Big-Play Power Produces Memorable Moments for Chippewa Valley
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 8, 2021
Big-play talent has been a major contributor to Clinton Township Chippewa Valley’s all-around football success the last many seasons – and a pair of highlight reel producers were among latest additions to the MHSAA 11-player record book.
Soon-to-be senior Cephus Harris III this past fall became one of the latest of 13 to return a kickoff 99 yards, doing so during his team’s 21-20 loss to Utica Eisenhower on Oct. 16. He also ran for a 48-yard score in the game.
Additionally, David Ellis was added for a 99-yard run in a 2018 win over Dearborn Fordson. He is playing currently at Indiana and is one of 12 listed on the 99-yard run list.
Also for Chippewa Valley, Stefan Clairborne (seven in 2014) and Jacob Rybicki (five in 2016) were added to the blocked extra point/field goal attempt list. Clairborne plays at Western Michigan, and Rybicki plays at Northwood.
Click to see the 11-player football record book in full, and read below for more recent additions.
11-Player Football
Erie Mason receiver Tanner Herrera tied for the eighth-most receptions in one game Oct. 18 when he pulled in 16 for 188 yards in a 38-24 loss to Dundee. Herrera will be a senior this fall.
A number of records were added from Frankenmuth’s success over the last 60 years, both as a team and individually. Among them, then-junior Mike Holzei was added for six rushing touchdowns in a 1990 win over Caro, and then-senior Hunter Schluckebier for two kickoff return touchdowns in a 2017 game against Almont. Kevin Heinzman was added for kicking 47 extra points in 56 attempts as a senior also in 2017, and then-seniors Pat Walderzak and Justin Meyer were added for 31 and 25 tackles for loss, respectively, in 1997. As a team, Frankenmuth totaled 716 yards in a 1983 win over Midland Bullock Creek to rank second on that all-time list, and scored 71 touchdowns as a team in 2005. The Eagles also were added a number of times for fewest first downs allowed in a season, including 33 in eight games in 1965. Walderzak went on to compete in track & field at Central Michigan.
Longtime coach Bob Buckel was added to the career coaching wins list after concluding his career 214-114 after the 2015 season. Buckel led Birch Run from 1983-90, Flushing from 1991-2009, Otisville-LakeVille Memorial in 2010 and then Flint Powers Catholic from 2011-15. Under his guidance, Powers won the Division 5 championship in 2011.
Lansing Catholic’s 2019 Division 5 championship season included record-book accomplishments from a pair of standouts. Senior Zach Gillespie made the records with 2,698 yards and 27 touchdowns passing, and also a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against Grand Rapids West Catholic in Week 2. Then-sophomore kicker Jonah Richards was added for making 72 extra points (in 75 attempts) including all nine against Eaton Rapids in a Week 3 win, plus 62 straight. Gillespie is continuing at Michigan State.
Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central’s Trey Conner is one of 18 players who have intercepted four or more passes in a game. He made the list with four against Kalamazoo Christian on Sept. 30, 2005.
Coleman’s Spencer Pnacek has joined the list of stat-stacking passers with 323 completions in 681 attempts for 4,499 yards over 32 games from 2015-18 – all three totals making career lists. He also made the single-game passing list with 464 yards in a 2017 contest. Teammate Jason Beckner was added for his 1,902 career receiving yards over 27 games from 2015-17.
A week after Chippewa Valley’s Harris, Belding senior Kyle Prosser became the 13th with a 99-yard kickoff return, bringing his back against Eaton Rapids during a 46-3 win.
Reed City won’t soon forget its 70-40 win over Newaygo on Oct. 9. Not only did it make the list for games that saw two teams combine for the most points (with the losing team scoring at least 40), but Reed City gained 646 yards all rushing to make both the total offense and single-game rushing yards lists. Reed City also made the single-game rushing attempts list with 67 and touchdowns list with eight.
The pass/catch combo of quarterback Carson Roose and receiver Ryan Jones put up some massive single-game numbers for Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett during the fall. Roose made the single-game passing yardage list three times, the completion list twice and attempts list once – with his 536 yards against Carson City-Crystal on Oct. 17 ranking ninth all-time. His seven touchdown passes against Mount Clemens on Sept. 26 tied for eighth-most in one game. Jones caught 18 passes for 234 yards against Carson City-Crystal – the receptions tying for third on that single-game list. Roose is a junior and Jones a sophomore this school year.
PHOTO: David Ellis is hoisted into the air by a teammate after scoring on a 94-yard kickoff return during Chippewa Valley’s 2018 Division 1 championship game win over Clarkston at Ford Field.
Cole Sets Grand Haven at Record Pace
August 6, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Grand Haven’s Katie Cole was only a sophomore last season when she set the Buccaneers into the MHSAA Class A Volleyball Semifinals.
But that was only one bar she raised with two seasons remaining in her high school career.
Cole also set an MHSAA rally-scoring era record with 1,797 assists over 155 games as she and Chelsea’s Marry Kelleher (1,757 in 2014) both bested the previous record during the same season – Cole by 229 assists.
She averaged 11.6 assists per game while tallying all but 90 of her team’s total as Grand Haven finished 53-9.
Click to see the volleyball record book in full and read below for more recent submissions in baseball, boys basketball, football, girls soccer and softball.
Baseball
- Matthew Rivera established himself as a top hitter over the last four seasons, making the MHSAA records with a career average of .482 and a single-season average this spring of .625 that ranks seventh all-time. But most impressive might have been his hits in 12 straight at bats against Ellsworth, Pickford, and Boyne Falls over four straight games from May 1-8, which tied for the fourth-longest hit streak over consecutive at bats. Rivera also earned a listing with six stolen bases in a game against St. Ignace on May 21.
Boys Basketball
- Onaway 6-foot-5 senior Pat Dunn capped his career this winter with a stellar season averaging 15.2 points and 15 rebounds per game. He made the MHSAA record listings with 316 rebounds total, breaking that school record and also his school’s record with 76 blocked shots. He will continue his career at Adrian College.
- Cooper Heminger is among Perry school record holders including for blocking 12 shots in a 58-49 win over Lake Fenton on Feb. 18, 2014, and that total also made the MHSAA list for blocks in a game. Heminger, a 6-5 forward, graduated this spring.
Football
- Former Genesee standout Don Robinson already was listed for a 95-yard kickoff return in 1983, and has been added for a 99-yard run that same season, Sept. 30 against Webberville. He went on to play at Eastern Michigan University.
Girls Soccer
- Leland’s Libby Munoz continued this spring her move up the MHSAA girls soccer scoring lists and ranks among all-time leaders with another season to play. She scored 58 goals, tying for fourth-most in one season, to go with her 64 from 2014, and her 164 career goals over three seasons ranks fifth, 31 behind record-holder Jordan Newman of Lake Fenton (2011-14). Munoz finished with 75 points total this spring, sixth-most for one season, and her 219 tie for fourth on the career list, 71 behind Laura Heyboer of Hudsonville Unity Christian (2005-08). Munoz also was added in girls basketball, having made 15 of 22 free-throw attempts in a Jan. 14 game against Buckley.
Softball
- Harrison pitcher Allison Lipovsky finished her high school career not only as the most celebrated pitcher in school history, but among the highest achievers statewide of all time. She built a 91-32 record over four varsity seasons and made the MHSAA records nine times – her 23 no-hitters rank eighth on that career list and her 1,363 strikeouts are 11th-most over a career. She also tied for 18th with 29 career home runs and sits eighth with 110 career walks at the plate. She has signed with Grand Valley State University. In addition, Harrison as a team was added for its 452 strikeouts total this spring.
- Milford sophomore Audrey Petoskey took a big step up the home run records ladder this spring, making the single-season list with 12 and joining the career list with 20 homers and two more seasons to play. Total, she hit .476 in 36 games this season.
- Mattawan finished 31-13 and made the MHSAA Division 1 Semfinals this spring on the strength of one of the most impressive offensive seasons in the sport’s history. The Wildcats made six team categories in the MHSAA records with 416 runs scored, 491 hits (third all-time), 97 doubles (second), 48 home runs (third), 359 RBI (second) and a .415 team batting average (eighth all-time). Junior Amber Mazahem twice hit homers in consecutive at bats and finished with 13 total, while sophomores Joanna Bartz and Alexis Taube hit 12 and 11, respectively. Taube also made the record book with homers in three consecutive at bats, 71 hits total and 17 doubles, and junior Genny Soltesz was added after scoring 66 runs.
- Lauren Aldrich capped her four-season Perry career among MHSAA leaders in home runs and walks with 24 and 112, respectively. The walks are tied for sixth most. Aldrich already was listed in the records for 10 home runs as a sophomore in 2013.
PHOTO: Grand Haven’s Katie Cole sets for a teammate during last season’s 3-2 loss to Novi in their Class A Semifinal match at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena.