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: 1/22/19
January 22, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The weekend was filled with county and league championship competition and highly-anticipated invitationals – plus scroll to the bottom of today’s list for a number of basketball achievements, including an MHSAA record setter.
1. Wrestling: Division 3 No. 1 Dundee finished half a point ahead of Division 2 No. 8 St. Johns to win the Hudson Super 16 Invitational – Adrian Daily Telegram
2. Girls Basketball: Detroit Edison downed Pewamo-Westphalia 54-39 in a rematch from last season's Class C Semifinals – The Bleacher Denizen
3. Wrestling: Division 1 No. 2 Brighton took first at the 41-team Maumee Bay Classic, six points ahead of Ohio power Elyria – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
4. Bowling: Lapeer’s girls finished ahead of Flint Kearsley to win the Flint Metro Invitational, but Kearsley’s Imari Blond rolled a 300 and a 749 series – Flint Journal
5. Boys Swimming & Diving: East Grand Rapids, No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 3, finished first and LPD1 honorable mention Grand Haven second at the EGR Invitational – Grand Haven Tribune
6. Wrestling: Division 3 No. 3 Whitehall won its 13th straight Greater Muskegon Athletic Association championship – Muskegon Chronicle
7. Bowling: The undefeated Traverse City West girls clinched their ninth straight Great Northern High School Bowling Conference championship with a win over previously undefeated Cadillac – Traverse City Record-Eagle
8. Boys Swimming & Diving: Midland Dow, No. 4 in LPD2, won its 17th straight Tri-Cities Championship, finishing ahead of runner-up and LPD2 honorable mention Saginaw Heritage – Midland Daily News
9. Bowling: Utica Ford’s boys and St. Clair Shores Lake Shore’s girls won Macomb County championships – Macomb Daily
10. Bowling: South Lyon’s girls and Farmington-Harrison’s boys won Oakland County titles – Oakland Press
Also of note …
Boys Basketball: From Thursday, Romeo Weems scored 30 points against Grosse Pointe South to break the New Haven record of 1,840 career points set by Eli Sims in 1971 – Port Huron Times-Herald
Girls Basketball: Elie Smith scored her 1,000th career point Friday in Fowlerville’s win over St. Johns – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
Boys Basketball: Coldwater’s Gage McGuire set his school’s scoring record Friday, breaking the previous mark of 1,179 set by Rick Gates – Coldwater Daily Reporter
Girls Basketball: Posen’s Brooke Ciarkowski also went over 1,000 career points Friday, in a win over Hillman – MI Sports Now
Girls Basketball: Kent City made 25 3-pointers in an 89-33 win over Holton to break the MHSAA single-game record for long-distance shots – Local Sports Journal
Girls Basketball: The Monroe News caught up with 98-year-old Marie Kinne to talk about her high school basketball career at Petersburg High School during the late 1930s – Monroe News