Alcona Keeper McCoy Has Net Covered
April 22, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Only a sophomore, Conner McCoy is an MHSAA record holder after a busy fall patrolling the net for the Lincoln Alcona boys soccer team.
McCoy made 391 saves in goal last season, eclipsing the former record by a save while piling up his total over 24 games. He had a high of 26 against Fairview and at least 20 saves in nine games. Alcona finished 12-11-1 and reached its Division 4 District Final.
Click for the MHSAA boys soccer record book in full and the headings below for full records in those respective sports as we report recent additions for boys and girls basketball, football and girls and boys tennis.
Kimball Landmark Academy's Cameron Koch made the MHSAA records for steals in a game, season and career this winter. He had 12 (along with 17 points and nine rebounds) in a game against Kimball New Life Christian on Jan. 26, 107 steals for the season and 242 over his four-season varsity career.
Niles Brandywine’s great run over this decade has been led by a number of strong individuals. Mackenzie Shelton was added for her 185 assists as a junior in 2011-12, which rank 10th all-time, and her 482 career assists that rank 14th. She also made the games played list with 102 over her four varsity seasons. Emily Erwin’s 85 3-pointers in 26 games this winter rank ninth, and her 262 3-pointers over four seasons rank fourth on the career list; Carlie Newman’s 211 3-pointers from 2009-12 are ninth on the career list. As a team, Niles Brandywine was added a number of times for 3-pointers made adn attempted, in games and for seasons, over the last four; its 746 attempts this winter rank second all-time for a team, and it’s 211 made 3-pointers were third-most. The Bobcats finished 24-3 and made the Class C Semifinals. Shelton plays at Calvin College, while Newman played at Spring Arbor and then Southeastern University in Lakeland, Fla.
Omar Salih finished his high school football career in the fall with 40 entries in the MHSAA football record book after playing the 2013 and 2015 seasons at Detroit Cesar Chavez Academy and 2014 at Detroit Cody. Among recent additions, Salih’s 615 passing yards against Marine City Cardinal Mooney on Sept. 19 of last season rank second to his record 674 in a game in 2013. His 4,173 passing yards in 10 games last season rank second all-time, while his 414 attempts ranked fourth, his 238 completions were third and his 45 passing touchdowns also were fourth. His career passing yards (8,484) also rank second in MHSAA history, with his 940 pass attempts third, his 474 completions seventh and his 88 passing touchdowns third. He will continue his career at Saginaw Valley State University.
Wayland quarterback Tanner VanDyke became the second player from his program to make the MHSAA records in football after throwing for 2,047 yards as a senior in the fall. He’ll continue his career at Davenport University.
Matthew Meagher added a pair of kicking accomplishments to a previous for punting, making 56 of 57 extra-point tries for DeWitt in the fall and 97 of 106 over his two seasons on varsity; he previously made the listings for a 78-yard punt as a junior.
Martin Schau has been added for a 100-yard interception return for Climax-Scotts in its 42-14 loss to Constantine on Oct. 11, 1980. The Climax Crescent reported at the time that Schau caught the ball four yards deep in the end zone before returning it for a score.
Blake Dunn’s incredible junior season led to his inclusion for multiple categories as both a running back and a kicker, and another Saugatuck player now owns an MHSAA record. Dunn ran for 2,748 yards –12th most for one season – on only 234 carries (11.7 yards per carry) with 36 rushing touchdowns and 286 total points – which rank as fifth most and included 48 extra points. Graduated Saugatuck kicker Tanner Nutting made the single-season extra points list three of his four seasons with a high of 56 in 2011 – and finished his career in 2013 with a record 175 in 204 attempts. Dunn has committed to sign as a senior with Western Michigan University for baseball, while Nutting kicks now for Division II Malone University in Ohio.
Girls Tennis
All four Traverse City St. Francis singles players made championship matches at the 2015 Lower Peninsula Division 4 Final – and three also made the MHSAA record book for wins. No. 1 singles champion Amanda Bandrowski and No. 3 runner-up Natalie Burke are both listed at 33-1, and No. 4 runner-up Anne Bandrowski made the list at 32-2.
Boys Tennis
All eight flights of Traverse City St. Francis’ team that finished third in LP Division 4 in the fall made the record book for victories – in singles, Elliott Bandrowski (32-10), Nathan Sodini (33-10), Tyler Spigarelli (37-8) and Victor Casler (35-2). And in doubles, Jay Jones & Patrick Burke (33-5), Jackson Richmond & Nathan Tafelsky (39-2), Sean Navin (37-8), Jonathan Pax (36-9), Ryan Navin (39-5) and Joe Primeau (37-4). Jones also made the career doubles wins list with a four-season varsity record of 107-42, as did Tafelsky with a 99-28 record from 2012-15.
