Today in the MHSAA: 10/23/15

October 23, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Notable milestones made headlines Thursday – among them, Rockford’s boys cross country team extending an incredible championship streak and one of Michigan’s best volleyball coaches being celebrated for 1,000 victories.

Cross Country

The Milford girls and White Lake Lakeland boys, both ranked No. 5 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, won Kensington Lakes Activities Association Lakes championships; Milford’s girls finished ahead of No. 4 Brighton and No. 12 Waterford Mott – Oakland Press

The Rockford boys, No. 1 in LPD1, won their 21st straight league title, claiming the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red; Rockford’s 10th-ranked girls added their third straight league title – Grand Rapids Press

Boys Soccer

Unranked Okemos edged No. 11 Portage Central in a Division 1 semifinal 2-1 after jumping out to a two-goal lead – Kalamazoo Gazette

Division 2 No. 14 Petoskey advanced despite three Cadillac comebacks, finally winning a 5-4 semifinal – Petoskey News

Division 3 No. 4 Hudsonville Unity Christian repeated as a district champion with a 2-1 win over No. 18 Grand Rapids Catholic Central – Grand Rapids Press

Volleyball

Unionville-Sebewaing, an MHSAA semifinalist in 2014, won its fourth straight Greater Thumb Conference West title by avenging an earlier loss to Bad Axe with a five-set win – Huron Daily Tribune

Class D No. 6 North Adams-Jerome needed to reach 31-29 to win its first set against Pittsford before finishing a sweep – Hillsdale Daily News

Good Reads

Battle Creek Enquirer sports editor Bill Broderick says what a lot of former high school football players have felt in his message to seniors playing their final games this week and over the next few – Battle Creek Enquirer

Longtime Midland Dow, Pinconning and now Bronson volleyball coach Jean LaClair won her 1,000th match last week; her team is ranked No. 1 in Class C and she was the 2015 MHSAA Women in Sports Leadership Award winner – Sturgis Journal

Today in the MHSAA: 3/6/17

March 6, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

MHSAA Finals in wrestling, bowling and cheer, Regionals in gymnastics and hockey and Districts in girls basketball made for a busy weekend across our state – and also one full of celebration for a number of schools finishing the season or taking the next tournament step.

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. 

Girls Basketball

Undefeated Ypsilanti Arbor Prep, last season’s Class C champ, edged Dearborn Heights Robichaud 58-54 in a Class B District Final – Ann Arbor News

Lake City won its first District since 2001, downing Manton 54-53 in overtime of a Class C Final – Cadillac News

Niles Brandywine won its eighth District title in nine seasons with a 40-18 victory over Watervliet in Class C – Niles Daily Star

Charlevoix completed a Class C District run with a 46-36 win over Harbor Springs after going 3-19 a season ago – Petoskey News-Review

Bowling

Eight teams and eight individuals claimed MHSAA titles over the weekend, with Battle Creek Pennfield enjoying the most success with a boys team championship and sweep of singles in Division 3 – Second Half

Cheer

Allen Park broke Gibraltar Carlson's win streak in Division 2 while Rochester, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Breckenridge all repeated as Finals champions – Second Half

Gymnastics

Northville will compete at the MHSAA Team Final for the first time since 2010 after finishing second to Canton at their Regional – Observer & Eccentric

Hockey

Freshman Will Jentz scored in overtime to carry Brighton past Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 2-1 in a Division 1 Regional Final – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

Big Rapids upended Alpena 2-1 in overtime Saturday to claim a Division 3 Regional title – Big Rapids News

Wrestling

Walled Lake Central's Ben Freeman became the 22nd four-time champion in MHSAA history as the Individual Finals awarded 56 winners total (and we interviewed them all) – Second Half