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.
Today in the MHSAA: 3/9/26
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 9, 2026
1. ICE HOCKEY Houghton claimed its first Finals championship since 1982, Flint Powers Catholic repeated and Detroit Catholic Central won its seventh straight – MHSAA.com
2. COMPETITIVE CHEER Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, Allen Park and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep repeated as Finals champions, and Pewamo-Westphalia won its first since 2019 – MHSAA.com
3. WRESTLING Five seniors finished their high school careers by winning fourth Individual Finals championships, and Romeo won the second girls team title – MHSAA.com
4. GYMNASTICS Hartland repeated as team champion and senior Alexis Fundich moved up from runner-up in 2025 to win the Division 1 individual title, with Haslett United’s Phoebe Elder finishing first all-around in Division 2 – MHSAA.com
5. GIRLS BASKETBALL Muskegon clinched a Division 1 District title with a 35-27 win over Rockford, last season’s Finals runner-up – Local Sports Journal
6. GIRLS BASKETBALL Evart avenged two regular-season losses and handed McBain its only defeat 45-37 in a Division 3 District Final – Cadillac News
7. GIRLS BASKETBALL Jackson Lumen Christi repeated as a Division 3 District champion with this rematch win over Grass Lake, 64-53 – WLNS
8. GIRLS BASKETBALL Livonia Stevenson also won a District Final rematch, downing Farmington Hills Mercy in Division 1 58-53 – Detroit News
9. GIRLS BASKETBALL Negaunee advanced to the Division 2 Regionals with a 47-30 win over Gladstone – My UP Now
10. GIRLS BASKETBALL Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart clinched a seventh-straight District title with a 57-52 win over Breckenridge in Division 4 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Also of note …
CROSS COUNTRY Jackson girls and boys cross country coach Nathan Martin won the Los Angelos Marathon – Detroit News