PHOTO: Conner McCoy stops a shot for Lincoln Alcona last season. (Photo courtesy of the Lincoln Alcona boys soccer program.)
Bucs' Standout Earns Raves for Saves
June 25, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
After spending four seasons stopping opponents from finding the net, former Grand Haven boys lacrosse goalie Gabe Liebetreu can be found 28 times in the MHSAA record book.
As a junior (269) and again as a senior (277), Liebetreu set the single-season saves record, and he ended up second all-time with 897 career saves from 2004-17.
Liebetreu also shares the record for most single-game saves after making 30 against Mattawan as a junior. He is continuing his career at Queens University in Charlotte, N.C.
In addition for the Buccaneers, former teammate Ian McClain was added for five assists in a 14-4 win over Muskegon Reeths-Puffer in 2016. McClain was a senior this spring.
Click to see all of the boys lacrosse record book, and read on for recent MHSAA records entries in baseball, girls and boys basketball, girls lacrosse, boys soccer and softball. Click on the sport headings below to see those record books in full.
Baseball
A pair of Holt standouts finished this spring on career record lists. Spencer Baldwin capped a three-year varsity career with a batting average of .455, while Burrell Jones finished his four-year career with an ERA of 1.84. Baldwin will continue at Kalamazoo College, while Jones will continue at Wabash Valley Junior College in Indiana.
Girls Basketball
Battle Creek Calhoun Christian’s Eliana Wilson will enter her freshman year already listed in the MHSAA record book. Wilson grabbed 32 rebounds in the Cougars’ 47-46 win over Colon on Feb. 17. Although the 5-foot-11 forward’s season total won’t count toward any career records – only numbers accumulated in grades 9-12 can be included – her single-game rebounds are listed in a tie for fourth most in that category.
McBain’s Hamlet sisters had quite a run over a decade that ended with Meredith’s high school graduation in 2015, and together she, Elizabeth Hamlet and AnnMarie Hamlet combined for nine record book entries. All three made the career free throws made list – Elizabeth with 451 from 2005-09 (to rank ninth), Meredith Hamlet with 422 from 2012-15 (to rank 14th) and AnnMarie with 323 from 2009-12. Meredith also made the career assist list with 549 (ranking 12th), and Elizabeth (102) and AnnMarie (101) both made the games played list. All three went on to play at Valparaiso University, Elizabeth and AnnMarie after starting their college careers at Oakland.
Boys Basketball
Calhoun Christian’s Andrew Eckhart capped his career with a record book entry as well this winter. The 6-foot-5 senior blocked 115 shots over 21 games.
Girls Lacrosse
Junior Erin Kloostra and senior Kelli Bailey helped Grand Rapids Forest Hills United reach the Division 1 Regional Semifinals this spring with record book-level scoring. Kloostra, a student at Forest Hills Eastern, set an MHSAA record with 99 assists (including 10 in a game against DeWitt) and finished with 134 total points. Bailey scored 53 goals this season. Bailey’s 54 goals and Kloostra’s 61 goals, 84 assists and 145 points in 2017 also were added to the record listings. Grand Rapids Forest Hills United as a team scored 346 goals in 2017 and 253 this season. Bailey, from Forest Hills Central, will continue her career at Kent State University.
Rochester Adams junior Elexi Boladian netted eight goals in a 14-4 win over Royal Oak on May 7. She’s one of only 19 players to score at least eight in a game.
A pair of Grand Rapids Catholic Central juniors stamped their names in the record book with big scoring seasons. Lauren Marosi had three games with eight or nine goals to finish with 101 and 117 points total – her single-season goals are the sixth most in MHSAA history. She also became the fourth player with at least 12 points in a game, when she had six goals and six assists May 29 against Mattawan. Teammate Annie Gilbert was added for eight goals in a game, and 85 goals and 93 points this spring. As a team, Grand Rapids Catholic Central had 246 goals. Marosi has committed to play collegiately at Virginia Commonwealth University, while Gilbert is committed to University of Detroit Mercy.
Boys Soccer
Cobe Lund will enter his senior season this fall coming off a historic junior performance – his 42 goals and 62 points over 25 games both earned record listings. Leland as a team scored 126 goals – tying for 11th-most all-time – on the way to making the Division 4 Regional Finals.
Softball
New Lothrop’s Emma Muron had such a rare season at the plate this spring, it led to the creation of a new section of the softball record book. Muron was hit by pitches 22 times over 36 games, and three times apiece in two games. A junior, she also hit .387.
PHOTO: Gabe Liebetreu defends the goal for Grand Haven during the 2016 season. (Photo courtesy of the Grand Haven Tribune.)