Did you see that? (9/10-9/16)

September 18, 2012

One of the state's premier regular-season cross country events plus some big-time volleyball in the Upper Peninsula highlight the non-football highlights from the week that was Sept. 10-16.

(Click for the Drive for Detroit football report.)

Cross country

Elite meet at MSU: The Spartan Invitational, run at Michigan State's Forest Akers East Golf Course, is arguably the most competitive regular season event in this sport and draws a number of top teams from all over the state for a series of races. Champions on Friday were the Waterford Mott boys and Grosse Pointe South girls in the Elite races, the Ithaca boys and North Muskegon girls in the White division, the Haslett boys and the Spring Lake girls in the Bronze division, and Bloomfield Hills Lahser boys and Jenison girls in the Green division. Click the "Playmakers" link for results and the others for coverage. (Playmakers.com) (Grand Haven Tribune) (Lansing State Journal)

Volleyball

Capital of  UP volleyball: Calumet, ranked fourth in Class C this week. defended its title at the Articatz Invitational Autumn Classic in Marquette by winning all 12 of its games. The field also included Marquette, Houghton and Escanaba among others. (Marquette Mining Journal)

Trojans at home above the net: More of the Upper Peninsula's top teams met nearer the Wisconsin border. Crystal Falls Forest Park, ranked No. 6 in Class D, defended its home tournament title with a 2-1 win over No. 10 Lake Linden-Hubbell in the final. (Iron Mountain Daily News)

Golf

Lakeview owns Battle Creek: Lakeview continues to rank among the state's best teams in Division 2, at No. 3 this week. And there's no question it's the best in Battle Creek, as evidenced by a sixth-straight All-City championship won with a score of 176 -- 45 strokes better than runner-up Harper Creek. (Battle Creek Enquirer)

Recognition

Clawson names Judy Hacker Field: Hacker, who died in 2011, was a pioneer of girls sports in the southeastern corner of the state during her time at the school from 1963-95. She coached basketball, volleyball, softball, track and field and field hockey at the school. The school dedicated its softball diamond in her name Saturday. (Oakland Press)

In Memoriam: Paul Price (1950-2023)

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

July 14, 2023

The MHSAA recently published its annual list of officials who have reached milestone years in their service to Michigan school sports. On the “40 Years” registration list was the name of Paul Price, a longtime official most recently from Republic who has been missed greatly especially in the Upper Peninsula officiating community since his death in January.

Price, who died Jan. 9 at the age of 72, began his officiating career with the MHSAA with basketball during the 1973-74 school year. Also an educator, he taught, directed, administrated and coached in Michigan, Colorado and Michigan again. He added softball and volleyball to his officiating in 1991-92, football in 1995-96, and over the last eight years was registered in football, basketball, volleyball, cross country and track & field while also taking an active roll in leadership and mentorship in those communities.

He was a mainstay at the Upper Peninsula Track & Field Finals and was missed there at this season’s championship event in June. He’ll be missed similarly in November at the 8-Player Football Finals at Northern Michigan University, where he’d coordinated the chain crew for the MHSAA’s two championship games at the Superior Dome.

Price was a graduate of East Lansing High School and Central Michigan University, and finished his educational career in 2011 as superintendent of Republic-Michigamme Schools. He previously had served as principal and athletic director at Fife Lake Forest Area among other stops, and he was recalled as a mentor to administrators as well during his many years in education.

PHOTO Paul Price, second from left, takes a minute for an officials photo during the 2022 Upper Peninsula Track & Field Finals at Kingsford. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)