Today in the MHSAA: 10/20/16

October 20, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A few more upsets rang out across the boys soccer tournament Wednesday as a number of teams clinched appearances in District Finals.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.

Boys Soccer

Sterling Heights Stevenson eliminated No. 9 Utica Ford 4-3 in a Division 1 semifinal – Macomb Daily

Undefeated Midland Dow extended its unbeaten streak to 22 in moving on to a Division 1 District Final with a 3-1 win over Bay City Western – Saginaw News

Division 3 No. 10 Tawas edged No. 11 Gladwin 1-0 in a semifinal – Bay City Times

Division 3 No. 13 Lansing Catholic got past rival and No. 5 Williamston 2-1 – Lansing State Journal

The Muskegon area is loaded in Division 4, shown again as unranked Muskegon Catholic Central downed No. 4 North Muskegon 2-1 – Muskegon Chronicle

Division 2 No. 9 Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook shut out No. 20 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 2-0 – Oakland Press

Volleyball

Jackson Lumen Christi downed neighbor Parma Western 3-1 in the “Kills for Kellen” game to benefit childhood cancer research and honor 9-year-old Kellen McCord, who is battling nerve cell cancer and has a cousin on the Titans – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

From Tuesday, Kingsford downed Escanaba to claim the Great Northern Conference championship – Iron Mountain Daily News

Class B No. 6 Battle Creek Harper Creek handed Coldwater a first league loss in a matchup of top Interstate 8 Athletic Conference teams – Coldwater Daily Reporter

Today in the MHSAA: 12/10/15

December 10, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wednesday was the first day of winter in full swing with significant matchups coming in six sports as four got into the heart of their first week of the season. Be sure to check out as well a story on MHSAA officials recruiting efforts.

Girls Basketball

Traverse City St. Francis won an early battle between two of the north’s top small-school teams, downing Frankfort (featured today on Second Half) 76-72 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

A pair of Concord players filled the stat sheet in a 62-56 win over Michigan Center; senior Lindsey Lehmen led with 24 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals, and sophomore Camryn Ward grabbed 19 rebounds – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Boys Basketball

From Tuesday, Sanford Meridian freshman Lucas Lueder will be among first-year players to watch, if his 18 points in a 65-61 win over Saginaw Nouvel are an indication – Midland Daily News

Boys Bowling

Vandercook Lake could be in line for an exciting season or four after watching freshmen Korey Reichard (278) and Conner Lackey (267) lead the way in a 29-1 win over Grass Lake – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Ice Hockey

Division 3 No. 10 Farmington’s two first-period goals were enough as the Falcons scored a key early-season win over Division 2 No. 4 Berkley – Oakland Press

After finishing regulation tied, Division 2 No. 9 Traverse City Central needed only 14 seconds of overtime to get past Cadillac 4-3 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Boys Swimming & Diving

Chelsea coach Dave Jolly was the mid-Michigan link to Wednesday’s Waverly Relays, the annual event for Lansing-area teams to kick off the season; his Lower Peninsula Division 3 No. 3-ranked team broke Okemos’ five-year hold on the meet championship – Lansing State Journal

Wrestling

No. 3 Davison earned one of the most significant early wins so far this season, 45-27 over No. 4 Brighton, which beat Davison in the Division 1 Semifinals last season – Livingston Daily

Saginaw Swan Valley, No. 8 in Division 3, just escaped Essexville Garber for a 32-30 win – Saginaw News

Good Read

After more than five decades as an official, Dick Kalahar is watching from the stands this season. He is among a growing number of retiring officials the MHSAA is charged with replacing over the next few years, and this piece looks at some of the challenges and opportunities, in part through Kalahar’s eyes – Jackson Citizen-Patriot