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: 10/28/20

October 28, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A pair of high-powered contests among Detroit Catholic League rivals in multiple sports topped a Tuesday of Soccer Regional Semifinals, volleyball conference title deciders and big-time swimming & diving matchups.

1. Volleyball: No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Marian handed top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy its first loss, winning the Detroit Catholic League Bishop championship – Oakland Press

2. Boys Soccer: Top-ranked (MPR) Detroit Catholic Central edged No. 6 Warren De La Salle Collegiate 3-2 in overtime in a Division 1 Regional Semifinal – Oakland Press

3. Boys Soccer: No. 8 (MPR) East Grand Rapids downed No. 4 Petoskey 4-2 in a Division 2 Regional Semifinal – Petoskey News-Review

4. Boys Soccer: No. 14 (MPR) Leland won a shootout to end the season for reigning Division 4 champion Muskegon Western Michigan Christian – Up North Live

5. Girls Swimming & Diving: Lower Peninsula Division 3 No. 5 Hamilton defeated No. 4 Holland Christian, LPD1 No. 9 Zeeland defeated LPD3 No. 8 Spring Lake and LPD2 honorable mention Holland downed LPD3 honorable mention Grand Rapids Catholic Central – Holland Sentinel

6. Boys Soccer: Williamston won a shootout 3-1 to down No. 8 (MPR) Frankenmuth 4-3 in Division 3 – Saginaw News

7. Volleyball: Division 2 No. 7 Hamilton defeated honorable mention Grand Rapids West Catholic to secure the Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue title – Holland Sentinel

8. Volleyball: Saugatuck swept Lawton to finish a third-straight perfect run through the Southwestern Athletic Conference Lakeshore – Holland Sentinel

9. Boys Soccer: No. 5 (MPR) Riverview moved on in Division 2 with a shootout win over (No. 15) Chelsea – Southgate News-Herald

10. Boys Soccer: No. 4 (MPR) Bad Axe got past Roscommon 3-2 in overtime to advance in Division 4 – Huron Daily Tribune

Also of note …

Volleyball: Division 3 honorable mention Beal City earned its third-straight Highland Conference championship with a sweep of McBain Northern Michigan Christian – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Volleyball: Muskegon Mona Shores swept Reeths-Puffer to clinch the O-K Green Tournament and overall title – Muskegon Chronicle