Tabit Tops MHSAA, National Record Lists

August 13, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Mount Morris’ Sarah Tabit soon will have a national record to celebrate as part of one of the most impressive runs through MHSAA volleyball history.

The 2016 graduate had 1,076 kills in 181 games as a senior to set MHSAA and National Federation records for kills in one season, and she finished her four-season varsity career with 2,835 kills – which would’ve ranked second in MHSAA history at the time during the rally scoring era (beginning in 2004-05) and now sit fourth on the list.

She’s joined by a number of Mount Morris greats past who were recently added to the record book, including Spencer Stokes, whose 1,782 assists in 2011 rank second all-time. Stokes also was added for 3,833 assists from 2008-11, while Hannah Tabit (2,835 from 2012-15) and Brooke Watts (2,766 from 2008-10) also made that career list.

Lauryn Gibbs’ 212 aces in 2015 rank fifth all-time, and Sarah Tabit made the list in that category for 166 that season. Tabit’s 428 aces are seventh on the career list, while Stokes is eighth with 425 and Gibbs 12th at 393. Hannah Tabit also is on the career aces list with 309.

Additionally, Katee Farlow was added for 161 blocks in 2009, and Brittney Childers made the kills list with 834 in 2007. Sherrell Atkins is 13th on the career kills list with 2,244 from 2008-11, and Margo Joubran also made that list with 1,667 kills from 2010-13.

Both Tabits have continued their careers at Saginaw Valley State University, while Stokes played at Cornerstone University, Childers and Farlow played at Mott Community College, Atkins at Oakland Community College and Joubran at Adrian College. Gibbs is beginning her career at Michigan State this fall.

Click to see the volleyball record book in full and read on for more recent record book additions in baseball, boys basketball, girls lacrosse and softball.

Baseball

Ryan Sharpley (0.90 in 2007), Logan Brigham (0.93 in 2016) and Evan Asselin (0.75 in 2018) all were added to the single-season ERA list after shining for Marshall. Sharpley went on to play at Notre Dame.

Bryce Davis finished a fantastic four-season varsity run for Sparta in 2017 with four record book entries. As a senior he went 9-1 with a 0.34 ERA and 162 strikeouts, the latter two figures making single-season lists, and he made career lists with a 0.99 ERA and 365 strikeouts over 204 2/3 innings pitched. Davis plays at the University of Toledo.

Grand Ledge’s Cal Johnston finished his four-season varsity career this spring on the MHSAA career lists with 30 home runs, 134 RBI and 32 times hit by a pitch. He will continue his career at Central Michigan. As a team, Grand Ledge made the records with a .377 average, 75 doubles, 312 RBI and a 1.66 ERA in finishing 34-4.

Boys Basketball

With three seasons down and a season to play, Dansville 6-foot-10 senior Caleb Hodgson is climbing career records lists in free throws (353), rebounds (838) and blocked shots (258). His blocks rank 12th all-time and include 12 in a game last season against Fowler.

The evening of January 8, 1988, was memorable for Birmingham Seaholm as it scored 109 points in a win over Berkley. It also was a record-setting night for a pair of Maples. Steve Sheckell made 11 3-pointers, one of two players statewide to connect on that many in one game during the first season the MHSAA employed a 3-point arc. Teammate David Marcinkowski finished with 34 rebounds in the game to make the single-game list in that category. Sheckell for the season connected on 88 3-pointers – at a 55-percent success rate – and remains on the list for most 3-pointers in a season. Both teammates went on to play at Albion College

Girls Lacrosse

Then-junior Cameron Stilson stopped 24 shots as Brighton downed then-undefeated Hartland 15-9 on May 1, 2017. Stilson’s saves rank third all-time for a single game. She will continue her career at Northern Michigan University.

Softball

Midland’s Allison Gray finished her four-year varsity career in the spring with a pair of entries reflecting her team’s offensive punch. She made the career lists with 79 walks and 176 runs beginning in 2015.

Clare sophomore Brooklyn Tocco joined a group of players tied for second with three homers in one game when she drilled three in a 26-15 win over West Branch Ogemaw Heights on April 24. She also made the list for RBI in one game, finishing with six.

