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: 11/9/17

November 9, 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: Nearly a year after finishing Class C runner-up, unranked Brown City finds itself two wins from returning to Kellogg Arena next week with the next step a Regional Final against No. 6 Unionville-Sebewaing – Port Huron Times Herald

2. Volleyball: Reigning champion and top-ranked Bronson got in some film study Wednesday as it prepared for tonight’s Regional Final against No. 4 Schoolcraft – Sturgis Journal 

3. Diving: Gaylord’s Caitlyn Elenz will compete in a Division 3 Regional tonight after coming back from a concussion sustained last month – Gaylord Herald Times

4. Volleyball: No. 8 Rogers City is focused on honorable mention Bellaire after eliminating No. 2 Leland in a Class D Regional Semifinal on Tuesday – Alpena News

5. Volleyball: Honorable mention Fruitport is gearing up for a Class B Regional Final against Grant coming off a big win over Grand Rapids Catholic Central – Grand Haven Tribune 

6. Football: Belding is enjoying its best season since 1998 and now faces reigning champion Grand Rapids Catholic Central in a Division 4 Regional Final – Greenville Daily News 

7. Football: Portland will host what’s become an annual playoff matchup with reigning champion Grand Rapids West Catholic in Division 5 – Ionia Sentinel-Standard