Get Prepped for a Fantastic Finale
May 24, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We love this time of year. And not just because school is nearly out for summer.
There’s little argument that the week ahead is the most exciting of each MHSAA school year. And you’ll want to set your bookmarks for MHSAA.com and Second Half for updated results and coverage not just next week – but through the rest of this spring season.
The MHSAA.com Score Center is our home for scores from all District softball, baseball and soccer games, which begin Tuesday. You also can view real-time brackets for every District by going to the “Sports” page for each, and updated brackets for lacrosse by visiting our girls and boys pages for that sport as well.
In the Lower Peninsula, we’ll have same day or next morning results as golf Districts are played, and first-day results from next weekend’s Girls Tennis Finals on May 31 – followed by final results at the conclusion of play June 1. We’ll post Finals results for Upper Peninsula golf and tennis as we receive them Wednesday and Thursday, and then results for all seven Lower and Upper Peninsula Track and Field Finals as they come in June 1.
But results are only the start. As we have during the fall and winter, Second Half will provide coverage including photos from every MHSAA Final – beginning with Wednesday’s Upper Peninsula Girls and Boys Golf and Boys Tennis Finals. Keep an eye on Second Half throughout the week, or follow the Second Half feed on the cover page of MHSAA.com.
Transfer rule clarification
We released Monday the actions our Representative Council took earlier this month at its Spring Meeting, including an addition to the athletics-related portion of our transfer rule. Based on some questions we’ve received and read, here’s some further explanation of what will be installed for 2014-15:
The longer period of ineligibility for athletes who transfer because of athletics is not new. This has previously existed for cases in which a school could prove that it lost a student to another school purely for sports-related reasons.
What’s new is what must be proven and by whom for the longer ineligibility period to take effect. Now, a school that lost a student does not have to file a report with the MHSAA for the case to be considered. As long as one of a set of offending activities can be verified – including practicing, competing or training with a member of the new school’s coaching staff during summer or non-school sports activities or seasons – that student will have to sit 180 days instead of the usual period of roughly a semester. The 15 exemptions that allow a student to be eligible immediately – like making a full move to a new district or a student’s school closing – may still apply.
So, to conclude: The longer athletics-related ineligibility period is not new, just how athletics-related transfers are considered and reported. Click to read the full release.
Kickoff is coming
And that means we’re collecting varsity football schedules.
In fact, we have most of them thanks to our athletic directors, their secretaries, coaches and many others who chip in to help us keep complete and accurate information throughout the season.
But there are still plenty of steps in getting ready for August – and a huge one is locking down correct leagues for our teams this season, especially as schools continue to switch things up.
Check out your school’s schedule page by click on the “Schools” button in the menu bar at the top of MHSAA.com and searching for your school. Once on the school page, click the blue “Boys” button next to football. The schedule will appear in the middle of the page, with standings to the left.
See an error in a schedule or the standings? Email me at [email protected]. I thank you in advance.
Kramer’s words of wisdom
Long before Roy Kramer served as athletic director at Vanderbilt University, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference and creator of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) for Division I college football, he coached multiple sports at East Lansing High School.
He recently was named winner of this year’s Duffy Daugherty Award, given in honor of the former Michigan State University coach to a valued coach or contributor to college football. The award, presented in East Lansing, is among those recognized by the College Football Hall of Fame.
Kramer finished his acceptance speech with a stirring endorsement of the sport that brought the crowd of more than 300 to its feet. If you’re a fan, former or current player or coach, see below.
PHOTO: Athletes race toward the finish of a relay during this spring's Alma College Invitational. (Click to see more at HighSchoolsSportsScene.com.)
3-Set Doubles Finale Provides Perfect Finish to Marquette's Repeat Run
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
May 27, 2026
WEST ISHPEMING — The outcome of the Upper Peninsula Division 1 Boys Tennis Finals boiled down to results of the No. 2 doubles match Wednesday at Westwood.
Marquette junior Bode Helman and Conner Dunn put the finishing touches on a perfect season with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 triumph over Negaunee’s Vince Tincknell and Marshall Knapp on a sunny and mild afternoon.
Their victory also enabled the Sentinels to retain their title with 17 points.
Marquette was followed by Negaunee with 15 points, Kingsford with 12, Ishpeming Westwood at 6, Escanaba at 5 and Gladstone with 1.
“Having to go three sets made it all the more satisfying,” Helman said. “I thought maybe we’d lose after they went ahead in the third set, but once we got ahead 2-1 it felt like we had the momentum. Our overhead shots worked pretty good. I think that may have gotten them out of position.”
Marquette coach Karl Thomsen believed victories at No. 1 singles and doubles played major roles.
“They came to play,” he said. “They got some points, and winning No. 1 singles was unexpected. The guys saw that and they responded.
“No. 2 doubles was fun for everyone involved. They put on quite a show. Negaunee is so mentally tough, and they’ve been champions for many years. We knew it’d be a three-way battle today.”
Marquette’s Lucas Belkovich took a 6-2, 6-4 decision from Kingsford’s Landon Adam in No. 1 singles, and Winston Leonard and Conner Henry outlasted Kingsford’s Andy Yu and Clark Robb 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) at No. 1 doubles.
The Sentinels also gained the No. 4 doubles title as Billy Krebs and Jack Tiziani topped Negaunee’s William Derkos and Brady McIntyre 6-3, 6-4.
Negaunee won two flights as Nolan O’Dovero defeated Kingsford’s Isaac Lebouef 7-6 (11-9), 6-3 in No. 2 singles and Connor Stede and Tren Emards posted a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) triumph over Marquette’s Elan Chu and Kane Busch at No. 3 doubles.
Evan Grymes provided Kingsford with its lone flight championship in No. 3 singles as he beat Negaunee’s Max Larson 6-0, 6-1.
At No. 4 singles, Escanaba sophomore Kyle Smith rallied past Marquette sophomore Dominic Camilli 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 much to the delight of his teammates and coach Alan Adams.
“This feels great,” Smith said. “I didn’t play tennis last year and just started playing last year. We’ve gone back and forth all year. I was pretty nervous before the match. Winning the second set was huge. I knew he was down at that time, and I wanted to pick up the pace.”
Smith, who sealed the verdict with a lob into the backcourt, trailed 2-0 in during the final set prior to mounting his comeback.
He also fell behind early in the first set, trailing 1-0 on a return shot which sailed too long and 3-0 on a double-fault.
Smith came back to tie the score at 3-3, but was unable to gain the upper hand.
“Having my teammates sitting on the bench was really energizing and our coach giving me pointers between sets really helped,” he said. “I’m also thankful for having my family coming to support me in the away matches.”
Smith plans to work on his game this summer and hopes to play in the 79th Annual Michigan-Wisconsin Open, Aug. 1-2 in Escanaba.
PHOTOS (Top) Marquette’s Lucas Belkovich drives a forehand during a match at No. 1 singles Wednesday. (Middle) Kingsford’s Landon Adam takes to the air to return a volley at No. 1. (Below) Winston Leonard serves at No. 1 doubles for the Sentinels. (Photos by Randy Ritari.)