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: 1/4/16

January 4, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

We’re back to start 2016, but many of Michigan’s high school teams took only short breaks during the holidays; below is a roundup of some of the most recent notable news coverage as we kick off the new calendar year.

Boys Basketball

Jauron Vicks scored five points in overtime and 24 total to lead Warren Woods-Tower to a 56-52 overtime win over Macomb L’Anse Creuse North in the Crusader Classic final – Macomb Daily

Niles Brandywine remained undefeated and dealt White Pigeon its first loss, 51-46 in the final of the Sturgis Basketball Classic – Sturgis Journal

Muskegon also remained undefeated while handing the first loss of the season to East Kentwood at the Muskegon Hall of Fame Classic (Muskegon suffered its first loss this weekend, to Chicago Whitney Young) – Muskegon Chronicle

Hudsonville beat Grand Rapids Christian 68-55 in the final of the Cornerstone Invitational to add to a start that included a win over reigning Class B champion Wyoming Godwin Heights – Grand Rapids Press

Girls Basketball

Kysre Gondrezick tied for 15th in MHSAA history with 51 points for Benton Harbor in the final of the Lou Harvey Classic despite her team’s eventual 68-63 loss to Michigan City Marquette – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

In arguably the most significant game of the Motor City Roundball Classic, both girls and boys, Saginaw Heritage downed Detroit Country day 39-29 – Oakland Press

Wrestling

Lowell finished first ahead of a field featuring many of Michigan’s elite at the Detroit Catholic Central Invitational; Brighton was second and Macomb Dakota finished third – Oakland Press

Battle Creek Lakeview won its eighth straight all-city championship, downing local rivals Battle Creek Central, Harper Creek and Pennfield – Battle Creek Enquirer

Tyler Deming became only the sixth four-time champion during the 52 years of the Freeland Wrestling Invitational in leading Caro to the team title as well – Saginaw News

Petoskey’s Scott Kibbe earned his 100th win in leading his team to the Bridge Brawl championship at Rudyard – Petoskey News

Football

Longtime Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart football coach Rick Roberts retired from that post after 23 seasons leading the Irish and 35 total at four schools; he finished with a record of 202-146-1 and also is the Sacred Heart athletic director – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun