East Lansing's Smith Nets Goals Record

May 23, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

East Lansing’s Cole Smith took 36 shots in a boys lacrosse game April 18 against Swartz Creek – and made them count.

The senior attack set an MHSAA record with 18 goals in the 27-8 win, his goal total three more than the previous record. He also had an assist for the Trojans, whose season ended in the Regional last week.

Click to check out the boys lacrosse record book in full, and the headings below to see where the following additions fall in for baseball, softball, boys and girls basketball, volleyball and football.

Baseball

Sterling Heights Parkway Christian’s Ryan Stewart became the first from his school to make the MHSAA baseball record book after hitting .484 over his three seasons from 2012-14. He’s currently playing at Calvin College.

Girls Basketball

A pair of juniors led Pittsford to its first MHSAA title this winter and second straight appearance in the Class D Final. Jaycie Burger was added to the records for the second and third time, this season for 78 3-pointers over 27 games and also 172 assists. Teammate Maddie Clark was added for her 314 rebounds, also in 27 games. The Wildcats also finished 27-0 and have lost only two games over the last three seasons.

Evart’s Mara VanOrder also was added to the single-season rebounds list with 342 this winter. She’s signed with Cornerstone University for track & field/cross country.

Boys Basketball

Dylan Patton finished an excellent three-season varsity career at Leslie among all-time career leaders in rebounds and blocks. He had 843 rebounds and 218 blocks in 66 games over the last three winters, and his single-season 302 rebounds and 100 blocks as a junior both made single-season lists as well. His career blocks total ranks 18th. The 6-foot-8 forward also scored 870 points during his career.

Allen Park Inter-City Baptist senior Garrett Kraatz capped a strong four-season varsity career 10th in made 3-pointers with 228 in 575 attempts. The 5-11 guard made a high of 78 this season after connecting on 72 as a junior in 2014-15.

Lansing Catholic record book achievements going back five schools and more than 60 years were added for a number of players. For season and career rebounds were Jim Cassel (998 from 1975-77) and Ralph Coleman (929 from 1953-55), while Tony Poljan, Bob Fata, Doug Watters, Bill Murphy, Rick Kalchick and Pete Perpich made either single-season or career rebounds lists. Rob Beattie made the single-game steals list with 11 in a contest during the 1991-92 season, while Peter Murray and Pat Prichard made the single-season steals list and Joe Watters made the single-season assists list. Austin Nichols' .836 free-throw shooting percentage from 2007-09 ranks sixth on that career list, and he and Tom Churma both were added for single-season free-throw shooting percentage as well. Nichols also made the single-season free throws list with 174 as a senior, and Alex Kulesza, Churma, Poljan, Matt Fata and Coleman also made the career made free throws list. All played at Lansing Catholic but Coleman (Lansing St. Mary), Murphy, Perpich and Churma (Lansing O’Rafferty) and Doug and Joe Watters (Lansing Resurrection). Those five schools also were added for a number of team milestones; among highlights, Lansing Gabriels' 683 free-throw attempts in 1969-70 rank second, as do its 443 made free throws that season. Nichols went on to play at Northwestern University, while Coleman played at Aquinas College. Bob Fata played football at Michigan State, and Poljan will play football at Central Michigan.

Football

A number of listings from Mason’s successful program were added, led by one of the all-time leading rushing scorers in Saylor Lavallii. He made the career list with 482 points scored, and nearly all came on 80 rushing touchdowns – which rank sixth in that category. Kicker Josh Flamme was added for four field goals in a 2013 game against Toledo Scott, plus nine field goals in 2012 and 24 over his three-season career, and Jacob Derby was added for 56 extra points in 2010 and 47 in 2008, and his 142 over three seasons are tied for 10th most. Running backs Dan Kehres, Hunter Holbrook and Jordan Coulter received entries for single-game rushing attempts, and Lavallii also is listed for a 97-yard punt return in 2011. Graduating quarterback Jarrett VanHavel was added for 365 completions in 664 attempts for 5,149 yards over his four varsity seasons, plus six touchdown passes against Detroit Community on Oct. 23, and Nick Vondra was added for 68 catches for 1,016 yards last season and 120 catches for his career. Sean Wren was added for six punt return touchdowns from 2008-10. Lavallii went on to play at CMU, Wren played at Saginaw Valley State University and Kehres played at Alma College, while VanHavel will play at Mount Union in Ohio this fall. Flamme went on to play soccer and University of Detroit Mercy.

Softball

A trio of Millington hitters have been added to the records, including two for RBI in one game this season. Freshman Sydney Bishop was 5 for 5 and drove in seven runs in a 19-1 win over Vassar on April 16, and teammate Kayli Leix was 3 for 3 and drove in six runs in a 25-0 win over Bridgeport on May 13. Taylor Wright also was added for her back-to-back home runs in her last at bat of a first game and first of a second against Chesaning on May 14, 2015. Wright will play next season at Northwood University, and Leix will play at Mott Community College.

Volleyball

Kaitlyn Ill made the single-match aces list with 13 in Millington’s 3-0 sweep of Bridgeport on Sept. 30. Ill is a freshman.

PHOTO: East Lansing teammates carry Cole Smith off the field after his record-setting game against Swartz Creek on April 18. (Photo courtesy of East Lansing athletic department.)

Records Report: Duo Among All-Time Best

December 19, 2014

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Birmingham Brother Rice’s Alex Malzone and Grant Perry finished up careers this fall that leave them among the most accomplished pass catch duo in MHSAA history. 

Malzone, the quarterback, was added recently to 12 MHSAA record book listings; he was 29 of 42 for 419 yards in an 28-20 win over Orchard Lake St. Mary’s on Oct. 3 and finished this season 211 of 325 for 2,998 yards and 38 touchdowns (the touchdowns tying for eighth-most for one season). Malzone played only one game and didn’t attempt a pass on varsity as a freshman, but over the following three seasons completed 428 of 641 attempts for 6,254 yards and 69 touchdowns – his touchdowns again tied for eighth over a career. 

Perry set an MHSAA record with 105 receptions in 12 games this fall, finishing with 1,727 yards and 20 touchdowns including 14 catches for 247 yards in that Oct. 3 victory. He played two games without a catch as a freshman, but over his final three seasons caught 176 passes for 2,771 yards and 27 touchdowns. His catches and yards both rank among the top five in MHSAA history. 

Malzone has committed to sign with the University of Michigan and Perry with Northwestern University.

See below for more recent additions to MHSAA record books. Click each heading to view that record book in full. 

Baseball

  • Longtime Shepherd coach Jack Nartker was added as one of 21 who have led teams to at least 600 wins, with a 605-257-6 record since taking over in 1990. The Bluejays finished 23-13-1 this spring.

Football

  • In addition to Malzone and Perry, former Warriors standout Tony Gioutsos was added for five sacks in a game against Sterling Heights Stevenson in 1999. He went on to play at Western Michigan University.

  • Pewamo-Westphalia’s Colin Smith became the latest of four to tie an MHSAA record with a 99-yard kickoff return, bringing his back for a score against Detroit Loyola in their Division 7 Semifinal on Nov. 22.

  

Ice Hockey

  • It took some digging in a scrapbook, but Calumet’s Korey Rowe, Marc Pomroy and their teammates have been credited with setting (now since tied) the record for fastest two goals by the same team in an MHSAA game. In a 4-0 win over Hancock on Jan. 23, 1993, Rowe scored at 4:36 in the third period, with Pomroy putting a shot under the cross bar six seconds later. Rowe scored again five minutes later.

Boys Soccer

  • Tecumseh sophomore Josh Nowak became the first from his school to be listed in the MHSAA soccer record book after tallying 30 assists this fall to go with 15 goals. His assist total is tied for 16th for one season.

  • Saline’s defensive prowess the last two seasons was key in its pair of District titles and run to the Division 1 Semifinals this fall. The Hornets set an MHSAA record giving up only five goals (in 21 games) in 2013, and had 18 shutouts that season. They followed up with 14 shutouts this season, all by keeper Noah Taritas.

  • Plymouth Christian’s Lucas Albrecht capped his career with 88 goals, including 48 this fall in leading the Eagles to 14-5-1 record and appearance in their Division 4 District Final. Albrecht also had 15 assists to make the total points single-season list with 63.

Girls Soccer

  • Saline’s girls team also kept the majority of its opponents out of the net in 2014, with 18 shutouts in 25 games on the way to playing in a Division 1 Regional Final. Keeper Sofia Sweier had 16 shutouts in 21 games and has committed to play at Grand Valley State University after graduation this spring.

Softball

  • Wyoming Lee’s Amanda Emelander had one of the most powerful hitting days in MHSAA history May 21 against Hastings. She hit home runs in five straight at bats over the doubleheader, the last homer a grand slam as Lee claimed a share of the O-K Silver championship. Emelander finished the afternoon with 12 RBI, including eight in the second game, and got both pitching wins. She will play next season at Spring Arbor University.

  • Midland Bullock Creek catcher Maison Kalina capped her stellar high school career with seven entries in the MHSAA record book, including 82 hits this spring to tie for seventh-most in one season. She graduated with 231 hits, 50 doubles and 158 RBI over her four-year career that saw her hit .483 in 469 at bats. She’s continuing her career at Central Michigan University. 

PHOTO: Birmingham Brother Rice's Alex Malzone, carrying the ball during the 2013 Division 2 Final at Ford Field, ended his career among MHSAA elite in a number of passing categories.