Antes Launches Fulton's Title Drive
May 27, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Fulton advanced to the Class D Semifinals the last two seasons anchored by the long-range shooting of Colton Antes – who finished his career this winter among the sharpest shooters in MHSAA history.
The senior guard ended with 292 3-pointers over four seasons to rank fourth on the career list for long-range shots. He also made the single-season list with 97 3-pointers this winter, which tied for sixth most.
Click the boys basketball heading below to see how his and other recent record book additions stack up, and also see the other recent additions for girls basketball, football, girls and boys soccer and softball.
Boys Basketball
Lansing Christian’s Matthew Havey tied the MHSAA record with seven 3-pointers in the second quarter of a game against Lake Odessa Lakewood on Jan. 15. His 21 points also made the single-quarter scoring list. He was a junior this season.
Lutheran Westland junior guard Kory Barikmo had 192 assists in 23 games this season for an average of 8.3 per game. He also averaged 6.7 ppg for a team that finished 22-1.
Bridgman made 15 3-pointers in an 89-78 loss to Niles Brandywine on March 11, and the teams combined to make 23 total – both made the MHSAA team records. The game was a District Final, and Bridgman’s Haiden Meyer connected on seven 3-pointers, which made the single-game list for an MHSAA Tournament game. The Bees finished with 218 3-pointers – good for ninth most in one season – over 23 games this winter.
Girls Basketball
Midland Dow finished 19-4 this winter also in part because of sharp shooting; the Chargers set an MHSAA team record with a .737 free-throw shooting percentage and also made the 3-point attempts list with 423, connecting on 145. The long-range shooting was led by junior Ellie Taylor, who made 10 of 13 in an 81-62 win over Saginaw Arthur Hill on Dec. 1 and 73 of 174 total this season. Taylor committed in the fall to sign with Division I St. Louis University.
Football
Michael Gergely became only the fourth player to be credited with four fumble recoveries in one game when he tied the MHSAA record with four for Mattawan against Battle Creek Central on Oct. 9. A senior, he finished the season with seven fumble recoveries, tied for fourth-most, in nine games.
Girls Soccer
Abigail Gilmore became the 15th player to have at least five assists in a game when she helped on five in Lansing Catholic’s 8-0 win over Ionia on May 2. Gilmore is a senior this spring.
Boys Soccer
Already listed as the MHSAA boys basketball record holder for steals in a season, Howard City Tri-County senior Dylan Matulis now also is ranked among the top soccer scorers of all-time. His 72 goals in 21 games last fall rank second, and his 59 as a junior are tied for ninth-most with his career total of 166 coming in fifth. Matulis also is listed with 46 career assists, 86 points last season (tied for fifth-most) and 212 career points, which also are tied for fifth-most in MHSAA history.
Softball
Imlay City sophomore Alison Harper earned the 26th entry among those who have hit at least three home runs in one game when she knocked three solo shots in a win May 3 over Algonac. Senior teammate Madison Whitsett joined the list of those with at least six RBI in a game, driving in six in the 19-9 victory.
Three Niles Brandywine players have driven in six runs in a game this month; Grace Polomcak had six RBI against Watervliet Grace Christian on May 20, McKenna Hartline had six against Parchment the day before, May 19, and Michaela Hartline had six against Berrien Springs on May 3.
PHOTO: Fulton's Colton Antes follows through on a 3-point attempt against Powers North Central in March at the Breslin Center.
Novi's O'Leary Champion & Record Setter
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
July 11, 2018
The Novi volleyball team’s run to four straight Class A Finals and three straight championships over the last four seasons saw performances by a number of elite hitters – and one on-court constant directing the attack.
Erin O’Leary graduated this spring with an MHSAA-record 5,790 assists during her four years as the team’s starting setter, topping the rest of the best in that category by 180. She had a high of 1,521 assists last fall as a senior, that total coming in ninth for a single season, and all four of her season totals rank among the top 24 since the MHSAA went to rally scoring in 2004-05.
In addition, O’Leary made the career aces list with 327. Victoria Iacobelli, the top hitter on the 2014 runner-up team, was added for 642 kills that fall. Iacobelli has gone on to play at Bowling Green, while O’Leary claimed the statewide Miss Volleyball Award as a senior and will begin her college career at University of Michigan this upcoming season.
Click to see the volleyball record book in full plus more recent record book additions in baseball, girls and boys basketball, football and softball.
Baseball
Morenci’s Matthew Schiermyer enjoyed a memorable day April 28, 1995, when he belted three home runs in his team’s 8-6 win over Ottawa Lake Whiteford. He drove in five runs total with the three homers.
Kingsley’s Alex Parker was hit by 38 pitches over a four-year varsity career that concluded this spring, including by 16 pitches as a junior. His career total is tied for 12th all-time. He will continue his career at Henry Ford College.
Girls Basketball
Onsted’s Taylor Hutchinson knocked down 41 more 3-pointers this past season to finish her four-year varsity career with 167, making the records list in that category. She will continue her career at Jackson College.
Boys Basketball
Hale sophomore Joseph Kimmerer helped his team to a league championship last winter and earned an entry in the record book among sharp shooters. He made 88.3 percent of his free-throw attempts over 21 games (83 of 94) to tie for the 15th-best percentage for one season.
Football
Then-senior Griffin Kelly got his final season off to a great start last Aug. 25, running for six touchdowns in making the single-game list for rushing scores as his Frankfort team defeated Manton 70-40. He is continuing his career at Northern Michigan University.
Dearborn Heights Star International’s Saif Almalla was waiting for a kickoff from Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest to roll into the end zone last Oct. 6 – but when it didn’t, he picked up the ball and raced 99 yards for a touchdown while also tying the record for longest kickoff return in MHSAA history. Almalla will be a senior this fall.
Softball
A trio of strong hitters put up record book-caliber seasons in 2017 for Farmington Hills Mercy. Sophie Van Acker, then a senior, had 84 hits – 10th most for one spring – and graduated with 241 hits over four seasons. Nicole Belans added 18 doubles for a career total of 33, and also made the single-season RBI list with 70. Anna Dixon, then a junior, also had 70 RBI, in addition to 78 hits and 73 runs scored. Van Acker signed with Lehigh University out of high school, and Dixon will continue at Hillsdale College.
Muskegon Orchard View slugger Halee Holman is off to a great start after two seasons on varsity, and with two more to go. As a sophomore this spring, she made the MHSAA record book with 14 home runs and 90 RBI – the RBI tied for fifth-most all-time. She’s also on the career RBI list with 156 and just short of the career home run list with 19 so far.
Lansing Waverly’s Madeline Stump capped a memorable run this spring with four entries for career accomplishments. Across four seasons and 132 games, Stump hit .546 with 230 hits including 50 doubles and 25 home runs.
PHOTO: Novi’s Erin O’Leary sets a teammate during last season’s Class A Semifinal win over DeWitt.