Linked Up: 11/15/11

December 16, 2011

We're heading into the final two weeks of the MHSAA fall season, which means playoffs for a few more sports, first practices for many others, and some catch-up on good stories that have made their way into my e-mail or onto my desk. Here are five more I've run across this week.

And again, if you see something high school sports-related that you think others would find valuable, send me a link at [email protected].

Walled Lake Central's Zac Leimbach stands strong after father's death (Detroit Free Press)

Walled Lake Central quarterback Zac Leimbach led his team to the playoffs this fall (WLC lost last weekend). He also is the oldest of three sons and now the man of his house in the wake of the summer death of their father after a battle with cancer. Mick McCabe's passage about Leimbach's final conversation with his father really struck me -- incredible.

Being in the pool makes Zeeland swimmer Becky Taylor feel like equal (Holland Sentinel)

Taylor was born with spina bifida -- "a hole in her back" -- and paralysis from the hips down. But she can leave her wheelchair behind when she takes to the pool as a member of the Zeeland swim team. Dan D'Addona tells us this inspiring story that has made waves on the west side of the state this season.

Mercy's Maddy Doyle takes home Miss Volleyball award (Oakland Press)

Doyle was the spokesperson for her team to the media after tough losses ended their last two seasons. But she was able to stand in once more  -- joyfully tearful this time -- in accepting the Miss Volleyball award for 2011. Matthew B. Mowery wraps up her great career.

It's like I never left, almost: EGR still winning playoff games, this time against Holland (Grand Rapids Press)

East Grand Rapids' win over Holland was the Pioneers' 28th straight in postseason play. That's a story unto itself, of course. But another big one for West Michigan high school sports fans was the return of the Press' Jane Bos, who is back in the press box after nearly a year working through medical issues. This is her return column, and I'm sure a loyal reader base is thankful to have her back.

From a standout player, a different sort of care basket (Los Angeles Times)

This is a little old, but came back into the light this week with the start of college basketball season. It's a college story, but also a high school story, of a star hoops player who won $40,000 in scholarship money in a free-throw shooting contest -- and then gave it to the seven runners-up. You'll probably hear about Cal State-Northridge's Allan Guei at some point over the next few years. Here's why.

Today in the MHSAA: 11/8/24

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

November 8, 2024

1. VOLLEYBALL Division 2 honorable mention Richmond clinched its first District title since 1988, downing Marysville 3-1– Port Huron Times Herald

2. VOLLEYBALL Muskegon Mona Shores defeated Coopersville in Division 1 to end a 23-year District title drought in this sport – Local Sports Journal

3. VOLLEYBALL No. 6 Rockford downed No. 10 Grand Rapids Northview 3-1 in Division 1 – Grand Rapids Press

4. VOLLEYBALL Holland West Ottawa claimed its first District title since 2007 as well with a five-set win over Zeeland East in Division 1 – Holland Sentinel

5. VOLLEYBALL No. 9 McBain clinched its fifth-straight District title with a 3-0 win over honorable mention Manton in Division 3 – MI Sports Now

6. VOLLEYBALL Linden swept honorable mention Lake Fenton in Division 2 to claim a first District championship since 2007 – WJRT

7. VOLLEYBALL Otsego won a matchup of Division 2 honorable mentions in four sets – Kalamazoo Gazette

8. VOLLEYBALL Indian River Inland Lakes swept Charlevoix in Division 3 to claim a sixth-straight District title – Cheboygan Daily Tribune

9. VOLLEYBALL Coldwater earned its first District title since 2011 with a sweep of Sturgis in Division 1 – Coldwater Daily Reporter

10. VOLLEYBALL No. 9 Ubly claimed a sixth-straight District title with a sweep of Kinde North Huron in Division 4 – Huron Daily Tribune