Today in the MHSAA: 11/20/19

November 20, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The field is set for this weekend’s MHSAA Volleyball Semifinals at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena after 16 Quarterfinals on Tuesday, including five that matched top-10 ranked teams.

Division 1: Reigning champion and current state poll honorable mention Lake Orion is one win closer to playing for another title after defeating unranked Mount Pleasant – State Champs Sports Network

Division 1: No. 2 Lowell came back after losing the first set to No. 3 Mattawan to earn its first trip to the Semifinals – FOX 17

Division 1: Top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy continued its near-perfect run this fall with a Quarterfinal win over unranked Macomb L’Anse Creuse North – Oakland Press

Division 1: Unranked Ann Arbor Skyline will make its first trip to the Semifinals thanks to a sweep over unranked Livonia Churchill – Detroit News

Division 2: Reigning champion and top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian will return to the Semifinals after a win over No. 4 Hamilton – WZZM

Division 2: No. 5 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep is headed back to the Semifinals after a sweep of unranked Warren Regina – Oakland Press

Division 2: No. 2 Lake Odessa Lakewood swept honorable mention Ida to earn a rematch with a familiar opponent – Ionia Sentinel-Standard

Division 2: No. 6 Kingsley swept unranked Freeland to advance to the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2004 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Division 3: No. 7 Beaverton ran its winning streak to 37 with a sweep of honorable mention Traverse City St. Francis – Midland Daily News

Division 3: No. 10 Saginaw Valley Lutheran earned its first Quarterfinal win in this sport, sweeping unranked Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest – Saginaw News

Division 3: No. 1 Schoolcraft swept No. 4 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian to move on to the Semifinals – WWMT

Division 3: No. 2 Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central swept unranked Hudson to also earn a familiar trip to Kellogg – Adrian Daily Telegram

Division 4: Reigning champion and top-ranked Mendon earned a return trip to Battle Creek with a 3-1 win over No. 2 Camden-Frontier – Sturgis Journal

Division 4: No. 5 Leland swept No. 6 Merrill to also earn a return to Kellogg Arena – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Division 4: No. 10 Rudyard won in four sets over honorable mention Carney-Nadeau to earn a trip downstate – MI Sports Now

Division 4: No. 4 Southfield Christian swept unranked Ubly to reach the Semifinals for the second-straight season – Oakland Press

Also of note …

Volleyball: Mercy’s Jess Mruzik was named the 18th Miss Volleyball Award winner – State Champs Sports Network

Today in the MHSAA: 1/17/19

January 17, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Rematches of the top girls swimming & diving teams in the Upper Peninsula from last season and two of the Detroit Catholic League’s hockey powers highlighted Wednesday’s headliners across the state.

1. Girls Swimming & Diving: Reigning Upper Peninsula runner-up Marquette downed reigning champion Gladstone 118-51 – Escanaba Daily Press

2. Hockey: Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central defeated Division 2 No. 4 Birmingham Brother Rice 6-1 in Detroit Catholic League Central play – Oakland Press

3. Wrestling: Division 4 No. 9 Bronson downed Jonesville and Quincy to keep a strong hold on first in the Big 8 Conference – Coldwater Daily Reporter

4. Boys Basketball: Wayland edged East Grand Rapids 49-42 to remain undefeated in Ottawa-Kent Conference Gold play – FOX17

5. Boys Basketball: Alma came back from a three-point halftime deficit to get past Shepherd 53-44 and improve to 10-0 – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

6. Hockey: Petoskey got off to a quick start against rival Gaylord on the way to a 6-3 win – Petoskey News-Review

7. Hockey: Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse held off St. Clair Shores Unified 6-4 – Macomb Daily

8. Wrestling: Traverse City West downed rival Traverse City Central 46-30 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

9. Boys Basketball: Bad Axe continued a recent surge, coming back from four down at halftime to defeat Vassar 52-46 – Huron Daily Tribune

10. Wrestling: Gladwin improved to 20-3 overall with its first league wins, over Houghton Lake and Sanford Meridian – Midland Daily News

Also of note …

Boys Basketball: From Tuesday, retired coach John Eggert stepped in for St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran and led the team to a 54-12 win over Covert, his 500th career victory – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium