Linked Up: 10/28/11

October 28, 2011

Each week I'll post links to stories that interest me most during my travels in online sports land. I was going to wait for next week for this first installment, but these seemed worthy of telling you about now.

See something high school sports-related that you think others would find valuable? Send me a link.

Akron-Fairgrove and Owendale-Gagetown eager for long-awaited playoff games in first season of eight-man football bracket (Bay City Times)

These two teams provide multiple reasons why 8-player football has been such a strong addition -- most notably, it is providing our smallest schools with an opportunity to still play football despite fewer players, and succeed. The sport took off in this state in 2009, and this weekend mark the start of the first MHSAA 8-player Tournament. Akron-Fairgrove will play its first postseason game since 1992, while Owendale-Gagetown will play its first since 1979.

Olivet's Peters coaching his heart out (Battle Creek Enquirer)

I covered Olivet and coach Dean Peters for more than a decade, including during last season's first-ever Eagles run to the MHSAA football finals. One of the great people in high school coaching, he needed emergency double-bypass surgery earlier this month but is back in the coaching booth. Olivet faces Lansing Catholic in a Pre-District game.

Megan Hubbard a standout for Hanover-Horton cross country (Jackson Citizen-Patriot)

This is a neat story about a runner who is second-best on her team and has never won a race -- but also is likely the second-best to ever run at her school. Usually, we hear only about who finishes first.

Standley Lake football player Rhett Gutierrez overcomes eye disease (The Denver Post)
 
Almost always, links I post will be Michigan-related. But this story is just incredible. We've seen athletes with different degrees of vision impairment do incredible things in high school athletics. But this is the first time I've heard of someone overcoming that obstacle to play quarterback for his football team.

Today in the MHSAA: 1/20/17

January 20, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A matchup of two of the top wrestling teams in Michigan and some nail-biting finishes in girls basketball made Thursday night an exciting one, especially across the Lower Peninsula.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state. 

Girls Basketball

Sandusky remained undefeated and dealt Harbor Beach its first loss, 45-35, in a matchup of Greater Thumb East and statewide Class C powers – Huron Daily Tribune

Reigning Class A champion Warren Cousino won a matchup of contenders for this season’s title, 66-45 over Port Huron Northern – Macomb Daily

Comstock moved to 10-1 and broke a Niles Brandywine 83-game home winning streak going back to 2009 with a 46-38 win – Kalamazoo Gazette

Kourtney John’s basket with seven seconds to play gave Sanford Meridian a 39-38 win over Farwell – Saginaw News

Clarkston didn’t lead until the final minute, but came away with a key 50-47 victory over North Farmington – Oakland Press

Alpena also earned a big win with a buzzer beater, downing Tawas 45-43 – Alpena News

Boys Basketball

Napoleon equaled last season’s win total and extended its best start since 2010-11 with a 50-36 win over Grass Lake – Jackson Citizen Patriot

Competitive Cheer

From Wednesday, Breckenridge scored a meet high 743.20 points to finish first of 18 teams at the Sanford Meridian Mustang Cheer Corral – Midland Daily News

Boys Swimming & Diving

Howell’s Caleb Balgaard upped his school diving record to 285.45 in the Highlanders’ win over Hartland – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

Wrestling

Top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central got past No. 2 Davison 32-22 in a matchup of the best in Division 1 – Detroit Free Press

Alma clinched a share of its first league title since 1992 with a pair of wins over Shepherd and Bullock Creek – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun