Schoolcraft Ace Could Score & Much More
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 10, 2021
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Gabi Saxman’s Schoolcraft career will be remembered in part because she scored more than 1,000 points over four seasons.
But 5-foot-6 point guard made the MHSAA record book in two other categories, with 477 assists and 436 steals over those 96 games before graduating last spring.
She is continuing her career at Western Michigan University this winter, as her former teammates and high school basketball teams all over Michigan kick off their seasons this week.
Below is a look at recent additions to MHSAA record books in girls basketball, hockey and girls soccer. Click on the headings to view those record books in full.
Girls Basketball
Last Feb. 20 was unforgettable for Grass Lake and especially Gabrielle Lutchka. She set an MHSAA record for 3-pointers with 16 to finish the evening with 56 points, which ranks eighth all-time for single-game scoring. As a team, Grass Lake made the record book with 17 3-pointers that night against Manchester. Teammates Abrie Cabana also was added for an achievement last winter, finishing with a .880 free-throw percentage. Lutchka is a junior and Cabana a senior this school year.
Genesee senior Hayle March tied for 12th-most assists in a game Jan 23, 2020, when she dished 14 during her team’s 61-35 win over Mayville. She also had 12 points, five rebounds and five steals in the victory.
Kasey DeSmit played a significant part in Hudsonville’s 73-28 record from 2015-18, making the career record book in two categories. She sank 187 3-pointers and tallied 474 assists over those 101 games. She now plays at Hope College.
Gracie Nowak filled her senior season at Morrice last winter with a number of highlights, perhaps the biggest individually the 18 steals she totaled in a Jan. 17, 2020, win over Webberville. That total ranks as the fourth-highest for single-game steals in MHSAA history.
Kent City continued to dominate the 3-point shooting lists in 2019-20, with the team connecting on 16 in multiple games and a season-high 17 against Ravenna on March 2. Junior Jenna Harrison finished the season with 86 3-pointers over 24 games, and junior Kenzie Bowers had nine of her team’s 16 in a game against Hesperia. Bowers has signed with Illinois State.
Kelynn Kujat completed her Frankenmuth career last season among top 3-point shooters all-time, drilling 187 over four seasons and 89 games. She previously had made the record book with 66 3-pointers as a sophomore.
Nearly 40 years later, Teresa Hudak’s rebounding excellence has reached the record book. The Rogers City standout three times grabbed 26 or more rebounds in a game – with a high twice of 29. She had 342 rebounds as a junior in 1981 and then 385 as a senior the following fall, with the latter total ranking 11th all-time.
Hockey
Sean Hogan enjoyed an exciting start to calendar year 1995, making the MHSAA record book twice. He scored four goals in the first period of Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes’ 7-5 win over White Lake Lakeland on Jan. 14, and seven for the game in Our Lady’s 15-4 win over Algonac that Feb. 5. Hogan went on to play at Iona College and has coached multiple American Collegiate Hockey Association programs.
Girls Soccer
Nearly 25 years later, Marie Spaccarotella has made it into the record book for her 102 career goals over four seasons for Livonia Churchill from 1993-96. She went on to play forward at University of Michigan, starting 32 games and scoring 21 goals over four seasons.
PHOTO: Gabi Saxman brings the ball upcourt for Schoolcraft during a game last season. (Photo courtesy of JoeInsider.com.)
Dow's Szabo Serves Up 3 Tennis Records
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 13, 2015
Michael Szabo capped his Midland Dow tennis career this fall with his name all over the MHSAA record book.
Szabo won 37 matches for the second straight season, this time playing No. 2 singles for the Chargers, to finish with an MHSAA record 150 victories (against seven losses) from 2012-15. He also set records with 33 tournament championships and 49 matches won by 6-0, 6-0 scores and became one of seven players to earn four MHSAA Finals singles championships.
A number of teammates also are now listed in the MHSAA records: Daniel Magno was added for 69 career doubles wins over four seasons before graduating last spring. Colin Angell was added for 32 singles wins in 2014 to go with his 61 career doubles wins from 2012-13. Noah Nichols and J.J. Kirkman were added for 30 doubles wins this fall, Ryan Killmaster was added for 32 doubles wins and Daniel Zhang was added for 28 doubles wins this season. Armin Vallazza-Margl is listed with 28 doubles wins in 2014 and Nichols is listed for 27 that season. As a team, Dow won its 24th MHSAA Regional title this fall.
Click to see the boys tennis record book in full, and see below for more recent record book additions.
Football
- Khari Willis, now a safety at Michigan State University, capped his Jackson Lumen Christi career in 2014 with four accomplishments now noted in the MHSAA record book. His 2,800 rushing yards as a senior were the third-most in MHSAA history and came on only 241 carries. He also made the single-season rushing touchdown list with 30 and single-game lists with 50 carries and 412 yards in his final high school game, a playoff loss to eventual Division 6 champion Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central. Willis finished his high school career with 4,558 yards rushing.
- Genesee’s Scott Smith joined only two others in MHSAA history when he recovered four fumbles on Sept. 20, 1996, in his team’s victory over Ashley. He also ran for a touchdown and kicked four extra points.
Boys Lacrosse
- Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard’s Matt Johnson graduated this spring among the highest scorers in MHSAA history with 272 points and 179 goals over his four seasons on varsity. He had 59 goals and 96 points as a senior this spring. He’s currently a member of the University of Indianapolis men’s lacrosse team.
Softball
- Onaway’s Madison McLean joined a list of big hitters with back-to-back home runs, knocking hers during the second and third innings in a 20-5 win over Posen on April 25. McLean was a freshman, and the homers came in her first two varsity at bats, according to the Presque Isle Advance.
- Courtney Quade played four seasons for Marlette, graduating this spring, and made the career walks list earning 79 over 115 games. She also hit .429 over her career and .542 as a senior.
- Kelcie LaTour completed her junior year at Macomb Dakota with multiple entries in the MHSAA record listings; she hit back-to-back home runs during the sixth and seventh innings of a game against Southgate Anderson on May 2, and finished the season with 11 home runs. She also batted .403 and drove in 38 runs.
Girls Soccer
- Grosse Ile’s run to the Division 3 Regional Finals this spring included impressive seasons by a pair of three-year varsity juniors, plus some impressive totals put up by the team as a whole. Caroline Fleming scored 39 goals to go with 33 assists for 72 points total in 25 games and moved up the career goals (82) and assists (73) lists with a season to play. Olivia Reckley posted the second-most shutouts in one season, 22, and has 55 over her first three seasons. Total, Grosse Ile gave up only five goals – tied for sixth fewest – and scored 138, which ranks eighth for one season. In 2014, the team gave up nine goals and had 18 shutouts.
- Fenton’s Abby Quesnelle finished her sophomore season in net at the Division 2 Final, and had 15 shutouts in 22 games to help her team to its first MHSAA championship game. She gave up only 12 goals during the season.
- Grandville Calvin Christian’s fourth straight MHSAA championship run this spring included the sixth-highest team goals total, 139, with Hilary Curry making the individual single-season goals list with 30 in 25 games. Teammate Emily VanVliet made the single-season assists list with 30 and career assists list with 65. Curry is playing at Hope College and VanVliet is playing basketball at Calvin College.
PHOTO: Midland Dow's Michael Szabo prepares to serve during this fall's Lower Peninsula Division 2 Final at No. 2 singles. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)