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April 2, 2012

Check out our must-know scores and news from March 26-31.

(Click on links for coverage.)

Girls lacrosse

Marian takes early advantage: In a match-up of 2011 Division 1 contenders, Bloomfield Hills Marian edged Ann Arbor Pioneer 10-9 in the second game of the season for both teams. Marian advanced to the Semifinals last season before falling to eventual champion Brighton by one, while Pioneer then fell to Brighton in the Final by two in overtime.

East Grand Rapids wins battle of D2 powers: In another game between regular MHSAA title favorites, East Grand Rapids got a big win downing Okemos 16-7. The Chieftains won the 2009 and 2010 Division 2 championships before falling in a Regional Final in 2011. East Grand Rapids ended last season with a one-goal loss to eventual champion Grand Rapids Catholic Central.

Girls soccer

Troy remains tops in town: Last season’s Division 1 runner-up got a solid March win, 2-0 over rival and returning District champion Troy Athens. The match-up had a little bit different feel this season, with Athens coach Todd Heugh running the show in his first season after taking over for longtime great Tim Storch. (The Oakland Press)

Baseball

State coaches release preseason polls: The Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association released its preseason polls, and three of four reigning MHSAA champions have top rankings in their respective divisions – Rockford in Division 1, Madison Heights Bishop Foley in Division 3 and Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett in Division 4. Reigning Division 2 champion St. Clair comes in No. 2 behind Grand Rapids Christian. (Click for full rankings.)

Softball

Best of 2011 expected to be best of 2012: The Michigan High School Softball Coaches Association also released its preseason rankings, and all four reigning MHSAA champions are starting out in the top spots – Mattawan in Division 1, Stevensville Lakeshore in Division 2, Clinton in Division 3 and Petersburg Summerfield in Division 4. (Click for full rankings.)

Editor's note: Did we miss something? Comment below and tell us about it. Is there an event coming up that we should make sure to note? Comment or e-mail [email protected].

High 5s: 10/10/12

October 10, 2012

Two of this week's honorees have combined for five MHSAA championships, and a third has a chance to be part of his first next month. 

Each week, Second Half recognizes two athletes and a team for their successes during the current season. To nominate a candidate, email editor Geoff Kimmerly at [email protected].

Below are this week's honorees.

Codi Jenshak
Escanaba senior
Tennis

Jenshak won her second-straight championship at No. 1 singles, and third MHSAA singles title overall, with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Kingsford’s Sam Fleming after also defeating Fleming in the 2011 championship match. Jenshak also is a standout softball pitcher, and led her team to last season's Division 2 Quarterfinals.

Up next: "It's been changing quite a bit. As of now, I'm thinking about St. Norbert (College) in Green Bay or Central Michigan University; one of those two. If I went to Central, I know they have a club tennis team, and I might do that or I might try to walk on the softball team. With St. Norbert, I could play tennis and softball there."

Dr. Jenshak: "I want to be a dermatologist. I've wanted to since I was in eighth grade. Skin interests me a lot, for some reason. ... I guess it's my quirk."

Bring out the band: "I play the saxophone. It's just fun. A lot of my friends are in (band). I used to be in the marching band, but not anymore. It's pretty cool to perform in front of people. It's kind of a big deal at our school, just something fun that mixes up my day."

This is who I watch: "For tennis, I really like John Isner a lot. You know when he has a winner, he makes that little hand gesture? I tried to do that a little bit, and I think people thought it was pretty funny. In baseball, I'm a Tigers fan. I really like Curtis Granderson, although he went to the Yankees."

Click to read more.

Dewey Lewis
Rockford senior
Soccer

Lewis, a senior forward, is again pacing the No. 2-ranked team in Division 1 this fall. He's a four-year varsity player and arguably the favorite for this season's Mr. Soccer Award. Lewis has 52 goals and 46 assists over his four-year varsity career, and set Rockford's single-season record last season with 20 goals. He will follow his older brother Sean, a goalkeeper at Western Michigan University, to college soccer when he joins Michigan State's team next season.

Getting Real: "(My favorite team,) I'd have to go with Real Madrid. I like Cristiano Ronaldo. He's one of my idols. I look up to him, and he plays outside mid (which Lewis also has played a lot of this season)."

Up next: Lewis has a 3.8 grade-point average, and is considering majors in biology or business at MSU. "I'm looking to get a business degree so I can own my own business. Or I'll go into the medical field, probably be a doctor or possibly an anesthesiologist or a dentist."

Brother in net vs. brother in the field: "I think I'd made a good percentage of them; from the PK spot probably eight out of 10," Lewis said of facing his brother Sean in a shootout. "He'd probably say six out of 10, or five out of 10."

Pressure cooker: "The big thing is not to oversell yourself. Don't make big expectations you can't keep. Don't tell everyone what you can do. Just go out there and do it."

Click to read more.

Muskegon Mona Shores girls golf

Featuring four players who have been part of the varsity lineup all four seasons of high school -- seniors Morgan Smith, Hailey Hrynewich, Britni Gielow and Kelsey McKinley -- the Sailors are playing for their fourth-straight MHSAA Division 2 championship. Mona Shores won its Regional by 37 strokes Wednesday at Bowen Lake Links in Greenville to advance to next weekend's Finals at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University.

Click to read more.

Previous 2012-13 honorees: