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: 12/5/16

December 5, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Girls basketball season cruised into its first weekend with some exciting previews of possible playoff matchups coming at the end of this winter, and the action was just as significant on the ice and at a swimming & diving meet celebrating its 70th year.

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

Bloomfield Hills Marian made an early statement with a 56-42 win over reigning Class A champion Warren Cousino – Macomb Daily

In a matchup of expected MHSAA title contenders, reigning Class C winner Ypsilanti Arbor Prep earned a significant 52-39 victory over Muskegon Mona Shores – Muskegon Chronicle

Midland Dow’s Ellie Taylor reached 1,000 career points in leading her team to a 41-37 win over Southfield Arts & Technology – Midland Daily News

Goodrich looks to be back in the Class B mix, and picked up a nice win over New Lothrop – Flint Journal

Dearborn Heights Robichaud also is expected to make some noise this winter, and picked up a 65-54 win over Ann Arbor Huron – Ann Arbor News

Okemos will be a team to watch in Class A over the next few seasons and earned a solid 35-34 win over Haslett – Lansing State Journal

Bowling

Adrian Madison freshman Isabell Young enjoyed a great start to her high school career, winning the Wildcat Blastoff Tournament – Adrian Daily Telegram

Hockey

Division 2 No. 3 Birmingham Brother Rice broke away for a 7-1 win over No. 5 Trenton – Oakland Press

Division 3 No. 5 Sault Ste. Marie remained undefeated with a stunning 8-1 win over Romeo, scoring the final eight goals – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Division 1 No. 10 Northville downed Traverse City West 4-1 on Saturday, while No. 3 Detroit Catholic Central and No. 7 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s tied 2-2 – Observer & Eccentric

Boys Swimming & Diving

Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central edged reigning champion Ann Arbor Pioneer 356-334 to win the 70th Cereal Bowl Relays in Battle Creek – FHCRangers.com