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: 2/13/20

February 13, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The MHSAA Team Wrestling Tournament kicked off Wednesday night, and a number of teams got things rolling quickly with their first championships in a decade or longer.

1. Wrestling: Muskegon Orchard View won its first Team District championship since 1996 by defeating Traverse City West and Central in Division 1 – Muskegon Chronicle

2. Wrestling: Wyoming Godwin Heights defeated Hudsonville Unity Christian in Division 3 to claim its first District title in this sport since 2003 – FOX 17

3. Wrestling: Livonia Churchill won its Division 1 District, downing Stevenson 35-33 in the final after Stevenson ended Franklin’s 14-year District title run in the opening match – Observer & Eccentric

4. Wrestling: Division 4 No. 5 Hart downed No. 7 LeRoy Pine River on the way to a District title – Cadillac News

5. Bowling: The Division 4 No. 1 Grass Lake boys downed Division 3 top-ranked Jonesville 21-9 –Jackson Citizen Patriot

6. Girls Basketball: Undefeated Detroit Edison handed Farmington Hills Mercy just its second loss, 59-41 – Detroit News

7. Boys Basketball: Carlos Johnson posted his second-straight triple double, this time to lead Benton Harbor past Coloma – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

8. Wrestling: Dexter downed Ann Arbor Pioneer and Skyline in Division 1 to earn its first District title since 2007 – Chelsea Sun Times News

9. Girls Basketball: Athens downed Camden-Frontier 50-38 in a matchup of Division 4 contenders – Hillsdale Daily News

10. Wrestling: Remus Chippewa Hills won its 16th straight District title with match victories over Big Rapids and Farwell in Division 3 – Big Rapids News

Also of note …

Boys Basketball: Connor Arnold became the first player in Coleman boys hoops history to go over 1,000 career points with 28 against Blanchard Montabella – Midland Daily News

Hockey: From Tuesday, Division 2 No. 5 Marquette handed Division 3 top-ranked Calumet only its second loss, 4-0 – Marquette Mining Journal