Linked Up: 11/8/11

December 16, 2011

My online travels over the last 10 days have taken me to just about every media entity in Michigan as we've been tracking down football, volleyball and soccer results. Below are some of the intriguing stories I happened upon that you might want to check out as well.

See something high school sports-related that you think others would find valuable? Send me a link at [email protected].

State meet an experience to savor  (Livingston County Daily Press & Argus)

Reporter Katie Noble ran at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Cross Country Finals for Kinde North Huron in 2001. She explains how her perspective has changed during the 10 years since -- something any former high school athlete can appreciate.

Lincoln football: More than just football (AnnArbor.com)

Although Ypsilanti Lincoln's first playoff run ever ended after just one game, it gave those fans plenty to celebrate -- and AnnArbor.com's Jeff Sainlar put together a great multimedia look at how the team made history after going 0-9 in 2010.

Twin sisters key players for both Dow and Midland volleyball teams (Midland Daily News)

We hear a lot of stories of teams having two or three siblings, a set of twins or an occasional crew of triplets. But Saturday's District final at Saginaw Heritage included two teams from the same city both receiving major contributions sets of twins. Dan Chalk explained how similarities among those pairs benefited their respective teams in similar ways.

Marshall Thomas' coaching tree produces state titles on way to Saginaw County Hall of Fame induction (Saginaw News)

Thomas coached five sports and served as athletic director during his tenure at Saginaw High. But he's best known for leading a boys basketball power that has produced two more coaches who have gone on to win MHSAA titles. A fantastic legacy left by one of the friendliest people I've met in high school athletics, and Geoff Mott tells us about it.

Deckerville Eagles will move to 8-man football (Port Huron Times-Herald)

The Port Huron area looks to continue to be a center for 8-player football with another solid program set to make the switch. But it's not always an easy decision, and Jim Whymer tells us why and how Deckerville decided it was time.

Today in the MHSAA: 8/31/17

August 31, 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. Volleyball: Class A No. 4 Lake Orion continues to shine this fall, going 6-0 to win the Rochester Hills Stoney Creek Invitational and downing Adams in the final – Oakland Press

2. Boys Cross Country: Rudyard emerged with a Northwoods Invitational title by a point over runner-up Brimley, but Brimley’s reigning Upper Peninsula Division 3 champion Austin Plotkin took the individual title – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

3. Girls Golf: Walled Lake Central and Birmingham Groves took the top two places at the Oakland County Division 2 championship, advancing them to the overall county final – Oakland Press

4. Boys Soccer: Undefeated Ann Arbor Skyline edged rival Pioneer 1-0 on a second-half goal – Detroit News

5. Cross Country: The Corunna boys and Byron girls teams were among winners at the annual Corunna Early Bird Invitational, which drew more than 700 runners – Owosso Argus & Press Athletic.net

6. Girls Golf: Harbor Springs continues to impress as well, lowering its score to a season-best 353 in winning a match at Traverse City St. Francis – Petoskey News-Review

7. Boys Soccer: East Kentwood dealt Grand Haven its first loss of this season, 3-2 – Grand Haven Tribune

8. Volleyball: Class B No. 6 Fruitport earned a pair of key league victories against Muskegon Mona Shores and Muskegon Reeths-Puffer – Grand Haven Tribune

9. Football: After both losing beloved assistant coaches in May, Battle Creek Central and Battle Creek St. Philip are making sure to keep their memories alive – Battle Creek Enquirer

10. Football: As writer Lenny Padilla states, East Kentwood 6-foot-6, 245-pound football player Bryce Mostella “might be the most imposing xylophone player in the United State” – Grand Rapids Press