Today in the MHSAA: 10/16/17

October 16, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

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

Today's Top 10

1. Boys Tennis: No. 2-ranked Novi followed up a one-point league tournament win over No. 4 Northville by finishing five points ahead of the Mustangs to win a sixth straight Lower Peninsula Division 1 Regional title – Observer & Eccentric

2. Cross Country: Lansing Catholic swept championships at the Greater Lansing Invitational, which includes mid-Michigan schools from all classes for one race; the boys are tied for No. 2 in LPD2 and the girls are No. 3 – Lansing State Journal Girls | Boys

3. Cross Country: The LPD1 No. 3 Ann Arbor Pioneer girls and No. 4 Saline boys defeated loaded Ann Arbor River Rat Open fields, Pioneer two points ahead of LPD1 No. 2 Northville and Saline ahead of host Huron – Athletic.net

4. Cross Country: Macomb L’Anse Creuse North’s Karenna Duffey won her fourth Macomb County Invitational title; Romeo swept the team championships, and its boys are No. 3 in LPD1 – Macomb Daily

5. Cross Country: Essexville Garber’s boys ended Bay City Western’s 11-year winning streak at the Bay County Championship; Western’s girls, an honorable mention in LPD1, won a sixth straight title – Bay City Times

6. Volleyball: Escanaba gained a share of its first league title since 2003 by winning the Great Northern Conference tournament – Escanaba Daily Press

7. Volleyball: After falling to Muskegon Mona Shores in the 2016 final, Class B honorable mention Fruitport swept the Sailors in the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament championship match; the final two sets were won by only two points apiece – Muskegon Chronicle

8. Cross Country: Muskegon Reeths-Puffer’s girls and Fruitport’s boys won GMAA city championships, Fruitport led by a meet record setter – Muskegon Chronicle

9. Cross Country: The Harbor Springs boys and LPD3 No. 6 Traverse City St. Francis girls won Lake Michigan Conference championships – Petoskey News-Review

10. Volleyball: Centreville went undefeated on the day and upset Class C honorable mention Mendon in the final to win the Southwest 10 Conference tournament title – Sturgis Journal

Also of note:

Volleyball: Class C No. 9 Adrian Madison survived a close championship match with Onsted to repeat as Lenawee County champion – Adrian Daily Telegram

Boys Tennis: From Thursday, LPD1 No. 10 Hudsonville advanced to its first MHSAA Finals since 1994 and carries a 26-0-2 record this fall – Grand Rapids Press

Boys Tennis: From Thursday, top-ranked Okemos and East Lansing took the top two spots at the LPD2 Regional at East Lansing, but third-place Pinckney also qualified for the Finals for the first time – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

Boys Tennis: From Thursday and Friday, LPD2 No. 3 Birmingham Seaholm edged No. 2 Birmingham Groves by three points to win their Regional – Oakland Press

Volleyball: Battle Creek Lakeview swept Harper Creek to win the All-City Tournament for the second straight season – Battle Creek Enquirer

Cross Country: The Adrian boys and Tecumseh girls won Lenawee County championships – Adrian Daily Telegram

Thanks, Mr. Woodley (Saginaw News)

August 24, 2012

LaMarr Woodley was a football star at Saginaw High long before he went on to the University of Michigan and now the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He's given students in his hometown the same opportunity for accomplishment without the cost they would've otherwise incurred this school year.

Students at Saginaw and Saginaw Arthur Hill plus the districts junior highs and middle schools were facing a $75 participation fee until Woodley stepped in earlier this month with a $60,000 donation.

Hugh Bernreuter has covered the majority of Woodley's career, and tells this story.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley pays participation fees for Saginaw Public Schools student-athletes (Saginaw News)