Frankfort sophomore Haley Myers added another season’s worth of accomplishments to a growing record book resume with 75 runs, 17 doubles and 13 home runs this spring to make single-season lists in those categories – and with the runs tied for 10th all-time. She also moved up the career doubles list with 35 over two seasons. Additionally, junior teammate Natalie Bigley was added for 10 home runs this spring.

PHOTO: Mount Morris’ Sarah Tabit aims to split a pair of blockers on a kill attempt during her high school career that concluded in 2015. (Photo courtesy of the Mount Morris athletic department.)

Novi's O'Leary Champion & Record Setter

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

July 11, 2018

The Novi volleyball team’s run to four straight Class A Finals and three straight championships over the last four seasons saw performances by a number of elite hitters – and one on-court constant directing the attack.

Erin O’Leary graduated this spring with an MHSAA-record 5,790 assists during her four years as the team’s starting setter, topping the rest of the best in that category by 180. She had a high of 1,521 assists last fall as a senior, that total coming in ninth for a single season, and all four of her season totals rank among the top 24 since the MHSAA went to rally scoring in 2004-05.

In addition, O’Leary made the career aces list with 327. Victoria Iacobelli, the top hitter on the 2014 runner-up team, was added for 642 kills that fall. Iacobelli has gone on to play at Bowling Green, while O’Leary claimed the statewide Miss Volleyball Award as a senior and will begin her college career at University of Michigan this upcoming season.

Click to see the volleyball record book in full plus more recent record book additions in baseball, girls and boys basketball, football and softball.

Baseball

Morenci’s Matthew Schiermyer enjoyed a memorable day April 28, 1995, when he belted three home runs in his team’s 8-6 win over Ottawa Lake Whiteford. He drove in five runs total with the three homers.

Kingsley’s Alex Parker was hit by 38 pitches over a four-year varsity career that concluded this spring, including by 16 pitches as a junior. His career total is tied for 12th all-time. He will continue his career at Henry Ford College.

Girls Basketball

Onsted’s Taylor Hutchinson knocked down 41 more 3-pointers this past season to finish her four-year varsity career with 167, making the records list in that category. She will continue her career at Jackson College.

Boys Basketball

Hale sophomore Joseph Kimmerer helped his team to a league championship last winter and earned an entry in the record book among sharp shooters. He made 88.3 percent of his free-throw attempts over 21 games (83 of 94) to tie for the 15th-best percentage for one season.

Football

Then-senior Griffin Kelly got his final season off to a great start last Aug. 25, running for six touchdowns in making the single-game list for rushing scores as his Frankfort team defeated Manton 70-40. He is continuing his career at Northern Michigan University.

Dearborn Heights Star International’s Saif Almalla was waiting for a kickoff from Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest to roll into the end zone last Oct. 6 – but when it didn’t, he picked up the ball and raced 99 yards for a touchdown while also tying the record for longest kickoff return in MHSAA history. Almalla will be a senior this fall.

Softball

A trio of strong hitters put up record book-caliber seasons in 2017 for Farmington Hills Mercy. Sophie Van Acker, then a senior, had 84 hits – 10th most for one spring – and graduated with 241 hits over four seasons. Nicole Belans added 18 doubles for a career total of 33, and also made the single-season RBI list with 70. Anna Dixon, then a junior, also had 70 RBI, in addition to 78 hits and 73 runs scored. Van Acker signed with Lehigh University out of high school, and Dixon will continue at Hillsdale College. 

Muskegon Orchard View slugger Halee Holman is off to a great start after two seasons on varsity, and with two more to go. As a sophomore this spring, she made the MHSAA record book with 14 home runs and 90 RBI – the RBI tied for fifth-most all-time. She’s also on the career RBI list with 156 and just short of the career home run list with 19 so far.

Lansing Waverly’s Madeline Stump capped a memorable run this spring with four entries for career accomplishments. Across four seasons and 132 games, Stump hit .546 with 230 hits including 50 doubles and 25 home runs.

PHOTO: Novi’s Erin O’Leary sets a teammate during last season’s Class A Semifinal win over DeWitt.