Did you see that? (10/29-11/4)
November 5, 2012
We had champions upon champions upon champions last week, whether they were winners of MHSAA Finals in cross country and soccer, Districts in volleyball or league champs in swimming and diving.
Girls cross country
Favorites make good: Reigning individual champions Erin Finn of West Bloomfield, Julia Bos of Grand Rapids Christian and Kirsten Olling of Breckenridge all repeated Saturday at Michigan International Speedway, with Macomb Lutheran North's Gina Patterson joining the group. Second Half talked to all four. (Division 1) (Division 2) (Division 3) (Division 4)
Boys cross country
Taking two titles: Highland Milford and Concord won both the MHSAA Lower Peninsula team championships in their respective divisions Saturday and also had the top individuals in those races. Second Half provided same-day coverage from every race. (Division 1) (Division 2) (Division 3) (Division 4)
Soccer
Headed west: A year after Detroit-area teams claimed all four MHSAA LP boys soccer championships, Grand Rapids area teams took back three. East Kentwood, Hudsonville Unity Christian and Grand Rapids South Christian won titles, while Hamtramck Freedom International kept one on the east side of the state with its first Finals win. Second Half covered them all. (Division 1) (Division 2) (Division 3) (Division 4)
Volleyball
Hang that banner: Bay City John Glenn won its first volleyball District championship in the 47-year history of the school, beating Essexville-Garber in four sets to claim a Class B title. John Glenn had to come back after dropping the first game. (Bay City Times)
Hang that banner, part II: Three Rivers also won its first volleyball District championship, downing Vicksburg in four games to claim the Class B championship. (Sturgis Journal)
Copper Kings, once again: After finding itself only two points from the District championship in 2011, and then giving up the final five to lose it, Calumet defeated rival Houghton in three games to take back the trophy after two straight Houghton wins. The Copper Kings are ranked No. 4 in Class C. (Houghton Daily Mining Gazette)
West Iron ends near-decade of dominance: Iron River West Iron County had last won a District title in 2002, before nine straight by rival Iron Mountain. But the Wykons knocked out the Mountaineers in a Semifinal and came back from match point to score the final five and beat Ironwood for a Class C championship. (Escanaba Daily News)
Swimming and Diving
Holland still rules: Coming off their first MHSAA championship in 2011, the Dutch continue to roll and piled up seven O-K Green records in winning that league championship meet. Cassie Misiewicz and Holly Morren each set two individual marks. (Holland Sentinel)
Double Dow: Midland Dow won the Saginaw Valley League championship meet with 638 points, more than double that of the runner-up. The title was Dow's seventh straight. (Midland Daily News)
Wrestling
Longtime Napoleon coach steps down: Todd Anderson announced his resignation after running the program since 1990-91. His father Don Anderson started the program in 1967. (Jackson Citizen-Patriot)
Tennis
Forman is Mr. Tennis: Troy senior Brett Forman, the MHSAA Division 1 champion at No. 1 singles as a sophomore and runner-up this fall, was named Mr. Tennis by the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association. He finished his career with a 77-8 record. (Oakland Press)
Story of the Week
Kirsten fights on: A little more than a year ago, doctors found cancerous tumors throughout Kirsten Longstreth's body, including multiple in her lungs. But the Beaverton senior had fought back to nearly knock the cancer completely out, and while continuing to play sports including volleyball this fall. (Midland Daily News)
Today in the MHSAA: 3/10/20
March 10, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Boys Basketball Districts tipped off Monday, and here’s a look at coverage we gathered from a number of intriguing matchups.
1. Boys Basketball: Williamston defeated Lansing Eastern 44-33 in a Division 2 District opener and rematch of Capital Area Activities Conference Red co-champions – Lansing State Journal
2. Boys Basketball: Bridgeport came back from an early deficit to edge Clio in Division 2, 53-51 – Saginaw News
3. Boys Basketball: After being tied at halftime, Kalamazoo Central scored 63 second-half points to get past Portage Central 85-45 in Division 1 – JoeInsider.com
4. Boys Basketball: Adrian came back in a Division 2 opener versus Chelsea to win 52-51 on a last-second basket – Adrian Daily Telegram
5. Boys Basketball: Ann Arbor Huron came back from a halftime deficit to advance in Division 1 with a 56-47 win over Saline – We Love Ann Arbor
6. Boys Basketball: Reigning Division 2 champion Hudsonville Unity Christian started a new run with a 75-64 win in its opener against Allendale – FOX 17
7. Boys Basketball: Ann Arbor Skyline avoided a Division 1 upset, holding off Pinckney 48-42 – State Champs Sports Network
8. Boys Basketball: Also in Division 1, Farmington got past Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice 54-47 – Detroit News
9. Boys Basketball: After the teams split during the regular season, Calumet came out ahead of West Iron County 46-40 in a Division 3 opener – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette
10. Boys Basketball: Hale’s Joseph Kimmerer had a school-record 50 points plus 23 rebounds in a big Division 4 opening win over Fairview – Bay City Times
Also of note …
Gymnastics: From Saturday, in its third season since bringing back its program, Hartland won its first Regional title in this sport since 1998 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus