Mercy Star Scores Record in 1st Season

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 28, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Few freshmen in any sport have broken onto the scene like Farmington Hills Mercy’s Jillian Smith did in girls lacrosse in 2018.

The now-sophomore earned 20 entries in the MHSAA record book, including the top spot for points in one game when she scored 12 goals and tallied three assists for 15 points against Detroit Country Day last March 26.

Smith scored 12 goals in a game (tied for third most) three times, and her 132 goals for the season ranked third. Her 155 points over 17 games tied for sixth most all-time as she led Mercy to the Division 2 Semifinals.

See below for more recent MHSAA record book additions in girls lacrosse, girls soccer, boys basketball and football. Click the headings to see those record books in full.

Boys Basketball

A few seasons after hoisting his final high school shots, Drew Zuidema has an updated and rightful place on the career 3-pointers list. He made the list initially after his first three seasons at Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian, but with his senior total from 2013-14 now included Zuidema ended with 226 3-pointers – good to rank 16th in the category. He went on to play at Spring Arbor University.

A pair of standouts put up record book numbers over four seasons for Ann Arbor Skyline as they led the team to the Class A Regional Finals in 2017-18. Brandon Wade was added for making 352 of 486 free-throw attempts over 87 games, and also for his 210 career steals (his 469 career assists just missed that list). Jack Ammerman was added for connecting on 227 3-pointers in 533 attempts also over 87 games. Wade is playing at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and Ammerman is continuing his career at Northwood.

Football

Hemlock junior quarterback Brady Devereaux enjoyed a game worthy of record book recognition this past season, rushing for six touchdowns in a 47-12 win over Saginaw Nouvel. He finished with 183 yards on 22 carries.

Clare senior Aidan Boyd tied for sixth with 159 extra points for his career over just three seasons, finishing this past fall with 159 in 171 attempts over 32 varsity games. He also made the single-season list for extra points all three, with a high of 55 in 61 attempts as a junior.

Three St. Joseph kickers were added for field goals in a season this decade – Cullen Hoffman for 10 in 2013 and nine in 2014, Sean Akins for nine in 2015 and senior Antonio Buhrfiend for nine this past fall. Hoffman also was added to the career list with 19 field goals in 25 attempts over three varsity seasons (all 25 tries came during his final two years). Additionally, then-senior Jack Turak was added for 43 carries in a playoff game (for 391 yards) against Sturgis on Nov. 1, 2013, and 40 carries two weeks earlier (184 yards) against Portage Central.

Schoolcraft junior Kobe Clark made statewide headlines with his MHSAA record nine rushing touchdowns on Sept. 28, and he finished the fall with 38 rushing touchdowns (tied for eighth) and 45 scores total (sixth). Clark’s 270 points scored ranked 10th all-time for one season.

While Holland Christian defeated Ada Forest Hills Eastern 40-16 on Aug. 30, Forest Hills Eastern senior Brady Doyle earned a slight statistical advantage – and record book entry – in a matchup of busy receivers. Doyle caught six passes for 266 yards (and two touchdowns), making the single-game yardage list. Holland Christian’s Brady Howe just missed the cut-off for that list with nine catches for 217 yards and a score.

Girls Lacrosse

A number of entries were added for the history of Rochester lacrosse, most notably for Kendall Jordan, Jessica Leininger and goalies Kyleigh McCarthy and Aly Rosenau. Jordan’s 96 goals in 2017 are tied for ninth most, and her 272 goals over four seasons through last spring rank third. She also ranks 10th on the career points list at 294. Leininger is tied for 17th on the career points list with 215, with her 211 goals 11th on that list. McCarthy had 207 saves last spring, tied for third most, and took over the career saves lead with 560 through three seasons with one more to play. Rosenau had 488 career saves from 2010-12, including a high of 189, ranking sixth, in 2012. Martha Koch, Julia Koch, Sarah Mattingly, Maggie Ng, Claire McPherson, Jessie Lannan and Laura Hein also were added for achievements. As a team Rochester was added for scoring more than 200 goals four times with a high of 242 in 2017, and has the record for goals in a game with 27 against Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse in 2006. McCarthy has signed to continue at Northern Michigan University. Julia Koch played ice hockey at Amherst College in Massachusetts.

Girls Soccer

New Baltimore Anchor Bay made the team record list giving up only nine goals last spring as it finished 18-2-3. Then-junior keeper Ally Gaunt was added for 16 shutouts to go with her 14 as a sophomore – and she was joined by 2015 graduate Emily Zweng, who made lists with 13 shutouts as a senior and 32 over her three-season varsity career. Michelle Dear, a 2013 graduate, was added for 83 career goals over four seasons with a high of 30 as a junior. Dear went on to play at Michigan State, Zweng played at Oakland and Gaunt has signed with Saginaw Valley State.

PHOTO: Farmington Hills Mercy’s Jillian Smith (24) considers her options during a game last season. (Photo courtesy of the Farmington Hills Mercy athletic department.)

