BY DAN STICKRADT
WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR
C: 248-884-1051
TW: @LocalSportsFans
HUDSONVILLE – Randy Heethuis admits that he never imagined the level of success of Hudsonville Unity Christian’s girls soccer program has produced since he helped the Crusaders launch the program over 30 years ago.
“We started back in 1990 and no, I never really envisioned this,” admitted the veteran Heethuis, who retired from the boys soccer post after the 2021 season but his in his 34th season with e Crusaders girls soccer team. “I just hoped we could teach the sport and learn some of life’s lessons through the sport, on field and in the (classroom).”
The Crusaders have learned countless lessons over the last three
-plus decades – and won a lot of games and championships along the way.
Did we say a lot?
Entering Tuesday’s showdown as the No. 1-ranked team in Division 3 against third-ranked and unbeaten Elk Rapids (21-0-1), the Crusaders will be making their 19th total trip to the Final Four – all in the last quarter century. That ranks second all-time to Madison Heights Bishop Foley’s 21 appearances in the state semifinals.
Unity Christian is second all-time with 10 state titles and second with 14 state finals appearances – both to Bishop Foley – and is tied for seventh with four state finals losses. The Crusaders have been ranked No. 1 most of the season after finishing as the state runner-up last season (a 3-2 loss to Williamston).
See the picture?
“It all goes down to the hard work each season,” admits Heethuis, who also led many deep postseason runs while coaching Unity Christian’s boys soccer team from 1994-2001. “We have been blessed with lots of very good players each year, but if you’re not willing to work hard (talent) can only take you so far.”
There is plenty of talent on this year’s roster, led by 12 seniors and a bevy of talented players, several which will be on college rosters this fall or not in the too distant future.
Senior center back Brianna Rose (All-State First Team) has com
mitted to NCAA Division III Hope College and anchors the back line along with senior goalkeeper Morgan Scholten (All-State Second Team), who has signed with NAIA Cornerstone College. Senior marking back Ella Bosscher has started for three years and is also committed to NAIA Cornerstone College.
The defense has only allowed eight goals in 22 games, good for a team goals-against-average of 0.37, and the defense has pitched 14 shutouts. No team has scored more than a goal in a single game against the Crusaders, who last allowed a goal in the last game of the regular season against Division 1 fourth-ranked Hudsonville – a team still alive in the D-1 tournament.
Offensively, Unity Christian has scored 104 goals over 22 games – good for a 4.73 goals a game average – with three mercies and nine games with at least six goals.
Sophomore forward Ava Lutke was All-State First Team last season as a freshman and widely considered one of the top sophomores in the state and that includes high school, club and various high levels of ECNL and Girls Academy. If she stays in the high school game, she will be a Miss Soccer candidate as a junior and senior and is a Drea
m Team candidate this season. She has 25 goals and 20 assists to lead her team this spring.
Senior midfielder Jessie Postma (All-State Third Team) has committed to defending NAIA national champion Spring Arbor and has 10 assists, while fellow senior midfielder Olivia Bosworth (All-State Honorable Mention) has signed with NCAA Division II Davenport University. She has eight goals and nine assists this year.
Up top, senior Jenna Schreiber (13 goals, 10 assists) is committed to Hope College and junior Stella Desmit has 11 goals and eight assists. Off the bench junior midfielder Vivian Nagelkirk (eight goals, six assists) and senior Jordan Steen (11 goals, five assists) have aided a deep well of offensive players. Freshman midfielder Ava Landstra (eight goals, six assists) has helped in her debut campaign.
“I think we have seven players with eight or more goals,” noted Heethuis. “We have some very good balance with a lot of players stepping up.”
Hudsonville Unity Christian sophomore forward leads the Crusaders' attack and was All-State First Team as a freshman in 2022.
COURTESY PHOTO | UNITY CHRISTIAN ATHLETICS
The Crusaders have some unfinished business this season – to try to win against Elk Rapids to get back to the MHSAA state finals a 15th time and go after another state championship.
“I think after losing last year to Williamston, another quality program, the girls came back a little hungrier and have the goal of trying to get back and win it this year,” said Heethuis, whose 19-1-2 squad has not lost since mid-April to Division 2 state powerhouse Richland Gull Lake. “The talent is there. This team is very (goal-oriented) and loves to compete. They love to win."
After finishing as the Division 3 state runner-up in both 2002 and 2004, Hudsonville Unity Christian began a streak of six straight state titles from 2005-2010 and have never completely lifted the foot of the pedal. The program has not finished under five-hundred since the early 1990s and now could inch closer to some MHSAA records this season and in the future years to come.
Rarely do the Crusaders finish with less than 15 games and rarely are they not at least play into contention for a league championship and district title. Unity Christian went 7-0-0 in the Ottawa Kent Conference Blue Division and then finished 3-0-0 in winning the conference tournament in the eight-school league to capture the outright crown this season. That OKC-Blue featured five teams that cracked the Top 15 in either the D-2 or D-3 state rankings this season.
“We’ve been very blessed over the years,” said Heethuis, who has coached dozens of All-State players over the years including two-time Miss Soccer winner Laura Heyboer. “We’ve had players that have played in college and players who just wanted to be a part of our program.”
Whatever the secret recipe of success is, Unity Christian discovered it many moons ago. The Crusaders have truly become a state power.
It’s in the numbers.
MORE DIVISION 3
FLINT POWERS CATHOLIC LOADS UP SCHEDULE
Throughout the course of a season, you won’t find too many Division 3 or Division 4 opponents on Flint Powers Catholic’s schedule. That’s on purpose.
The Chargers moved over to the Saginaw Valley League around 15 years ago where they compete against predominately all Division 1 or Division 2 schools, then the school athletics staff loads up several quality non-conference opponents, mostly against larger schools –simply to help prepare the Chargers for the state tournament.
“I really think it does help us,” said veteran coach Art Moody, who took over the program in 2007 and is in his 16th season at the helm. “We play all bigger schools in our league, as I think we’ee the only D-3 program. And when you play programs like Midland Dow and Grand Blanc and some of the others it helps us prepare for (the state tournament).
Powers Catholic is normally a D-3 school for girls soccer and boys soccer, except for a couple of seasons mixed in during the last 25-plus school years where they were temporarily bumped up to Division 2 or Class B.
As for results, the proof is in the pudding.
Flint Powers is 17-4-2 this season and finished third out of 12 programs in the Saginaw Valley League at 7-3-2. The Chargers were one of four programs to win districts in the league and one of three teams to crack the Top 15 in either D-1 or D-3.
This year sixth-ranked Powers Catholic has outscored the opposition 95-13 entering Tuesday’s Division 3 state semifinals against No. 10 Grosse Ile. They own 13 clean sheets, a team goals-against-average of 0.44 and have scored 4.14 goals a game.
As the Chargers take the field Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Howell Parker Middle School against No. 10 Grosse Ile, it will mark the Chargers’ 18th trip to the Final Four – and that ranks well inside the top 10 on the state’s all-time list.
Flint Powers captured state crowns in 2011, 2017 and 2018, finished as the state runner-up six other times (2000), 2003, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2016) and lost in the state semifinals eight other times – all since 1995.
There’s plenty of talent on this year’s roster, led by junior center back Grace Cameron (All-State First Team) and senior Natalie Vance. Cameron, who has committed to NCAA Division I Central Michigan University, is listed as a center back but is involved in a lot of restarts and sometimes pushes up into the midfield. Vance starred two years ago for the Chargers, competed year-round with the Nationals Girls Academy last season, and is now back in the attack for Powers. She’ll play collegiately at NCAA Division I University of Detroit-Mercy.
Junior back/midfielder Abby Jones (All-State Second Team last year), senior center back Keilana Papathendone, and junior goalkeeper Mariah Thompson are all key components for the Chargers this season.
With a lot of players back, Flint Powers was expected to compete in a very deep regional last week and prevailed with a pair of wins. That sets the stage for the team’s first appearance in the Final Four since 2019, a year where the team competed in Division 2.
in a 3-1 loss
“We’ve had a very good year,” noted Moody. “We’re excited to be back in the semifinals. Everyone here is good and we hope to have a great game with Grosse Ile.”
ELK RAPIDS SHINES BRIGHT UP NORTH
Over the years Elk Rapids’ boys soccer teams have made numerous Final Four runs on the pitch even back to the 1980s. The Elks are every bit of a state powerhouse.
The school’s girls soccer team finally cleared a major hurdle last season after winning its regional crown and playing in the state semifinals for the first time.
“We came so close so many times,” admitted coach Andrea Krakow. “We lost in the regional semifinals and regional finals so many times. But we could never get over the hump until last year. Our boys team has been there several times.”
Perhaps the Lake Michigan Conference leaders were long overdue.
The Elks, ranked third, will face top-ranked Hudsonville Unity Christian at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Cedar Springs in the state semifinals. Elk Rapids is just one of two unbeaten schools still in the tournament – the other being Division 1 Northville. There were six total undefeated teams combined in the four divisions entering the state tournament.
The Elks were able to go 10-0-0 in the Lake Michigan Conference and overall outscore the opposition 99-10 this season with 14 shutouts enroute to their 21-0-1 overall record and second straight Final Four berth.
Elk Rapids had some misfortune against Unity Christian last season in a 3-1 loss.
“Our goalie broke her leg in the game and we were forced to put a backup in there that hadn’t played goalie,” recalled Krakow. “They came back and scored three quick goals on us and we never fully recovered. We were able to score one against them but couldn’t come all the way back.”
The Elks are led by one of the state’s top overall players in senior forward Lauren Bingham. The fast and physical Bingham has signed with NCAA Division I Bellarine University and has in the neighborhood of 130 career goals for her career – and that was over just three seasons with the 2020 campaign being cancelled statewide. She was All-State First Team the last two years and has 54 goals already this season.
Junior midfielder Kendall Standfest (All-State Second Team) is a great two-way player and is racking up assists in bunches (10 goals, 17 assists). Junior Ally Plum anchors the defense from her center back position.
Freshman forward Sierra Boilone (13 goals, seven assists), Pipre Metee (three goals, 10 assists), Miriam Ribera (two goals, seven assists), Sierra Boilore (13 goals, seven assists and goalkeeper Jorja Jenema (All-State Second Team) has been steady performers. Jenema has an .880 save percentage, a 0.47 goals-against-average and the 14 shutouts between the pipes.
“We’ve had an incredible season so far, especially considering the fact we graduated those 10 (players),” said Krakow. “For us to move in a bunch of younger players into the starting lineup after losing that many – it says a lot about these girls.
To be the best, Elk Rapids will have to beat the best in Unity Christian, which is making its 19th Final Four appearance.
“We’re hoping for a great game with them,” said Krakow. “We’ve made a great run and I think the girls are excited to play them again.”
GROSSE ILE REACHES SECOND FINAL FOUR
What’s missing from Grosse Ile’s long list of accomplishments in girls soccer is an elusive state title.
The 10th-ranked Red Devils (16-2-4) are two wins away from that perch and will have to clear the state semifinals hurdle just for a chance at glory. Grosse Ile plays No. 6 Flint Powers Catholic at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Howell Parker Middle School.
The Red Devils upended defending state champion Williamston (2-1) last week to advance to the Final Four, where fellow state powers Flint Powers, Elk Rapids and Hudsonville Unity Christian are also vying for the title.
Grosse Ile, second in the Huron League to Milan this season, have captured 10 straight district titles but had only won regional title before this season and that came in 2016. Grosse Ile lost to Flint Powers in the state semifinals that year, 1-0.
Could the Red Devils gain a measure of revenge this season?
Grosse Ile has recorded 12 shutouts this season and posted a 98-15 scoring differential.
The Red Devils have outscored four postseason opponents 15-3, including a 2-1 overtime victory over No. 11 Milan in the district finals.
INSPIRED UNIVERSITY-LIGGETT BACK IN THE HUNT
David Dwaihy was excited to hear that Olivia Thomas was going to joining the Grosse Pointe Woods University-Liggett girls soccer roster this past March.
Who wouldn’t be?
Thomas is well inside the top 100 national prospects list and in the U.S. U-19 national team pool for her age group. The Michigan Hawks product has signed with NCAA Division I powerhouse University of North Carolina, which has won numerous NCAA titles over the decades.
“We were glad to have her, even for a period of time,” noted Dwaihy. “She is more than a great player with an unusual skillset. She’s a great person and leader.”
The bad news for Liggett is that Thomas had other commitments with her club team, a national ODP pool event, and her agreement with the Flint AFC amateur team – even as a prep player. She had to step away from the starting lineup at the end of the regular season. She’s still on the roster as a manger and “cheers on her teammates. She still trains with us when she can,” beamed Dwaihy.
“We knew that we’d only have her for two-thirds of the season,” admitted Dwaihy. “Her club team got called to a national tournament and she was asked to play with the Flint AFC a long time ago. She’s going to North Carolina, so they want their players to play at the highest level possible.
Still, the ALL-CHSL performer scored 40 goals in her two months as a starter. And even though she can’t play in any tournament games because she had to forfeit her amateur status in late May due to suiting up for higher teams, she’s still part of some practices and has made her team better.
In short, she’s left quite an impression.
Liggett took over the No. 1 spot in the Division 4 rankings in mid-April and has remained there ever since. The Knights, who last won a state tile in 2016, have outscored the opposition 88-22 this season with 11 shutouts. Even without Thomas on the field, Liggett owns three clean sheets in the postseason and outscored its four tournament foes 15-1. Without Thomas, the Knights also lost to Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood in the CHSL Cardinal Tournament finals at the end of the regular season.
“We’ve had to do it (on the field) without her. But the girls have stepped up. They’ve learned how to win over the past couple of months, added Dwaihy.
“We were really young the last couple of years and last year we only won a handful of games,” recalled Dwaihy. “Two years ago we were as young as ever. But we still competed and worked hard. Then we had Olivia Thomas come in and she helped elevate us. She was almost a coach on the field and she helped instill confidence in the other girls – helping them believe in themselves. She’s been a great influence.”
Liggett (20-2-2) faces off with league rival and unranked Clarkston Everest Collegiate – a team they defeated 6-1 early in the campaign – at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the state semifinals at Troy Athens.
It’s not that Liggett doesn’t have talent. Most of the roster is intact from last year – and each component has improved vastly.
Seniors Brooke Summers (M), Madisyn Szajenko (M) and Luci Boyle (F), junior Gabrielle Szajenko (G), sophomores Kerith Short (M), Addison Hamilton (D), Addie Ancona (M), Elizabeth Dickey (D) and Lydia Fedewa-Widick (D) were all starters last season and have been key factors this spring. Senior Alexandra Karolak (M) came over from the Michigan Hawks club team and freshman Jazmin Diaz-Don (M) has also joined the cause.
“I’m proud of this group of girls,” said Dwaihy, who lost junior Sofie Ancona last fall to a knee injury and she was the lone All-State player on last year’s squad. “They have all worked hard since last season to get better and we’ve had a great season because of their hard work.
“We’re excited because none of these girls have been this far (into the Final Four) and this is a great experience for them,” added Dwaihy. “We’re going to go out there and give it our best shot.”
EVEREST COLLEGIATE SURGING
During its early years, Clarkston Everest Collegiate competed as part of a Unified program with nearby Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes., Not just with girls soccer, but for all sports.
