Today in the MHSAA: 11/23/15
November 23, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Girls Lower Peninsula Swimming and Diving and Volleyball seasons finished this weekend, with two first-time champions crowned both in the pool and on the court and a third volleyball champion ending the longest title-winning streak in that sport’s history.
Swimming and Diving
Ann Arbor Skyline competed in Division 1 this season after finishing second in Division 2 a year ago, and emerged as champion for the first time in any division behind standout Katie Portz – Second Half
Dexter won its first championship since 2002 by clinching Division 2 during the final event of the afternoon at Oakland University – Second Half
Grand Rapids Catholic Central cleared the Division 3 field by 100 points to win its first MHSAA championship in this sport – Second Half
Volleyball
In a rematch of last season’s Class A Final, Novi went from runner-up to champion with a four-set win over Romeo – Second Half
Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard became the first undefeated team since 1998-99 by defeating reigning champion North Branch in Class B – Second Half
Bronson earned its first championship since 2009, finishing tops in Class C after entering the tournament ranked No. 1 – Second Half
Leland earned its first Class D title in a decade by ending Battle Creek St. Philip’s record nine-year championship streak – Second Half
Today in the MHSAA: 9/17/15
September 17, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Today’s know-your-sports checklist includes catching up on impressive feats by some of the state’s top-ranked girls golf teams and enjoying a pair of inspirational stories about leading soccer scorers.
Girls Golf
Lower Peninsula Division 1 No. 4 Lake Orion won the Oakland County Division 1 Tournament for the second straight season, edging No. 6 Novi by one shot and No. 1 Rochester by two – Oakland Press
Three Spring Lake golfers carded three birdies apiece to lead the LP Division 3 No. 1 Lakers to a 53-stroke win in the Lakes 8 jamboree on their home course – Muskegon Chronicle
Boys Soccer
Freeland improved to 11-1 with its first win over Saginaw Swan Valley in three seasons, also handing the Vikings their first loss this fall – Saginaw News
Boys Tennis
Midland Dow, No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 2, fell to No. 3 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central at the Midweek Classic, but still won the tournament thanks to No. 6 Detroit U-D Jesuit’s win over FHC – Midland Daily News and Saginaw News
Volleyball
Ionia swept reigning Capital Area Activities Conference White champion Williamston, beating the Hornets for the first time under sixth-year coach Jeanna Kraatz – Ionia Sentinel-Standard
Niles emerged as the biggest winner from the SMAC 6-Pack Tournament on its home floor with victories over Battle Creek Lakeview, Battle Creek Central and Richland Gull Lake, all in two games – Niles Daily Star
Bay City John Glenn improved to 9-1 with a win over Tawas, opening North East Michigan Conference play as the reigning champion and with nearly the same lineup as in 2014 – Bay City Times
Good Reads
We’re big fans of athletes who play multiple sports, and Port Huron’s Jon Miller is one of the latest – he’s the soccer team’s leading scorer and the top field goal kicker in school history, plus one of the football team’s leading receivers. A great line from the story: “But if there’s one kid that can take this on, it’s the kid that’s loading his senior year with as many memories as possible.” – Port Huron Times-Herald
Andrew Shippell is Marshall’s leading scorer this season, and after three years of fighting is preparing to celebrate a milestone – the end of his chemotherapy in February – Battle Creek Enquirer