The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Milan sports Year-in-Review
PUBLISHED: January 3, 2008
January
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4— Milan boys' basketball head coach Jeremy Davies might be able to stomach being 4-1. That is, if his team hadn't come so close to being 5-0. Previously undefeated Milan missed three late free throws and went scoreless over the game's final 3:37 as Adrian Madison turned a 56-50 deficit into a 57-56 win in the final of the Manchester Invitational Thursday night.
4 — Jonseck is also committed to getting his wrestlers in front of the highest competition he can find. The Big Reds found it at the Trenton meet. "We got the competition we were looking for," said Jonseck. "Livonia Franklin brought some good leg attacks we needed to see." Milan steamrolled South Sandusky 69-3 to open the tournament, but then went up against Livonia Franklin's "A" team and fell hard 54-6. The Big Reds kept it closer against Livonia Franklin's "B" team, losing 47-21 and went on to defeat Annapolis 45-34 before losing a tight match 38-27 to league rival Monroe Jefferson. The wins ran the Big Reds' dual meet record to 10-8.
25 — As the song goes, if it weren't for bad luck, over the past week the Milan volleyball team wouldn't have had any luck at all. But even a rash of injuries and illness didn't keep the Big Reds from posting two inspirational victories at last Saturday's Onsted Invitational. After losing all three matches in pool play -- to Hillsdale, hosts Onsted and Napoleon -- Milan faced Pittsford in the Silver division quarterfinals. The Big Reds got off the mat to defeat Pittsford 15-11 and 15-8. In the Silver semifinals, Milan faced higher seed Jackson Lumen Christi. The Big Reds again grabbed a surprising victory, winning two thrilling games by scores of 16-14 and 16-14.
February
1 — A dual-meet tie is a rare thing in high school swimming. But Milan's 93-93 draw with Chelsea Jan. 23 in Chelsea had more significance for the Big Reds' boys' swimming team than just a statistical quirk. Coach Dan Heikka believes that the result against a Bulldog squad with "more talent" represented an overachievement for his team — one that had Milan thrilled and excited as the meet came down to the final swimmers of the final race.
"It was a real exciting meet," Heikka said. "Quite frankly, I think they have more talent and depth than we do. But we swam better than they did on that given night ... Chelsea's a rival of ours from the old SEC. It was fun."
1 — They got it. And it wasn't too long in coming. The Milan varsity bowling teams got their first wins of their inaugural season Monday night against Lenawee Christian. The varsity boys' team defeated Lenawee Christian 23-7. The Big Reds won the first baker game by a squeak, 155-153, and then went on to win both regular games 839-738 and 787-634.
1 — Milan entered last Friday's home game against New Boston Huron on a five-game losing streak during which the Big Reds had struggled in the early going and failed to push their opponents into the up-tempo game they prefer. So much for all of that. Milan roared to a 27-9 lead at the end of the first quarter and cruised past the harried Chiefs, winning 68-46. The Big Reds' full-court press helped force the visitors into 18 first-half turnovers as Milan executed its up-tempo game plan to perfection.
15 — The Milan varsity wrestling team ended its regular season on a high note, notching its 24th dual win of the year after defeating the Flat Rock Rams 42-31 last Thursday. "It was a good way to end the regular season heading into districts," said coach Gary Jonseck. "The kids wrestled well." Winning for the Big Reds were Aaris Gruber (103 pounds), Dan Vivian (119), Josh Ford (130), Jacob Nelson (152), Aaron Householder (171), Ben Snider (189) and Jake Hill (285). Householder, the lone senior on the team, was able to end his regular season high school wrestling career with a victory, finishing with a 13-18 record.
15—If you need to know what the Milan boys' swimming team is made of, says head coach Dan Heikka, all you needed to see was the 400-yard freestyle relay event at last Saturday's Michigan Inter-Scholastic Swim Coaches' Association meet. Despite it being the final event of a long day, despite each swimmer having already competed in multiple events (and sophomore Tim Hochradel having swum the previous event), the Big Reds got a superb opening leg from Jason Schroder --his best of the season by more than a second-and-a-half, Heikka said -- and rolled to a 14th-place time of 3:24.89. Not only was the time well under the 3:30.89 needed for state qualification, it was the Big Reds' best time in the event this season by a whopping 8.61 seconds. "They really decided it was time to start making a statement," Heikka said of the swim. "Jason Schroeder is a senior who's never been to state and really wants to go. And he seized that opportunity with everything he had ... Our guys swim with a lot of heart."