The partnership lasted from the 2009-10 school year, when Everest opened its high school, through the summer of 2014. Then, the Mountaineers separated into its own athletics department.
The WOLL-CEC squad had plenty of success, reaching the Division 4 state finals four times, including winning the 2010 D-4 state title and finishing as the state runner-up from 2012-2014.
In 2016, Everest Collegiate began picking up a few players from Bloomfield Hills Sacred Heart, which never had its own program but didn’t have enough to field an independent girls soccer program.
The climb back up has seen some ups and downs.
First, the Mountaineers lost perhaps its best player in the offseason and had some injuries to some key players at the beginning of the 2023 campaign.
Everest Collegiate opened up the season ranked in the preseason Division 4 Top 15 rankings by the coaches association. Without some key components, the Mountaineers quickly dropped from the rankings and quickly faded.
“We had some bad luck there at the beginning,” said coach Richard Cross. “We lost my daughter to a knee injury earlier in the (school year) and then we had some other injuries as well – some shin splints, rolled ankle. We were playing some younger girls and in our league (the CHSL AA Division) it wasn’t going to be pretty. We have (Bloomfield Hills) Cranbrook, (Royal Oak) Shine, (Madison Heights) Bishop Foley, (Orchard Lake) St. Mary’s and so many good teams. We struggled, especially at the beginning of the season.”
The Mountaineers finished only 2-7-2 in the regular season and in sixth place in their league – far from the state rankings – and far from a team expected to go far in the postseason. Overall, the team was outscored 24-12 in the regular season, was shut out three times and didn’t record a single clean sheet in the regular season.
But something clicked.
The Mountaineers banded together for a 2-1 shootout win over Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest in a D-4 district semifinals clash and quickly turned the tables – and left the regular season in the rearview mirror.
In four tournament games, Everest has outscored the opposition 18-1, collected three shutouts and a shootout win, and defeated sixth-ranked Saginaw Nouvel Catholic (2-0) in the regional finals.
“We’ve come a long ways for sure,” said Cross. “I guess the girls never kept working hard and never gave up. If we would have given up, we would not be here. After that shootout win against (Lutheran Northwest) we went on to have out best game of the season and beat (Auburn Hills) Oakland Christian in the district finals, 6-0. We really started to believe. Oakland Christian won its league and we put six goals on them. We hadn’t scored very many goals all season. Then we followed that up with eight goals against (New Haven) Merritt Academy in the first regional game.”
Everest Collegiate’s journey continues in the state semifinals. But what the Mountaineers have taught the soccer community is to never give up in the face of adversity.
NORTH MUSKEGON NOW A POWERHOUSE
In the late decade, North Muskegon has more than just risen up the charts like a fast-selling single. It has now reached state powerhouse status under coach Caleb Parnin.
The Norsemen have reached the Final Four in Division 4 five of the last six seasons – and the only year they didn’t make it was the 2020 campaign where there was no season.
The Norsemen have made it back and will face nemesis Kalamazoo Christian Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Cedar Springs in the D-4 state semifinals.
The two have met in the semifinals four times since 2018, including this year’s clash set for Wednesday.
North Muskegon won in 2021 with a 1-0 semifinals victory over the Comets and the Norsemen went on to blank Royal Oak Shrine Catholic 5-0 for its first and only state crown. Kalamazoo Christian defeated North Muskegon in 2018 (2-1, shootout), 2019 (1-0) and again in 2022 (1-0).
This year’s group started slow with a 1-2-1 record before getting untracked to post a 17-3-1 record this season entering the Final Four, including 10-0-1 in the West Michigan Conference.
Nort Muskegon’s only losses were to non-Division 4 schools, including D-3 Elk Rapids, D-2 Muskegon Reeths-Puffer and D-2 Spring Lake, which entered the state tournament No. 1 in that division.
The Norsemen are ranked second entering the tournament, while Kalamazoo Christian is ranked seventh. North Muskegon has recorded 13 shutouts this season and outscored the opposition 72-16, including 9-2 in the postseason with three clean sheets.
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN BACK IN USUAL POSITION
There was once a time when Kalamazoo Christian struggled to get over the hump.
Not going deep into the postseason, but simply getting past Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep at the league and district level. That seemed to occur several times in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. Sure the Comets did have their fair share of success, but Hackett was always an obstacle.
“When I joined the staff back in (1995), we were always behind Hackett or at least it seamed that way,” recalled longtime coach Julian Allen. “They had some very good teams back then and are still competitive. But we’ve had more success against them recently.”
Seventh-ranked Kalamazoo Christian has advances to the Final Four now in four of the last six seasons and when the Comets face off with new-found rival and second-ranked North Muskegon at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Cedar Springs High School, the table is set for the school’s 12th total state semifinals appearance.
Overall, Kalamazoo Christian has captured three state crowns in Division 4 – 2004, 2007 and most recently 2008 – and are trying to end a 15-year title drought this season. The Comets lost in the state finals four of the last six years in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022 (there was no season in 2020 even though the Comets were expected to do well that season and be a top-10 team) while they also fell short in a state semifinals clash in 1991, 2001, 2013 and 2015.
