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: 6/2/17
June 2, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Carney-Nadeau senior Hunter Eicchorn achieved what no other male golfer had in MHSAA history before Thursday, topping an excitement-filled afternoon of Upper Peninsula Golf Finals, Lower Peninsula Regionals and Girls Soccer District Semifinals.
Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.
Boys Golf
Carney-Nadeau’s Hunter Eicchorn capped his career as arguably the state’s most accomplished golfer by leading his team to an Upper Peninsula Division 3 title while becoming the first in MHSAA history to win a fourth individual championship – Second Half
St. Ignace finished a U.P. Division 2 championship run with a 10-stroke Finals win – Second Half
No. 3 Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian finished 17 strokes better than No. 2 Muskegon Catholic Central to win the LP Division 4 Regional at Hastings Country Club; Lansing Christian also advanced for the first time to next week’s Finals – Muskegon Chronicle
Girls Golf
Munising’s successful senior class added a golf championship to the list with a win at the U.P. Division 2 Final – Second Half
DeTour claimed its first MHSAA golf title since 1999, finishing as champ in U.P. Division 3 – Second Half
Girls Soccer
No. 11 Plymouth downed neighbor and No. 12 Canton 1-0 in a Division 1 District Semifinal and matchup of teams with a combined 30 wins this season – MLive-Detroit
No. 8 Kalamazoo Christian scored with six seconds to play to down rival No. 2 Kalamazoo Hackett 1-0 in a Division 4 District Semifinal – Kalamazoo Gazette
Division 1 No. 19 New Baltimore Anchor Bay needed a shootout to dispatch Macomb L’Anse Creuse North 2-1 in a District Semifinal – Macomb Daily
West Bloomfield advanced to its first District Final since 1993 with a 3-2 overtime win over Walled Lake Central – Oakland Press
No. 15 Spring Lake got past No. 17 Muskegon Reeths-Puffer 2-0 in a Division 2 District Semifinal – Grand Haven Tribune
Division 4 No. 13 St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran scored with seven minutes to play to get past Bridgman in a District Semifinal – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium
Division 1 No. 7 Livonia Stevenson had to convert 14 penalty kicks in its half of a shootout before a miss by Northville to earn a 2-1 win in a District Semifinal – Observer & Eccentric