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: 10/8/18

October 8, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.

1. Cross County: The Portage Invitational again drew some of the best competition in the Lower Peninsula, with champions including the Northville girls (No. 1) and Ann Arbor Pioneer boys (No. 4) in Division 1, East Grand Rapids’ girls (No. 1) and Chelsea’s boys (No. 1) in Division 2, Hart’s girls (No. 1) and Shepherd’s boys (No. 7) in Division 3 and Saugatuck’s girls (No. 2) and boys (No. 1) sweeping Division 4 – Athletic.net

2. Cross Country: Clarkston’s boys (LPD1 No. 3) won their first Oakland County championship since 1999; the girls race could not be completed because of rainy weather – Oakland Press

3. Girls Swimming & Diving: Utica Eisenhower clinched its fifth straight Macomb County championship – Macomb Daily

4. Cross Country: Romeo swept the girls and boys championships at the Macomb County Invitational – Macomb Daily

5. Cross Country: Salem’s girls (LPD1 No. 4) and Plymouth’s boys (LPD1 No. 2) were Wayne County Invitational champions – Observer & Eccentric

6. Girls Swimming & Diving: LPD2 top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy reigned again as Oakland County champion – Oakland Press

7. Cross Country – The Brighton boys (LPD1 No. 1) and Fenton girls won Greater Flint Championships titles – Athletic.net

8. Boys Soccer: Division 4 top-ranked Muskegon Western Michigan Christian and No. 3 Leland played to a 1-1 draw – Grand Haven Tribune

9. Volleyball: Onsted upset Division 3 No. 7 Centreville in the final to win the Sturgis Invitational – Adrian Daily Telegram

10. Cross Country: The Sault Ste. Marie boys and South Lyon girls won championships at the Sault Elks Invitational – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News