Technically, the Comets have reached the Final Four six times in the last decade only to come up short of state glory each time.
“We’ve been there a lot recently,” said Allen of the state semifinals runs. “We’ve had some good teams and been able to make some runs. But we haven’t been able to win one in a long time.”
That would be an agonizingly 15 long years since the last state title. In fact within the past two decades, Kalamazoo Christian has three state titles and been to the Final Four 10 times – more than any other D-4 school in that time-span.
Could this year’s unit be the one to get the Comets back over the hump?
“We hope so,” laughed Allen. “It’s never easy just getting here (to the Final Four) let alone win it. Everything has to go right.”
The one recent year when Kalamazoo Christian did not reach the Final Four (2021), North Muskegon won its first and only state title.
Combining all four MHSAA divisions and Kalamazoo Christian is one of the leaders for Final Four berths. Additionally, the 12th state semifinals appearance is tied for seventh all-time.
There are several talented players and muti-sport athletes up and down the Comets roster. Senior forward Taylor Leonard (All-State First Team) is a NCAA Division III Hope College commit and recently eclipsed the 100 career goals mark in just under three seasons.
Sophomore Jordyn Bonnema (M/F) is a great set-up player with incredible field vision and instincts. Seniors Chloe Lehman (M) and Annika Sytsma (M), junior Sophia Nash (F/M )and freshman Izzy Suloff (M) join Leonard in a high-octane attack.
Juniors McKenzie Ling and Phoebe Zeyl, sophomore Maysen Steensma and freshman Aubrie Lehman are some of the defenders that have formed a solid unit in the backfield.
Back between the pipes, junior Elizabeth Netz was pulled up to varsity early in her freshman campaign and was converted from a defender to goalkeeper and ended up with All-State Honorable Mention honors by the time she was a sophomore.
“She’s very quiet and kind of an introvert,” said Allen. “When I asked her if she wanted to be a goalie, she didn’t say no. I’m sure she would have if she was (talkative), but she did it and here we are. She’s come a long ways in three years and is now a very solid goalkeeper.
Entering the state semifinals the Comets (17-6-0) have 14 shutouts. That follows a slow 2-3-0 start where Kalamazoo Christian played some D-2 and D-3 schools. Overall, the Comets have outscored the opposition 90-19 – although 15 of those goals allowed were to D-1, D-2 and D-3 schools. OF the six losses, only one was to a Division 4 schools and that was state-ranked Lansing Christian in a shortened weekend tournament game May 13 at the Lansing Christian Invitational.
That leads us back to the Final Four. Do the Comets have enough to win its first title since back-to-back D-4 crowns in 2007 and 2008?
“We’re playing well right now and we understand it will not be easy at all,” said Allen. “We have to focus right now on North Muskegon. They are a very good team.”
RECENT KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN-NORTH MUSKEGON STATE SEMIFINALS MATCHES
2023: TBD, Kalamazoo Christian vs. North Muskegon
2022: Kalamazoo Christian 1, North Muskegon 0
2019: Kalamazoo Christian 1, North Muskegon 0
2018: Kalamazoo Christian 2, North Muskegon 1 (2OT, SO)
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN IN THE STATE FINALS:
2022: Royal Oak Shrine Catholic 1, Kalamazoo Christian 0
2019: Royal Oak Shrine Catholic 4, Kalamazoo Christian 0
2018: Lansing Christian 1, Kalamazoo Christian 0
2017: Lansing Christian 2, Kalamazoo Christian 1 (2OT, SO)
2008: Kalamazoo Christian 1, Madison Heights Bishop Foley 0
2007: Kalamazoo Christian 4, Ann Arbor Greenhills 0
2004: Kalamazoo Christian 6, Saginaw Nouvel Catholic 0
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN STATE SEMIFINALS LOSSES:
2015: Grandville Calvin Christian 5, Kalamazoo Christian 1
2013: Grandville Calvin Christian 1, Kalamazoo Christian 0
2001: Harbor Springs 3, Kalamazoo Christian 1
1991: Richland-Gull Lake 2, Kalamazoo Christian 1 (2OT, SO) (Class B-C-D)
THE MOST IN STATE TOURNAMENT HISTORY--GIRLS SOCCER
(1983-2002)
n Compiled by Dan Stickradt
Note: An asterisk* denotes a school that no longer exists.
