Heivilin Caps Three Rivers Career in Powerful Fashion
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 11, 2021
Kali Heivilin graduated from Three Rivers this spring with 20 record book entries and as one of the most accomplished hitters in state softball history – despite not being able to play as a junior because the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
She tied her single-season runs record with 88 and set the single-season home runs record with 29, to go with a number of single-game and career accomplishments as well. She ended her prep career with 238 runs (10th all-time), 201 hits, 66 home runs (second), 208 RBI (15th), a .568 batting average (14th) and 86 walks, all over 118 games and three varsity seasons.
Her senior teammate Shantel Blyly also was added to the record book five times for achievements this season, including finishing a three-year career with 33 doubles and hitting 19 this spring, and sophomore Ava Forman was added for her 17 doubles this season. Three Rivers as a team was added for 447 hits, 73 doubles, five homers in a game May 7 and 48 total, and 308 RBI this season over 39 games.
Heivilin is continuing her career at Alabama, and Blyly will play at Calvin.
See below for more recent additions to the softball record book.
Otsego’s Kendra VanderLugt closed her varsity career this spring among the most accomplished run producers in MHSAA history – and despite also not getting to play a junior season because of COVID-19. Over three seasons and 108 games she scored 173 runs, hit 43 doubles, 49 home runs (tied for fourth all-time) and drove in 229 runs (tied for seventh on that career list). Her 26 home runs last season broke the previous record and are now tied for second all-time for one spring. Additionally, Otsego junior Jada Bolhuis added two more record entries with 82 hits and 79 runs, the latter tying for seventh-most in one season. VanderLugt will continue at University of Toledo.
Novi picked up a pair of record book entries early this season. Sophomore Reganne Bennett struck out 14 in a five-inning no-hitter against Livonia Churchill on April 16, making the list for most strikeouts in a five-inning game. Junior Ally Sharnowski make the single-game home run list with three in an April 15 game against Livonia Franklin.
Junior Haley Scott and freshman Julia Babcock became the latest from Niles Brandywine to earn record book entries, both doing so with six RBI in a game this spring. Scott drove in six runs during a win over St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic on May 5, with a grand slam part of her total. Babcock’s against Cassopolis on May 19 included a three-run walk-off homer.
Kamryn Troyer earned four record book entries with a powerful performance against Brandywine on May 7. The Centreville junior hit two first-inning home runs, tying a state record, and then a third in her third at bat of the game to make two more lists. She also made the single-game RBI list with six total in the victory.
A pair of Warren Fitzgerald standouts also earned single-game entries this spring. Sophomore Clarice Chapaton tied the record with four triples during an April 19 win over Clinton Township Clintondale, and junior Alexis Lesh drove in seven runs during her team’s May 5 win over Warren Lincoln.
Center Line teammates Emma Hastings and Harley Limberger had a pair of matching accomplishments during an April 26 win over Madison Heights Lamphere. Both drove in eight runs – Hastings on a pair of home runs and Limberger on three hits including two homers. Hastings was a senior this spring and will continue at Ohio Christian University, while Limberger was a sophomore.
Liberti Fair also tied the single-game record for triples this season, hitting four in four at bats (and scoring three runs with four RBI) in Clinton’s win over Hillsdale on May 18. A senior this spring, she’ll continue her career at Grand Valley State.
Sophomore Madison Jamrog was near-perfect in making the MHSAA record book with 14 strikeouts in Hamilton’s five-inning win over Holland Christian on May 17. She allowed just two hits.
Recent Napoleon grad Becca Daoust had to miss out on her junior season as well, but she made the most of the rest and landed on two record book career lists – with 27 triples over her other three seasons, and a .619 average that ranks sixth all-time. Her .747 average this spring ranks second on the single-season list, and she also made the runs scored list with 69. She also will continue at Toledo.
PHOTO: Kali Heivilin’s many Three Rivers accomplishments were on display during an interview this spring with State Champs! Sports Network. (Photo courtesy of State Champs! Sports Network.)
