Josh Ehrman, Michael Bundas and Adam Whitener, who combined hold four Division 1 Finals individual and two relay records. Ehrman finished his prep career with the all-class/division records in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke, and those four hold the all-class/division record in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:30.01 – good also for third in the national record book. Click to read more.
Fowlerville’s Coon Finishes with 4
Only 16 others had accomplished what Fowlerville’s Adam Coon achieved to finish his MHSAA wrestling career. And none had done so wrestling at the heaviest weights. On March 2 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Coon became the 17th athlete to win four MHSAA wrestling individual titles by picking up his second at 285 pounds after also winning two at 215. He finished his career with a record of 211-3 and won 194 straight matches dating to his freshman season. Click to read more.
Comets Shine for 6th Consecutive Gymnastics Win
Despite graduating the Division 1 all-around champion (again) and facing a talented Canton team (again), Grand Ledge won the team title again – for the sixth-straight time, the longest streak in MHSAA gymnastics history. On March 8 at Canton High School, the Comets scored 149.350 points – fifth-most in MHSAA Finals history. What are the chances for seven in a row? They’ll have a strong start: junior Presley Allison won the Division 2 all-around title the next day, and freshman Rachel Hogan won the Division 1 floor competition. Click to read more.
Hudson Completes Drive for 5
The Tigers won three of the final four matches to edge Hesperia 32-24 in the Division 4 Team Wrestling Final on Feb. 23 at Kellogg Arena and earn their fifth-straight MHSAA title – tying the 2002-06 Davison teams for the longest such streak since the Team Finals began in 1988. Hudson was loaded with 11 Individual Finals qualifiers, including three who went on to win their weights the following weekend. Click to read more.
This Time, It’s Romulus’ Turn
Romulus advanced to Boys Basketball Finals weekend at Breslin Center for the fourth time in six seasons, and on March 23 left with its first MHSAA championship since 1986. The Eagles had just fallen short a number of times during the recent run, but controlled from the tip in downing Detroit Southeastern 61-49 to claim the Class A title. Romulus finished this season 27-1. Click to read more.
Grand Haven Wins Repeat Class A Final
Only a few things about Grand Haven were the same this season as in 2011-12, including one significant advantage – 6-foot-5 center Abby Cole. After putting up 23 points, 19 rebounds and 12 blocks in a Semifinal win over Westland John Glenn, she tallied 11 points, seven rebounds and eight blocks in a 60-54 overtime win over Grosse Pointe South on March 16 at the Breslin Center to give the Buccaneers two straight Class A title wins – both over the Blue Devils. Click to read more.
Puck Stops Here as Brighton Marches On
The Bulldogs claimed their second-straight Division 1 hockey championship March 9 at Compuware Arena with what has become a characteristic defensive stand, this time in a 2-1 win over 10-time champ Detroit Catholic Central. Brighton goalie James Milletics stopped 37 of 38 shots against him, and his team finished a 12-game winning streak during which it gave up only 12 goals total. Click to read more.
No Stopping Carlson’s Cheer Dynasty
All four MHSAA cheer champions March 2-3 at the Grand Rapids DeltaPlex were repeat winners from 2012, but Carlson faced an intriguing set of circumstances. Although coach Danielle Jokela basically had served as a co-coach with Christine Wilson through four titles over the previous five seasons, this was her first time leading the team solo with Wilson now coaching Brighton. And the Marauders pulled out a third-straight title despite losing all-stater Annie Hajec to an injury during the Regional the weekend before. Click to read more.
Trojans Skiers Second No Longer
Traverse City Central’s girls skiing team had finished MHSAA runner-up five straight seasons before hoisting its first championship trophy since 2005 on Feb. 25 at Boyne Mountain. The Trojans finished with 81 points, 11 better than runner-up Walled Lake Central. Shannon Weaver was the individual runner-up in both the slalom and giant slalom to lead the effort. Click to read more.
Vandercook Lake Wins Battle of Bowling Powers
After facing each other and splitting the last two Division 4 titles, it seemed fate that Vandercook Lake and Sandusky should meet again in the 10th year of the MHSAA tournament on March 1 at Sunnybrook Golf and Bowl. The teams were separated by only six pins with three frames to roll before Vandercook Lake pulled away for a 1,322-1,166 win. The Jayhawks' Malloree Ambs won the individual title the next day. Click to read more.
Hudson Starts Slow, Bounces Back to Finish in Championship Fashion
By
Tom Kendra
Special for MHSAA.com
March 1, 2024
MOUNT PLEASANT – Hudson certainly has not been cocky this season despite ending last winter by winning a fourth-straight Division 4 competitive cheer championship.
In fact, the Tigers were the opposite.
“The girls lacked confidence this year, to be honest,” said Hudson coach Kelly Bailey, who has guided the program 28 seasons. “That was actually our biggest obstacle to overcome.”
It didn’t help that the Tigers got off to a slow start in Friday’s Final – they sat in fourth place after the first round. But that just set the stage for a powerhouse performance during the final two rounds, as Hudson rolled to its fifth consecutive Division 4 title at Central Michigan University’s McGuirk Arena.
Hudson won with 746.30 points, followed by Pewamo-Westphalia (736.42) and Michigan Center (733.94).
“I told them after the first round that they were in fourth place, and their jaws dropped,” said Bailey. “But they like to perform in the more athletic rounds, 2 and 3, so I really wasn’t worried.
“Anxious? Yes. Worried? Not really.”
Led by returning all-state seniors Rylie Bloomer and Victoria Hawkins, the Tigers easily made up their 4.1-point first-round deficit with a strong Round 2.
That set the stage for Round 3, where Hudson was the only one of the eight teams to eclipse 300 points (300.40). Near the end of that round, when part of its cheer was, “We will keep our crown,” it was clear that those words would be prophetic.
“Honestly, I was really nervous, but now I’m really happy,” said Bloomer, one of six seniors on Hudson’s 20-athlete varsity roster. “I like to know where we stand after each round, good or bad. It doesn’t really affect anything, because we still have to go out and do our best.”
Hudson now has finished either first or second in Division 4 for eight straight years, with six titles.
This year’s team – which featured six seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and six freshmen – took a little bit longer to get rolling, with its highest scores of the season coming in victories at the District and Regional.
In addition to Bloomer and Hawkins, the other returning all-stater for Hudson was junior Jayla Bright. Senior Kayden Rogers made second team all-state in 2023, and senior Paige Clark and junior Courtney Rodifer were honorable mention.
“There is always so much pressure on us, every year, so it’s amazing to overcome that and win it again,” said Hawkins.
The Tigers’ other seniors were Callia Cooper and Eliza Pack.
The last team to win a Division 4 title before Hudson’s five-year streak was Pewamo-Westphalia, which was back in the mix Friday and finished second for the third time over the past five years – despite having just one senior, returning second team all-stater Sophia Simon.
The Pirates used an inspired Round 3 performance to rally past Michigan Center and capture the runner-up hardware.
“We have such a young team, and they have put their blood, sweat and tears into this season,” said P-W coach Staci Myers, who completed her 17th year leading the program. “They knocked it out of the park in that third round, and I couldn’t be more proud.”
The Pirates, who were led by Simon and sophomore returning honorable mention all-stater Karsyn Simmon, won District and Regional crowns leading up to Friday’s strong finish.
Merrill placed fourth and Sanford Meridian was fifth Friday.
PHOTOS (Top) Hudson competes during Friday’s Division 4 Final at CMU. (Middle) Pewamo-Westphalia competes on the way to finishing runner-up. (Photos by Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)