MOST MHSAA STATE TITLES:
12 – Madison Heights Bishop Foley
10 – Hudsonville Unity Christian
9 – Birmingham Marian
7 – Novi
6 – Birmingham Detroit Country Day
5 – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central
5 – Livonia Stevenson
4 – Grandville Calvin Christian
4 – Kalamazoo Christian
4 – Richland Gull Lake
4 – Troy Athens
3 – East Grand Rapids
3 – Flint Powers Catholic
3 – Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep
3 – Northville
3 – Plymouth Canton
3 – Troy
2 – Grand Rapids South Christian
2 – Grosse Pointe Woods University-Liggett
2 – Lansing Christian
2 – Okemos
2 – Portage Central
2 – Rochester Adams
2 – Royal Oak Shrine Catholic
1 – Ann Arbor Greenhills
1 – Ann Arbor Huron
1 – Birmingham Groves
1 – Birmingham Seaholm
1 – Bloomfield Hills
1 – Clawson
1 – Dearborn
1 – Hartland
1 – Livonia Churchill
1 – North Muskegon
1 – Plainwell
1 – Plymouth Salem
1 – Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
1 – Rochester Stoney Creek
1 – Saginaw Eisenhower*
1 – Saginaw Heritage
1 – Saline
1 – Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes-Clarkston Everest Unified
1 – Williamston
MOST MHSAA STATE FINALS APPEARANCES:
17 – Madison Heights Bishop Foley
14 – Hudsonville Unity Christian
13 – Birmingham Marian
11 – Birmingham Detroit Country Day
9 – Flint Powers Catholic
8 – Kalamazoo Christian
8 – Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep
8 – Richland Gull Lake
7 – Livonia Stevenson
7 – Novi
7 – Plymouth Canton
7 – Troy
7 – Troy Athens
6 – Northville
6 – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central
5 – Plainwell
5 – Brighton
5 – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern
5 – East Grand Rapids
4 – Ann Arbor Greenhills
4 – Grand Blanc
4 – Grandville Calvin Christian
4 – Lansing Christian
4 – Rochester Adams
4 – Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes-Clarkston Everest Unified
3 – Bloomfield Hills Lahser*
3 – Livonia Churchill
3 – Okemos
3 – Portage Central
3 – Royal Oak Shrine Catholic
3 – Williamston
2 – Freeland
2 – Grand Rapids South Christian
2 – Grosse Pointe Woods University-Liggett
2 – Plymouth
2 – Plymouth Salem
2 – Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
2 – Rochester Stoney Creek
2 – Saginaw Eisenhower*
2 – Utica Eisenhower
1 – Ann Arbor Huron
1 – Birmingham Groves
1 – Birmingham Seaholm
1 – Bloomfield Hills
1 – Boyne City
1 – Clawson
1 – Dearborn
1 – Essexville-Garber
1 – Fenton
1 – Grandville
1 – Grosse Pointe North
1 – Harbor Springs
1 – Hartland
1 – Jackson Lumen Christi
1 – Livonia Ladywood*
1 – Montrose
1 – Muskegon Western Michigan Christian
1 – North Muskegon
1 – Portage Northern
1 – Rochester
1 – Saginaw Heritage
1 – Saginaw Nouvel Catholic
1 – Saline
1 – Spring Lake
1 – Stevensville-Lakeshore
MOST MHSAA STATE RUNNERS-UP FINISHES:
6 – Flint Powers Catholic
5 – Birmingham Detroit Country Day
5 – Brighton
5 – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern
5 – Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep
5 – Madison Heights Bishop Foley
4 – Birmingham Marian
4 – Grand Blanc
4 – Hudsonville Unity Christian
4 – Kalamazoo Christian
4 – Plainwell
4 – Plymouth Canton
4 – Richland Gull Lake
4 – Troy
3 – Ann Arbor Greenhills
3 – Bloomfield Hills Lahser*
3 – Northville
3 – Troy Athens
3 – Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes-Clarkston Everest Unified
2 – East Grand Rapids
2 – Freeland
2 – Lansing Christian
2 – Livonia Churchill
2 – Livonia Stevenson
2 – Plymouth
2 – Rochester Adams
2 – Utica Eisenhower
2 – Williamston
1 – Boyne City
1 – Essexville-Garber
1 – Fenton
1 – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central
1 – Grandville
1 – Grosse Pointe North
1 – Harbor Springs
1 – Jackson Lumen Christi
1 – Livonia Ladywood*
1 – Montrose
1 – Muskegon Western Michigan Christian
1 – Okemos
1 – Plymouth Salem
1 – Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
1 – Portage Central
1 – Portage Northern
1 – Royal Oak Shrine Catholic
1 – Rochester
1 – Rochester Stoney Creek
1 – Saginaw Eisenhower*
1 – Saginaw Nouvel Catholic
1 – Spring Lake
1 – Stevensville-Lakeshore
MOST MHSAA STATE RUNNERS-UP FINISHES WITHOUT A STATE TITLE:
5 – Brighton
5 – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern
4 – Grand Blanc
2 – Freeland
2 – Utica Eisenhower
1 – Boyne City
1 – Essexville-Garber
1 – Fenton
1 – Grandville
1 – Grosse Pointe North
1 – Harbor Springs
1 – Jackson Lumen Christi
1 – Livonia Ladywood*
1 – Montrose
1 – Muskegon Western Michigan Christian
1 – Portage Northern
1 – Rochester
1 – Saginaw Eisenhower*
1 – Saginaw Nouvel Catholic
1 – Spring Lake
1 – Stevensville-Lakeshore
MHSAA STATE SEMIFINALS LOSSES:
8 – Flint Powers Catholic
8 – Troy
7 – Birmingham Detroit Country Day
6 – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central
6 – Muskegon Western Michigan Christian
6 – Portage Central
