Novi's O'Leary Champion & Record Setter
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
July 11, 2018
The Novi volleyball team’s run to four straight Class A Finals and three straight championships over the last four seasons saw performances by a number of elite hitters – and one on-court constant directing the attack.
Erin O’Leary graduated this spring with an MHSAA-record 5,790 assists during her four years as the team’s starting setter, topping the rest of the best in that category by 180. She had a high of 1,521 assists last fall as a senior, that total coming in ninth for a single season, and all four of her season totals rank among the top 24 since the MHSAA went to rally scoring in 2004-05.
In addition, O’Leary made the career aces list with 327. Victoria Iacobelli, the top hitter on the 2014 runner-up team, was added for 642 kills that fall. Iacobelli has gone on to play at Bowling Green, while O’Leary claimed the statewide Miss Volleyball Award as a senior and will begin her college career at University of Michigan this upcoming season.
Click to see the volleyball record book in full plus more recent record book additions in baseball, girls and boys basketball, football and softball.
Baseball
Morenci’s Matthew Schiermyer enjoyed a memorable day April 28, 1995, when he belted three home runs in his team’s 8-6 win over Ottawa Lake Whiteford. He drove in five runs total with the three homers.
Kingsley’s Alex Parker was hit by 38 pitches over a four-year varsity career that concluded this spring, including by 16 pitches as a junior. His career total is tied for 12th all-time. He will continue his career at Henry Ford College.
Girls Basketball
Onsted’s Taylor Hutchinson knocked down 41 more 3-pointers this past season to finish her four-year varsity career with 167, making the records list in that category. She will continue her career at Jackson College.
Boys Basketball
Hale sophomore Joseph Kimmerer helped his team to a league championship last winter and earned an entry in the record book among sharp shooters. He made 88.3 percent of his free-throw attempts over 21 games (83 of 94) to tie for the 15th-best percentage for one season.
Football
Then-senior Griffin Kelly got his final season off to a great start last Aug. 25, running for six touchdowns in making the single-game list for rushing scores as his Frankfort team defeated Manton 70-40. He is continuing his career at Northern Michigan University.
Dearborn Heights Star International’s Saif Almalla was waiting for a kickoff from Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest to roll into the end zone last Oct. 6 – but when it didn’t, he picked up the ball and raced 99 yards for a touchdown while also tying the record for longest kickoff return in MHSAA history. Almalla will be a senior this fall.
Softball
A trio of strong hitters put up record book-caliber seasons in 2017 for Farmington Hills Mercy. Sophie Van Acker, then a senior, had 84 hits – 10th most for one spring – and graduated with 241 hits over four seasons. Nicole Belans added 18 doubles for a career total of 33, and also made the single-season RBI list with 70. Anna Dixon, then a junior, also had 70 RBI, in addition to 78 hits and 73 runs scored. Van Acker signed with Lehigh University out of high school, and Dixon will continue at Hillsdale College.
Muskegon Orchard View slugger Halee Holman is off to a great start after two seasons on varsity, and with two more to go. As a sophomore this spring, she made the MHSAA record book with 14 home runs and 90 RBI – the RBI tied for fifth-most all-time. She’s also on the career RBI list with 156 and just short of the career home run list with 19 so far.
Lansing Waverly’s Madeline Stump capped a memorable run this spring with four entries for career accomplishments. Across four seasons and 132 games, Stump hit .546 with 230 hits including 50 doubles and 25 home runs.
PHOTO: Novi’s Erin O’Leary sets a teammate during last season’s Class A Semifinal win over DeWitt.
Powerful Pair Tie for Home Run Record
August 3, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A pair of sluggers who have flexed their power strokes on the west and east coasts of the Lower Peninsula now anchor the MHSAA single-season record book list for home runs.
Muskegon Mona Shores junior Taylor Dew and Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse sophomore Brooke Nadolny both smacked 22 home runs this spring, both breaking the previous MHSAA record for homers in one season by two.
Dew, already in the record book for 19 doubles as a sophomore in 2015-16, also earned entries for 72 RBI this spring and has 38 career home runs while also qualifying for career lists in doubles and RBI. Nadolny also joined the career home run list with 28 over her first two seasons, and she's listed for three home runs in a May 10 game against Macomb L’Anse Creuse North, home runs in three straight at bats (over two games) on May 27 against Richmond, and with five more entries for home runs or RBI in one game.
Both star hitters also had teammates make the record book for accomplishments this spring. Mona Shores junior Veronica Kastelic made the listings with six RBI in a game against Holland on May 18 and 70 hits total, while junior Sammi Mills had 20 doubles this season and six RBI in L’Anse Creuse’s May 24 game against L’Anse Creuse North.
Click the softball heading below to see that sport's record book in full, and also read on for additional recent record book entries in that sport, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse and girls soccer.
Boys Lacrosse
Grandville junior goalie Zachary Tykocki added 10 entries this season, including nine for saves in a game – with a high of 21 against Caledonia on April 11. He finished this season with 265 saves – second-most in MHSAA history – over 18 games, only three saves from tying the record. He previously was listed for 26 saves in a game during his sophomore season.
Hartland finished 21-1 this spring, setting an MHSAA boys lacrosse record with 337 goals. The Eagles won their first 21 games before falling to eventual Division 1 runner-up Detroit Catholic Central 12-11 in overtime in a Semifinal on June 7.
Girls Lacrosse
Four Troy standouts were added for their accomplishments over the last two seasons, led by sophomore Morgan MacDonald – she was added five times for goals in a game this spring, once for 12 points in a game (second most all-time), for 76 goals as a freshman and 88 goals, 43 assists and 131 points (seventh most) this past season. Senior goalie Molly Crusse was added for single-game saves three times (with a high of 23, third all-time), 151 saves as a junior and 171 total (seventh most) this season. Senior Michelle Cappetto also was added for goals (66) and points (89) this season, and junior Lindsey Davis made the single-game saves list with 15 against Novi on April 28.
Girls Soccer
Livonia Clarenceville’s Michelle Marzolo scored all seven of her team’s goals in a 7-4 win over Lutheran Westland on May 15. Marzolo was a sophomore this spring.
Newaygo goalkeeper Jenna Janke pushed to the MHSAA record for saves in a season with a pair of busy performances during the final week of her high school career. Janke, a senior, had 36 saves in a 2-1 shootout win over Muskegon Oakridge on May 31, then 32 saves in a 2-0 loss to Howard City Tri-County in a Division 3 District Semifinal on June 2. She finished this spring with 373 saves and will continue her career at Muskegon Community College.
Owosso keeper Elizabeth Hood also earned a spot on the single-game saves list with 38 against Mason on May 2, 2016. Hood graduated this spring.
Softball
Traverse City Central freshman Olivia Fiebing kicked off her high school career well this spring smacking 13 home runs. She also made the records for hitting two home runs during a win over Williamston on April 21.
A pair of Jackson Northwest standouts graduated this spring with their names cemented in state softball history. Mallory West earned entries for 13 triples this past season, 31 over her four-year career (tied for 11th most) and 36 career doubles as well. Four-year teammate Nicole Keeder made the career doubles list with 46. Keeder will continue at Jackson College, and West will play at Huntington University in Indiana.
PHOTOS: Muskegon Mona Shores' Taylor Dew (left) drives a pitch this spring; Harrison Township L'Anse Creuse's Brooke Nadolny settles into her stance. (Photos courtesy of the respective athletic departments.)