Ewen-Trout Creek’s Emma Besonen (22) directs the offense while Concord’s Cieara Barrett (12) defends Thursday at Breslin Center. (Photo courtesy of MHSAA.com)

Top Sports stories of 2025

1) Ewen-Trout Creek girls advance to state final

The Ewen-Trout Creek Panthers girls basketball team defeated Concord in the state semifinals to earn a chance to play for a state title for the first time since 1985. The Panthers, who finished 27-2 on the season, were led by freshman Bree Besonen, who scored 15 points in the game.

2) Calumet girls advance to state semifinal

The Calumet Copper Kings girls basketball team made it to the state semifinals before falling to Rochester Hills Northwest Lutheran. The Copper Kings, who finished their season 22-6, held Rochester Hills to just 13 points in the second half, but could not score enough to overcome their deficit. Jess Anderson led the Copper Kings with 10 points in the game.

3) Jets hockey advances to state semifinal

The Jeffers Jets hockey team won the district championship over Houghton, then the state quarterfinals over Sault Ste. Marie to reach the state semifinals against Bloomfield Hills-Cranbrook-Kingswood Cranes. Alternate captain Brit Heinonen scored the lone goal for the Jets in a 2-1 loss.

4) Michigan Tech men’s basketball wins GLIAC regular season title

The Michigan Tech Huskies men’s basketball team won the 2024-25 GLIAC regular season title with a record of 17-3, winning their last seven games to do so. They lost in the semifinals of the GLIAC Tournament against Northern Michigan, and then faced them again in the Midwest Region Tournament and defeated them.

5) Lake Linden-Hubbell softball wins district championship

The Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes softball team defeated the Hancock Bulldogs to win the District 98 championship on June 2. The Lakes scored three times in the first inning and held on to win, 9-5. Lake Linden’s duo of Payton Goldsworthy and Emily Jokela combined to go 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, and five runs scored.

6) Bill Muckalt takes over Huskies hockey

On May 22, Michigan Tech University announced that Bill Muckalt was taking over as the head coach of the hockey program. He replaced Joe Shawhan, who went 154-120-29 in his tenure and led the Huskies to three NCAA Tournaments. Muckalt had previously served as an assistant coach at Michigan Tech from 2011-15.