6 – Rochester Adams
5 – Brighton
5 – DeWitt
5 – Holland Christian
5 – Plainwell
5 – Portage Northern
5 – Saginaw Nouvel Catholic
4 – Dexter
4 – Harper Woods Regina / Warren Regina
4 – Hudsonville Unity Christian
4 – Jackson Lumen Christi
4 – Kalamazoo Christian
4 – Madison Heights Bishop Foley
4 – North Muskegon
4 – Northville
4 – Richland-Gull Lake
4 – Rochester
4 – Suttons Bay
3 – Birmingham Marian
3 – Frankenmuth
3 – Freeland
3 – Grosse Pointe South
3 – Grosse Pointe Woods University-Liggett
3 – Lansing Christian
3 – Livonia Ladywood*
3 – Midland Dow
3 – Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
3 – Trenton
3 – Utica Ford II
2 – Ann Arbor Greenhills
2 – Bad Axe
2 – Dearborn
2 – Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port-Laker
2 – Fenton
2 – Fremont
2 – Grand Rapids Catholic Central
2 – Grand Rapids Christian
2 – Grandville Calvin Christian
2 – Grosse Pointe North
2 – Harbor Springs
2 – Kalamazoo Central
2 – Livonia Stevenson
2 – Macomb Lutheran North
2 – Midland
2 – Novi
2 – Saginaw Eisenhower*
2 – Troy Athens
2 – Utica Eisenhower
2 – Williamston
1 – Ann Arbor Huron
1 – Ann Arbor Pioneer
1 – Ann Arbor Skyline
1 – Birmingham Seaholm
1 – Boyne City
1 – Byron Center
1 – Charlevoix
1 – Chelsea
1 – Clawson
1 – Dearborn Divine Child
1 – East Kentwood
1 – East Lansing
1 – Elk Rapids
1 – Farmington
1 – Farmington Hills Mercy
1 – Flushing
1 – Grand Blanc
1 – Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian
1 – Grosse Ile
1 – Hart
1 – Haslett
1 – Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep
1 – Kalamazoo Loy-Norrix
1 – Lapeer East*
1 – Lake Fenton
1 – Linden
1 – Livonia Churchill
1 – Ludington
1 – Madison Heights Lamphere
1 – Maple City Glen Lake
1 – Marine City Cardinal Mooney
1 – Marshall
1 – Mattawan
1 – Muskegon Catholic Central
1 – Muskegon Oakridge
1 – Muskegon Orchard View
1 – Okemos
1 – Paw Paw
1 – Plymouth Canton
1 – Royal Oak Kimball*
1 – Saginaw Heritage
1 – St. Clair Shores South Lake
1 – Saline
1 – Spring Lake
MOST MHSAA FINAL FOUR APPEARANCES:
(Combined state championship, state runners-ups and Final Four losses)
21 – Madison Heights Bishop Foley
18 – Birmingham Detroit Country Day
18 – Hudsonville Unity Christian
17 – Flint Powers Catholic
16 – Birmingham Marian
15 – Troy
12 – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central
12 – Kalamazoo Christian
12 – Richland Gull Lake
10 – Brighton
10 – Northville
10 – Plainwell
10 – Rochester Adams
9 – Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep
9 – Livonia Stevenson
9 – Novi
9 – Portage Central
9 – Troy Athens
8 – Plymouth Canton
7 – Lansing Christian
7 – Muskegon Western Michigan Christian
6 – Ann Arbor Greenhills
6 – Grandville Calvin Christian
6 – Portage Northern
6 – Saginaw Nouvel Catholic
5 – DeWitt
5 – East Grand Rapids
5 – Freeland
5 – Grand Blanc
5 – Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern
5 – Grosse Pointe Woods University-Liggett
5 – Holland Christian
5 – Jackson Lumen Christi
5 – North Muskegon
5 – Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
5 – Rochester
5 – Williamston
4 – Dexter
4 – Harper Woods Regina / Warren Regina
4 – Livonia Churchill
4 – Livonia Ladywood*
4 – Okemos
4 – Suttons Bay
4 – Utica Eisenhower
4 – Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes-Clarkston Everest Collegiate Unified
3 – Bloomfield Hills Lahser*
3 – Dearborn
3 – Fenton
3 – Frankenmuth
3 – Grosse Pointe North
3 – Grosse Pointe South
3 – Harbor Springs
3 – Midland Dow
3 – Royal Oak Shrine Catholic
3 – Trenton
3 – Utica Ford II
2 – Ann Arbor Huron
2 – Bad Axe
2 – Birmingham Seaholm
2 – Boyne City
2 – Clawson
2 – Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port-Laker
2 – Fremont
2 – Grand Rapids Catholic Central
2 – Grand Rapids Christian
2 – Grand Rapids South Christian
2 – Kalamazoo Central
2 – Macomb Lutheran North
2 – Midland
2 – Plymouth
2 – Plymouth Salem
2 – Rochester Stoney Creek
2 – Saginaw Eisenhower*
2 – Saginaw Heritage
2 – Saline
2 – Spring Lake
1 – Ann Arbor Pioneer
1 – Ann Arbor Skyline
1 – Birmingham Groves
1 – Bloomfield Hills
1 – Byron Center
1 – Charlevoix
1 – Chelsea
1 – Dearborn Divine Child
1 – East Kentwood
1 – East Lansing
1 – Elk Rapids
1 – Essexville Garber
1 – Farmington
1 – Farmington Hills Mercy
1 – Flushing
1 – Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian
1 – Grandville
1 – Grosse Ile
1 – Hart
1 – Hartland
1 – Haslett
1 – Kalamazoo Loy-Norrix
1 – Lapeer East*
1 – Lake Fenton
1 – Linden
1 – Ludington
1 – Madison Heights Lamphere
1 – Maple City Glen Lake
1 – Marine City Cardinal Mooney Catholic
1 – Marshall
1 -- Mattawan
1 – Montrose
1 – Muskegon Catholic Central
1 – Muskegon Oakridge
1 – Muskegon Orchard View
1 – Royal Oak Kimball*
1 – St. Clair Shores South Lake
1 – Stevensville-Lakeshore
Note: An asterisk* denotes a school that no longer exists.
