Dream come true: Mackinaw City's Beauchamp ready to join Olivet women's basketball program

MACKINAW CITY – Playing college basketball didn’t become a goal for Gracie Beauchamp in high school.

It started in elementary school – and she’s been in relentless pursuit ever since.

Many years later, Beauchamp – one of the most decorated players in Mackinaw City’s history – will get a chance to live her dream. The longtime standout for the Comets made it official in front of a big crowd of supporters on Thursday, signing to play women’s basketball at the University of Olivet next season.

“When I first started to play basketball, Mr. (Adam) Stefanski kind of put into my head that there was always an opportunity for me, and Mr. (Jake) Huffman helped me reach that goal,” Beauchamp said.

Beauchamp’s decision to join Olivet comes following a sensational senior season that saw her being named the Northern Lakes Conference’s player of the year while also being recognized by the Associated Press on the Division 4 all-state team as an honorable mention. Beauchamp averaged 16.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 5.3 steals for the Comets, who went unbeaten in the NLC for a sixth consecutive campaign.

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“I’m so excited for Gracie because she’s a kid that’s so dedicated and has put in so much time and has played a huge role in our run over the last four or five years,” Mackinaw City coach Jake Huffman said. “She was able to take that step to becoming a leader with this year’s team, and without her leadership and Jersey’s (Beauchamp) this past year, we don’t accomplish what we accomplished this last year.

“She probably puts more time in on her own than any kid I’ve coached.”

The interest in Olivet started late last year for Beauchamp, who felt comfortable joining a program that features the same nickname as the team she thrived with the past five seasons.

“Their coach (Peter Sabiiti) was so nice, and he had a great personality, he made me laugh and asked me more about basketball and what I want to do in my future,” Beauchamp said. “They just have a family type of atmosphere there that I like, and of course I thought it was pretty cool that they’re also the Comets.”

A player who shoots, defends, passes and leads well, Beauchamp hopes her all-around style and dogged work ethic will allow her to flourish once she’s in the Olivet program.

“I hope I bring a different type of talent to their team and help them succeed,” Beauchamp said. “I’ve already been shooting around every day during my seminar, and I’ll probably shoot a lot this summer, and I’ll definitely have to hang out with (former Mackinaw City star) Larissa (Huffman) shooting in the gym a whole lot.”

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While her high school career is now complete, Beauchamp made sure to thank those who helped her reach the next level, including Huffman and Stefanski, who were highly influential through the years.

“(Playing for those coaches) helped a lot, they always push us every day in practice, and they all say it’s been an opportunity for us,” Beauchamp said. “They have such high standards and I just look up to them a lot. I’ll miss the gym so much and the coaches and my teammates and the school – and our amazing student section, of course.”

Beauchamp said she plans to major in high school education while at Olivet.

Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Mackinaw City's Gracie Beauchamp to continue basketball career at Olivet