Lenawee Christian Standout Scores with State's All-Time Best
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 27, 2021
Bree Salenbien finished one of the most memorable careers in MHSAA girls basketball history this season as one of the leading scorers of all time – and despite playing two shortened seasons to finish her run at Adrian Lenawee Christian.
Salenbien suffered a knee injury in the regular-season finale in 2019-20, and missed out on three games before COVID-19 ended that season prior to the Regional Final. This winter, with its late start, led to Lenawee Christian playing only 17 games including the postseason.
But appearing in 92 games over four seasons makes her 2,059 career points, including 425 free throws, and 287 blocked shots that much more impressive. The Gonzaga signee is joined in the record book by teammates Libby Miller and (also sister) Dani Salenbien, who made the career 3-pointers list with 185 and 157, respectively, over four varsity seasons before both graduated in 2020. Dani Salenbien plays at Hillsdale College.
The Cougars also made the team record book for a number of accomplishments over the last five seasons, including with 202 3-pointers (sixth-most) in 2019-20 and 175 in 2018-19. The 2018-19 team also made the fifth-most free throws, 308, at a fourth-best percentage of .730, on the way to winning the Division 4 championship.
Click to see the girls basketball record book in full and see below for recent record book additions in boys basketball and volleyball.
Boys Basketball
A pair of Bellevue standouts were added for achievements over either their senior seasons in 2019-20 or careers. Grant Morgan tied for ninth all-time with 12 steals in a game against Colon on Jan. 13, 2020, and he also made the single-season steals list with 105. Teammate Carson Betz was added to the career lists with both 809 rebounds and 256 steals over four varsity seasons.
Morrice made the record book list with a school-record 17 3-pointers March 3, 2020, in a 69-23 win over Akron-Fairgrove. The Orioles attempted 56 shots from beyond the arc and were led by Hunter McGowan with 15 points all on long-range shots.
Greg Esler retired last summer after more than three decades of coaching boys varsity basketball and with a record of 558-235. He led St. Clair Shores Lake Shore from the 1987-88 through 1993-94 seasons, and then Warren De La Salle Collegiate through 2019-20.
Jager Mix quickly made an impact on Onaway’s success in 2019-20. Just a sophomore that season, he made the record book with 321 rebounds.
Tyler Eedy may be best at golf – he’s a freshman at Michigan State – but he’s part of the MHSAA record book in basketball after connecting on 41 straight free throws as an Ogemaw Heights senior. He also made the records list for free-throw percentage, connecting on 92.1 percent (82 of 89) of his attempts in 2019-20. The percentage ranks fourth all-time, and the streak is seventh longest.
Carson Irwin scored 25 points including making all 20 free throws he shot in Dundee’s 61-56 win over Clinton on March 17. The junior made the list for most free throws in a game and tied for third-most consecutive free throws in one contest.
Nearly 60 seasons have passed since Tom Pacynski averaged 38.8 points per game for Bay City St. Mary during the 1963-64 season. But with an assist from the Bay City Times, his average – which ranks fourth-highest for a single season, all-time – was added as well as his 62 points in a game that season against Pinconning St. Michael. Pacynski went on to play at Boston College.
Volleyball
Andelyn Simkins completed her Schoolcraft career in 2019 on career lists with 2,574 kills and 310 aces. The kills rank ninth on that list and include season highs of 760 as a senior and 748 as a junior. She’s playing currently at Western Michigan.
West Bloomfield senior Grace Allread closed her four-season varsity career in the fall on the career assists list with 2,524 over 395 games. She has signed to continue at Liberty.
PHOTO: Adrian Lenawee Christian’s Bree Salenbien pushes the pace against St. Ignace during the 2019 Division 4 Final at Calvin College.
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.