To update, email Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or text to (248) 884-1051.
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS STATE TITLES:
11 – Davison Faith Baptist
4 – Midland Calvary Baptist
4 – Troy Bethany Christian
2 – Clinton Township Faith Christian
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS STATE RUNNERS-UP:
3 – Rochester Hills Christian
3 – Davison Faith Baptist
2 – Troy Bethany Christian
1 – Clarkston Springfield Christian
1 – Clinton Township Faith Christian
1 – Vassar Juniata Christian
X – Bloomfield Hills Christian
X – Bridgeport Baptist
X – Carson City Fellowship Baptist
X – Corunna Immanuel Christian
X – Gaylord Grace Baptist*
X – Gladwin Skeels Christian
X – Holland Calvary Baptist
X – Holt Capitol City Baptist
X – Laingsburg Christian
X – Lake Orion Baptist
X – Lake Orion Shalom Baptist*
X – Midland Calvary Baptist
X – Midland Christian*
X – Oxford Christian Academy*
X – Rockford Oakfield Baptist*
X – Ruby Faith Baptist*
X – Saginaw Community Baptist
X – Saline Washtenaw Christian
X – Sterling Heights Christian*
X – Waterford Oakdale Christian Academy
X – Wixom Christian
X – Ypsilanti Calvary Christian*
X – Ypsilanti Faithway Baptist*
Note: There are five seasons in the MACS state tournament where there is no state champion listed.
Note: An asterisk* denotes a school that no longer in operation or the high school portion has closed.
To update, email Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or text to (248) 884-1051.
MICHIGAN HOME SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
/ WEST MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN HOME SCHOOL ASSOCIATION:
MOST STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Note: No list complied; incomplete information
X – Brighton East Michigan Home School Panthers
X – Byron Center West Michigan Home School Heat
X – Canton Home School United
X – Hudsonville Home School Hornets
X – Kalamazoo Home School Cougars
X – Lansing Area Home School Dragons
X – Lansing CHAP Home School Chariots
X – Lansing Home School Crusaders*
X – Lapeer Faith Home School Falcons
X – Lapeer Home School Lakers
X – Romeo Summit Home School Mountaineers
X – Saginaw Mid-Michigan Christian Home School Educators Eagles
X – Sterling Heights Life Summit Eagles
X – Traverse City Home School Bulldogs
MOST STATE RUNNERS-UP:
X – Brighton East Michigan Home School Panthers
X – Byron Center West Michigan Home School Heat
X – Canton Home School United
X – Hudsonville Home School Hornets
X – Kalamazoo Home School Cougars
X – Lansing Area Home School Dragons
X – Lansing CHAP Home School Chariots
X – Lansing Home School Crusaders*
X – Lapeer Faith Home School Falcons
X – Lapeer Home School Lakers
X – Romeo Summit Home School Mountaineers
X – Saginaw Mid-Michigan Christian Home School Educators Eagles
X – Sterling Heights Life Summit Eagles
X – Traverse City Home School Bulldogs
To update, email Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or text to (248) 884-1051.
MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION:
2023: Rochester Hills Christian 5, Saline Washtenaw Christian 2
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
1 – Rochester Hills Christian
STATE RUNNERS-UP:
1 – Saline Washtenaw Christian
This is a newly-created state governing body of small Christian schools from a variety of conferences or independents that used to participate in state tournament by the Michigan Association of Christian Schools (MACS), Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), or various schools who have not participated in postseasons in recent years.
To update, email Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.comor text to (248) 884-1051.
UPPER PENINSULA GIRLS SOCCER TOURNAMENT:
(U.P. Tournament 2008-2023)
CHAMPIONSHIPS:
X – Marquette
X – Kingsford
X – Iron Mountain-Norway Unified
X – Houghton:
X – Sault Ste. Marie:
X – Manistique:
X – Ironwood-Bessemer-Wakefield-Marensisco Unified:
X – Hancock Copper Country Strykers Unified:
X – Escanaba-Gladstone Bayside Unified:
RUNNERS-UP:
X – Marquette
X – Kingsford
X – Iron Mountain-Norway Unified
X – Houghton:
X – Sault Ste. Marie:
X – Manistique:
X – Ironwood-Bessemer-Wakefield-Marensisco Unified:
X – Hancock Copper Country Strykers Unified:
X – Escanaba-Gladstone Bayside Unified:
To update, email Dan Stickradt at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.comor text to (248) 884-1051.
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