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.
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: 5/26/17
May 26, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The last major night of league track & field meets statewide saw another group of champions crowned, led by Adrian Madison’s girls for the 11th straight season.
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.
Baseball
Division 1 No. 14 Holt held on for a 6-2, 10-inning win over St. Johns in a Capital Diamond Classic quarterfinal – Lansing State Journal
Division 1 No. 19 Mount Pleasant stayed in the Saginaw Valley League title race with a sweep of Flint Powers Catholic that included an extra-inning win – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
From Wednesday, Lake Odessa Lakewood secured a Greater Lansing Activities Conference title with a 3-0 win over Stockbridge – Ionia Sentinel-Standard
Boys Golf
Bay City Western battled the elements to win the Bay County Championship with a 334, clearing the field by 18 strokes – Bay City Times
From Tuesday, Lower Peninsula Division 1 No. 6 Plymouth clinched a fifth straight Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship shooting a 315 – Observer & Eccentric
Boys Lacrosse
Division 1 No. 9 Clarkston avenged an earlier loss to Bloomfield Hills with a 13-6 Division 1 Regional win – Oakland Press
Girls Soccer
Division 1 top-ranked Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central made two goals over the first 15 minutes stand the rest of the game in a 2-1 win over No. 17 Portage Central – Grand Rapids Press
Holland Black River finished a perfect run through the Alliance League – Holland Sentinel
Softball
Division 1 No. 10 Mount Pleasant swept Flint Powers Catholic to earn its first Saginaw Valley League title since 2010 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
From Wednesday, Norway swept Manistique to clinch a share of the Mid-Peninsula Conference championship – Iron Mountain Daily News
Boys Tennis
Negaunee swept all eight flights to claim a seventh straight Mid-Peninsula Conference championship – Marquette Mining Journal
Track & Field
The Detroit Cass Tech boys and Detroit Renaissance girls ran to Detroit Public School League championships – Detroit News
Quincy swept Big 8 Conference championships; the girls finished first at the league meet after entering tied in the standings – Coldwater Daily Reporter
Adrian Madison swept Tri-County Conference championships, the girls (LPD3 No. 4) for the 11th straight season and the boys for the fourth – Adrian Daily Telegram
Onsted’s girls (LPD3 No. 7) and Hillsdale’s boys (LPD3 No. 2) claimed Lenawee County Athletic Association championships – Adrian Daily Telegram
Lake Odessa Lakewood’s boys won the Greater Lansing Activities Conference meet to claim a share of the league title; Olivet’s girls dominated as well – Ionia Sentinel-Standard
The Centreville (LPD4 No. 2) girls and Mendon boys came away champions at the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Blue meet – Sturgis Journal