Today in the MHSAA: 10/24/17

October 24, 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. Volleyball: Division 1 No. 5 Farmington Hills Mercy returned to the Detroit Catholic League A-B championship match after finishing runner-up a year ago, and this time left victorious with a four-set win over No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian – Oakland Press

2. Volleyball: Class C honorable mention Wixom St. Catherine improved to 32-2-2 with a Detroit Catholic League C-D championship win over Allen Park Cabrini – Southgate News Herald

3. Officials: With their father Tony Joostberns, Stefanie (Joostberns) Jones and sister Amy Joostberns help make up a notable and inspiring football officiating crew in the Lansing area. They are two of 14 women registered to officiate that sport (out of more than 2,300 football officials total) this season – Lansing State Journal

4. Football: Flat Rock is in the playoffs for the first time since 1990 and without one of its best in Sameer Tayeb, a two-way starter on the field now contributing instead from the sidelines – Monroe Evening News

5. Volleyball: Class B No. 7 Kingsley went undefeated at a strong Traverse City Central ABCD quad with wins over the Trojans, Class C honorable mention Traverse City St. Francis and Class D No. 2 Leland – Traverse City Record-Eagle

6. Boys Soccer: Division 1 No. 14 Grand Haven and Division 4 No. 3 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian made it through tough Districts to earn Regional opportunities this week – Grand Haven Tribune

7. Volleyball: Class D No. 5 Onaway split against larger opponents Monday, falling to Sault Ste. Marie but winning close over Cheboygan – Alpena News

8. Volleyball: Berrien Springs improved to .500 on the season with first and second-set comebacks against St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

9. Volleyball: L’Anse came back from losing the first set to win the next three and down Baraga – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

10. Volleyball: Alpena ran off wins over the final two sets to win in four over Ogemaw Heights – Alpena News

Also of note …

Cross Country: From Saturday, Marshall’s boys and Parma Western’s girls won Interstate 8 Athletic Conference championships; Coldwater’s Shuaib Aljabaly won his second straight individual title – Coldwater Daily Reporter

Today in the MHSAA: 1/30/18

January 30, 2018

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. Girls Basketball: Monica Williams’ steal and layup during the final minute gave Detroit Mumford a 52-50 win over Cass Tech and a second straight Detroit Public School League West Division 1 championship – Detroit News

2. Skiing: Petoskey’s boys and Traverse City West’s girls won the second Big North Conference race this season – Petoskey News-Review

3. Girls Basketball: Flat Rock came back from a seven-point halftime deficit to upset Carleton Airport 57-53 – Monroe Evening News

4. Girls Basketball: Jenelle Carpenter’s lone basket with 2.2 seconds to play gave Lincoln Alcona a 43-42 win over Posen – Alpena News

5. Girls Basketball: Ski Valley Conference leader Gaylord St. Mary downed Highland Conference second-place Lake City 60-35 – Gaylord Herald Times

6. Boys Basketball: Iron Mountain improved to 11-0 with a 56-46 win over Negaunee – Marquette Mining Journal

7. Boys Basketball: Escanaba came back from a halftime deficit to down Sault Ste. Marie 60-48 and improve to 10-1 – Escanaba Daily Press

8. Health & Safety: Greenville’s Jeff “Doc” Day, said to be one of the first fulltime, school-sponsored trainers in the state, retired after 41 years caring for the school’s athletes – Greenville Daily News

9. Football: Previously successful Holt, Dansville and Eaton Rapids coach Mike Smith will take over at Lansing Everett, where he’s also serving as athletic director – Lansing State Journal

10. Multi-Sport Participation: The MHSAA and school administrators are working to combat specialization and promote multi-sport participation; this report explains some of that effort – State Champs Sports Network

Also of note …

Football: Looking for a Michigan player to follow during the Super Bowl? Check out former Detroit Crockett star Brandon Graham, who plays defensive end and serves as a captain for the Eagles but during high school played offense, defense, kicked and punted (note: Crockett did not win an MHSAA football title, as reported) – Sports Talk Philly