Howell Puts Heart Into Memorial Meet
August 29, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
An online tribute to Mackenzie Watts describes how she “made the people and world around her better.”
The Howell swimming and diving community continues to work so that her memory makes those who come after her safer as well.
Watts died in 2005 after suffering a cardiac arrhythmia. She was a 15-year-old sophomore and key cog on her high school team.
This past weekend, for the sixth straight season, the Highlanders hosted the Kenzie Classic, an invitational that served as a fundraiser for the Howell program and annual Mackenzie Watts scholarship – plus served to promote heart screenings by local National Diagnostic Services in their “HeartMobile” parked outside the pool.
NDS, which also has held screening events at Northville, Canton and Middleville Thornapple Kellogg schools among others, screened 20 students during this Kenzie Classic, said Wellness Director Heidi Enders.
Tests are ultrasound-based and non-invasive, and include an EKG to examine the heart’s electrical system for arrhythmias and an echocardiogram to examine the heart’s structure in case there is a thickening of the muscle (known as hyperthrophic cardiomyopathy). Adults were charged $199 and students $75, with discounted rates for adults in groups and children.
Click to check out coverage of the event from the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus.
Records Revamp
While tracking down 660 football schedules (give or take a few) took up most of the summer, there still was time for a few additions to the MHSAA record book – with more to come.
Track and field fans will notice records from retired yardage events (pre-1982 or earlier depending on the MHSAA class) have been added to the online records here for boys and here for girls.
Cross country fans should check out our lists of top MHSAA Finals times for every division and every class, plus overall top 10 lists for both boys and girls since the race was set to five kilometers in 1980. Click here for girls and here for boys.
Also added or updated were team championship counts for both cross countries, volleyball and girls golf. Click to check out girls golf here and volleyball here.
Fond Football Memories
It has been 30 years since former Genesee all-state running back Don Robinson became the fourth player in Genesee County history to run for more than 300 yards in one game – which he did in gaining 317 on Sept. 23, 1983.
High school football and those memories remain close to his heart even after going on to play at Eastern Michigan University, a stint in the U.S. Navy and a move to Georgia.
He’s paid attention over the years as that “300 club” has grown to 22 players including current New Orleans Saints back Mark Ingram, Jr., and the University of Michigan’s Thomas Rawls.
He’s also a regular reader of Second Half, and asked to send along some words of wisdom to those who will be taking the field to begin the season this weekend:
“When you run out onto the field this season, do me a favor. At least once, pause.
“Look around you. Look at the lights in the sky. See the faces of those that have come to see you play. Listen to the band and the cheerleaders. Look into the eyes of your teammates ...
“Take it all in. When you’re older and miss this amazing game that you are playing, you’ll be glad you did.”
PHOTOS: (Top) A swimmer takes the lead during a race at Saturday's Kenzie Klassic at Howell High School. (Photo courtesy of Howell High School.) (Middle) Genesee graduate Don Robinson runs the ball during the 1983 season. (Photo courtesy of Don Robinson.)
List of 2021-22 MHSAA Network Affiliates Growing as Fall Sports Ramp Up
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 31, 2021
More than 70 radio stations and web audio outlets have joined a growing list of Michigan High School Athletic Association Network affiliates for the 2021-22 school year, with more expected to come on board as fall sports schedules continue to build toward a busy September and October.
Affiliates carry games and also the MHSAA Network radio show – “This Week in High School Sports” – which began its seventh season last week.
A list of MHSAA Network affiliates can be found on the MHSAA Website. Below is a list of those affiliates and links to their broadcast platforms through Aug. 30.
