From High School to Olympic Swimming

July 11, 2012

Fans of U.S. Swimming already have plenty of reasons to cheer for Missy Franklin later this month at the Summer Olympics -- she's only 17, but qualified to compete in a U.S. women's all-time best seven events.

But fans of high school sports and what they provide athletes at all levels of ability can also support her for how she's chosen to compete when she's not racing against the best in the world.

Franklin, who lives in Colorado, has continued to swim for her high school team despite the financial rewards she could've earned by taking the elite swimmer's usual path of going pro.

A ton has been written about Franklin lately, for obvious reasons. Below is a link to a New York Times story from February that focused on her continued dedication to her high school team.

Before the Olympic Trials, There’s This Big High School Meet (New York Times)

Today in the MHSAA: 9/12/17

September 12, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.

Today's Top 10

1. Football: Saranac coach Andy Lytle, also a first sergeant in the Michigan Army National Guard, has left his team for deployment to Florida to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma – Ionia Sentinel-Standard

2. Girls Swimming & Diving: Longtime West Bloomfield coach John Burch will be the namesake of that school’s natatorium, and he’s continuing to coach for the South Lyon Unified co-op team although he’s been fighting pancreatic cancer for a year – Observer & Eccentric

3. Boys Tennis: Bloomfield Hills’ Andrew Zhang is one of the most highly-regarded junior players in the country, and also is lending his talents to his high school team again this fall after helping the Black Hawks to a shared 2015 LP Division 1 title and 2016 runner-up finish – Observer & Eccentric

4. Boys Soccer: Leland moved to 10-0 by handing Buckley its first loss of the season; Leland is ranked No. 3 in Division 4 – Traverse City St. Francis

5. Girls Tennis: Undefeated Negaunee got its toughest test so far this season, but moved to 8-0 with a 5-3 win over Marquette – Marquette Mining Journal

6. Boys Soccer: Grosse Ile moved to 12-0 this season by handing New Boston Huron its first loss – Southgate News Herald

7. Boys Soccer: Lincoln Alcona’s Jordan Steiner set a school record and earned a spot in the MHSAA record book with eight goals in a win over Whittemore-Prescott – Alpena News

8. Girls Golf: Sturgis shot a 182, its sixth-best nine-hole score ever, to win its sixth straight Wolverine Conference jamboree – Sturgis Journal

9. Boys Soccer: Ovid-Elsie earned its fifth shutout in six games, this time locking down Chesaning – Owosso Argus-Press

10. Girls Golf: LP Division 3 No. 8 Spring Lake extended its Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue lead by shooting a 164 to win Monday’s jamboree by 23 – Grand Haven Tribune

Also of note:

Girls Swimming & Diving: Brighton, No. 7 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, earned a 94-92 win over No. 6 Northville last week and then finished second to No. 2 Farmington Hills Mercy at the Fenton Relays over the weekend – Livingston Daily Press & Argus