Recapping the Monroe County Region's top sports stories of 2022
It was another great year for sports in the Monroe County Region.
There was success and failure, hope and despair. There were challenges to overcome, state titles to be won, rivals to be slain, records to be broken, and new opportunities for many student athletes and coaches.
As always, the Monroe News sports writers like to spend the start of each new year reminiscing about the past year.
We've turned to the readers to determine what stood out the most from a busy 2022. You voted with your clicks and you voted with your views. Now we've gone through and compiled the stories that grabbed the most attention.
Here are the top stories of 2022.
JANUARY
"Airport's Julia Mills overcomes drunk driver crash to be Player of the Year" (Jan. 2) - The end of the 2021 high school volleyball season was delayed into the new year by a surge in the COVID-19 pandemic. Mills was named the Monroe County Region Volleyball Player of the Year and had quite the story to tell. Five months before the start of the season, Mills was hit head on by a drunk driver. Not only did she recover in time to play in the Jets' season opener, she separated herself as the best player in the Region.
"It was more about proving to myself that I was still able to do it," Mills said. "In past seasons, I played a lot for other people, trying to make other people happy. This season, I focused on how this could be my last season playing volleyball. I'm lucky to even be here, to be alive. I'm happy."
Honorable Mentions: "Break from basketball helps Mason grad Joey Liedel rediscover passion" (Jan. 16); "'I hold Monroe football in very high regard,' says new Trojan coach Dave Mifsud" (Jan. 26)
FEBRUARY
"Airport cheer captures first Huron League title in 18 years" (Feb. 9) - Airport's competitive cheerleading team hadn't won the Huron League since sharing the title in 2003-04 with Grosse Ile. The Jets nearly were forced to share the glory again after finishing tied for second place in the final meet. A lengthy tiebreaking debate ended in Airport's favor as the team claimed its first-ever outright crown.
"Being a co-champion is okay, but when this is our first outright ever, this meant a lot to us," Airport coach Amber Hauck said. "I'm always going to fight for my kids and they deserved it. Technicalities were not going to stop us from this."
Honorable Mentions: "Swiderski puts cap on Dundee's fifth-straight state wrestling title" (Feb. 26); "Jefferson grad Jason Gendron named football coach at Gibraltar Carlson" (Feb. 10)
MARCH
"Dundee's Swiderski makes history, joins seven county wrestlers as state champ" (Mar. 6) - Dundee senior Casey Swiderski became just the fourth wrestler in state history to win four team state titles and four individual state titles in his high school career. Viking wrestlers make up half the list now with Dundee graduate Stoney Buell accomplishing the same feat the previous year.
"It's hard to walk away from it," Swiderski said. "My high school career is over. I fought my hardest and I tried to be the best Michigan wrestler to ever do it. It's hard to walk away from, but I have college now and this is just the beginning."
Honorable Mentions: "Dundee's Roberts decided good wasn't good enough" (Mar. 15); "Monroe turf proposal: 'It will change the whole landscape of the school'" (Mar. 22); "Monroe Public School approves synthetic turf project for Bunkelman Field" (Mar. 24)
APRIL
"Mensing leaves Whiteford to take over as Westland John Glenn football coach" (Apr. 26) - Jason Mensing turned Whiteford's football program into a state powerhouse after taking over in 2012. He won 93 games, five conference titles, five District and four Regional titles, and a state championship in 2017. He stepped away in April to take over as the football coach at Westland John Glenn.
“It’s bittersweet,” Mensing said. “We’ve had a great stay here. It’s been a really, really good experience. I can’t imagine having a better experience than the one we had.”
Honorable Mentions: "Kolak comes home to Carlson with baseball victory over Flat Rock" (Apr. 5); "Monroe boxers excel in Friday night card at ALCC" (Apr. 2)
MAY
"Noah Miller sheds catcher gear, leads Monroe to baseball win over Bedford" (May 11) - Monroe's Noah Miller earned a baseball scholarship to Division 1 Cincinnati due to his skills as a catcher, but he toed the pitching mound in May to help deliver a marquee, mercy-rule performance against rival Bedford.
“He’s one of those kids you get every once in a while,” Monroe coach Bubba Bezeau said. “He just plays hard every time.”
Honorable Mentions: "Milan graduate Bill Laskey, a former NFL player, dies at the age of 79" (May 7); "Trio of life-changing decisions put SMCC grad Colin Theisen in position to play in NHL" (May 17)
JUNE
"Airport upsets No. 2 Huron, tops Jefferson for District baseball title" (Jun. 5) - Airport staged one of the biggest upsets of the high school baseball season across the entire state of Michigan in early June. The Jets shut down the No. 2-ranked team in the state, New Boston Huron, en route to their first District championship since 2019.
