Oilers' Carson Continues Record Climb

August 8, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Arguably the top sophomore in the state this spring, Mount Pleasant’s Hannah Carson continued to build toward a record-setting career with one of the most impressive seasons in the state for a player of any class.

Carson, a catcher, was added to the MHSAA softball record book for 77 hits (tied for sixth most for one season), 23 doubles (tied for eighth most), and her 25 triples over two seasons are tied for 15th most for an entire career with two seasons to play. She hit .550 this spring and already is committed to play after high school at University of Michigan.

Freshman teammate Oaklie Mogg was added to the records for 18 doubles this spring, and junior Allison Conway made the single-season sacrifice list with 22. Click the softball heading below to see where they and other recent additions in that sport rank, along with a few additions in girls basketball and football as well.

Girls Basketball

Homer standout Bailey Manis graduated in 2015 with some notable numbers over her four-season varsity career, including 421 made free throws – 12th most in MHSAA history. She also made the records with 151 steals as a senior and 409 over her career. She plays at University of Northwestern Ohio.

Football

Morrice’s James Edington, already in the records for a 450-yard rushing game in 1999, also was added for a record-tying 99-yard run on Oct. 29 of that season against Kingston. Edington went on to star at Alma College as well.

Softball

St. Joseph junior Olivia Shinrock continued her impressive hitting of the last two seasons, blasting into the MHSAA record book with 15 home runs in 34 games this spring. She hit multiple homers in three games and batted .505 overall.

Reese standout Carlee Selle added a few more record book entries with a few swings of the bat May 16 against Vassar. Selle hit three home runs over two innings in a 15-0 win and a fourth straight home run in her next at bat in the second game of the day against the Vulcans. She also had eight RBI total in the first game. She finished with 12 home runs, 16 doubles and also had back-to-back home runs in an April 21 game against Marlette. A junior this spring, she’s committed to play collegiately at Kent State. Teammate Kaylee Cypher, who graduated this spring, also made the records with 16 doubles. 

Recently-graduated Emma Sikina of Brownstown Woodhaven also was added for consecutive home runs, in the fourth and sixth innings of a game against Carleton Airport on June 1, and for 18 doubles as a junior in 2015. She’s signed with Madonna University.

Grandville’s Nikoma Holmen, a junior this spring, was added for 73 hits and 19 doubles as a sophomore in 2015. She hit .570 that season.

Hudson senior Lauren Valdez opened an April 28 game against Pittsford by hitting four batters with pitches and then walking the fifth. She then stuck out 20 of the next 31 batters she faced in a 9-6 win to tie for the 13th-most strikeouts for a pitcher in a seven-inning game. She’s signed to continue at Siena Heights.

Howard City Tri-County’s 24-10 finish this spring yielded a number of noteworthy accomplishments; the Vikings as a team were added for 402 hits, 63 doubles, 281 RBI and a .405 batting average. Individually, senior Brooke Dillon finished her career with 15 home runs and career totals of 178 runs, 210 hits, 29 triples, 28 home runs and 194 RBI; her career triples rank 11th and her RBI eighth. She and sophomore teammate Dayoni Mahlich both ended notable hitting streaks on May 7, Dillon’s at 24 straight games and Mahlich’s at 21. Mahlich also made the records with 74 hits and 14 triples, and senior Alexis Holappa joined both with single-game listings. Dillon will continue her career at Lawrence Tech.

Warren Fitzgerald senior Angel Perry earned a spot in the records with six RBI in one game, a 21-15 loss to Clawson on May 9. Perry was 4 for 4 with two doubles and a home run. 

PHOTO: Mount Pleasant's Hannah Carson prepares to receive a pitch during a 2015 game against Midland Dow. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)

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.)