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: 9/10/15

September 10, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The Birmingham Seaholm girls cross country team and Ann Arbor Pioneer girls golf team were among those that reminded us Wednesday to keep on the lookout for big things to come as we work through the first full week of September.

Cross country

The Seaholm girls appear elite against despite losing two of the state’s best from last season’s Lower Peninsula Division 1 championship team, and scored only 20 points in winning the Oakland Activities Association Red jamboree Wednesday – Oakland Press

Girls Golf

Anastassia Lee shot a one-under par 35 to lead Ann Arbor Pioneer to its season-low score of 161 and a win over rival Huron – MLive-Ann Arbor

Boys Soccer

Paw Paw won a battle of undefeated Wolverine Conference teams, and did so in a big way, 6-0 over Otsego to gain an early lead in the league standings – Kalamazoo Gazette

Utica Ford remained undefeated with a 2-0 victory despite a sharp performance by St. Clair Shores Lakeview keeper Shane Casacchia – Macomb Daily

Volleyball

Saranac jumped out to a 2-0 lead and then won the fifth set 15-13 to down perennial Central Michigan Athletic Conference contender Pewamo-Westphalia – Ionia Sentinel-Standard