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: 4/22/16

April 22, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A top Michigan high school football coach will say good-bye while another longtime winner in tennis has celebrated a milestone win.

Baseball

Adrian Madison and Britton Deerfield split an “unusual” doubleheader indeed with Britton Deerfield winning 5-4 and then Madison 22-1 in the second game – Adrian Daily Telegram

In another unexpected turn, Grand Rapids Union’s Sergio Diaz no-hit Zeeland East, but East won with two unearned runs – Holland Sentinel

Division 2 No. 4 DeWitt got a one-run win and a comeback tie at Division 4 No. 4 Beal City – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Division 1 No. 10 Grosse Pointe South came back from four down to edge Clinton Township Chippewa Valley 6-5 – Detroit News

Girls Soccer

Traverse City Central delivered Cadillac the latter's first loss this season, 2-1 in Big North Conference play – Cadillac News

Softball

A matchup of teams that recently made MHSAA Semifinals in different divisions ended in a split as Stevensville Lakeshore opened with a win over Portage Central, but Central won the second game – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

Dayna Fennell hit her seventh and eighth home runs to break the Gladwin single-season record in only the team’s eighth game this spring – Midland Daily News

Girls Tennis

From Wednesday, Ludington gave longtime coach Tom Kudwa his 200th career victory with a win over Fremont – Ludington Daily News

Track & Field

The Powers North Central boys and Ontonagon girls finished this week’s series of Superior Dome Classic meets with Division 3 championships at Northern Michigan University – Marquette Mining Journal

Football

Longtime and successful Allen Park football coach Tom Hoover has resigned after 20 seasons as head coach and 30 overall, with a 171-50 varsity record – Detroit Free Press

Good Read

The Battle Creek Enquirer caught up with this season’s MHSAA Norris Award winner, Linda Hoover, who is in her 36th year as an MHSAA registered official while also considered one of the elite softball umpires nationwide – Battle Creek Enquirer