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.)

Ansel On Target for Record Book Rise

April 23, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Comstock junior Daisy Ansel will be one of the seniors to watch in Michigan next girls basketball season after she joined the state’s top shooters of all-time already as a junior this past winter.

Ansel is tied for 24th for career 3-pointers with 181, with that total recently added to the MHSAA record book. She’s made 38 percent of her long-range tries over the last three seasons, and also was added to the records for connecting on 86.5 percent of her free-throw attempts (64 of 74) over 21 games in 2017-18 as the Colts finished 19-2.

Below are more recent record book additions in girls basketball and boys soccer. Click the sport headings to view those record books in full.

Girls Basketball

Traverse City Central senior Margot Woughter earned a spot in the record book with 15 free throws on 19 attempts in a Jan. 19 game against Alpena. She finished with 40 points total in the 62-55 win. Woughter will continue her career at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Former Posen star center Korynn Hincka ranks among the all-time best in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. She was added for 2,198 points, 1,224 rebounds (eighth-most) and 360 blocks (10th) over 98 games from 2011-14, along with a number of single-season entries and a single-game 19 free throws against Fairview during 2012-13. Younger sister Jenna Hincka was added for 170 steals as a senior during the 2015-16 season, which rank eighth. Korynn went on to play at Grand Valley State, and Jenna played a season of softball at Alpena Community College.

Ishpeming set an MHSAA record this winter making 77.6 percent of its free-throw attempts on the way to a 20-4 finish. The Hematites made 274 of 353 tries, led by senior Madigan Johns with 115 makes in 131 attempts. She was added to the individual list for highest free-throw percentage in a season at 87.8 and for her career at 82.2 over the last three seasons.

Coldwater junior Malorie Rzepka made the list for most free throws in a game with 15 in 16 tries against Kalamazoo Central in a 69-63 overtime win Dec. 19. Rzepka’s free throws all came during the second half and overtime.

Westland Universal Learning Academy then-freshman Zahraa Cherkaoui scored all but two of her team’s points Feb. 1, 2017, in a 49-23 win over Hope of Detroit. Her 47-point performance included seven 3-pointers.

Niles Brandywine’s run to the Class C Regional Finals and a 22-3 record included some record 3-point shooting. The Bobcats connected on 153 3-pointers in 639 attempts, making record book lists in both categories. They also made the single-game list with 14 3-pointers against Saugatuck in a 73-37 win on Dec. 5.

Kent City made the Class C Quarterfinals and finished 22-4 also on the strength of 3-point shooting. The Eagles made 198 3-pointers – fourth most in MHSAA history – on the third-most attempts, 737. Kent City made at least 13 3-pointers in three games, with a high of 16 against Hesperia on Jan. 19.

Boys Soccer

As reported last fall on Second Half, Lincoln Alcona senior keeper Conner McCoy broke the national saves record in late September – and finished his high school career with 1,280 over four seasons. His 365 last fall rank fifth for one season after he set the record as both a sophomore and junior. He will continue his career at Finlandia University.

Ryan Wiesniewski capped his four-year Gladwin varsity career in the fall tied for 10th all-time with 144 goals and eighth with 202 career points. He also made the career assists list with 58 and with highs of 46 goals and 64 points as a junior in 2016. He made the single-game goals list with a school record six against Houghton Lake last September.

PHOTO: Comstock’s Daisy Ansel lines up to attempt a free throw during the 2016-17 season. (Photo courtesy of the Comstock athletic department.)