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: 5/10/17
May 10, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Top teams statewide faced off in local matchups in soccer and softball Tuesday, and check our “Good Read” at the bottom of this report for the story behind the voice that will be missed both in Battle Creek and by Michigan's wrestling community as a whole.
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
Standish-Sterling’s Sean O’Keefe won both games of a doubleheader against Freeland, the first in relief and the second game with a shutout – Bay City Times
Boys Golf
Escanaba shined with a 319 to win the Kiwanis Invitational at Northern Michigan University – Marquette Mining Gazette
Manistee Catholic Central clinched the West Michigan D League title – Manistee News Advocate
From Monday, Tecumseh edged Adrian and Clinton both by a stroke to win the Lenawee County championship – Adrian Daily Telegram
Boys Lacrosse
Division 2 No. 10 Midland downed Bay City Western 21-2 to clinch a fifth straight Saginaw Valley League title – Midland Daily News
From Monday, Division 1 No. 9 South Lyon finished an unbeaten run in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Kensington Conference with an 8-6 win over Plymouth – Observer & Eccentric
Girls Soccer
Kenna White scored twice to lead Division 1 No. 10 Plymouth past No. 2 Canton in a Kensington Lakes Activities Association South clash – Observer & Eccentric
Division 2 No. 18 Detroit Country Day held off multiple rushes by Troy Athens to secure a 3-2 win – Oakland Press
Softball
Hadlie Hinojosa and Taylor Nichols combined for five home runs and 17 RBI in Parma Western’s sweep of Jackson Lumen Christi – Jackson Citizen Patriot
Division 2 No. 4 Vicksburg and unranked Edwardsburg split a key doubleheader, Edwardsburg winning the first game 8-6 and Vicksburg the second 12-5 – Kalamazoo Gazette
Oxford shut down Lake Orion 9-1 in a matchup of Division 1 honorable mentions thanks to 15 strikeouts by Kaitlyn Bean; Lake Orion was up 8-5 in the second game when it was suspended because of darkness – Oakland Press
Girls Tennis
Lower Peninsula Division 3 No. 5 Holland Christian won six of eight flights to claim the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green tournament championship – Holland Sentinel
Saline downed Ann Arbor Huron for the first time in eight years, 5-3 – Saline Post
Good Read
The Battle Creek and statewide wrestling communities are mourning the death of longtime Battle Creek Central coach Jeff McGinnis, who died Monday and was the longtime national anthem voice at the MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals – Battle Creek Enquirer