Today in the MHSAA: 12/13/18

December 13, 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 list is book-ended by wrestling, leading off with a match between two of the state’s best in Division 1 and finishing with a sweep by a Division 4 contender. In between, we’ve got glances at hockey, girls and boys basketball and gymnastics results.

1. Wrestling: No. 5 Hartland edged No. 4 Clarkston 34-29 in a matchup of two of the top-ranked in Division 1 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

2. Wrestling: Livonia Franklin edged Churchill 186-183 to clinch its fourth straight City championship – Observer & Eccentric

3. Hockey: Traverse City Central took the first lead and hung on for a 2-1 win over Division 1 No. 15 Traverse City West – WPBN

4. Hockey: Division 1 No. 2 Saginaw Heritage earned a key 6-2 league victory over Division 3 No. 13 Midland Dow – Midland Daily News

5. Girls Basketball: Auburn Hills Avondale moved to 3-0 with a 49-34 win over Pontiac Notre Dame Prep – Oakland Press

6. Boys Basketball: Hanover-Horton moved to 5-0 with a 66-56 win over Michigan Center – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

7. Gymnastics: Escanaba edged Negaunee by a mere 2.4 points in an early-season meet – Escanaba Daily Press

8. Boys Basketball: Pellston moved to 6-0 with a 67-62 win over Johannesburg-Lewiston, the reigning Ski Valley Conference champ – Petoskey News-Review

9. Hockey: Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard hung on for a 3-2 win over Dearborn Divine Child – We Love Ann Arbor

10. Wrestling: Division 4 No. 7 Mendon downed Centreville and White Pigeon in Southwest 10 Conference action – Sturgis Journal

Stripes Worn Well (Muskegon Chronicle)

March 1, 2012

Tim Flahive has battled diabetes for all but a few years of his life. But he's also filled half of those years with high school sports as a longtime official based in the Muskegon area.

The Muskegon Chronicle's Mark Opfermann tells the story of Flahive's final basketball game last week -- and makes us appreciate even more the significant role our officials fill to no fanfare.

A powerful excerpt:

He left the court with no fanfare, took off his whistle and shed a few tears.

But Flahive's story isn’t just about sports and an official leaving the hobby he loves. It’s about courage, getting back up and pressing on.

So, I guess it’s a lot like sports after all. But it’s a whole lot more about life.

That’s because when Flahive took the court last week, he did it with half of his left foot missing.

Click to read on.