Every UP Girls Basketball State Champion- Ranked
From Ewen Trout Creek as a historic first champ out of title IX to Ishpeming's run earlier in the month, the Upper Peninsula has given us a broad spectrum of unique champions in girls basketball
Some were dynasties, some were cinderallas, and some were just vastly overlooked in state rankings by those who didnt truly observe U.P. basketball.
Today we begin comprehensive ranking of all 18 Upper Peninsula state champions on the ladies side from the Title IX era to today.
Record, margin of victory, those highly recruited for colleges, era played, and the hypothetical "whos actually the best?' were all factored in.
There is no "worst" in a ranking like this, as these 18 teams did what less than 1% of high school athletes get to do- win it all.
A ranking such as this is never easy, and the hope is that it brings up healthy debate and forgotten memories.
Below is part 1: teams #15-18
#18 Houghton Gremlins (2005)
Division 3 (Class C)
Houghton finished 25-2 and knocked off Olivet, Kingsley, and Michigan Center to win the state title. Alyssa Polso sealed the championship with a huge fourth quarter, scoring 15 points and hitting 12 of 14 free throws as the Gremlins survived despite shooting just 11-for-54 from the field. What stands out most about this team is how heavily it leaned on its core. They def Michigan Center, 50-44, to win the crown in Class C.
Houghton essentially rode six or seven players through most of the tournament, with Brooke and Nicole Asiala, Jodi Riutta, Molly Turner, and Polso all averaging more than 28 minutes per game.
#17 St Ignace Saints (2015)
Division 4 (Class D)
This particular state championship team went 22-5, but were tested a lot more than their other championship teams. They won an overtime thriller against Pittsford 64-60 in the finals. While this Saints team was certainly good, a lot more parity existed in Class D that year, and the Saints used championship experience to win it all after a 15-5 regular season.
Still, as the Saints commonly do, they played above their class — with those losses to Brighton, Blissfield, Ludington, Gaylord, and Cheboygan — teams that were a combined 78-21 across divisions 1-3.
#16 Norway Knights (1979)
Division 4 (Class D)
Led by future Hall of Fame coach Barbara Perry, Norway carved out a memorable title run by beating Harbor Springs 53-43, Whittemore Lake 61-56, and Maple City Glen Lake 62-61 in a championship thriller. The Knights stormed back from 12 points down at the start of the fourth quarter to win it all, with Diana Milligan leading the charge with 22 points. Milligan later finished with 1,194 career points, a school record that stood until Jordan Kraemer broke it in 2017.
#15 Ewen-Trout Creek Panthers (1973)
Division 4 (Class D)
The Panthers were the original Class D standard-bearers. When the first MHSAA girls basketball tournament tipped off, it was Ewen-Trout Creek that made history, rallying from a 9-point deficit in the semifinals before beating North Muskegon 57-48 to become the inaugural state champions.
That title came at a fascinating time in the sport’s history. Girls basketball had only recently moved away from the old rules that required players to stay back instead of playing the full court game freely. Betty Nilsson was at the helm of the first team to put Ewen-Trout Creek on the map, despite having no previous basketball coaching experience. She simply immersed herself in learning the game and guided the Panthers to history.
It’s a pretty striking contrast when stacked against some of the legendary, established coaches tied to other teams on this list. Sandy Lannet had 17 pts and 14 rebs in the final. Jamie Flemming had 14 pts and 16 boards.
#14 Mid Peninsula (1977)
Division 4 (Class D)
The 1977 Mid Peninsula squad was more than a state champion. It was a title team born out of a merger between Perkins and Rock schools. That kind of transition could have fractured a team. Instead, it forged one in this "Hoosiers meets Remember the Titans" real life story.
Coach Debbie DeBacker never got the opportunity to play girls basketball, but became a student of the game quickly as a coach.
Lynette Royer, Lisa Carlson, and Karen Miller came over in the merger from a Perkins and Brenda Beauchamp and Debbie Pelto from Rock to comprise their starting 5. Perkins went to the state semi final prior to the merger, beating Rock by 1 point that year.
The newly formed Lady Wolverines made history right away, upsetting Detroit DePorres in the semifinals before beating North Adams 56-40 for the state title. That's what gives this team real weight in a power ranking. Mid Peninsula didn't just win it all. It did it while navigating the kind of emotional and cultural challenge most champions never have to face.
Royer had 24 pts in the championship game
#13 Calumet Copper Kings (2015)
Division 3 (Class C)
Calumet finished 25-2, with both losses coming against Houghton, then put together one of the more surprising tournament runs by any U.P. champion in recent memory. The Copper Kings knocked off Tawas 46-23, edged Laingsburg 30-26 in a defensive battle that featured 12 steals, and capped it off with a 57-49 upset of Flint Hamady to win the state title.
What made the run even more impressive was that Calumet spent the entire season unranked in Class C before proving it belonged on the biggest stage. Alexis Rowe led the way with 22 points in the championship game and later went on to play at Lake Superior State, while Ellen Twardzik — after battling through two knee injuries earlier in her high school career — pulled down 11 rebounds in the final. Calumet may have been overlooked in the polls, but its postseason run showed just how battle-tested it really was. With St. Ignace also winning a title that year and Houghton reaching a Division 2 regional, it is fair to say the strength of the U.P. in 2015 was probably underrated statewide.
#12 DeTour Rayders (1983)
Division 4 (Class D)
Led by coach Dave Miller, DeTour finished the season 28-0, tied for most wins by a girls team in state history. They beat Ewen-Trout Creek 48-41 in the quarterfinal, Leland 57-54 in the semis, and Wyandotte Mt. Carmel 49-37 to win it all at Read Fieldhouse in Kalamazoo. After being state semi-finalists in '81 and '82, they finally broke through in 1983. As they often did, DeTour got off to a fast start, leading 16-1 against Mt. Carmel to start the game. Star standout Erika Ledy, older sister of current Marquette boys coach Rich Ledy, is tied for 6th all time in high school games played with 106, winning 97 of them with 1,506 career points. Ledy and Wilkie, a track star and incredible athlete, were referred to as the "gold dust twins" by the fans. Post high school, Ledy would earn all-GLIAC honors at Lake State all 4 seasons there, and was named to the team of the decade in the 1980s.
#11 Carney Nadeau (2001)
Division 4 (Class D)
The Wolves were back on top after 11 years, beating McBain Northern Michigan Christian to win the state championship 54-32, capping off a 26-1 season. They dominated Ontonagon in the quarterfinal 66-17 before beating Gaylord St. Mary 58-53 in the semifinal. 1st team All-State Tara Benson had 16 pts, 6 rebs, 4 assists in the championship. Cara Benson, 3rd team All-State, poured in 14 pts, 2 rebs and 2 blocks on 7/8 shooting. Right now on MLive, they are holding a tournament to crown the best Class D team of the 2000s in girls basketball, and this Wolves team made the final 4 in the voting. Rightfully so.
#10 Ishpeming Hematites (2026)
Division 4 (Class D)
Ishpeming ended the season 22-3, all losses to Division 2 opponents. The tough schedule battle-tested them through another run where they won every game but one by double digits. Their playoff run showed the kind of championship defense that has them on this list — giving up just 27 ppg during the playoffs. The relentless defense and timely shooting gets Ishpeming a spot on this list, where 6'2" Baylor volleyball commit Mya nearly made a short list of triple doubles in state title history. Don't let Ishpeming's 3 losses fool you.
#9 Westwood Patriots (2003)
Division 3 (Class C)
The Patriots went 27-1, led by generational talent Sarah Stream, who had the school scoring record for both boys and girls until this season. Coached by legendary Tom Hammar, the Patriots dominated Michigan Center 62-27 for a state title. They knocked off the #1 team in the state, an established dynasty already in St. Ignace, in double overtime earlier in the tournament. Sarah Stream went 18-for-18 from the free throw line to win the state semifinal over Inkster 67-57. Stream went off for 24 pts, 7 assists, 6 steals and 3 rebs in the championship. Cassie Hegbloom went for 21 pts and 12 rebs as well. The Patriots' dominant play once they got past St. Ignace, winning all of their games by double digits once below the bridge, landed them a spot here. Stream and Hegbloom would both play basketball at Michigan Tech, with Stream in the Huskies Hall of Fame.
#8 St Ignace Saints (2013)
Division 4 (Class D)
The Saints went 27-0, but were a bit more challenged than some of their other dynasty teams — a testament to how high the bar was there. With wins over Petoskey and Brighton (both who had 17-3 seasons), two Division 1 schools, and an unusually strong UP/northern Lower Peninsula crop of good teams like Posen (20-0 in reg season) and Forest Park (19-1), they were battle tested through the playoffs. The Saints' Kelly Wright finished with 175 steals that season — good for 10th in MHSAA history for a single season.
#7 Carney Nadeau Wolves (1990)
Division 4 (Class D)
Losing both Berger and Charlier from the '89 team, more of the load was on Wetthuhn during this season, who led them to another state championship. From the state quarterfinal on, the Wolves won their 3 games by an average of 21 points — defeating Cooks Bay De Noc, Grand Rapids Covenant Christian, and eventually Fowler to win it all, led by Jill Wetthuhn's 19 points. The Wolves shot 48% from the field in their state final game and had won their 55th consecutive game at this point, going a perfect 27-0. Wetthuhn averaged 22 pts and 12 rebs that year and was named all-state for Class D. She went on to be part of the UP Sports Hall of Fame.
#6 Carney Nadeau Wolves (1989)
Division 4 (Class D)
Paul Polfus, who would go on to be a legendary coach, led the Wolves to their first state title, going a perfect 28-0 — tying the all-time single season wins total in MHSAA history. An 82-39 win over Bay De Noc, then 72-38 over Leland in the semis before eventually beating Potterville 73-59 to win it all.
The '89 team was led by Michelle Charlier who poured in 17 points and 14 assists — the assists an MHSAA finals record — to go with Jill Wetthuhn and Connie Berger, to form a pretty solid big 3. Both the '89 and '90 teams were fantastic, but this one gets a slight edge over the 1990 squad.
#5 St Ignace Saints (1999)
Division 3 (Class C)
Sisters Mandi and Randi Johnson were the anchors of this team, with point guard Mandi averaging 25 points and 5 steals a game and Randi averaging 15 points and 5 steals a game. They had the opportunity to play the eventual Ms. Basketball in Danielle Kamm (2002 winner) early in her high school career, beating her Saginaw Nouvel squad 43-42 in the semis — a team most thought was the favorite. Randi's 30 pts in the state final against Sandusky (65-40 win) is in the top 25 highest state title scoring performances of all time. Her 8 steals is tied for 8th in a state championship game in history.
The Saints finished undefeated, capping off a performance that justifies their spot in the top 5 UP girls state champions ever.
#4 St Ignace Saints (2000)
Division 3 (Class C)
The Saints didn't just win — they dominated when it mattered most. They rolled through the semifinals with a 33-point win over Niles Brandywine and followed it up with a 20-point victory over Detroit CMA in the state title game.
This team had star power and depth. Krista Clement, even early in her career, was already on her way to becoming a 2,000-point scorer and would go on to become the Upper Peninsula's only Miss Basketball (2003). She was joined by a loaded core that included Holly Cole and Mandi Johnson, who later starred at Lake Superior State and finished 13th in the nation in steals at the Division II level, while also ranking among the top 25 in Michigan history in three-pointers made.
But what separated this team wasn't just its top-end talent — it was its depth. The Saints routinely played 10 players significant minutes, with each contributing, allowing them to maintain pace, pressure, and control throughout games.
A dominant tournament run, elite talent, and rare depth make this one of the most complete teams of the St. Ignace dynasty.
#3 Ishpeming Hematites (2024)
Division 4 (Class D)
The trio of Jenna Maki, Jenessa Eagle, and Mya Hemmer was relentless, but this wasn't just a "big three" team. Ishpeming was deep, physical, and overwhelming on both ends. Their tournament run tells the story: a 20-point win in the quarterfinals, a 35-point dismantling of Fowler in the semifinals, and a 19-point win over Kingston in the finals.
Their only loss all season came against a Negaunee team that went to the Breslin in Division 2.
Many outlets had them ranked among the top 10–15 teams in the state regardless of class, and it's hard to argue that.
Their identity was a suffocating full-court press that could hit in waves, forcing turnovers and wearing teams down until they ran out of gas. With a deep bench and constant pressure, Ishpeming was capable of game-breaking runs at any moment.
Jenna Maki, a 5'10" Division 4 Player of the Year, could do everything. Alongside sophomores Mya Hemmer and Jenessa Eagle — and athletes like Kaden Koukala — the roster was loaded with players who would eventually go on to compete at the next level in basketball or volleyball.
They finished 28-1, and this stands as one of the most dominant tournament runs the U.P. has ever seen.
And maybe the strongest endorsement came from the other bench:
"They could make the Final Four in Division 1, 2, 3, or 4. That team is outstanding. Everybody knows that."
— Kingston head coach Jay Green
#2 St Ignace Saints (2011)
Division 3 (Class C)
Of all the St. Ignace teams during their dynasty run, this may have been the best. The Saints went 26-1 and proved it against elite competition. They beat a 20-2 Marquette team that had nearly made a run in Division 1, knocked off No. 1-ranked Flint Hamady — who had beaten nearly every opponent by 19+ points all season — and then took down Grosse Pointe Liggett in the championship, a team that had spent the year playing Division 1 competition.
This wasn't just a Class C champion. This was one of the best teams in the entire state.
Nicole Elmblad, a 5'11" guard, was the centerpiece. She averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and nearly 5 steals per game, earning both U.P. Player of the Year and Class C Player of the Year honors in 2011 before going on to a successful four-year career at Michigan. Grace Wheeler added another dimension, eventually playing at Alma College, and the two combined for 48 points in the state title game.
This group was more than star power. They were defensively elite, went about nine deep, and had a bench that could sustain their pressure and pace.
Of all the St. Ignace teams in that era, this one stands at the top.
#1 Marquette Redettes (1976)
Division 1 (Class A)
Led by legendary coach Barb Crill, the Redettes outscored opponents by an average of 55 points during the regular season while putting up nearly 80 points per game. In the playoffs, they beat Grand Rapids Union 48-34, Lansing Eastern 67-37, and Flushing 62-46 to capture the title.
Before the season, feeling unchallenged in the U.P., the Redettes took a trip downstate and faced elite competition, including Detroit Dominican — coached by Sue Kruszewski and back-to-back Class A champions — and Harper Woods Bishop Gallagher, a 1973 quarterfinalist.
As Kay Levandowski later recalled in a 2021 Barb Crill documentary, they didn't just compete — they "whooped them."
The talent on this roster was just as impressive as the margins. Janet Hopkins went on to play at UCLA, where she earned four varsity letters and won a national championship. Shelly Chapman played at Stanford and later at Pittsburgh State, where Crill would eventually coach. Caron Krueger and Karen Levandowski both played at Northern.
A legendary coach, a legendary team, and still the only school in the Upper Peninsula to win a Division 1 state title — Marquette's 1976 team has a case no one else can match. That's why they're #1.
