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2021: A Year in Review for State Champs!

By: , December 31, 2021, 10:30 am

2021 was… unique. So let’s take a look back at some of our most popular stories, highlights, and shows of 2021.

After starting the season 0-6, Oak Park fought their way back to a Regional Championship.

Once the football season (finally) came to an end, we crowned a new Mr. Football – Michigan-bound Donovan Edwards of West Bloomfield.

And we named a new Anvil Award winner, Notre Dame bound Rocco Spindler of Clarkston.

Winter sports were finally given the go-ahead to start their seasons in February after a COVID surge forced the fall sports to end their season in January.

And Pierre Brooks II hit one of the best buzzer beaters we’ve seen.

We got over 75 schools to enter their hockey sweaters into the Hockey Jersey Bracket Challenge.

And we named a new Warrior Hockey Player of the Year – Cranbrook-Kingswood’s Leyton Stenman.

And a future member of Michigan State Basketball, Pierre Brooks II, was named the 41st Mr. Basketball.

Carlson’s Liam Ferguson hit a 2-run bomb that I think is still orbiting the earth.

Cass Tech made school history when their Lacrosse team won their first-ever playoff game.

The MHSAA announced a new change for the 2021-2022 Wrestling season – a State Tournament for female wrestlers.

We broadcast the 2021 Michigan High School Football Coaches Association All-Star Game.

And the 2021 Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game.

Lorne Plant hosted the 2021 Detroit Athletic Club High School Athlete of the Year Awards, back in-person after COVID-19 forced the 2020 ceremony to go virtual.

And Ike Irish lifted Orchard Lake St. Mary’s to a Catholic League Championship on a walk-off single.

Marisa Metzger put Davison on top in the Pre-District

And a Grand Slam helped lift Allen Park to their first State Championship game.

Total Softball helped us to announce the Softball Player of the Year – and for the first time ever, it went to a Freshman. South Lyon’s Ava Bradshaw.

As Summer ended and Fall Sports kicked off, we welcomed a brand new show – Above The Net. This would be our first show dedicated exclusively to a female sport, Volleyball.

We also announced the formation of State Champs! W – a new arm of State Champs! that would be focused exclusively on female high school athletics.

We even had an Olympian join us on Above The Net!

Chippewa Valley’s @Shamar Heard kicked off their season strong, with an 85-yard kickoff return for a TD at the Prep Kickoff Classic.

Following the second Football State Championships of 2021, we named another Mr. Football winner – Detroit King’s Dante Moore

And we named a new Anvil Award winner, Traverse City Central’s Josh Burnham

2021 was a wild year, full of ups and downs. But as we look back, we’ve accomplished plenty to be proud of and we can’t wait to see what 2022 brings to State Champs!