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: 11/17/17

November 17, 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: No. 7 Bloomfield Hills Marian avenged a pair of losses to rival and No. 6 Farmington Hills Mercy by advancing in a Class A Semifinal on Thursday – Observer & Eccentric 

2. Volleyball: Class D No. 6 Fowler will play in its first MHSAA championship match in this sport after downing honorable mention Munising in a Semifinal – Lansing State Journal

3. Volleyball: Reigning Class A champion and current No. 2 Novi avenged one of its few losses this season with a Semifinal win over DeWitt – Oakland Press 

4. Volleyball: Reigning champion and top-ranked Plymouth Christian Academy got past No. 8 Rogers City in four sets in Class D – Observer & Eccentric

5. Girls Swimming & Diving: Port Huron’s area qualifiers are highlighted, led by St. Clair’s Molly Likins – Port Huron Times Herald

6. Girls Swimming & Diving: Adrian and Tecumseh both are sending seven athletes to MHSAA Finals as part of Lenawee County’s qualifiers – Adrian Daily Telegram 

7. Volleyball: A talented pair of middle blockers has Fruitport headed back to the Class B Semifinals – Grand Haven Tribune 

8. Hockey: Sean Clark has taken over as coach at Warren DeLaSalle, the reigning Division 3 champion – Macomb Daily

9. Hockey: Sault Ste. Marie is working to replace nine graduates from last season’s team that finished 19-8 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News 

10. Football: Riverview’s Tyler Dively surely is enjoying his team’s turnaround season, but he’s also playing with thoughts of his older brother Ron, battling leukemia, heavy on his mind – Southgate News Herald