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: 10/8/19
October 8, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We’ve officially entered tournament time for our first few Lower Peninsula sports, with Girls Golf Regionals teeing off Monday while boys soccer and tennis teams finished their regular seasons with playoffs up next.
1. Girls Golf: No. 4 Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian won its Lower Peninsula Division 4 Regional and No. 3 Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep was second, with No. 5 Montague third to make the Finals for the first time – Muskegon Chronicle
2. Girls Golf: No. 3 Okemos won its LPD1 Regional against a field including No. 8 Grand Blanc and formerly-ranked Brighton – Lansing State Journal
3. Girls Golf: No. 9 St. Joseph edged Mattawan by a stroke and No. 4 Middleville Thornapple Kellogg by three to win an LPD2 Regional – Sturgis Journal
4. Boys Soccer: Utica Eisenhower downed Utica 1-0 to earn a share of the Macomb Area Conference Red title and the 200th victory for coach Josh VanHouten – Macomb Daily
5. Boys Soccer: Division 1 No. 3 Novi got past No. 14 Livonia Stevenson 4-0 to claim the overall Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship – Observer & Eccentric
6. Boys Soccer: A Saline win over Monroe combined with a tie between Division 1 No. 4 Ann Arbor Skyline and Pioneer gave the Southeastern Conference Red title to the No. 13 Hornets – Saline Post
7. Boys Soccer: Roscommon locked up the Northern Michigan Soccer League title with a 5-1 victory over Gladwin, which had won the last five league championships – MI Sports Now
8. Boys Soccer: Division 4 No. 8 Adrian Lenawee Christian repeated as overall Independent Soccer League champion with a 1-0 win over No. 9 Hillsdale Academy – Adrian Daily Telegram
9. Girls Golf: No. 3 Marshall won its LPD3 Regional by 20 strokes – Niles Daily Star
10. Boys Tennis: Brownstown Woodhaven won four flights on the way to clinching the Downriver League Meet team title – Southgate News-Herald
Also of note …
Boys Soccer: Chippewa Valley shut out Utica Ford 4-0 to also share the MAC Red title – Macomb Daily
Girls Golf: Grosse Pointe South shot a 335 to outpace its LPD1 Regional field by 35 strokes – MHSAA.com
Boys Tennis: From Saturday, LPD1 No. 3 Northville edged No. 9 Novi to win the overall KLAA Tournament title – Observer & Eccentric
Boys Tennis: From Saturday, Muskegon Mona Shores scored two more points than Jenison to win the Ottawa-Kent Conference Black Tournament title – Local Sports Journal