McBain Northern Michigan Christian's VanNoord Building on Career Excellence

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 13, 2024

Jada VanNoord entered her senior season this spring on the MHSAA girls soccer career goal list with 108 over her first three seasons at McBain Northern Michigan Christian, and after scoring 40 with 63 total points in 2023.

She also was just shy of making the career points list after making the single-season list as a sophomore with 52 in 2022.

VanNoord has signed to continue her career at Cornerstone University.

See below for more recent additions to the girls soccer record book, and click the heading to see the record book in full.  

Girls Soccer

Sophomore Macy Freeman became the first from Otisville LakeVille Memorial to be listed in the girls soccer record book when she scored all eight goals in her team’s win over Flint Carman-Ainsworth on April 29, 2022, and she was added for the second-highest scoring game in history with 10 goals last May 12 against Marlette. Freeman also was added for 43 goals total as a sophomore and 39 as a junior, and she entered this season on the career goals list as well with 81.

Brighton Charyl Stockwell’s Cassie Hall earned a pair of record book entries for her offensive performance as a junior in 2022. She made the single-season goals list with 55 and single-season points list with 60.

Although her 224 saves as a senior in 2022 fell just shy of making the single-season list, Parchment goalkeeper Gabrielle Novak finished her career with 713 over three seasons and 51 games – with 2020 canceled because of COVID-19. She was joined that spring by senior Kasey Leckie, who made the single-season goals list with 32.

Grace Hewitt became the first West Michigan Aviation Academy player to be listed for career goals, as she tallied 75 from 2019-22 (with 2020 canceled). She also was added for 32 as a senior.

Remus Chippewa Hills’ Karley Densmore made 36 saves against Big Rapids on April 25, 2022, tied for fifth-most in one match, and her 292 over 17 games for the season rank third. Additionally, teammate Hayley Gomber was added for five assists in a game against Mason County Central on April 7, 2022. Both were juniors.

Kelila Rustin made the single-season saves list in 2022 with 251 over 17 games. She was a sophomore at Ionia.

Allison Johnson earned Howard City Tri County’s first girls soccer record book entry in 2021, scoring 30 goals over 19 games. She graduated in 2023.

Schoolcraft’s Hannah Thompson totaled 18 record book entries over three varsity seasons, despite missing her sophomore year which was canceled due to COVID-19. The 2022 graduate five times had a single-game high of eight goals, and as a senior she bested her state record for points with 99 – despite falling just a few goals short of her state record in that category, with a second-place 83. She finished with 130 goals, second all-time, over a combined 54 games, and a fifth-highest 240 points. She’s playing at Eastern Michigan.

Sterling Heights 2023 graduate Mikalah Lewis earned a pair of record book entries over her final two seasons. The first was for 34 goals as a junior in 2022, and she tied for third-most assists in a game on April 10 of last season with six against Center Line.

Lily Usher capped her three-year varsity career at Owosso last spring with 60 more saves than anyone over a career in MHSAA history. She tops that list with 773 over 49 games, with her 268 as a junior in 2022 added as well – and that season she also tied her single-game high with 35.

Layne Palmer had one of the busiest goalkeeping nights in MHSAA history April 21, 2023, when she saved 43 shots from Utica Ford during a 6-0 loss. The Port Huron senior’s saves remain tied for third-most for one game.

Grace Graham capped her Laingsburg career in 2021 by leading the Wolfpack to its first Regional Final appearance – and made the record book for 39 goals and also 51 total points.

Cheboygan’s Kenzie Burt is playing college basketball at Aquinas College, but she left her mark on her high school soccer program as a senior in 2023. Burt made the record book with 33 goals and 53 points total.

Jessica Peters earned Dryden’s first girls soccer entry since 2012 with 48 goals as a senior in 2023, over 19 games. She’s continuing at St. Clair County Community College.

Lydia Kruis and Litzy Ramirez capped their three-season Comstock varsity careers last year with performances among the best all-time in the sport. Among 10 record book entries, Kruis was added for 74 goals (third all-time) and 83 points (sixth) as a senior and 158 goals for her career (ninth). Her eight goals last May 17 against Buchanan tied for fourth-most in one game. Ramirez graduated with seven record book listings, with her six assists against Buchanan that game tied for third-most with her 47 for the season setting the MHSAA record. Her 86 career assists tied for ninth.

Jaidyn Veldhouse led Grandville Calvin Christian to another successful run last spring. A senior now, she made record lists with 37 goals and 52 points as the Squires finished 17-1-3. She will continue at Saginaw Valley State.

Isabella Pool’s junior season last spring included a highlight against Marshall. Although her Coldwater team took a 5-0 loss, Pool saved 39 shots – fifth-most for one match in MHSAA history.

Lutheran Westland added its second athlete to this record book, and first since 2005, as Madilyn Webb finished her three-season varsity career with 48 goals and 53 points last spring and 105 goals over her three seasons. She also scored 33 goals as a junior and seven in one game against Brighton Charyl Stockwell Academy. She’s continuing at Concordia-Ann Arbor.

PHOTO McBain Northern Michigan Christian's Jada VanNoord (20) steps into a kick during a May 1 game against Clare. (Photo courtesy of the Cadillac News.)