Ruddy, Whiteford Run Into Record Book with Championship Rushing Attack
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 25, 2023
Ottawa Lake Whiteford won its second Finals championship in 2022 with a power rushing attack that’s become expected of the program, but also with a record-setting quarterback leading the way.
Senior Shea Ruddy was added to the MHSAA record book for 4,461 yards and 52 touchdowns passing over four seasons, plus five touchdown passes in a half last season against Kalamazoo Loy Norrix.
Whiteford, meanwhile, made the record book for 664 points scored, 5,756 total yards and 87 total touchdowns, 4,515 rushing yards, 635 rushing attempts and 68 rushing scores. Whiteford’s 2021 team also was added for 64 rushing touchdowns, 5,468 total yards and 628 points after a Semifinal run. Ruddy is playing now at Hillsdale College.
See below for more recent updates to the 11-player record book.
11-Player Football
Portland lost a 39-34 heartbreaker to DeWitt on Sept. 1, 2022, but a pair of Raiders top a record book list for one of the game’s biggest highlights. Marc Nobis found receiver Chris Battley for a 99-yard touchdown reception, tying the record for longest scoring pass. Nobis was a senior, and Battley was a sophomore.
Rochester Hills Stoney Creek senior Quentin Ubaydi earned a record book listing for a flawless kicking performance last Aug. 25. He made all 10 of his extra-point tries in his team’s 70-0 win over Detroit Mumford.
The list of football programs with at least 500 wins over their histories is short – but growing. St. Joseph was added with a 563-376-34 record dating to its first season in 1913. The Bears also were added for 706 total yards in their Sept. 30, 2022, game against Portage Northern, a 62-49 win.
Walled Lake Western’s Jaxon Lippert became the 21st player to return a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown when he did so against Davison on Sept. 30, 2022. Lippert is a senior this fall.
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix was part of one of the highest-scoring games of the 2021 season, and a pair of then-senior standouts earned individual record listings that day. Quarterback Tyler Roberts threw for 424 yards, and received Kevin Lucas had 223 yards and four touchdowns through the air, although Whiteford prevailed 76-40. Roberts is playing football and baseball at Hope College, and Lucas is playing football at Albion College.
Four decades later, Flint Kearsley standout John Yancer had been added for his 19 sacks over nine games in 1983, including five in the season finale against Flushing. Yancer was a senior that fall.
Holton quarterback Austin Fowler capped his high school career in a big way as a senior in 2021, making the record book seven times for passing – most notably for 2,265 yards, 153 completions and 33 touchdown tosses over nine games. He threw for 463 yards on 32 completions as Holton and Muskegon Heights Academy combined for 108 points that Oct. 30. He’s played baseball at Muskegon Community College this spring.
Tarik Ahmetbasic finished his high school career in 2022 having made 48 straight extra points dating back to the final game of his junior season, and he made the record book three times total for Clinton Township Chippewa Valley. He was added also for 87 extra points over 90 attempts over two seasons as the team’s point-after kicker, and for making all nine of his field goal attempts last fall. Ahmetbasic also just missed the career field goals list with 16 in 18 attempts, having kicked all 16 over the last two seasons after attempting one as a sophomore. He is continuing at Michigan State.
Boyne City seniors Jack Neer and Alex Calcaterra didn’t take long to make memories last season. Both made the record book in an opening 51-35 win over Benzie Central, Neer with seven touchdown passes (tied for eighth-most in a game) and Calcaterra catching five of those (tied for third). Neer signed with Hillsdale College, and Calcaterra is playing basketball at Michigan Tech.
Hudson’s 43-0 win over Blissfield on Oct. 8, 2021, was memorable for a few reasons. But arguably the most notable was achieved by the Tigers’ defense, which held Blissfield without a first down.
Mio’s Grant Price earned two listings over a month near the end of the 2010 season, rushing for six touchdowns in a win over Au Gres-Sims on Oct. 8 and then six again in a win over Cedarville that Nov. 5. He was a junior that season.
Mason set a school record for wins in finishing 12-1 last fall, and expectations are high again with junior Cason Carswell and senior Derek Badgley among returnees this season. Carswell was added to the record book three times including for 2,403 yards and 34 passing touchdowns, and Badgley was added for catching four of Carswell’s six touchdown passes in a Regional Final win over Trenton. Sophomore Collin Winters also was added after connecting on 58 of 62 extra-point tries, and the Bulldogs as a whole made the season scoring list with 554 points.
Senior Charlie Martyn joined a group of accomplished Ithaca kickers with his achievements over the last three seasons, earning record book entries for nine straight extra points in a game last fall, 53 extra points in 57 tries total over 11 games and 82 extra points in 95 tries over a three-year career with nearly all of those points coming as a junior and senior. He will next play baseball at Alma College. Ithaca also was added for holding St. Louis to only three first downs during their 2022 meeting.
A pair of Coopersville standouts capped their careers last fall with multiple entries in the record book. Four-year varsity quarterback Colton Bosch was added for 329 completions, 572 attempts and 4,574 passing yards, while three-year receiver Ryan Serba was added for 129 receptions and 1,975 yards for his career. Additionally, then-junior teammate Nick Gordon was added for 14 receptions in a game against Hudsonville Unity Christian on Sept. 9 and four touchdowns against Allendale on Oct. 7. Bosch will continue his career at Concordia-Chicago.
Semaj Morgan capped a magnificent three-season career at West Bloomfield last fall with four record book entries, most notably for his receiving. Morgan was added for 116 receptions and 1,876 yards over 34 career games, including 1,015 yards as a junior in 2021. He also earned a listing for a 100-yard interception return against Lake Orion last Sept. 24. He is continuing his career at Michigan.
Brandon Soltis completed his DeWitt football career in the fall with the career-record 207 extra points over his 47 games and four seasons – 46 more than the previous record holder. He drilled 55 of 57 tries last season to move to the top of the list, including a stretch of 38 consecutive. Teammate Bryce Kurncz was added for his 23 touchdown catches over 21 games and two seasons, and DeWitt as a team was added for 623 yards in a game against Grand Ledge, 5,056 yards over its 12 games for the season and for allowing only four first downs in its season-opening win over Haslett. Soltis is continuing at Hope College, and Kurncz is playing at Michigan Tech.
M'Khi Guy became the latest Muskegon star quarterback to reach the record book, doing so with six rushing touchdowns in his team’s 49-21 Division 3 Semifinal win over DeWitt on Nov. 19. Guy is a senior this fall.
A trio of Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice standouts were added for accomplishments last season or over careers that finished in 2022. Senior Henry Garrity made the single-game receiving yardage list with 225 against Warren De La Salle Collegiate on Sept. 16, and senior Griffin Pardi made the longest-punt list that game with a 72-yarder. Senior Owen Pardi finished his three-season varsity career last fall with 85 extra points in 95 tries. Jake Coulter also was added to the longest-punt list for his 71-yarder in 2020. Garrity is continuing at Notre Dame, and Owen Pardi is continuing at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Coulter plays baseball at Central Michigan.
Belleville kicker Brayden Lane made the single-season extra point list for the second time last season, connecting on 74 of 79 attempts. He’s also now on the career list with 126 in 144 attempts heading into his junior season this fall.
Edwardsburg continued to achieve among the state’s highest-producing offenses the last two seasons, ranking among the all-time leaders with 5,227 total yards, 4,634 rushing, and 89 total touchdowns with 78 rushing in 2021, plus 4,343 rushing yards in 2022. Trevor Houseworth was a senior on the 2021 team and made individual lists with 73 extra points in 79 attempts and a long punt of 81 yards. He’s kicking at Saginaw Valley State.
Reed City continued its run of success in 2022, finishing 11-2 and making the MHSAA record book with 544 points total including 73 touchdowns – with 54 rushing, 13 passing, four on special teams and two scored while playing defense.
PHOTO Ottawa Lake Whiteford quarterback Shea Ruddy takes a snap to start an eventual touchdown run during last season’s Division 8 Final at Ford Field.