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: 5/18/17
May 18, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The most impressive performance of a busy Wednesday statewide likely came from the Detroit Catholic Central boys golf team, which won a loaded Oakland County tournament with a number few teams approach.
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
Fraser earned a third straight Macomb Area Conference Gold title with a 24-13 win over Warren Woods-Tower – Macomb Daily
Division 1 No. 7 Canton downed No. 11 Brighton 7-5 to claim the overall Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship – Observer & Eccentric
Golf
Shepherd celebrated the Tri-Valley Conference Central title, its first league championship since 2004 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central shot a 284 to win the Oakland County championship by 18 strokes ahead of No. 2 Clarkston – Oakland Press
McBain Northern Michigan Christian clinched the inaugural Missaukee Cup with a first place ahead of Lake City and McBain in a Wednesday match – Cadillac News
Girls Soccer
Mattawan downed Division 2 No. 5 Richland Gull Lake 1-0 to win its first Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference tournament championship – Kalamazoo Gazette
Division 2 No. 17 Marshall clinched a third straight Interstate Eight Conference regular-season title with a 2-0 win over Battle Creek Harper Creek – Battle Creek Enquirer
Softball
Division 1 No. 6 Howell continued an incredible run with a 15-0 win over honorable mention Canton to earn the Kensington Lakes Activities Association overall championship – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Freshman Grace Lehto threw a no-hitter as Division 2 honorable mention Eaton Rapids edged Webberville 1-0 in a Lansing-area Softball Classic semifinal – Lansing State Journal
Bay City John Glenn swept Midland Dow, coming back from a 10-1 deficit to win the first game 13-11 – Bay City Times
Division 4 honorable mention Morenci handed Clinton its first Tri-County Conference sweep since joining the league in 2007 – Adrian Daily Telegram
First-place Allen Park, an honorable mention in Division 1, stayed ahead of second-place and Division 2 honorable mention Trenton in the Downriver League with a 3-2 win thanks to a walk-off hit by Kelsi Littleton – Southgate News-Herald
Track & Field
Traverse City Central’s boys downed Traverse City West by 64 points – they are tied for the No. 7 spot in the Lower Peninsula Division 1 rankings – Traverse City Record-Eagle
From Tuesday, the Deckerville girls and Peck and Kingston boys won North Central Thumb League championships – Huron Daily Tribune