Swan Valley Pins Down Record Entries

July 13, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Saginaw Swan Valley’s wrestling program has maintained a standing among Division 3 powerhouses with six Individual Finals champions and a number of standouts over the last decade – and now has 38 entries in the MHSAA record book for the sport.

Among those recently added for career wins were 2016 graduates KJ Suitor (223-13) and Matt Santos (193-11), in addition to the following past Vikings: Chris Theile (216-25), BJ Suitor (216-7), Shawn Whitney (209-15), Matt Beebe (208-42), Jared Germaine (200-14), Troy Lamson (200-33), Sam McLean (198-35), Justin Brandel (192-40), Dylan Ewald (191-50) and Darius Wass (191-10). A number of those athletes also earned entries for single-season wins, as did Branden Bell and Josh Flores.

Wass, both Suitors, Whitney, Santos and Brandel also were added for career pins, and Wass tied for the fastest pin – in 4 seconds – at 125 pounds during one of his victories in 2009. KJ Suitor signed with University of Michigan, while Santos signed with Michigan State University; BJ Suitor wrestled at Boston University, Beebe and Wass at Gardner-Webb in North Carolina, Germaine and Brandel at Eastern Michigan, and Lamson also competed at MSU.

Click for the wrestling record book in full and read on for more of this week’s record additions for boys basketball, boys and girls lacrosse, girls soccer and softball.  

Boys Basketball

Hillman junior guard Gunnar Libby had quite an individual performance in his team’s 67-56 win over Whittemore-Prescott on Dec. 14 – 29 points, five rebounds, six assists and 12 steals. The steals tied for sixth-most in one game in MHSAA history.

Boys Lacrosse

Tecumseh freshman Dylan Day enjoyed an excellent start to his career this spring, making the MHSAA records lists both for 65 goals and 92 total points, in 16 games. 

Girls Lacrosse

Christy Battersby put up one of the most impressive scoring seasons in MHSAA history this spring for Farmington Hills Harrison. The Hawks’ junior scored the second-most goals in one game, 13, in a 20-19 loss to Grosse Pointe North on April 15. She finished the season with 96 goals and 107 points, her goal total tying for sixth-highest in MHSAA history.

Five DeWitt players made the MHSAA records lists this season, led by junior Rachel Madar’s five entries – three for single-game goals (eight, eight and seven), 80 goals over the entire season and 95 points total this spring. Junior Jordan Markowski was added for 65 goals, five assists in one game and 100 total points. Sophomore goalie Chase Terwilliger had 19 saves in a 13-11 win over Grand Rapids Christian and 182 saves on the season. Junior Adison Salisbury was added for six assists in an 18-10 win over Swartz Creek, and junior Sierra Dietz also made the single-season goals list with 53.

Girls Soccer

Belleville’s Morgan Marshall added 27 goals this spring after making the MHSAA record book with 36 as a junior to finish her four-season varsity career with 104 goals, which also made the records listings. Marshall has signed with Spring Arbor University.

Softball

New Lothrop set an MHSAA single-season record with 276 stolen bases over 34 games this spring, led by Alayna Mantei – who had 88 stolen bases to finish with the second-most ever among individuals. The Hornets also were added for 85 doubles – led by 17 by Maddie Bitterman – .409 team batting average and 249 RBI. Bitterman was a senior and Mantei a junior this season.

Vassar’s Samantha Taylor made the record book with six RBI in a 22-6 win over Bay City All Saints on May 3. Taylor was 3 for 6 with two doubles in the game.

Niles Brandywine senior Makenna Hartline entered the record listings with 13 home runs over 35 games this season in helping her team to a District title. Hartline will play next season at Trine University.

Jordyn Look finished off a fine four-season varsity career for Tawas with 209 hits and 58 doubles, which both made career lists in those categories – the doubles are tied for 13th most. Teammate Abbie Anderson, also a senior, made the records with back-to-back home runs in a 17-3 win over Mio on May 21 and a record-setting seven RBI in one inning – she had a three-run homer and grand slam in the first.

PHOTO: Saginaw Swan Valley’s KJ Suitor works toward a win in his first-round match at this past season’s MHSAA Individual Finals. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)

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.)