22—David Box entered individual districts seeded third and only having wrestled twice in the preceding week. In the district finals, he pinned the No. 1-ranked heavyweight from Tecumseh for the championship. "It took awhile for it to sink in, but once it did it felt great," Box said. "It's a lot of emotions mixed together. It's a huge honor to represent Milan High School with my teammates." Advancing with Box to regionals Jan. 24 were fellow heavyweight Jake Hill, who placed third, and Josh Pegouskie, who finished second at 171. Pegouskie, Hill and Box are the final Big Reds wrestling as the end of February draws nearer. Milan fell to Adrian 43-24 in the team districts last Wednesday.
March
1—With the Big Reds coughing up an 11-point lead in the final minutes of regulation, the Milan boys' basketball team's 76-63 overtime victory over Napoleon might have been prettier. But it could hardly have been more significant. The road win improved Milan's record to 11-8, and guaranteed the Big Reds their first winning season in what head coach Jeremy Davies believed to be more than six years. "Before the game, we talked about how big this game was," he said afterward. "It's huge. It sets the bar for the younger guys ... As a program, it means we're where I want us to be."
1—If there was any doubt about the Milan volleyball team's improvement in 2007, just ask New Boston Huron. The Big Reds dispatched the visiting Chiefs with ease in a doubleheader Feb. 21, sweeping both matches three games to none. The victories gave Milan wins in five of their last seven Huron League matches and wrapped up the Big Reds' league schedule with a 5-9 record. That record is two matches better than in 2006 despite Milan losing middle hitter Emily Hoskins before the Huron slate even began.
8—Coming into their District 37 first-round game against 19-1 and No. 3 Chelsea, the Milan boys' basketball team knew it would have to play an almost perfect game to win. The Big Reds gave a full effort, but it wasn't perfect and Milan was bounced from the playoffs Monday night, falling to Chelsea 63-36.
8—With volleyball regionals being held at the Milan High School gymnasium this season, the Big Red volleyball team entered last Friday's district tournament with dreams of winning and playing in as well as hosting those regionals. Unfortunately for Milan, the Ida Bluestreaks had other ideas, dashing the Big Red dreams with a 25-16, 25-11, 25-12 win in the district semifinals and bringing Milan's season to a close.
15—Before the Division 2 boys' swimming and diving state meet last weekend, Milan coach Dan Heikka said that "anything could happen." Anything did. Behind a state championship performance from senior Ryan Bordine in the 100-yard freestyle, the Big Reds took a surprising 10th place at the meet, held on the campus of Oakland University. "It's unbelievable," Bordine said. "Everything fell into place. We might not have had the most talent, but it was obvious which team had the most heart." Heikka had said that a 15th-place finish would be a terrific accomplishment for his shorthanded squad, which qualified only six swimmers — seniors Bordine, Jason Schroeder and Kyle Cornelison, junior Ian Pendleton, and sophomores Tim Hochradel and Kray Cornelison — and a diver, senior Cody Schmitt, for state. To finish 10th, he said afterward, was nothing less than amazing.
29—The Milan varsity softball team is young this year, populated mostly with sophomores and juniors. The team has youth in common with its new coach, 24-year-old Jen Jackson, who is in her first year of teaching math at Milan High School and middle school. Jackson played second base for four years at Grand Valley State University. This will be Jackson's first stint as a high school varsity coach, though She hopes to pattern the Milan program after what she experienced at GVSU. "Having played collegiate ball is very helpful," Jackson said, "because I can tell the players this is what they doing at the college level." As far as Jackson is concerned, the goal for this year is a simple one: improve over last year's disappointing 6-25.
April
19—The inaugural season of the new Milan girls' golf team got underway Monday with a dual meet between the Big Reds and St. Mary Catholic Central in Monroe. For what may not be the last time in this debut season, Milan finished well behind its opponent. But head coach Claire Neff says that lessons will be learned every time the Big Reds step on the course, their meet Monday included. "For most of our girls this was their first round of competitive golf ever," she said, "and they had that wind in their face all day ... I was really impressed with how they handled themselves. They stayed upbeat, they stayed positive. It was good to see."
26—The Milan baseball team wasted no time last week showing that it deserves its early-season status as a potential Huron League champion — or that it can win against some of the area's best teams. The Big Reds stormed to an early 2-0 Huron League record with commanding double-digit wins over Riverview April 18 and Flat Rock at home Monday. But arguably Milan's best performance came the previous Tuesday, when sophomore Aaron Straub came in as relief and earned the win in a 5-4 extra-inning victory over Southeastern Conference foe Dexter. But arguably Milan's best performance came the previous Tuesday, when sophomore Aaron Straub came in as relief and earned the win in a 5-4 extra-inning victory over Southeastern Conference foe Dexter. Milan's overall record improved to 6-3.
