'If They Have It, I Probably Wrote It'
By
Ron Pesch
MHSAA historian
August 11, 2016
I’m a firm believer that we don’t pick our hobbies; rather, they pick us.
As a college student at Western Michigan University, I made a phone call to the athletic department at Kalamazoo Central High School to ask what they knew about the history of their high school football team. I wanted to cross-reference their scores of past football games versus Muskegon High School against a list I had created. It was late 1984.
“Yes, we have that,” stated the person at the other end, “but you should really speak with Dick Kishpaugh. He’s the guy that compiled that information. Here’s his number.”
I thanked them for the information and made the call from my dorm. Indeed, Kishpaugh had compiled the collections of scores I sought and would happily share it. The call could have ended there. Yet, for some reason, I asked another question.
“One more thing,” I blurted out. “There’s this building in East Lansing that I drive past when I’m visiting friends at Michigan State. It’s the Michigan High School Athletic Association. I’m wondering if they might have anything in their files about the history of sports.”
“Well,” stated Kishpaugh. The pause that I hear in my head when I recall this memory gets longer and more dramatic each time I press the replay button. “If they have it, I probably wrote it.”
Just like that, I had found the state’s historian for high school sports. It was the beginning of a lifelong friendship.
After a few visits to his home in Parchment, just outside Kalamazoo, Dick invited me to join him in the press box at the Pontiac Silverdome for the 1985 MHSAA Football Finals. Of course I accepted. As a kid growing up in Muskegon, I had wanted to attend this event, but had never found the chance.
In March, I joined him for the Boys Basketball Finals in Ann Arbor. I had found a mentor, and he, a protégé. Along the way I learned his father would hand him the sports section from the newspaper, allow him the chance to study the college football scores, retrieve the pages, and then quiz him on the results of the games. For each score he got right, Dick was rewarded with a nickel.
“I got pretty good at recalling numbers,” he said, laughing.
I learned that he had attended his first MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals in 1944 with a friend, Nick Vista, during their high school days at Battle Creek Central. He told me that after seeing the tournament at Jenison Field House, they wondered about the records from past tourney games. When told by then-MHSAA Executive Director Charles Forsythe that nothing existed, the two of them began researching. A year later, the beginnings of what would become a lifelong passion was unveiled. (Vista later would serve as Sports Information Director at Michigan State University).
Admitting he didn’t exactly apply himself to his studies, Dick told the story of how his high school principal, recognizing his interest in sports, had worked a deal with the sports editor at the Battle Creek Enquirer for Kishpaugh to work as a stringer for the paper. The single contingent was that his grades had to improve drastically. Immediately, they did. Kishpaugh now had a press pass.
Like me, Kishpaugh had attended WMU, back in the day when the school was much smaller and a major training ground for future teachers. He served as sports editor for the yearbook and campus newspaper. He also met his bride-to-be, Shirley.
Because of this background, he met many students that would go on to coach at high schools across the state. These friendships would pay dividends for years to come as he assembled varsity game results and record performances. For 20 years, he also served as publicist for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), enhancing his reputation and expanding his circle of friends.
On the high school side, he dug out details from scrapbooks, yearbooks, newspaper clippings and microfilm. It was a hobby, but he always approached it as though it were his livelihood. He wrote – and this is no exaggeration – thousands of cards and letters over the years, asking former coaches and athletes for long-lost details.
His focus was football and basketball. He compiled those details into what we now commonly refer to as the MHSAA Record Book. And, although few readers probably realized it, he would supply interested sportswriters with facts, figures and the little item that would spice up their article with details few would know.
Eventually, his talents were recognized with an honorary title. Dick became known as Michigan's high school sports historian. He was the go-to guy for reporters, old and new, when a performance needed historical perspective.
When Title IX came to fruition and helped to increase opportunity for girls, he applauded the change. Immediately, he started a girls basketball record book. He wrote about the girls game, researching its origins, and shared his findings with readers of the MHSAA game programs.
I arrived in his 40th year of service. For the next decade, I tagged along, meeting an amazing array of sportswriters, broadcasters, coaches, and former players from high schools and colleges across the state and beyond. Thanks to his connections, we watched Big Ten, Mid-American Conference and MIAA college contests from press boxes and sidelines. Together, we were treated like dignitaries at the opening of the new College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind. I visited Dick and Shirley’s summer cottage, a landmark and slice of heaven located in Hickory Corners. He attended my wedding. We discussed an amazing array of subjects, including travel, history, and family.
In the spring of 1993, after 10 years of friendship and education, he told me it was my turn.
“I’m going to go concentrate on the college game,” he said, smiling. “You take over as high school historian.”
Dick was 67. Just prior to attending the high school basketball tournament, his 50th consecutive, he shared the news with his longtime friend, Joe Falls of The Detroit News. Shortly after the games, he headed off to the British Isles with his bride Shirley to indulge in their favorite pastime: travel.
In 1998, Dick attended his 55th straight MHSAA Basketball Finals. The streak ended a year later, as Dick and Shirley chose to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Austria, Switzerland, Germany and the British Isles during tournament time.
“I always knew I was going to miss the Finals sooner or later,” Kishpaugh told a Detroit Free Press reporter. “Our 50th wedding anniversary takes precedence.”
The streak was restarted in 2000, but it wouldn’t last. In April, while returning from a planned meeting at the College Football Hall of Fame, where he served on a committee designed to identify athletes and coaches from small colleges for possible induction into the Hall, Kishpaugh was killed in a traffic accident.
He passed away while doing what he loved. Still, the sports world lost an incredible resource and pioneer, dedicated to honoring the incredible accomplishments of Michigan’s high school student athletes. I lost a friend and a huge influence. It is an honor to occupy his shoes.
PHOTOS: (Top) Longtime MHSAA historian Dick Kishpaugh (left) enjoys a game with protégé Ron Pesch. (Middle) Kishpaugh receives an award for his service from MHSAA Executive Director Jack Roberts during the 1993 Boys Basketball Finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
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.