2019-20 Parade of Champions
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 26, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A total of 58 schools won one or more of the 69 Michigan High School Athletic Association team championships awarded during the 2019-20 school year, with two teams winning three or more titles despite the cancellation of 62 MHSAA Finals due to COVID-19.
Marquette led with seven championships, winning its divisions in girls and boys skiing, girls and boys swimming & diving, girls and boys cross country and girls tennis. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern won the second-most titles, three, finishing first in its divisions in girls golf, boys tennis and boys soccer – the soccer championship its first in that sport.
Four more schools won two championships: Ann Arbor Pioneer, East Grand Rapids, Farmington Hills Mercy and Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central.
A total of 18 teams won first MHSAA titles in their respective sports, with Essexville Garber’s win in Division 3 girls bowling the school’s first Finals championship in any sport. A total of 23 champions were repeat winners from 2018-19 – and 11 of those won for at least the third straight season, while six extended title streaks to at least four consecutive years.
The Marquette boys skiing program owns the longest title streak at eight seasons, while Lowell wrestling joined Rockford girls lacrosse with a seventh consecutive championship. Rockford’s streak remains at seven after its season was canceled.
Sixteen of the MHSAA's 28 championship tournaments are unified, involving teams from the Upper and Lower Peninsulas, while separate competition to determine titlists in both Peninsulas is conducted in remaining sports. Because of COVID-19, the entire spring season was canceled as were Finals in girls and boys basketball, ice hockey, girls gymnastics and Lower Peninsula boys swimming & diving.
For a sport-by-sport listing of MHSAA champions for 2019-20, click here.
(NOTE: Included in the total of 58 schools above are both Zeeland East and West, which form the cooperative program that won the Division 1 girls bowling title. However, together they are counted as one of the 18 first-time championship teams.)
MHSAA Thanks Ford Field's 'Danny J'
January 28, 2021
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The MHSAA this past weekend celebrated and honored Dan Jaroshewich – known to many in the sports community as “Danny J” – who is retiring at senior director of sports events & business development after 48 years with the Detroit Lions organization, including many taking a significant role in MHSAA Finals played now at Ford Field.
Jaroshewich worked 30 years in the Detroit Lions equipment room before coordinating events at Ford Field over the last 18 years. He worked countless Lions home games going back to when they played at Tiger Stadium and then Pontiac Silverdome, and he also traveled with the team.
His passion and dedication for hosting events – including MHSAA events – will be missed, as he has been a staple at Ford Field since the stadium opened in 2002.
Jaroshewich was presented with a commemorative plaque during halftime of Friday’s Division 8 Final.
PHOTO: “Danny J” is recognized by the MHSAA this past weekend for his work hosting Football Finals at Ford Field. Second from right, Jaroshewich is pictured with, from left, MHSAA 11-Player Football Finals event staff Dante Favors, Laura Roberts and Mike Evoy, MHSAA assistant director Nate Hampton and MHSAA executive director Mark Uyl. (Photo by Hockey Weekly Action Photos.)