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.

It's like I never left, almost: EGR still winning playoff games, this time against Holland (Grand Rapids Press)

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: 2/11/19

February 11, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

League titles were earned in hockey, bowling and basketball over the weekend, and hundreds of Michigan wrestlers took their first steps toward this season’s Individual Finals at Ford Field.

1. Girls Basketball: Detroit Edison edged Saginaw Heritage 41-37, although Edison was missing two starters with injuries and Heritage was without injured star Moira Joiner – MLive-Detroit

2. Hockey: The Division 1 No. 11 Traverse City Bay Reps downed Petoskey 5-4 in overtime to secure the Northern Michigan Hockey League championship – Traverse City Record-Eagle

3. Boys Basketball: Linden downed Flushing 48-35 to clinch a share of its first league title since 1996 – WNEM

4. Boys Basketball: Kalamazoo Central won its fifth straight Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East title with a 73-41 victory over Loy Norrix – JoeInsider.com

5. Girls Basketball: St. Ignace remains undefeated after handing two-loss Kingsley a 68-37 defeat – MI Sports Now

6. Girls Basketball: Hartland handed Brighton its first defeat, 46-35, to move into a first-place tie in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association West – State Champs!

7. Wrestling: No. 5 Hartland and No. 2 Brighton both advanced all 14 of their wrestlers from Division 1 Individual District competition – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

8. Bowling: Midland Bullock Creek locked up both the girls and boys Tri-Valley Conference Central titles – Midland Daily News

9. Competitive Cheer: Sanford Meridian won Division 4 and the overall meet title with a season-high 774.02 at the Houghton Lake Invitational – Midland Daily News

10. Wrestling: Division 4 No. 3 Clinton advanced all 14 of its wrestlers among 56 total from Lenawee County to move on from Individual District competition – Adrian Daily Telegram

Also of note …

Boys Basketball: Morley Stanwood clinched a share of the Central State Activities Association Silver title with a 62-50 win over Kent City – Big Rapids News

Girls Basketball: Ellie Klein scored her 1,000th career point in Essexville Garber’s 53-44 win over Bridgeport – Bay City Times

Boys Basketball: Traverse City Central’s Tobin Schwannecke went over 1,000 career points in his team’s 48-33 win over Traverse City West – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Boys Basketball: Joseph Kimmerer scored 23 points including the 1,000th of his career in Hale’s 54-49 win over AuGres-Sims – WBKB

Boys Basketball: Kinross Maplewood Baptist’s Isaiah May went over 1,000 career points in a 57-43 win over Beaver Island – MI Sports Now