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: 9/18/15

September 18, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Volleyball upsets and a close call in boys tennis are among the attention-grabbing headlines this morning from across the state.

Boys Soccer

Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central remained undefeated at 8-0-1 with a 3-0 win over Detroit Catholic League rival and No. 16 Birmingham Brother Rice – Oakland Press

Unranked Grand Haven could take No. 20 Rockford’s spot after shutting out the Rams 3-0 – Grand Haven Tribune

Girls Swimming & Diving

Brighton closed its 40-year-old pool with a 96-87 win over Northville – Livingston Daily

Boys Tennis

Lower Peninsula Division 1 No. 1 Novi earned a 5-4 win over Northville because they counted a fifth doubles match, with Novi winning all doubles flights and unranked Northville winning all four at singles – Observer & Eccentric

Volleyball

Goodrich, an honorable mention team in Class B this week, came back from losing the first set to beat No. 3 Mount Morris 3-2 – Flint Journal

Class D Marine City Cardinal Mooney came back from losing the first two sets and pushed the fifth to 17-15 to down Class B neighbor Marine City – Port Huron Times-Herald

Plainwell, another honorable mention in Class B, handed Vicksburg the latter’s first Wolverine Conference loss since 2012 – Kalamazoo Gazette

Calumet, a Class C honorable mention, held off a challenge from local rival Hancock in a match of two of the best from the norther Upper Peninsula – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Good Reads

Battle Creek St. Philip is playing a senior class that has only experienced 8-player football, and the Enquirer details eight chapters worth of notes from the program's transformation – Battle Creek Enquirer