LaDuke's Defense Aids Ludington Rise
December 20, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Ludington’s run to the Class B championship game last winter was the result of a number of contributions – including senior Sam LaDuke’s on defense.
The now-graduated guard finished last season with 141 steals, third-most in MHSAA history, and with two games of 11 steals apiece (against Traverse City Central and Cadillac) that made the single-game record book list in that category.
LaDuke, who is continuing his career at Calvin College, also averaged 10.4 points per game as Ludington advanced to an MHSAA Finals for the first time since 1953.
Click to see the boys basketball record book in full and read on for more recent additions in football, girls and boys soccer, softball, volleyball and wrestling.
Football
Austin Brown set an MHSAA record on the first night of this recently-completed season, throwing eight touchdown passes for Madison Heights Madison during the first half of a 54-7 win over Warren Lincoln on Aug. 24. His six TD tosses in the second quarter tied another record, and those eight total also tied for second-most in one game. The junior quarterback finished the night 18 of 20 passing for 352 yards despite not playing during the second half.
Mesick senior Ethan Humphreys became the first entry on the list for longest fumble recovery touchdown in 8-player history when he snagged a Baldwin handoff and returned it 97 yards for a score on Sept. 8. It was one of Humphreys’ many contributions on the night – he also threw for two touchdowns, ran for two more scores and grabbed an interception in the 54-8 victory.
Girls Soccer
Kelly Bertera was a freshman on the first Southgate Anderson girls soccer team in 1996. Her nine goals in an 11-0 win over Taylor Truman that spring are tied for second-most in one game; she also had two assists in the victory.
Boys Soccer
Ithaca’s Cavun Beck scored eight goals in an Aug. 22 win over Durand, tying for the third-most scored in one game. The Yellowjackets senior also became the first to score at least that many in one contest since 2004, and he also assisted on the ninth goal as his team won 9-5.
Softball
Richland Gull Lake then-sophomore Lauren Esman was one of three players across the state to break the previous MHSAA record for home runs in a season last spring, and she ranks third on the list after knocking 21 (two others hit 22). She also has been added to the record book for 74 runs scored, 81 hits, 24 doubles, 91 RBI and a .675 batting average last season – her RBI rank fourth and her doubles tied for eighth on those lists. Esman has 25 home runs over her career so far and also was added seven times for single-game homers or RBI. Teammate Ashton Whitman (now a senior) also made the records with 20 doubles last season and six RBI in a game, and Shelby Martell (also now a senior) was added for six RBI in a game as well. Esman already has committed to sign with University of Michigan.
Utica Ford’s Meagan VerVaecke finished her career in the spring with a couple of notable accomplishments. Her 17 doubles over 37 games made the single-season list in that category, and her two third-inning home runs against Almont in a May 6 win were added to lists for two consecutive homers and in the same inning. VerVaecke is continuing her career at Saginaw Valley State.
Recent Sterling Heights graduate Shelby Segar earned a spot in the record book with eight RBI in her team’s 19-16 loss to New Haven on May 17. She finished 5 for 5 in the game with pair of doubles. Segar was a four-year varsity player.
Volleyball
Ludington senior Mackenzie Luce dominated a three-set win over Muskegon Heights Academy on Sept. 19, setting a pair of serving records with 20 aces in one game and 32 over the best-of-five match as her team won 25-5, 25-0, 25-7. Luce’s single-game record broke that of another Ludington athlete, Madisyn Brockelbank, who had 17 aces in one game during a 2013 match.
Wrestling
Connor Charping became the latest four-year standout to be added for more than 200 wins, finishing last winter with a career record of 204-24. He also made the career pins list with 119 over those 228 matches. In addition, freshman teammate Sam Rickman was added to the records for tying the fastest pin at 112 pounds, earning a victory in six seconds on Dec. 10, 2016. An MHSAA Finals runner-up in 2016, Charping is continuing his athletic career as part of the Western Michigan baseball program.
PHOTO: Ludington’s Sam LaDuke (10) applies defensive pressure during last season’s Class B Semifinal win over River Rouge.
Holland Christian's Morgan Finishes Unforgettable Career in Net
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 18, 2023
In guiding Holland Christian to the Division 3 championship last fall, senior keeper Daniel Morgan capped a three-year varsity career among the most accomplished in state history at his position.
He posted 16 shutouts in 22 games last season – including six straight at one point – and finished with 34 for his career. Holland Christian actually had 10 straight shutouts from Sept. 19 through Oct. 20, 2022, and 18 total over 24 games, giving up only seven goals for the season.
See below for more recent record book updates in boys soccer.
Boys Soccer
Henry Plumstead became the first Maple City Glen Lake player to be added to the record book, thanks to a stellar 2020 season. He was added for both 47 goals and 67 points over 20 games. He’s a sophomore now playing at Kalamazoo College.
Adrian Lenawee Christian’s Zach Riordan completed his four-year varsity career in 2019 among the highest-scoring players in MHSAA history. His 181 career goals continue to rank second, and he’s also listed for 61 as a junior and 52 as a senior. He’s also on the points lists for 79 as a junior, 61 as a senior and 221 over his career.
Senior season was filled with highlights for Okemos’ Jack Guggemos, as he helped his team to the 2021 Division 1 championship and won the Mr. Soccer Award. He’s also entered into the MHSAA record book for his 46 goals and 62 total points over 24 games. Okemos’ run to the championship included a streak of 40 straight games without a loss that began with the team going 20-0-4 that season and 12-0-4 to start the fall of 2022. Okemos was a combined 32-0-8 during the stretch. Additionally, Brian Guggemos was added for his 306 win over 21 seasons of coaching. He retired after last season with a 306-85-47 record. Jack Guggemos is continuing his playing career at Michigan State.
Mason Garcia’s major performance for Shelby last Aug. 22 netted him a spot among the highest-scoring players in MHSAA history. His seven goals in a win over Newaygo tied him for 10th-most in one game. He was a senior last fall.
Two of the most notable seasons in Macomb Lutheran North history were added for their defensive achievements. The 1987 team had 16 shutouts in 23 games on the way to winning the Class B title, while the 2002 team also had 16 shutouts over 21 games on the way to winning a District championship.
Wyoming Lee’s league championship season last fall also included the program’s first entry in the record book. Lee didn’t allow a goal from Sept. 12-Oct. 6, a stretch of 10 games that tied for the ninth-longest shutout streak all-time.
Berkley finished a combined 38-6-3 over the last two seasons, and defensive strength certainly played a part. The Bears started the 2021 season with seven straight shutouts and the 2022 season with eight shutouts in a row, both making the record book. They also earned entries with 17 shutouts and giving up only 10 goals total last season over 24 games.
Muskegon Oakridge then-junior Arturo Romero created statewide buzz at the start of last season when he put together hat tricks (three or more goals) in seven straight games from Aug. 20-Sept. 7. He had a high of six goals in a game and finished the season with 40 goals over 22 games total.
Josh Pugh finished his career at Marshall last fall with a pair of entries for ace goal-scoring. He made the single-game list with six Oct. 12 against Charlotte, and he tallied 110 goals over 81 games and four seasons.
Longtime St. Joseph coach Steve Lohrke also was added to the all-time wins list in this sport. He put together a 313-155-24 record leading the Bears from 1985-2008.
Austin Townsend tied Alpena’s single-game goals record and made the MHSAA record book with six in his team’s win over Oscoda on Sept. 28, 2022. He was a senior.
Fruitport’s Justin Laus finished up his career last fall on the career shutouts list with 25 total over 75 games and four varsity seasons. He became the second from his school to make the individual record book for boys soccer.
PHOTO Holland Christian keeper Daniel Morgan, center, pulls in the ball in front of his net during his team’s Division 3 Final win over Grosse Ile.