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.)
South Lyon East Softball Blasts Way to Top of All-Time Home Run Chart
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 14, 2022
The South Lyon East blasted past the previous home run record of 63 last season, drilling 70 over 35 games during a successful 2021.
That previous record was set by New Baltimore Anchor Bay in 2019, when four teams hit 53 or more homers. The 2020 season wasn't played because of COVID-19, and the next-listed team for 2021 is Three Rivers with 48 home runs.
East finished 25-9-1 and was led in its record chase by senior Lauren Sciborski, who tied for fifth on the individual single-season home run list with 22. She’s continuing her career at Northwestern.
See below for more recent record book additions in softball, plus baseball, girls lacrosse and girls and boys soccer.
Baseball
Rudyard’s EJ Suggitt was 2 for 2 with two runs and two RBI in a 13-0 win over Pickford last June 4, and he made the record book single-game stolen bases list with five. He’s a senior this school year.
Marshall’s Killian Bies tied for sixth-most times hit by pitches during the 2021 season, with 22 times reaching base that way over 32 games. Bies is a junior this season.
Girls Lacrosse
A pair of Dearborn Divine Child juniors earned the school’s first girls lacrosse record book entries in 2021. Jenna Allie was added four times, including twice for single-game highs of 10 goals and her 68 goals total over 15 games. Goalie Sam Stevens was added for a single-game high of 18 saves and 153 saves total for 18 games.
Girls Soccer
Elk Rapids’ Lauren Bingham earned her first record book entry with an outstanding sophomore season in 2021. She scored 31 goals to make the single-season scoring list, and added 12 assists.
Boys Soccer
Ryan Serwa capped his Berkley career this past fall considered again among the state’s best. He didn’t allow a goal over his first seven games to earn one of three record book entries – the other two added for 13 shutouts for the season and 24 over his three-season varsity career.
Marshall’s 2018 team won its District and finished 23-1-1, its only defeat to Grand Rapids Christian 1-0 in a Division 2 Regional Semifinal. Marshall made the team record book lists for giving up only 10 goals that season, with 17 shutouts. Additionally, four-year varsity player Jake Lyon was a junior on that team and graduated after the 2019 season with 52 assists to make the career list in that category. Lyon plays at Hope College.
Softball
Shepherd then-sophomore Liv Regenfuss moved to the top of the list for hitters with two home runs in the same inning when she blasted a pair during the fifth inning of a win over Pinconning on May 20, 2021. Now a junior, she’s one of 18 on that record book list.
A trio of Watervliet standouts were added for accomplishments during the 2021 season. Samantha Dietz was added for scoring 79 runs and stealing 62 bases, both over 40 games, and Abby Whorton hit 18 doubles over 34 games. Grace Chisek was added twice for driving in six runs in a game and a third time for back-to-back home runs in one contest. Dietz’ runs tied for ninth on that list. She’s a junior this season, and Whorton and Chisek are both sophomores.
Leslie made team record book lists with 408 hits, 77 doubles and 320 RBI during the 2021 season when it finished 33-8, with a trio of individuals receiving similar recognition. Gabby Waldofsky is listed for 69 runs and 83 hits over 41 games, while Jalen Fossitt had 21 doubles over 41 games and Ada Bradford hit 18 doubles over 40. All three players are sophomores this season.
PHOTO The South Lyon East softball team commemorates its record 70 home runs during last season’s Division 1 District. (Photo courtesy of South Lyon East softball.)