"The kids played with a lot of passion and emotion," Airport coach John VanWasshenova said. "It's Airport baseball still. We're not going to take a backseat to anybody. We're going to play hard and give them hell no matter who it is."
Honorable Mentions: "Gendron helps other athletes experience thrill of All-Star football game" (Jun. 16); "Perfect pitch helps Milan escape with win in Regional semifinals" (Jun. 9)
JULY
"Former Monroe High athlete scores hole-in-one on 324-yard hole" (Jul. 11) - Former Monroe High football player and wrestler Zach Kramer, 23, took up golf after his days as a Trojan athlete were done. He hit the rarest of feats this past summer after hitting a 324-yard hole-in-one at Harbor Dunes.
“We said, ‘What the heck, it’s in the hole,’” Kramer recalled. “I never in my life expected that.”
Honorable Mentions: "Elders survive Ida civil war on opening day of Fair Baseball Tournament" (Jul. 16); "Mason and South Rockwood are last two unbeatens in Fair Softball Tournament" (Jul. 12)
AUGUST
"All in the family: Beaubien in Fair's demo derby for first time since cancer diagnosis" (Aug. 4) - Friends and family came together to give Craig Beaubien an experience he wouldn't forget at this past summer's Monroe County Fair Demolition Derby. A stage IV cancer diagnosis kept Craig from competing, but he was still able to play a part. It was one of three in a series of stories ahead of the 2022 derby.
“We are a Derby Family," said Craig's brother, Brad. "We all help each other."
Honorable Mentions: "Jefferson, Milan, Flat Rock, Carson win football openers" (Aug. 26); "Mason football sets passing records, Summerfield soars, SMCC stymied" (Aug. 27); "Big plays help Airport shake demons in season opener at Ida" (Aug. 26); "State Line Stars 13U make waves with Gulf Coast World Series title" (Aug. 5)
SEPTEMBER
"Airport quarterback Cooper Nye casts aside fear to make key throw against SMCC" (Sep. 9) - Weekly football coverage drew more readers to the site than nearly any other topic this year. Airport's Week 3 win over rival St. Mary Catholic Central to stay unbeaten was among the most popular early in the season.
“They’re CC,” said Airport quarterback Cooper Nye, who led the critical victory with three rushing scores and two passing TDs. “They’re never going to back down.”
Honorable Mentions: "Flat Rock hits best mark since 1967 to steamroll injured Jefferson" (Sep. 10); "Brodie, Sieler a winning combination for Monroe football" (Sep. 3)
OCTOBER
"Flat Rock wins first playoff game since 1976 with pre-District victory over Dundee" (Oct. 29) - Flat Rock hadn't won a single playoff game since winning a state championship in 1976. That 46-year drought ended in October. In their first-ever home playoff game, the Rams defeated Dundee 27-22.
"Forty-six years," Flat Rock coach Buck Reaume said. "We talked about it. We talked about leaving a legacy. How do you want to be remembered? I told them that this is their story."
Honorable Mentions: "Bedford shocks Saline, defenses shine in Region wins" (Oct. 8); "Mills pilots Jets; Summerfield's Thompson sets record" (Oct. 15); "Monroe County Region teams learn their first-round playoff foes" (Oct. 23)
NOVEMBER
"Whiteford football wins state championship with late go-ahead touchdown over Ubly" (Nov. 12) - Whiteford quarterback Shea Ruddy orchestrated an 8-minute, 80-yard drive capped by the go-ahead 7-yard score that delivered Whiteford its second state title in the past six years. The 26-20 win over Ubly delivered a state championship for Todd Thieken in his first year as head coach.
“It was probably one of best high school football games I’ve ever been a part of,” Thieken said. “The way that both teams out there just battled right down to the wire and just the way the teams were going at it.”
Honorable Mentions: "Kicker in first year of football becomes hero for Flat Rock" (Nov. 5); "McNamara, Williams bring home state swimming championships" (Nov. 19); "No. 1 SMCC vanquishes state-ranked foe to win Regional volleyball crown" (Nov. 11); "Detroit Country Day ends 'magical season' for Flat Rock football in Regional final" (Nov. 12)
DECEMBER
"Dundee wins 11 weights, dominates Sheriff's Invitational" (Dec. 17) - The defending state champs showed their day in the sun is far from over. The Vikings likely made history at the 50th annual Sheriff's Wrestling Tournament with 11 individual champions and a dominating (maybe even record-breaking?) 338.5 points.
“Dundee is a cut above everyone else,” new Jefferson coach Ryan Nadeau said. “It’s kind of fun to watch.”
Honorable Mentions: "Bussell shatters two Monroe girls basketball scoring record" (Dec. 14); "Former Mason football coach Beaudrie to take over at Jefferson" (Dec. 18); "Gratz sets Airport girls basketball record with 38 points" (Dec. 20)
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Recapping the Monroe County Region's top sports stories of 2022
