Did you see that?
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.)
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Follow the 2011-12 Parade of Champions
June 28, 2012
A total of 97 schools won one or more of the 127 team Finals championships awarded by the Michigan High School Athletic Association during the 2011-12 school year. Four schools – Grosse Pointe South, Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, Marquette and Houghton – tied for the high with four championships apiece.
A total of 18 schools won multiple titles, including Birmingham Seaholm, which won in Division 2 girls tennis and is the primary school in the Birmingham United co-op program that won in Division 1 girls lacrosse. In addition to those schools that won four championships, four more won three titles: Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood, St. Ignace, Detroit Country Day and Ishpeming Westwood.
One-third of this year’s champions – 43 of the 127 – were repeat winners from 2010-11. Of those multiple winners, 19 claimed titles for at least the third straight season. The Lake Leelanau St. Mary boys golf team’s Lower Peninsula Division 4 title was its school’s first MHSAA championship in any sport.
Sixteen of the MHSAA's 28 championship tournaments are unified, involving teams from the Upper and Lower Peninsulas, while separate competition to determine titlists in both Peninsulas is conducted in remaining sports.
Click for a sport-by-sport listing of MHSAA champions for 2011-12.
PHOTO: The Birmingham United girls lacrosse team celebrated its Division 1 championship earlier this month at Rockford High School.