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: 1/26/18
January 26, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.
Today's Top 10
1. Wrestling: Division 1 No. 3 Brighton clinched the Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship with a 38-25 win over No. 2 Westland John Glenn – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. Boys Skiing: Reigning Division 1 runner-up Traverse City Central and Division 2 seven-time reigning champion Petoskey dominated the Big North Conference opener, with Petoskey winning by half a point – Petoskey News-Review
3. Girls Basketball: A big fourth quarter pushed Detroit Mumford past Detroit Renaissance in a matchup for first place in the Detroit Public School League West Division 1 – Detroit News
4. Girls Basketball: Manton downed McBain Northern Michigan Christian in a matchup of teams that entered tied for first in the Highland Conference – Cadillac News
5. Boys Swimming & Diving: Lower Peninsula Division 1 top-ranked Holland Christian got past No. 7 Grand Rapids Christian 114-63 to claim the Legacy Trophy, named in honor of the late Riley Hoeksema – Holland Sentinel
6. Boys Swimming & Diving: LPD1 honorable mention Grand Haven relied on superior depth to edge Hudsonville 158-156 – Grand Haven Tribune
7. Boys Basketball: Saginaw Swan Valley hung on for a 60-54 win over Ovid-Elsie in a Tri-Valley Conference crossover featuring the first-place teams in the Central and West, respectively – Saginaw News
8. Boys Basketball: Clarkston got past West Bloomfield 61-48 in a matchup of Oakland Activities Association Red powers that also met in the Class A Semifinals last season – Oakland Press
9. Boys Basketball: Scottville Mason County Central, third in the West Michigan Conference, connected on three free throws to force overtime, but second-place Whitehall emerged with a 54-47 victory – Local State Journal
10. Project Unified: The Kensington Lakes Activities Association has partnered with Michigan Special Olympics to form a Project Unified basketball schedule this season, and member school Hartland is featured in this report; the MHSAA provides support and promotes Unified Sports, with teams frequently playing games as part of the March Magic Hoopfest also supported by the Greater Lansing Sports Authority – WHMI
Also of note …
Boys Basketball: From Tuesday, Clinton Township Chippewa Valley downed Macomb L’Anse Creuse North to give coach Kevin Voss his 500th win – Macomb Daily