Alma - WQBX (104.9 FM)
Auburn Hills - WAHS (89.5 FM)
Benton Harbor - WSJM (94.9 FM)
Bloomfield Hills - WBFH (88.1 FM)
Bloomfield Hills - BRBN
Canton - WSDP (88.1 FM)
Caro - WIDL (92.1 FM)
Cheboygan - WCBY (1240 AM)
Cheboygan - WCBY (100.7 FM)
Deckerville - Thumb Tailgater Sports
Dowagiac - Dowagiac Chieftains Network
Escanaba - WCHT (93.5 FM)
Escanaba - WCHT (600 AM)
Escanaba - WYKX (104.7 FM)
Escanaba - WDBC (94.5 FM)
Escanaba - WUPF (107.3 FM)
Ferndale - WDTK (101.5 FM)
Frankenmuth - Frankenmuth Sports Network
Flushing - MFNT
Gaylord - WMJZ (101.5 FM)
Grand Haven - WGHN (92.1 FM)
Grand Haven - WGHN (94.9 FM)
Grand Haven - WGHN (1370 AM)
Grand Haven - WMPA (93.1 FM)
Grand Haven - WAWL (103.5 FM)
Grand Haven - Michigan Game Night
Grand Haven - JoeInsider.com
Grand Rapids - WMAX (96.1 FM)
Grayling - WQON (100.3 FM)
Grayling - WGRY (101.1 FM)
Grayling - WJML (1110 AM)
Grayling - WJNL (1210 AM)
Grayling - W266CS (101.1 FM)
Hancock - WMPL (920 AM)
Hillman - WKJZ (94.9 FM)
Hillsdale - WCSR (92.1 FM)
Hillsdale - WCSR (99.5 FM)
Holland - WHTC (1450 AM)
Holland - WYVN (92.7 FM)
Houghton - WHKB (102.3)
Iron Mountain - WZNL (94.3 FM)
Ironwood - WJMS (590 AM)
Jackson - WKHM (970 AM)
Jackson - WKHM (105.3 FM)
Manistique - WTIQ (1490 AM)
Marquette - WFXD (103.3 FM)
Marquette - WZAM (106.9 FM)
Marquette - WZAM (970 AM)
Marquette - W286BC (105.1 FM)
Marquette - W262AG (99.9 FM)
Marquette - WKQS (101.9 FM)
Marquette - WRUP (98.3 FM)
Marquette - GTO (97.5 FM)
Marquette - WUPG (96.7 FM)
Marquette - WUPT (100.3 FM)
Midland - WMPX (97.7 FM)
Mt. Pleasant - WMMI (92.3 FM)
Muskegon - WLCS (98.3 FM)
Muskegon - WVIB (100.1 FM)
Novi - WOVI (89.5 FM)
Ontonagon - WUPY (101.1 FM)
Ovid - WOES (91.3 FM)
Prudenville - WTWS (92.1 FM)
Rockford - Michigan Sports Radio
Sault Ste. Marie - WUPN (95.1 FM)
St. Ignace - WWMK (106.3 FM)
Stevensville - Lakeshore Lancers Network
Tawas City - WKJC (104.7 FM)
Tawas City - WQLB (103.3 FM)
Tawas City - WTZM (106.1 FM)
Temperance - WMLZ-LP (107.9 FM)
Traverse City - WWMN (106.3 FM)
Warren - WPHS (89.1 FM)
West Bloomfield - WBLD (89.3)
MHSAA.tv and the NFHS Network enjoyed an exciting opening weekend of football video streaming, with 16 games played as part of the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic, Battle at the Big House and Xenith Prep Kick Off Classic receiving a combined 22,494 live views on MHSAA.tv, with the Big House game featuring Traverse City Central and DeWitt leading that list with nearly 5,000 views. Those totals do not include views by those who watched two Xenith games live on MHSAA broadcast partner Bally Sports Detroit’s cable channel and digital platforms.
Bally Sports Detroit will take its live cable broadcast to Muskegon on Friday (Sept. 3) for the Big Reds’ 7 p.m. matchup with Detroit Cass Tech. The game can be watched on live TV on Bally Sports Detroit-PLUS and on BSD’s website.
MHSAA broadcast partner State Champs! Sports Network will begin its series of live Saturday football streams this week as well, covering Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean at Grand Rapids Catholic Central at 4 p.m. Sept. 4.
A number of other intriguing events are scheduled to be streamed live on MHSAA.tv, including the following:
FOOTBALL
Sept. 2: Cedar Springs at Rockford, 7 p.m.
Sept. 2: Livonia Stevenson at Dearborn Fordson, 7 p.m.
All football games: MHSAA.tv Football
VOLLEYBALL
Aug. 31: Marquette at Menominee, 7 p.m.
Sept. 1: Traverse City Central at Traverse City West, 5 p.m.
Sept. 1: Saginaw Valley Lutheran at Midland Bullock Creek, 7 p.m.
All volleyball matches: MHSAA.tv Volleyball
BOYS SOCCER
Sept. 1: Ludington at Whitehall, 5:45 p.m.
Sept. 1: East Grand Rapids at Grand Rapids South Christian, 6:45 p.m.
Sept. 2: Ann Arbor Skyline at Saline, 7 p.m.
All soccer matches: MHSAA.tv Boys Soccer
NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $10.99 per month. Subscribers have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. School Broadcast Program participants benefit as a portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program. More than 400 MHSAA member schools are participants in the School Broadcast Program, now in its 13th year, producing games using traditional hands-on student crews or via Pixellot cameras installed at stadiums and gymnasiums across the state. A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA Website.