Pilgrims Pair Leads Semifinal Journey

June 28, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Lansing Christian’s boys basketball team reached the Class D Semifinals this past season in part on the efforts of two four-year seniors whose accomplishments are now recorded among the notable in MHSAA history.

Guard Forrest Bouyer had 109 steals in 26 games this winter, and his 296 career steals over 88 games rank ninth all-time. He also had 552 assists during his career, which rank 10th on that list. Guard Matthew Havey previously had listings for points and 3-pointers in one quarter, and he finished his career with 238 3-pointers – which rank ninth all-time. Bouyer will continue his career at Calvin College.

Click to check out the boys basketball record book in full, and read on for more recent record book additions in girls basketball, football, girls soccer, softball, volleyball and wrestling.

Girls Basketball

Kalle Martinez finished a successful career for Bay City John Glenn this winter and added a pair of record book entries during a 64-56 win over Saginaw Swan Valley on Feb. 23. Martinez scored 48 points, making the single-game scoring list, and tied for third for most 3-pointers in a game drilling 11 in 18 tries. As a team, Bay City John Glenn was added for making 14 3-pointers in that game and for making 154 and attempting 453 3-pointers on the season. Former teammate Cassidy Boensch was added for her 332 rebounds and 154 blocked shots as a senior in 2015-16. Boensch currently plays at Grand Valley State University, and Martinez will begin her career next season at Central Michigan University.

Edwardsburg’s Savannah Dixon added to her entry for single-season 3-pointers (69) as a sophomore by finishing her career with 173 over 87 games through her last this winter. Dixon also was a softball all-stater this spring.

Football

Daniel Nocerini played only one season of 8-player football, but he set the pace for those who will chase his records for seasons to come. Nocerini, a running back, was added to the 8-player records 15 times, including for 50 points, five touchdowns in a quarter and seven in a game all against Ontonagon this season, seven more scores against Rapid River, and 45 touchdowns total over 11 games. He also ran for 2,409 yards, including 431 against Rapid River. His career totals of 82 touchdowns and 586 points also were added to the 8-player record book, although his first three seasons were played in 11-player. He will continue his career at Michigan Tech.

Girls Soccer

Natalie Righetti finished her four-season varsity career at Trenton in 2013 among MHSAA leaders in career goals (106), assists (76) and points (182). Her points continue to rank 16th, while her career assists are 11th most. Including single-season accomplishments, she earned nine record book listings. Righetti went on to play at Oakland and then University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Softball

A pair of Midland Bullock Creek hitting standouts contributed to significant team totals as well over the last four years. Rylie Kalina had 75 hits this spring to cap her four-year career with 216, and ranked second all-time with 30 doubles this season to finish her career with 54 two-base hits. Former teammate Shelby Bailey also made the single-season doubles list with 20 as a senior in 2015 and 35 over her four-year career. Midland Bullock Creek as a team was added eight times for team achievements over the last four seasons, most notably for 94 doubles this spring and 90 in 2015 – tying for sixth and 11th all-time, respectively. In addition, Lauren Beougher was added for hitting two home runs during the fifth inning of a game against Clare on April 11. Kalina will continue her career at Davenport University and Beougher will play at Albion College, while Bailey went on to play at Delta College.

Frankfort freshman Hayley Myers’ debut season included a record entry for seven RBI in a win over Lake Leelanau St. Mary on April 7. Myers was 4 for 4 and hit two home runs.

Lowell sophomore Maddi Jordan earned two record book entries in her team’s win over Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills on April 18. She was 5 for 5 with four triples – tying for second-most triples in one game in the national record book and earning the first MHSAA record entry for that category – and drove in 10 runs to tie for second all-time in MHSAA history. Jordan already has committed to continue her softball career at Central Michigan University.

Volleyball

A number of past plus a few current Bronson standouts were added for accomplishments since the start of rally scoring with the 2004-05 season. Katherine Carpenter was added for 632 kills and 179 blocks in 2010 and 211 blocks (tied for seventh most in one season) in 2009, while Alexa Ratkowski was added for 1,399 assists in 2014 and a career 410 aces from 2002-15 – second-most all-time in that category to go with her previously-added career record for assists. Skyler Sobeski was added for 1,543 career kills from 2011-14, while recent graduate Jill Pyles was added for 1,504 career kills and 524 aces over the last four seasons; Pyles' aces rank second all-time. Hailey Brewer made the career blocks list with 509 from 2006-09, and Kylei Ratkowski made the career aces list as well with 388 from 2009-12. Junior Kiana Mayer had 1,541 assists in setting Bronson to a second straight Class C title last fall – her total ranking seventh during the rally scoring era. Junior Adyson Lasky (117), Pyles (114) and sophomore Kiera Lasky (112) also all were added for aces this past season. Carpenter went on to play at Hillsdale College and Pyles has signed to continue this fall at Ohio Dominican University.

Wrestling

Coloma freshman Ian Ishmael tied an MHSAA record at 130 pounds for fastest pin, winning a match by fall in five seconds on Jan. 21. He was competing as part of the Shawn Cockell Memorial Tournament in Quincy.

PHOTO: Lansing Christian's Forrest Bouyer (23) pushes the ball upcourt against Buckley during a Class D Semifinal in March, as teammate Matthew Havey (5) is among those trailing.

Iron Mountain Pair Climb Into Michigan's All-Time Hoops Elite

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

August 10, 2021

The last three boys basketball seasons have seen Iron Mountain accomplish its greatest statewide finishes since the 1920s – and grads Marcus Johnson and Foster Wonders join the all-time elite achievers in state history.

Johnson and Wonders led the Mountaineers to the Division 3 Final in 2019, and Wonders brought them back this past season. Iron Mountain also was 21-1 when the 2019-20 season ended early because of COVID-19.

Wonders, who graduated this spring, closed his career with 2,286 points, 13th most in MHSAA history. He twice made the record book for points scored in one quarter and against Ironwood on Feb. 18 also tied the state record with seven 3-pointers in the first quarter. He averaged 26 ppg over 88 games and four seasons and is continuing his career at Southern Illinois.

Johnson, a senior in 2020, led Iron Mountain to a combined 91-8 record with four seasons worth of contributions now reflected in the MHSAA record book, where he’s listed eight times. He made the career scoring list with 2,076 points, he’s seventh on the career 3-pointers list with 285, tied for seventh on the career free throws list with 518 and also made the career steals list with 248. His career free throw shooting percentage of .812 ranks 11th. Johnson played this past season at Bay College.

See below for more recent record book additions for boys and girls basketball, boys lacrosse, volleyball and wrestling.

Boys Basketball

Joe Liedel’s senior season was cut short by COVID-19 in 2020 before he could make a run at the MHSAA’s career 3-point record. But the Erie Mason standout still be recalled among the state’s top shooters – short and long-range – of all-time. Liedel’s 2,202 career points sit 16th on that list, while his 334 3-pointers are second for a career and just six shy of the record. He’s also on the career free throws list with 342 (85 percent success), and he connected on 88 percent of his attempts from the line as a senior. Liedel also made the career steals list with 243. He’s continuing at Detroit Mercy.

Adrian Lenawee Christian drilled 17 3-pointers in a 75-28 win over Battle Creek Academy on Feb. 13 of this past season. Gavin Sluss let the effort with seven.

It took 46 years to make it in to the record book, but Detroit Denby’s Vincent Rush has been credited for 21 assists against Detroit Osborn on Jan. 24, 1975. His total at the time would have been the record and stood for two seasons.

Benzie Central earned a record book entry with 16 3-pointers in its March 11 win over Onekama. Benzie connected on 43 percent of its tries (16 for 37) in the 83-42 victory.

Senior Carter Foerster helped Lake Fenton to a District Semifinal win over Chesaning on March 25 with 34 points total – including 22 during the third quarter to make the single-quarter scoring list. He will play college football at Lawrence Tech.

Girls Basketball

Sarah Marvin made her most powerful impact on high school sports as a Finals record setter in both shot put and discus again this past spring. But her four-season basketball career was similarly memorable as she finished with six MHSAA record book listings. Most recently added were career entries for 400 made free throws, 462 assists and 1,017 rebounds, all over 84 games. Marvin will continue her track & field throwing career at Michigan.

Boys Lacrosse

Ted Campbell and Drew Zyskowski were among those who played major roles as East Grand Rapids finished this spring as Division 2 champion. Zyskowski, a sophomore, was added to the record book with 44 assists and 85 points, while Campbell made the single-season goals list with 65 during his senior campaign.

Volleyball

A junior hitter and sophomore setter led Cadillac to a successful 2019, as the team finished 41-10-2. Macy Brown made the records with 831 kills over 132 games, while setter Renee Brines made the single-season assists list with 1,344. Brown is a freshman at University of New Haven (Conn.), and Brines will sign with Northwood.

Wrestling

Chayse LaJoie wrestled in four Division 2 individual championship matches over four seasons for Gaylord and won two Finals titles, and he was added to the record book for his 197 wins (with only four losses) before graduating in 2000. He had 18 technical falls as a senior and concluded his career with 60, both also making the records.

PHOTOS: Marcus Johnson, left, and Foster Wonders were standouts on Iron Mountain’s 2019 team and throughout their varsity careers.