Mason, Okemos Score for a Cure
November 11, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Three weeks remain in the MHSAA’s 2014 fall season, and we’ve collected a few notes to pass along as we wind down the final three sports before moving inside (except for skiing) for the winter.
Below are an update on a fundraising game we previewed earlier, plus recognition for perfection at our Girls Golf Finals and another high honor for one of the top players in MHSAA volleyball history.
Score for a cure
We wrote in September about an upcoming soccer game between Lansing-area powers that would raise money for pediatric cancer research. The “Compete for a Cause” game between Okemos and Mason on Sept. 13 was the third of what has become an annual event started by Mason’s team and coaching staff.
Attendance for this season’s game was nearly double the year before, and funds raised increased more than 500 percent.
The final tally: Roughly 1,400 fans attended the game, which raised $11,000 that was split between the CureSearch for Children’s Cancer national foundation and the Michigan State University Pediatric Oncology Clinic.
The first “Compete” game in 2012 raised $1,000, and the 2013 game drew 800 fans and raised about $2,000. This fall, Okemos was ranked No. 1 in Division 1 and Mason No. 7 in Division 2 when the game was played; it ended in a 1-1 tie. Both went on to postseason success – Okemos advanced to a Regional Final, and Mason fell to eventual Division 2 champion East Lansing in overtime in their Semifinal.
Only one shot needed
It’s a rarity – most of the time. But for the second straight season, a player at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Girls Golf Finals sunk a hole-in-one.
Grosse Pointe South’s Lucy Buzolitz aced the par-3 No. 12 at Bedford Valley in Battle Creek, dropping the shot from 97 yards out during the first round of Division 1 play. Buzolitz was one of two individual qualifiers from her team and shot a 92-97-189 for the two-day tournament.
At the 2013 Division 2 Final, Fenton then-sophomore Madison Shegos aced the par-3 18th hole at Michigan State University’s Forest Akers East.
Sportswoman of the Year
Former Leland and Penn State University volleyball standout and current U.S. national team setter Alisha Glass was a finalist for 2014 Team Sportswoman of the Year at the 35th Salute to Women in Sports gala in October in New York City.
The event, put on by the Women’s Sports Foundation, annually recognizes a Sportswoman of the Year for both individual and team sports based on nominations by sport governing bodies and the public. Glass was one of 10 candidates this year for the team award after being named USA Volleyball Indoor Female Athlete of the Year in 2013. She also was named International Federation of Volleyball’s best setter at the 2014 World Championship in Italy after helping the United States to the title.
Olympic gold medal-winning ice dancer Meryl Davis received the Sportswoman of the Year team award, while the individual award when to gymnastics all-around world champion Simone Biles.
PHOTOS: (Top) Members of the Mason and Okemos boys soccer teams present a check for $5,500 to the MSU Pediatric Oncology Clinic and Dr. Renuka Gera last month. (Middle) Lucy Buzolitz receives a plaque recognizing her hole-in-one at the Division 2 Golf Final from Bedford Valley head pro Dean Kolstad.
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.
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).
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.)