26—Of all the adjectives in the world that can be used to describe a soccer team, no coach will find objection with "undefeated" and "ranked." The Milan girls' varsity soccer team is 4-0 and this week, for the first time in the program's history, was ranked in the top 10 in Division 3, according to the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association. In their first four games of the year, Milan has recorded three shutouts and allowed only two goals. They have outshot their opponents 54-19. And they have recorded their first wins ever against Tecumseh and Riverview.
May
3—Last season, the Milan boys' track team tied Riverview in their regular-season dual meet before edging the Pirates for the Huron League title. To judge by the two teams' meeting last week, however, the margin between them isn't nearly so close in 2007. Milan flew past the Pirates at home April 24 by a score of 91.5 to 36.5, winning all but four of the 16 events contested. The win runs Milan's dual meet record to 2-0 on the young season. For the Milan girls, the Riverview meet was much closer. But the Big Reds prevailed, winning 65 to 63 when the 1600 relay team of Ashley Agar, Mareisha Lala, Loren Weber, and Remina Reed took first with a time of 4:35.68. The win improved the Milan girls to 2-0 as well.
10—After the week the Milan baseball team had, it might be difficult to argue the Big Reds had anything left to learn about performing under pressure. Wednesday May 2, Milan defeated Huron League co-leader Monroe-Jefferson on the road 3-1 in extra innings. Saturday they rallied past Whiteford 4-3 after having been down to their final strike. And in the top of the seventh Monday, Milan rightfielder Zach McGovern nailed a New Boston Huron runner at the plate for the final out of another thrilling 4-3 victory. The win boosted Milan to a 12-4 overall record, stretched their winning streak to six games heading into Wednesday's match-up with Riverview, and most importantly kept Milan perfect in Huron League play and atop the conference standings at 5-0.
17—In their last three road wins, the Big Red girls' soccer team has outscored their opponents 17-1. If that's a lopsided number, consider this: the Milan offense has out-shot its three opponents 72-6 in the course of racking up shutouts against Airport and Clinton and a 3-1 win over St. Mary Catholic Central. Jessica Young rounded out the scoring against airport with the last two goals, which made her the program's leader in career goals with 51, breaking Natalie Brown's previous record of 49 set in 2004. With only four games remaining in the regular season, the 12-1-0 Big Reds are two wins away from tying last year's record of 14 single season wins. They remain ranked in the state just outside the top ten.
17— The Milan varsity softball team is in a position to pull off what could be one of the most remarkable turnarounds in school history. Last year, the team was 6-24. The Big Reds now are 11-9 after a double-header sweep of Grosse Ile, only one game away from doubling last year's total wins, and poised to finish the year above .500 with only around 10 games to go. In the nightcap, freshman Lani Ernst pitched a one-hitter, striking out 10 and walking only two to earn a 7-1 win.
24—It didn't take long for the Milan girls' golf team to send its first representative to the state tournament. Freshman Lindsey Lammers shot a 90 at a Division 3 regional tournament held at Riverview-Highlands Golf Course last Thursday, good for one of the three top scores at the meet among competitors not playing for a state qualifying team—and good enough to earn Lammers a ticket to play the state finals at Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti June 1-2. Lammers will be the only freshman amongst the 15 Division 3 qualifiers and one of only two in any of the MHSAA's three divisions. Her qualification for state is only the most recent of Lammers's accomplishments during her season, which now also includes All-Huron League honors after shooting an 85 at the league meet Wednesday, May 16. Lammers placed fourth individually. The Big Red team finished sixth out of six with a score of 561. Amber Marks was Milan's next-lowest finisher with a round of 145. "There's a lot to build on," Neff said. "Their attitude remained upbeat and positive. We're already looking forward to the fall."
24—The Milan baseball team's 11-game winning streak and perfect Huron League record are finished. Unfortunately for the Big Reds, their chances of winning a Huron title might be, too. A double-header sweep at the hands of Airport Monday dropped Milan into a sudden three-game losing skid and put the Jets, 11-1 in conference play, in clear control of the Huron race. Milan trails with a 10-3 record and must beat New Boston Huron this week and hope Airport drops both of its remaining league games to earn a share of the crown. "It's high school baseball. Even the best teams in the state lose occasionally. So I knew we were going to lose one eventually," Milan head coach Adam Gilles said after the sweep. "But I didn't think we would lose three in a row ... I feel bad for these guys. They've worked hard for this. We just didn't perform."
24— Milan will send a total of seven athletes to the Division 2 state track meet June 2 after an impressive showing at last Saturday's regional meet in Linden. The Milan boys finished fifth out of 16 teams with a solid total of 69.5 points and qualified to compete in five different events at state. Leading the way for the Big Reds was Anthony Marshall, who finished second (claiming automatic state qualification) in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes, running 11.12 and 22.42, respectively. Marshall was also a member of Milan's two qualifying relay teams. The 800 relay team featuring Marshall, Ron Spears, Kyle Love, and Leo Gabrielzyk took home a regional championship by running 1:29.37, .24 ahead of second-place Flint Southwestern. The time set a new school record, breaking the mark set by Blake Novak, Matt Sabo, Earl Ford and Anthony Griffin in 1989.
31—It was, in the words of Milan varsity girls' soccer coach Phil Zuber, a "bummer" of a district draw. The Big Reds' high-flying 15-2 season came to an early end Tuesday afternoon with a disappointing 4-0 loss to Jackson Lumen Christi in the first round of district playoffs. The Titans, who are favored to win the district title, entered the postseason with a 12-5-1 record compared to Milan's 15-2, which surpassed the school record for single season wins of 14 set last year. Milan defeated Blissfield 8-0 in their final regular season game last Thursday.
31—The Milan boys' track team has polished off its second consecutive perfect season with its second straight conference championship. The Big Reds were led at the Huron League meet by junior sprinter Ron Spears, who rebounded from narrowly missing out on state qualification in the 100-meter dash at Regionals by winning four first-place medals. The Milan girls wrapped up their season with a fourth-place finish at the league meet. As usual the Milan girls were led by their distance crew, with senior Emily Wilson winning the 1600 in 5:26.6, finishing runner-up in the 800 in 2:30.5 and adding a sixth-place finish in the 3200. Freshman Jordan Tomecek ran 11:43.1 to win the 3200 and took fifth in the 1600 in 5:36.1.
June
7— The essence of the Milan varsity softball team's season is not found in the ending, which came last Saturday in a 6-1 loss to New Boston in the semifinals of Division 2 District playoffs at Airport. The essence is found in their getting there. "Losing hurts," coach Jen Jackson told her team after the loss to the Chiefs, "but I want you to look back and be proud of what you've accomplished." What they accomplished is one of the more remarkable turnarounds in Milan High School history. The Big Reds entered the playoff game 16-15, coming off a three-inning 15-0 win over Ypsilanti. As best can be determined, it is the first time since 1994 that the team can boast a .500 season. "We're pretty excited about what we can do next year," said Jackson. "We believe it is a realistic goal to contend for the league title."
7—After falling just short of a Huron League title in the final weeks of the regular season, the senior-laden Milan baseball team hoped to finish 2007 on the rebound with a district title. Unfortunately for the Big Reds, it wasn't to be. First-round district opponent Tecumseh blew open a tight game with a six-run third inning and eliminated Milan going away, 10-3. The loss ends the Big Reds' year at 20-8 and the careers of nine Milan seniors. "They're disappointed, obviously," said head coach Adam Gilles, "but we've had a pretty successful year. They say if you have 20 wins, that's a good season, and we went 20-8. The only problem is that at one point, we were 17-4."
7—The 2007 season has come to a close for the Milan boys' and girls' track teams. But it didn't wrap up without a few last major accomplishments at the Division 2 state meet last Saturday. The Big Red boys produced a pair of top-eight, All-State performances as the 400-meter relay team of Ron Spears, Cedric Douglas, Anthony Marshall, and Kyle Love produced a season-best time of 43.75 to finish in sixth place and Spears jumped 20'1.5" to finish in eighth. The Milan girls sent a pair of representatives in the 3,200-meter run and both set personal bests despite high temperatures, with senior Emily Wilson running 11:40 to finish 12th and freshman Jordan Tomecek finishing one place out of the medals (and three seconds off a school record set in 1981) in ninth by running 11:31.6.
28—Milan varsity girls' soccer coach Phil Zuber is going out on a high note. After leading the Big Reds over the span of nine years from a winless infancy to a commanding maturity, Zuber will not return next year as head coach. The science teacher has accepted a position with his high school alma mater in Jenison, near Grand Rapids. Returning to his old stomping grounds, where he will be closer to family and longtime friends, Zuber will be taking over his former biology teacher's post. Over the course of his coaching career at Milan, Zuber went 80-58-11, eventually leading the Big Reds to their best season ever this year at 15-3. "I think we made a lot of progress in nine years," Zuber said. "We really made a name for ourselves. We were a legitimate threat."
July
5— The Milan Dragway has been open for business since 1963. But in those 44 years of operation, says dragway vice president Daneen Baxter, the track has never enjoyed a spectacle quite like the one it hosted last Saturday when the hit Speed Network drag racing reality program "Pinks: All Out" put more than 350 racers in competition for the cameras. "It was awesome. It's the biggest event we've had at the track," Baxter said. "We knew going in it was going to be huge, but we were very pleased with the turnout." Baxter estimates that a track record 30,000 racing fans or more paid their way into the Milan Dragway Saturday to watch a full day of drag racing excitement. "Pinks" is an amateur competition open to any make and model car, and each of the 350-plus entrants (most from across the Midwest, some hailing from as far away as Missouri) were allowed two qualifying runs before the show's producers whittled the field to just 16 racers for a single-elimination tournament.
12—The Milan girls' basketball program has its man. Jeff Davis was recently offered and accepted the position of MHS girls' basketball head coach after 2006 girls' coach Scott Stark resigned following the Michigan girls' basketball season switch to winter from fall. "I'm really excited. I've worked my way up from seventh-grade teams to JV to assistant on the varsity and I've learned a lot along the way," he said. "It's going to be hard to not be a part of the boys' program, but the chance to run my own program is very exciting."
August
23—Senior running back Ron Spears and wide-receiver Anthony Marshall finished one, two in every league 100- and 200-yard race in the spring. Their fleet feet should give the Big Reds plenty of scoring opportunities on the ground and in the air. Add to that the arm, accuracy, and composure of senior quarterback Zach McGovern, who in his sophomore year led the junior varsity team to an undefeated 9-0 season, and you just might have a deadly offensive triumvirate for the 2007 Milan football team. "We've got a lot of weapons on offense," said head coach Steve Robb. "We're hoping to be well-rounded offensively." Offensively, in addition to Spears, McGovern, and Marshall, the Big Reds will field key senior players Javon Love, Jake Hall, Scott Kenyon, Jordan Smith, and Randy Butts. "I have confidence we'll be able to make big plays," Robb said. "What I'm really concerned about is our ability to stop the big play."
30— After their first event of the new season, to say the Milan girls' golf team picked up where they left off last spring would be an understatement. The second-year program enjoyed its best day yet at the season-opening Monroe-Jefferson Invitational, held Friday the Raisin River East golf course. Led by sophomore Lindsey Lammers' personal-best and tournament-low 75, the Big Reds took fourth in the seven-team field with a team score of 478. Two of the teams behind Milan in the final standings were Huron League foes New Boston Huron (with a 488) and Airport (489), a fact that will give Milan plenty of confidence moving forward. "We couldn't have started out any better," said head coach Claire Neff. "This is beyond what we'd hoped for."
30—"I know it's a clichÈ," Milan girls' swimming head coach Dan Heikka said last week as the Big Reds prepared to open their season 6 p.m. Thursday at home against Erie-Mason, "but we don't want to rebuild. We want to reload." The good news for Heikka and Milan's fans is that the Big Reds should have little problem doing just that. Five of the seven swimmers from last year's state finals team do return, including senior All-State performer Meghan Donahue and her sister, Maura Donahue, a junior poised to become the top swimmer in the newly-formed MHSAA Division 3. "We're ranked No. 3 right now and that's where we'll try to finish — in the top three," Heikka said. "We're a more deep team than at any point in my years here. We stand a good chance."
September
6— There's several weeks and around a dozen meets between the Aug. 28 season-opening Puddle Jumper Invitational at Milan and the regular season-ending Huron League meet Oct. 18. But the Big Red girls' cross country team showed at the Puddle Jumper that the rest of their Huron League opponents might be playing catch-up the entire time. Led by sophomore Jordan Tomecek's first-place run of 19:48, Milan comfortably claimed the top spot with 53 points, 25 ahead of second-place St. Mary Catholic Central's 78. In the boys' race, Milan placed sixth out of nine teams with 139 points. But after a 2006 season in which the Big Reds weren't even able to field a full team, head coach Steve Porter was more than happy with the performance. "This is a very big improvement over 2006," he said, "and should allow us to be a little competitive in the Huron League."
6—On the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter of the Big Reds' league opener against Airport, senior running back Ron Spears broke a 68-yard touchdown run along the right sideline. Sam Rowe's successful extra-point attempt tied the score at 21-21. To that point, the two teams had traded big play for big play, momentum shift for momentum shift, but it was the last trade the Jets would make, going on to score four unanswered touchdowns in their 48-21 win over Milan, now 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the Huron League. "Obviously, it was a real good football game for about 30 minutes," said coach Steve Robb. "We just caved in the last quarter and a half."
6— The injury list for the Milan varsity boys' soccer team is head coach Russ Billau's worst nightmare come to pass. "We're in tough straits right now," he said after Milan's starting goalkeeper, Dave Harwood, suffered a cracked pelvis and his replacement, Matt Smith, broke his collarbone. Neither of the injuries occurred on the field, but they have left Billau desperate for a goaltender. Before the injury barrage, the Big Reds went 2-1 over the past week, defeating Gabriel Richard 4-2 and Clinton 9-1, while falling to Huron League rival St. Mary Catholic Central 2-1. The loss to SMCC dropped Milan to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in Huron play.
20—In Milan's 17-6 victory over Monroe Jefferson Friday night, running back Ron Spears alone rushed for 103 yards more than the Bears' total offensive yardage (175). Credit for the lopsided numbers goes to the Big Red defense, which held the Jefferson running game to only 29 yards in the entire first half and forced the Bears to punt on each of its first four possessions. "I thought it was our best defensive effort in two years," said coach Steve Robb. "Our front four played outstanding."
27—For the second straight week, the Milan volleyball team went to a first-to-15 deciding Game 5. For the second straight week, in the end the ball didn't bounce the Big Reds' way. Though Milan was sharper, quicker and more competitive than their match a week prior against Grosse Ile, visiting Monroe-Jefferson was still able to escape with a five-game marathon win Sept. 19. The loss dropped Milan to 1-3 in Huron League play.
October
4—The Milan football team's resounding 20-0 win over previously undefeated SMCC Friday night was not just a win. It was a stunning statement. On the merits of another 300-plus rushing performance from senior Ron Spears and a stifling defensive effort that held the typically high-scoring Falcons offense to only a 164 total yards, the Big Reds lifted their Huron League record to 4-1 and moved into a tie for first place. The Big Reds had not defeated SMCC since 2002 (a squeaker, 24-23) and the last time the Falcons were blanked was nine years ago. "We thought we had a chance to win," said Robb, "but by no means did we expect to shut them out."
11— The progress made by the Milan girls' golf team couldn't be clearer. Just four short months ago, the Big Reds finished their regular season with a single dual meet win and a sixth-place finish in the field of six teams at the Huron League meet. At last Thursday's Huron meet, however, the Big Reds showed how far they had come by shooting an 18-hole 435 and taking fourth place. Milan also easily won a simultaneous make-up dual meet with New Boston Huron, its third head-to-head victory of the season. Leading the way for Milan was Lindsey Lammers, who earned All-League honors for the second consecutive season by shooting an 84, the second-best score at the meet. Amber Miracle was named to the All-Huron League second team by carding a 114. Jenny McDowell followed with a 117 and Amber Marks's 120 rounded out the Big Red scoring. Fifth golfer Haylee Weber shot a 137.
11— When the final seconds ticked off the clock and the scoreboard reflected the Milan boys' varsity team's unprecedented 2-0 win over sixth-ranked Grosse Ile on Wednesday, head coach Russ Billau refused to take off his sunglasses despite his players' urging. He may have had something in his eyes. Something wet. "This win makes our season," he said. "It's one these guys will never forget. It's a memory they'll always have with them." The Big Reds had never defeated Huron League powerhouse Grosse Ile, but goals from Chris Billau and Brandon Duval gave the Big Reds the breakthrough. ""It was the best soccer I've ever seen a Milan team play," said coach Billau. "I can't stop smiling." Milan now stands at 8-3-3.
18— What started off as simple steps forward for the Milan volleyball team has developed into a full-blown win streak. The resurgent Big Reds went on the road to win their second and third Huron League matches in a row over the past week, sweeping the Red Devils of Grosse Ile in three games Oct. 10 and surviving a five-game thriller at Monroe-Jefferson Monday to pull their conference record up to 4-7 after a 1-7 start. Against Grosse Ile the Big Reds got a big night at the net from sophomores Bekah Draves, who finished with nine kills, six digs and three aces, and Allie McAfee, who added five kills, a block, and an ace. Many of those kills came with help from setter Kasey Splitt, who finished with 14 assists to go with eight digs and three aces of her own.
18— As the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard, members of the Milan varsity football team stormed their home field waving commemorative white T-shirts and hollering from the depths of their lungs, "HLC! HLC! HLC!" Big Red fans echoed the chant from the stands. Milan's decisive 38-14 win over Flat Rock Friday night achieved something the Big Reds haven't experienced since they joined the Huron League back in 2000. The victory lifted Milan to a 6-1 record in league play, earning them a share of the Huron League championship title. Ron Spears ran 341 yards on 33 carries, his third 300-yard game of the season.
18—"It's a tough way for it to go," said Milan varsity soccer coach Russ Billau after the Big Reds were knocked out Monday in the first round of districts, suffering a 9-1 loss to Dexter, the defending Division 2 state champions. It was a disappointing loss for a team that near the end of the season put together the longest winning streak (10) in the program's history; finished second in the Huron League, the highest ranking they have ever achieved; scored a school record 83 goals on the season; and - perhaps most significantly - defeated league champion Grosse Ile (2-0) for the first time ever. "We may have peaked too early," said Billau. "We may have peaked at the Grosse Ile game."
18— In 2006, the Milan girls' cross country team surged through the end of the season on their way to a surprising — to some — sixth-place finish at the Division 2 state meet. After last week's Monroe County Cross Country Classic, the Big Reds look more likely than ever to either match or improve on that performance. Powered by a school-record run from sophomore Jordan Tomecek, the Big Reds took first place and shaved an average of 30 seconds off each individual time from their 2006 appearance at the same event. The big story for Milan was Tomecek, whose time of 18:30 was the best in school history. The Big Red cross country record was held for 18 years by Wendy Hower of the 1988 state championship team until senior Emily Wilson broke it with a run of 18:37 at last year's state meet.
25— In spring 2007, Milan's Lindsey Lammers got her first taste of playing the Division 3 state meet. Last weekend, she built on that experience with a 16th-place finish at this season's state finals at the Forest Akers East Golf Course at Michigan State University. With both her introduction and a season of progress behind her and assuming Lammers returns to the state meet next fall, Milan head coach Claire Neff believes the sky is the limit for Lammers. "We saw a big improvement," Neff said of her performance in the two-day event held Friday and Saturday. "She didn't move up the rankings too much (from 21st in the spring) but she was 20 strokes off the leader and that's much, much closer than she was then. I was proud of the way she played." Lammers shot an 87 and 88 over her two rounds for a 175.
25— Members of the Milan girls' cross country team are champions again — and they might just be getting started. The Big Reds won their sixth Huron League championship in seven years and 14th conference championship dating back to 1976 with a comfortable victory at the third and final Huron jamboree, which was held Thursday at Willow Metropark. The Big Reds finished with 34 points to St. Mary Catholic Central's 58, their most dominant jamboree win yet. The story was almost as positive for the Milan boys, who capped their comeback season by wrapping up third place in the final league standings. "This was the best season for the Milan boys in 15 years," Porter said.
November
1— The Big Red football team is amoving on after thumping the Detroit Southwestern Prospectors 35-0 in the first round of Division 4 playoffs at home last Friday night, recording their first postseason win since 2000. As a steady rain fell throughout the first quarter, muddying the field, the Big Reds appeared in their element, scoring three touchdowns in the first 12 minutes and denying Southwestern even the slightest whiff of the red zone. The Big Reds are 3-0 in inclement weather.
1— For the second straight season, the Milan volleyball team saw its season end in a first-round defeat in the team's district tournament. But head coach Drea Marshall said that the Big Reds' three-game (25-17, 25-14, 25-21) home loss to the Ida Bluestreaks Monday, while disappointing, showed how the team has continued to progress in their efforts to become a more competitive program. "I'm very proud of what they did tonight. They played well, they gave 100 percent," she said. "We had a couple of little breakdowns. The girls would get frustrated, but that's a good thing. It's good for Milan. We're not accepting losing, not accepting mistakes. Now we just have to figure out why we're making them and correct them."
8— Milan has won every Huron League girls' swim title since it entered the conference. So Milan head coach Dan Heikka and his Big Reds could perhaps be forgiven for looking past or not taking seriously this year's Huron League meet, which was held in Milan last Saturday. But the Big Reds instead had another strong showing, winning the league championship with a total of 504 points — nearly 200 more than runner-up Grosse Ile's 317 — and setting the team up for what appears to be another big finish. Loren Weber was named the Swimmer of the Meet after winning the 200-yard individual medley in 2:23.80 and the 100 butterfly in 1:02.83, and swimming on both the champion 200 medley relay (with Rachel Kaczmarek, Tiffany Stacy and Meghan Donahue in 1:58.57) and 200 freestyle relay (with Audrey Ing, Eryn Jacobs and Maura Donahue).
8— For the second straight year, the Milan girls' cross country team entered the state meet unranked in the coaches' association top 10. For the second straight year, the regional champion Big Reds made the rankings look pretty silly. Led by an All-State, top-five performance from sophomore Jordan Tomecek, Milan finished with 281 points and placed sixth for the second consecutive year, a performance head coach Steve Porter said confirmed the Big Reds' place as one of Division 2's best girls' cross country programs. "We didn't get a lot of recognition all year, so to step up again at the end of year is nice," he said. "The girls know that what matters is the end of the season. That's when people all around the state can see what we're doing and how strong our program is."
8— From out of the gleeful cluster of Big Reds gathered around the championship trophy after a 43-30 win over Dearborn Heights Robichaud in the Division 4 district finals last Saturday, there came the shout, "Don't be satisfied!" Despite winning a district championship for the first time since 2000, the Milan varsity football team has its sights set higher. The Big Reds are poised to make history on Saturday, becoming the first Milan team to win a regional title if they can triumph over Detroit Country Day. Ron Spears scored four touchdowns and compiled 184 yards on 31 carries in the win, breaking Milan's single-season rushing record of 2,324 yards, set by Jessie Walker in 1989. Spears is now at 2,344 yards, the 20th-best season in state history, according to mhsaa.com.
15— In the end zone of a foreign field an emotionally rent Big Reds varsity football team gathered to take a knee after a devastating 24-6 loss to Detroit Country Day in the Division 4 regional championship last Saturday. Some sobbed openly as the realization washed over them that a most memorable season was now just a memory. Other players shuttered their eyes to hold back tears, to contain the pain. They hugged one another. They hugged their parents and coaches. And then, emerging from the sounds of defeat's despair and ascending slowly, came an uplifting beat of clapping from the fans who formed an outer circle around the kneeling athletes. "We love you, Big Reds," a voice called out. It was Milan's first time reaching the regional final since 2000 and its nine wins were the second most in school history.
22— The seven Milan Big Reds competing at the Division 3 girls' swimming state finals might not have brought home from Holland the top-four trophy they were hoping for. But that's the only quibble head coach Dan Heikka had after a weekend that saw junior Maura Donahue win two individual state championships, the 400 freestyle relay team of Donahue, Meghan Donahue, Audrey Ing and Loren Weber bring home gold, as well, and the Big Reds total 147 points for a more-than-respectable sixth-place finish. "It is what it is," Heikka said of the finish. "Everybody swam great. Every girl we took swam on the second day. We did our best and that's all we could do." It was a nice, nice way to cap this season and for the seniors to go out." One of those seniors was Meghan Donahue. She capped her stellar Milan career by first taking individual All-State honors in both the 200 individual medley, where she was sixth with a time of 2:16.16, and the 100 backstroke, sixth again with a time of 1:00.74, before swimming the anchor leg of the 400 freestyle relay that would win the state championship in 3:38.16. The top seed and heavy favorite in both the 200 and 500 freestyles, Maura Donahue didn't disappoint. She first won the 200 by more than three full seconds over her closest competitor, swimming an All-American and school-record time of 1:51.56. She repeated the feat in the 500, narrowly missing out on her goal of swimming a sub-five-minute time, but otherwise staying perfect with a time of 5:00.77, All-American honors, school record and another state title.
December
6— In their first two dual meets of the regular season, the Milan varsity wrestling team avoided succumbing to a single pin on their way to a 45-24 win over Melvindale and a 57-11 trouncing of Allen Park. In the win over Melvindale, a Division 2 regional qualifier last year, the Big Reds got a significant lift from the team's leader in pins last year, Jacob Nelson (171), who defeated John Heitchue, a state qualifier last year, 7-2. "It was a great match," said Jonseck, adding the victory over Melvindale was "a big win for us."
13— It was a tale of two games this week for the Milan girls' basketball team as they continued their Huron League schedule. Friday, the Big Reds fell at home to Flat Rock by a 45-36 score, then lost Tuesday night 51-29 to Grosse Ile in Milan. While on paper the two results might seem similar — or the loss to Grosse Ile the worse of the two — head coach Jeff Davis said after the loss Tuesday that the difference in his team's performance meant he was much more pleased after Tuesday's defeat at the hands of the Red Devils than Friday's to the Rams. "I was proud of our effort," he said. "Overall, I was happy with the way we played. But we lost. I've said before, there's no moral victories. It's been frustrating for the girls." The loss dropped Milan to 0-5 on the season and 0-3 in Huron play.
20— For 16 minutes of their game against visiting Riverview last Thursday, the Milan Big Reds looked like they were still reeling from their previous outing, a decisive loss to Ida. For the second 16 minutes, the boys' basketball team looked like it was ready to pick up itself and move forward this season. It wasn't nearly enough to offset a 30-point deficit at the end of the first half, but that second half performance gave Milan head coach Jeremy Davies at least one silver lining to hold to after the 68-42 defeat dropped his team to 0-4 on the young season. "We're going to build off the third and fourth quarters," he said.
20— Fans were cheering, team members were exhorting each other on, times were dropping, and the Milan boys' swimming team came away with a win. All in all it's little surprise Big Red head coach Dan Heikka was all smiles after his team had defeated Pinckney 102-81 Thursday in its first home dual meet of the year, a performance that built on Milan's solid showings at a dual meet with Dexter Dec. 11 and the season-opening Eastern Michigan Relays the weekend before. "I'm pretty sure we could not have swam any better than we did tonight," he said.
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