Today in the MHSAA: 12/10/15

December 10, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wednesday was the first day of winter in full swing with significant matchups coming in six sports as four got into the heart of their first week of the season. Be sure to check out as well a story on MHSAA officials recruiting efforts.

Girls Basketball

Traverse City St. Francis won an early battle between two of the north’s top small-school teams, downing Frankfort (featured today on Second Half) 76-72 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

A pair of Concord players filled the stat sheet in a 62-56 win over Michigan Center; senior Lindsey Lehmen led with 24 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals, and sophomore Camryn Ward grabbed 19 rebounds – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Boys Basketball

From Tuesday, Sanford Meridian freshman Lucas Lueder will be among first-year players to watch, if his 18 points in a 65-61 win over Saginaw Nouvel are an indication – Midland Daily News

Boys Bowling

Vandercook Lake could be in line for an exciting season or four after watching freshmen Korey Reichard (278) and Conner Lackey (267) lead the way in a 29-1 win over Grass Lake – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Ice Hockey

Division 3 No. 10 Farmington’s two first-period goals were enough as the Falcons scored a key early-season win over Division 2 No. 4 Berkley – Oakland Press

After finishing regulation tied, Division 2 No. 9 Traverse City Central needed only 14 seconds of overtime to get past Cadillac 4-3 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Boys Swimming & Diving

Chelsea coach Dave Jolly was the mid-Michigan link to Wednesday’s Waverly Relays, the annual event for Lansing-area teams to kick off the season; his Lower Peninsula Division 3 No. 3-ranked team broke Okemos’ five-year hold on the meet championship – Lansing State Journal

Wrestling

No. 3 Davison earned one of the most significant early wins so far this season, 45-27 over No. 4 Brighton, which beat Davison in the Division 1 Semifinals last season – Livingston Daily

Saginaw Swan Valley, No. 8 in Division 3, just escaped Essexville Garber for a 32-30 win – Saginaw News

Good Read

After more than five decades as an official, Dick Kalahar is watching from the stands this season. He is among a growing number of retiring officials the MHSAA is charged with replacing over the next few years, and this piece looks at some of the challenges and opportunities, in part through Kalahar’s eyes – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Today in the MHSAA: 1/11/18

January 11, 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. Wrestling: No. 4 Brighton doubled up No. 6 Hartland in a matchup of two of the top teams in Division 1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

2. Wrestling: Division 3 No. 3 Remus Chippewa Hills picked up a pair of wins, including the 500th of coach Nate Ethridge’s career – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

3. Girls Basketball: Kingsley remained undefeated while handing Benzonia Benzie Central its first loss, 67-30 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

4. Hockey: Traverse City Central scored three goals over the final six minutes of regulation and then overtime to defeat Cadillac 5-4 – Cadillac News

5. Girls Basketball: Blissfield broke a four-game losing streak by handing a first league loss to Onsted, 53-48 – Adrian Daily Telegram

6. Wrestling: Midland remained undefeated in the Saginaw Valley League with wins over Midland Dow and Bay City Western – Midland Daily News

7. Girls Basketball: Rochester came back in the fourth quarter to edge Troy 42-41 – Detroit News

8. Hockey: Brendan Higgins scored four goals in a big win for Flat Rock over Riverview – Southgate News Herald

9. Football: Lansing Sexton coach Dan Boggan has stepped down after 16 seasons with a 114-59 record and 11 playoff appearances – Lansing State Journal

10. Football: Oscar Olejniczak, after leading Detroit U-D Jesuit to three playoff appearances over five years, will be taking over Royal Oak Shrine’s program – Detroit News