Today in the MHSAA: 1/21/16

January 21, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A pair of hockey games featuring top-ranked teams highlighted Wednesday’s statewide action, and read on as well for an inspirational story out of Fruitport.

Boys Basketball

Bear Lake handed Onekama its first loss to pull within a game of the West Michigan D lead – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Ice Hockey

Division 3 No. 1 Grand Rapids Catholic Central needed overtime, but escaped Muskegon Mona Shores with a 4-3 victory – Grand Rapids Press

Division 2 No. 2 Birmingham Brother Rice earned arguably the best of its 12 wins, 3-0 over Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central – Oakland Press

Wrestling

Saginaw Swan Valley fell in both of its matches Wednesday, but K.J. Suitor won his 200th individual match – Saginaw News

Good Read

Fruitport’s Karson Kriger played his first season of varsity football in the fall and was called up to the varsity baseball team as a pitcher last spring. He also can fire a bow – doing all of this with one hand after losing most of his left arm at birth – Local Sports Journal

Today in the MHSAA: 1/5/16

January 5, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Winter sports return in force with a full slate of events statewide tonight, but here are a few headlines of note as we get rolling – plus two great reads from the wrestling world.

Boys Basketball

Ishpeming in recent seasons has scheduled its first basketball games later than other teams to offset the football team’s four straight runs to the MHSAA Finals at Ford Field – but the Hematites were one of the first to play in 2016 and came away with a 74-72 win over Gladstone to move to 2-0 – Marquette Mining Journal

Girls Bowling

From Sunday, two-time reigning Division 2 champion Flint Kearsley got past 2015 Division 1 finalist Jackson to win the Lila Jean Furnish Classic in Owosso, which included a number of the state’s top teams – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Good Reads

When Clinton wrestler Nick Rolland was 3, his parents were told to say their good-byes after he was pulled from under a running lawn mower. But doctors were able to save his life, and then his leg, and this weekend he’ll wrestle for his 100th career win – Adrian Daily Telegram

Hastings wrestling coach Mike Goggins started out as an athlete for the Saxons, later coached at the middle school and now also is the high school athletic director – and owner of more than 400 varsity coaching wins after reaching that milestone during the Montrose Invitational on Dec. 29 – Grand Rapids Press