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: 9/13/17
September 13, 2017
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. Girls Golf: Brighton’s Heather Fortushniak tied her team’s nine-hole record with a 33 in a win over Grand Blanc at former PGA Tour stop Warwick Hills – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
2. Boys Soccer: Zack Shane’s hat trick in a 4-2 win over Grand Rapids Union gave him Fruitport’s career goals and points records – Muskegon Chronicle
3. Cross Country: In one of the most loaded league jamborees in the state, Lower Peninsula Division 1 No. 1 Ann Arbor Pioneer won in the Southeastern Conference boys race over Division 2 No. 2 Chelsea and Division 1 No. 3 Saline, while in the girls race LPD1 top-ranked Pioneer took first ahead of No. 5 Saline and No. 10 Pinckney – Saline Post | Livingston Daily Press & Argus | Athletic.net
4, Cross Country: Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart’s boys and girls teams, both ranked No. 1 in LPD4, swept titles at the Beal City Invitational, the girls ahead of No. 3 Fowler and the boys ahead of No. 7 Beal City –Mount Pleasant Morning Sun | Athletic.net
5. Cross Country: Negaunee’s Colton Yesney set a course record of 16:24 and Miners sophomore Emily Paupore also won individually, while the Houghton boys (UPD1 No. 2) and Marquette girls (UPD1 No. 1) claimed the Kingsford Invitational team titles – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette | Superior Timing
6. Boys Soccer: Division 1 No. 4 Northville, while a player down, scored the go-ahead goal with 14 seconds left to hand No. 17 Plymouth its first loss, 2-1 – Detroit News
7. Girls Swimming & Diving: LPD2 honorable mention Midland Dow doubled up No. 9 Saginaw Heritage, 123-60 – Midland Daily News
8. Boys Soccer: Brighton scored two goals over the final 10 minutes to upend Division 1 No. 19 Hartland 2-1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus
9. Cross Country: Macomb L’Anse Creuse standout Karenna Duffey added another win, running 19:29 to claim the first Macomb Area Conference Red jamboree by 28 seconds – Macomb Daily | Athletic.net
10. Girls Swimming & Diving: Undefeated Bridgman set four pool records in doubling up St. Joseph 126-60 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
Also of note:
Volleyball: In a match to stay in a first-place tie in the Downriver League, Wyandotte Roosevelt downed Allen Park in five sets – Southgate News Herald
Volleyball: From Saturday, Class B No. 1 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep downed Class C top-ranked Bronson in three sets to win the Battle Creek Lakeview Invitational – Coldwater Daily Reporter
Boys Soccer: From Monday, Cassopolis got past Hartford 2-0 in a battle of frontrunners in the Southwest 10 Conference – Niles Daily Star