Linked Up: 11/15/11
November 15, 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: 10/16/19
October 16, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
League cross country meets dominated action across the Lower Peninsula on Tuesday, and at least a pair of volleyball teams also clinched conference titles. But a major upset in boys soccer earned the most notable headline of the day, and of that sport’s postseason so far.
1. Boys Soccer: Unranked Coldwater earned the most notable win of District play to this point, upsetting No. 1 Richland Gull Lake 4-3 in Division 2 – Coldwater Daily Reporter
2. Cross Country: The Lower Peninsula Division 2 top-ranked Petoskey girls and LPD1 No. 14 Traverse City Central boys finished championship runs in the Big North Conference, Petoskey ahead of the LPD1 No. 3 Trojans – Petoskey News-Review
3. Boys soccer: No. 2 Troy Athens edged No. 9 Troy 1-0 in a Division 1 District game – Oakland Press
4. Cross Country: Hillsdale Academy swept wins at the Southern Central Athletic Association championship meet, the LPD4 honorable mention boys clinching the overall league title while the No. 4-ranked girls ended up second overall to No. 5 Adrian Lenawee Christian – Hillsdale Daily News
5. Volleyball: Unranked Montague clinched the West Michigan Conference regular-season championship with a sweep of Division 2 honorable mention Whitehall – Local Sports Journal
6. Boys Soccer: Unranked Birmingham Seaholm upset No. 14 Livonia Stevenson 1-0 in Division 1 District play – Observer & Eccentric
7. Volleyball: Division 3 honorable mention Harbor Beach claimed a share of the Greater Thumb Conference East title with a sweep of Sandusky – Huron Daily Tribune
8. Cross Country: The Bronson girls and LPD4 No. 7 Concord boys finished championship runs through the Big 8 Conference – Coldwater Daily Reporter
9. Cross Country: Reed City’s girls and Fremont’s LPD2 top-ranked boys completed championship runs in the Central State Activities Association Gold – Big Rapids News
10. Cross Country: The LPD3 No. 12 Reese and Sandusky girls and Capac and LPD4 No. 3 Unionville-Sebewaing boys won their races at the Greater Thumb Conference championship meet – Athletic.net
Also of note …
Cross Country: Clinton swept league championships in the Tri-County Conference – Adrian Daily Telegram
Cross County: Beal City completed a championship sweep in the Highland Conference – Cadillac News
Cross Country: Ludington’s girls and boys teams swept Lakes 8 Conference championship meet titles – Ludington Daily News