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: 4/6/22

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 6, 2022

1. GIRLS SOCCER Hartland or Novi has won the last three Division 1 championships, and 2021 title winner Hartland won their matchup Tuesday 4-0 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

2. GIRLS SOCCER Cheboygan opened with a 6-3 win over Gladwin thanks in part to Cassidy Jewell’s three goals – Cheboygan Daily Tribune

3. GIRLS SOCCER Traverse City Central opened with a 2-1 win over 2021 Division 3 runner-up Boyne City – Traverse City Record-Eagle

4. SOFTBALL Portage Northern came back from a 4-0 deficit to defeat Division 4 honorable mention Kalamazoo Christian 5-4 in the first game of a sweep – WWMT

5. BASEBALL West Bloomfield improved to 5-0 with a 7-4 win over Clarkston – Oakland Press

6. GIRLS SOCCER Big Rapids is off to another solid start after a 3-0 win over Ludington – Big Rapids News

7. BOYS LACROSSE Clarkston moved past Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 11-7 – Oakland Press

8. GIRLS SOCCER Birmingham Groves scored first, but Oxford scored four second-half goals to win 4-1 – Oakland Press

9. BASEBALL A pair of freshmen helped Hart to a sweep of Mason County Eastern – MuskegonSports.com

10. GIRLS SOCCER McBain Northern Michigan Christian opened with a 4-0 win over Big Rapids Crossroads – Cadillac News

Also of note …

WRESTLING Stevensville Lakeshore’s Bruce Bittenbender retired after 52 years leading one of Michigan’s top programs and as the MHSAA record holder with 981 wins in the sport – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium