Did you see that?
April 30, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
It's only the end of April. But a number of Michigan's contenders already are in championship form.
Check out our best of results, news and notes from the week that was April 23-28.
Boys Track
What a toss: Walled Lake Central junior Cullen Prena tossed the discus an incredible 187 feet, seven inches, to win the event at the Oxford Invitational by nearly 36 feet. In fact, the toss would've won every MHSAA Final dating back to 2003. Earlier in the week he broke the Oakland County record as well. He also won the shot put at Oxford. (Oakland Press)
Girls Track
South still on top: Reigning MHSAA Division 1 champion Grosse Pointe South earned a strong early win at the Michigan State Spartan Invitational ahead of a field that included annual powers Rockford and Williamston and a strong DeWitt team. Bay City Western won the boys meet. (Playmakers.com)
Baseball
Flint Final set: Goodrich’s Bob Foreback and Davison’s Timm Rye will bring more than 1,000 victories worth of experience into this season’s Greater Flint Area Baseball Tournament championship game when their teams face off on Memorial Day. The two will meet after emerging from the field this weekend. (Flint Journal)
How do you score that: Most telling lines from the Kalamazoo Gazette’s story about Comstock turning a triple play and three double plays in one game came from Comstock coach Rich Bailey: “We have not played particularly good defense. In fact, our defense has been a problem. The skill is there; the execution hasn’t been.” (Kalamazoo Gazette)
Girls Soccer
Poll position: Rochester Adams continued to affect the Division 1 rankings while moving up itself. Adams likely helped to knock rival Rochester out of this week’s honorable mentions with a 2-0 win Thursday. The Friday before, Adams downed then top-ranked Troy 4-1. The Highlanders have opened 7-0 and are ranked No. 3 in Division 1. (Oakland Press)
Boys Basketball
Flint Powers coach moves on: Tim Herman led the Flint Powers Catholic boys basketball program only seven seasons, but they were seven of the Chargers’ most memorable. Herman resigned his post last week after more than 100 wins and the team’s only MHSAA championship, in Class B in 2009. (Flint Journal)
Football
Michigan's finest take next step: At least nine former MHSAA athletes were drafted by NFL teams (by my count) over seven rounds Thursday through Saturday. They were:
- DE Nick Perry (Detroit Martin Luther King/University of Southern California) Green Bay, first round
- DT Mike Martin (Detroit Catholic Central/University of Michigan) Tennessee, third round
- QB Kirk Cousins (Holland Christian/Michigan State University) Washington, fourth round
- WR Keshawn Martin (Westland John Glenn/Michigan State University) Houston, fourth round
- CB Chris Greenwood (Detroit Martin Luther King/Albion College) Detroit, fifth round
- S Trenton Robinson (Bay City Central/Michigan State) San Francisco, sixth round
- LB Audie Cole (Monroe/North Carolina State University) Minnesota, seventh round
- RB Edwin Baker (Oak Park/Michigan State University) San Diego, seventh round
- K John Potter (Grand Haven/Western Michigan University) New York Jets, seventh round
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].
Story in Photos: 2023 Volleyball Division 2 & 3 Semifinals
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 16, 2023
BATTLE CREEK – Championship matches are set in Divisions 2 and 3 after Thursday’s MHSAA Volleyball Semifinals at Kellogg Arena, with a reigning champion set to continue a repeat pursuit and the other three finalists all earning an opportunity to play for a first Finals title on the volleyball court.
Saturday’s second two Finals will see the following face off at Kellogg Arena:
2:30 p.m. – Division 2 – Grand Rapids West Catholic (38-9-6) vs. North Branch (55-4-1)
4:30 p.m. – Division 3 – Kalamazoo Christian (42-6-3) vs. Traverse City St. Francis (38-9-1)
North Branch is the reigning champion in Division 2 and will be playing in the title match for the third-straight season. The Broncos will face West Catholic, a first-time finalist. In Division 3, Kalamazoo Christian will return to the Final after finishing runner-up a year ago, and both the Comets and St. Francis are seeking a first championship with the Gladiators also a past runner-up.
Division 1 and 4 Semifinals will be played Friday. Click here for more.
Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured the following from Thursday’s action.
Grand Rapids Christian’s Grace Goodyke smashes a kill attempt into a block of Clara Gyoromy (14) and Maci Kaake (17). Goodyke had 16 kills for the No. 2 Eagles (35-13-1), but top-ranked North Branch prevailed 25-16, 25-16, 25-17 in a Division 2 Semifinal.
The Broncos’ Hailey Green (4) connects from her libero position; she finished with 12 digs for North Branch (55-4-1).
Grand Rapids West Catholic Ella Bernreuter (13) connects on a kill attempt during a 25-16, 25-13, 25-19 win in Division 2, with Milan’s Lauryn Parris (4) and Malea Wourman (8) blocking. Bernreuter finished with six kills for the Falcons (38-9-6).
West Catholic’s Mia Henne attempts to tip the ball over the net with Mariah Stines (16) on the block for Milan (27-9-2).
Traverse City St. Francis’ Tessah Konas (10) sets for an oncoming teammate during the Gladiators’ 22-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22 Division 3 Semifinal win. Konas and Reese Jones both had 22 assists to lead St. Francis.
Cass City’s Josie Spencer contends for a ball at the net; she finished with 10 kills and 11 digs. The No. 10 Red Hawks finished 34-7-5 while No. 5 St. Francis advanced at 38-9-1.
Kalamazoo Christian’s Makenna Ekkens (13) takes a big swing at the net during the No. 4 Comets’ 25-15, 25-10, 25-17 win over top-ranked Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central. She finished with nine kills and 12 digs as K-Christian (42-6-3) ended the Kestrels’ season at 33-9-1.
TOP PHOTO Comets including Lola Stecker (7) and Jovie Cochran (8) celebrate Thursday’s Division 3 Semifinal win at Kellogg Arena.