Stripes Worn Well (Muskegon Chronicle)

March 1, 2012

Tim Flahive has battled diabetes for all but a few years of his life. But he's also filled half of those years with high school sports as a longtime official based in the Muskegon area.

The Muskegon Chronicle's Mark Opfermann tells the story of Flahive's final basketball game last week -- and makes us appreciate even more the significant role our officials fill to no fanfare.

A powerful excerpt:

He left the court with no fanfare, took off his whistle and shed a few tears.

But Flahive's story isn’t just about sports and an official leaving the hobby he loves. It’s about courage, getting back up and pressing on.

So, I guess it’s a lot like sports after all. But it’s a whole lot more about life.

That’s because when Flahive took the court last week, he did it with half of his left foot missing.

Click to read on.

Today in the MHSAA: 10/3/19

October 3, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

In addition to the crowning of our first MHSAA Finals champions of 2019-20 (see girls tennis coverage under "Latest Posts"), Wednesday was filled with conference championship celebrations, mostly on the soccer pitch – where a number of ranked boys teams matched up – but also for an undefeated girls golf power.

1. Boys Soccer: Division 3 top-ranked Holland Christian drew with No. 2 Hudsonville Unity Christian 1-1 to clinch the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green championship – Holland Sentinel

2. Boys Soccer: Grand Blanc scored a 4-1 win over Division 1 No. 4 Midland Dow to clinch the overall Saginaw Valley League title – WJRT

3. Girls Golf: Ann Arbor Pioneer – No. 7 in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – finished its regular season undefeated and with the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship after outpacing runner-up Skyline by 12 strokes – We Love Ann Arbor

4. Boys Soccer: Alcona tied Oscoda 1-1 to secure the North Star League championship – Alpena News

5. Boys Soccer: McBain Northern Michigan Christian shut out Big Rapids Crossroads 3-0 to win a share of the Northern Michigan Soccer League South championship – Cadillac News

6. Boys Soccer: Gladwin clinched the other half of the NMSL South title with a big win over Clare – Midland Daily News

7. Boys Soccer: Division 4 top-ranked Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett edged No. 10 Royal Oak Shrine 3-2 in the Detroit Catholic League C-D Tournament final – C&G Newspapers

0. Boys Soccer: Division 1 No. 15 Detroit U-D Jesuit got past Division 2 No. 6 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 3-0 to win the Catholic League A-B Tournament title – Oakland Press

9. Boys Soccer: Walled Lake Western netted the game-winner during the final minutes of overtime to get past South Lyon 3-2 in the Lakes Valley Conference Tournament title game – Oakland Press

10. Volleyball: Bridgman downed Niles Brandywine in four sets to gain an important edge in the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference Red title race – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium