Hartland Star's Career Stands Among Best
July 16, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Amber Crouse finished her girls lacrosse career by helping Hartland to its third straight MHSAA Semifinal this spring after also playing a big part in her team’s run to a Division 1 runner-up finish in 2012.
Along the way this spring, Crouse set a single-game record with 14 assists, against Walled Lake Northern/Western, and had the second-most single-game assists in MHSAA history three days later against Waterford Kettering/Mott. Her 70 assists this season rank fifth on that list, with her 117 career assists also fifth on that list.
Teammate Amy Longe added the scoring punch to this season’s Semifinal run, scoring seven goals three times and 95 goals total – tying for seventh on the single-season goals list. Goalie Brooke Eicher had the fourth and fifth-most saves for one game, 21 and 19, respectively, both against Brighton, and finished with 176 saves to rank fourth on that single-season list.
Click to view the full girls lacrosse record book, and read on for more recent additions to the MHSAA’s listings.
Boys Basketball
- Owendale-Gagetown’s Brett Stockton was one of the state’s top scorers during the final two years of his high school career that finished in 2013. One of his most special nights came on Feb. 1 of that year, when Stockton tied the MHSAA record with 25 free throws (in 29 attempts) in an 84-69 win over Kingston. Stockton finished that game with 50 points – including 24 with 20 free throws during the fourth quarter.
- Mackinaw City’s Noah Morse capped his three-year varsity career this winter among MHSAA leaders in single-game, single-season and career steals. He twice had 12 steals in a game to tie for third-most, with his 115 steals this season tied for 10th on the single-season list and his 258 career steals – again, in only three seasons – ranking 11th.
Boys Lacrosse
- Andrew Kransberger ended his career at Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central this spring as one of the leading scorers in the MHSAA’s decade-long history in this sport. His 211 career goals, 156 career assists and 367 career points all rank second on those respective lists, although Kransberger didn’t join the starting lineup until his sophomore season. He also made the single-season lists for goals, assists or points a combined eight times.
- Temperance Bedford goalie Alex Wallace saw his share of shots during the 2014 season, finishing with the second-most saves on record, 231. That included 23 (tied for fourth-most) in an April 17 loss to Ann Arbor Skyline.
Girls Soccer
- Riverview’s Kirsten Chambers made the single-season assists list twice with 33 as a junior and 26 this spring as a senior, ranks third on the career list with 100 and also made the career goals (71), single-season points (54) and career points lists (171) during her outstanding four-year run. Her career points rank 15th.
- Brooklyn Columbia Central’s Danielle Eastman capped her career with 54 points including 42 goals this spring, with both totals making MHSAA lists. She also made the career goals list with 104 over the last three seasons.
- Frankenmuth keeper Claire Carter added to her 17 shutouts in 2012 with 17 more this season and finished her four-year varsity career with 54 – good for seventh-most on that list. She also had 14 shutouts as a junior in 2013.
Softball
- Beaverton’s Alix Price finished her career in 2013 as a finalist for the statewide Miss Softball Award – and with a number of high-ranking career stat totals. Her 41 triples over four seasons rank second, with her career average of .537 ranking 10th and her 261 hits fourth. She also made career lists with 56 doubles and 211 runs.
- Howard City Tri-County’s Brooke Dillon tied for 11th on the single-season triples list with 13 this spring, and also joined a large group with back-to-back home runs accomplishing that feat April 26 against Holland. Teammate Alexis Holappa made the single-game RBI list with six May 28 against Wyoming Godwin Heights.
PHOTO: Hartland’s Amber Crouse (right) finished her high school career among MHSAA leaders in assists and total points (Photo courtesy of Hartland High School.).
Mendon 8-Player Championship Game Run Paced by Record-Setting Rushing
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 26, 2023
Mendon’s run to the Division 2 Final last fall included some of the strongest rushing performances over the history of 8-player football.
The Hornets ran for 4,317 yards, second-most all-time, on the second-most attempts (520) and with a record-setting 682 yards Oct. 14 against Marcellus. Mendon also set the record for total offense with 692 total in that game, and made the single-season touchdowns list with 76 including 66 rushing (also second on that list).
Junior Jack McCaw made the single-season scoring list with 212 points, most coming on 29 touchdowns, and Evan Lukeman made the single-game rushing list with 401 yards against Marcellus. Mendon’s defense also earned praise, twice making the fewest-first-downs-allowed list with a low of three.
See below for more recent additions to the 8-player portion of the football record book:
8-Player Football
Athens’ Landon Bennett earned a pair of record book entries after reaching the end zone seven times during his team’s 72-0 win over Burr Oak on Sept. 8. His seven scores are tied for third-most in 8-player history and included three rushing, three on punt returns and one on an interception return. The three punt return touchdowns are a record. Bennett is a junior.
On the night Powers North Central broke its 8-player record for consecutive wins, claiming its 28th straight, senior Luke Gorzinski tied Jets great Jason Whitens for the record for interception touchdowns in a game with two, scoring on returns during the second and fourth quarters. Gorzinski has signed with Michigan Tech, and North Central’s winning streak is 37 games and counting.
A pair of Atlanta offensive playmakers and a top defensive lineman earned a total of seven entries in the record book for achievements last fall. Senior quarterback Tyler Currie threw for 30 touchdowns over eight games, and also made the records for six touchdowns and 419 passing yards against Whittemore-Prescott on Sept. 23; the passing yards are second-most for one 8-player game. Sophomore Landon Galea was added for 263 yards and five of those touchdowns against the Cardinals, and also for 1,418 yards receiving and 23 touchdowns over nine games. Junior teammate Tucker Kendrick made the tackles for loss list with five against Hillman on Oct. 6.
Adrian Lenawee Christian senior Brady McKelvey became the first to make the career extra points list in 8-player football this past fall. He bettered his previous single-season record making 64 of 66 extra-point attempts over 11 games and finishing his two-year varsity career with 123 extra points in 127 tries.
Sam McKissack reached the record book showcasing multiple skills for Crystal Falls Forest Park during the 2021 season – twice for rushing attempts in a game including with a record 59 against Ontonagon that Sept. 10, and then with a record 70-yard punt Oct. 30, 2021, against Lake Linden-Hubbell. Teammate Devon Basirico also made the record book with six fumble recoveries over 11 games that season. As a team, Forest Park was added twice for single-game rushing attempts – including 73 total in that Ontonagon game – and for 424 rushes over 11 games for the season. McKissack and Basirico are seniors this spring.
Nikolaus Lewis tied for eighth-most rushing touchdowns in an 8-player game when he reached the end zone six times for Carsonville-Port Sanilac in its win over Caseville on Oct. 7. He’s a senior this spring.
Bridgman has won 24 straight games over the last three seasons, and an exceptional offense – and exceptional offensive star – have played major roles. The Bees were added for 658 total yards in a win over Lawrence last season, that total ranking third all-time, and also 613 yards in a win over Eau Claire. Those included totals of 575 and 547 rushing yards, respectively, and Bridgman was added for 3,598 rushing yards (sixth on the list), 59 rushing touchdowns (fourth) and 76 total touchdowns (seventh). Senior Reid Haskins capped his four-year, 32-game varsity career with 13 record book entries, including for 254 points last season over nine games (tied for fifth all-time) and a record 620 career points, 41 touchdowns last season (fifth) and a record 95 for his career, 2,344 rushing yards last season (third) and a record 5,206 for his career, and 41 rushing touchdowns last season (third) and a record 94 for his career. Senior teammate Tanner Peters made the records three times including for 50 extra points last season (fourth) and 99 over 26 games and three seasons (second on the career list).
Mio's Austin Fox rewrote the 8-player passing record book this past fall, with his 621 yards in a game against Whittemore-Prescott setting a single-game record as he totaled four of the five-highest passing yardage totals. He also set a record with 3,516 over nine games for the season, another record with 289 passing attempts over those nine games and a third record for nine touchdown passes in that game against the Cardinals. His 41 touchdown passes total rank fourth. Teammates Gage Long and Nathan Hurst also earned several record book entries on the receiving end of those passes. Long’s 297 receiving yards against Whittemore-Prescott were tied for third most, and Hurst’s 266 against Alcona rank eighth. Long set a single-season record with 1,739 receiving yards, with Hurst sixth all-time at 1,321, and Long’s 14 receptions against the Cardinals and 70 for the season also rank second on those respective lists. Hurst set a record for longest 8-player kickoff return with a 99-yarder against St. Helen Charlton Heston. All three are seniors.
Peck was one of the first MHSAA 8-player champions, claiming the title in 2013, and Cody Abrego one of the state’s first 8-player stars. The Pirates were added to the MHSAA record book 52 times, and Abrego 14 times individually. Among the most notable entries for the 2015 graduate were for 462 points scored over his two-season career (ranking sixth all-time), 74 career touchdowns (sixth), 2,202 rushing yards in 2013 (fifth) and 35 rushing touchdowns in 2013 (sixth). Current senior Caleb Lentner was one of the stars statewide this past season, and he was added eight times including for 50 points scored in a game (ranking second), 272 points for a season last fall (fifth), eight touchdowns in a game (tied for second), 42 touchdowns in a season (fifth), an 8-player record of 2,694 rushing yards from last season, and 38 rushing touchdowns also last fall (fourth). Others to make the individual lists were Nathan Robar, Caleb Dudley, Steven VanConant, Kyle Abrego and Nathan Neihaus, Dudley for a record 20 career interceptions over two seasons and VanConant for a record 12 tackles for loss in a 2022 game and 36 tackles for loss for the season last fall. The Pirates also are all over the 8-player team record book, including for a record 97 touchdowns in 2013, a record 5,895 yards of total offense that season, 528 carries, 4,346 rushing yards and 73 rushing touchdowns in 2013 (all ranking second); and 24 interceptions in 2014, which ranks second on that list.
Senior quarterback JR Hildebrand was one of the most dynamic players in 8-player football in the fall in leading Martin to the Division 1 title. He had one of his most exciting nights in a playoff opener against Tekonsha, making the single-game touchdown pass list with six in a 68-6 victory.
PHOTO Mendon’s Jack McCaw (21) eludes a tackle during the 8-Player Division 2 Final in November at Northern Michigan University. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)