Today in the MHSAA: 1/6/20

January 6, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The clashing of statewide wrestling powers and a nearly unbelievable performance on the ice highlighted a power-packed first weekend of 2020.

1. Wrestling: Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central, No. 2 Davison, No. 3 Brighton and Division 2 top-ranked Lowell took the top four team places, respectively, at the 56th DCC Invitational – Oakland Press

2. Hockey: Division 2 No. 2 Livonia Stevenson downed Hartland 5-2, with Seth Lause scoring an incredible three short-handed goals – Observer & Eccentric

3. Boys Basketball: Flint Beecher downed Benton Harbor 76-62 in a matchup of teams expected to make runs at Finals championships in March – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

4. Hockey: Division 1 No. 5 Brighton handed the first loss of the season to the last team without one, 3-2 to Division 3 top-ranked Calumet – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

5. Hockey: Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central earned a significant league win 6-0 over No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s – Oakland Press

6. Girls Basketball: Kelsey Richards went over 30 points for the fifth straight game as Fruitport Calvary Christian earned a 50-46 statement win over Central Montcalm – Muskegon Chronicle

7. Wrestling: Division 4 top-ranked Clinton followed a pair of individual champions to the team title at the 45th Dave Elliott Memorial Tournament – Adrian Daily Telegram

8. Boys Basketball: In another matchup of championship hopefuls, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s downed Grand Blanc 69-66 – Flint Journal

9. Girls Basketball: Hart continued its surge with a 51-35 win over Calvary Christian the day after the latter’s big win noted above – Muskegon Chronicle

10. Hockey: Ann Arbor Pioneer improved to 8-2 with a 2-1 win over rival Skyline in the final of the Jilek Cup – We Love Ann Arbor

Also of note …

Football: The football community is mourning the death of Zeeland West assistant Gasper Giarmo, who coached more than 30 years combined at seven schools including a decade at Byron Center – Grand Rapids Press

Today in the MHSAA: 11/7/19

November 7, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wednesday night was the week’s busiest for Volleyball Districts as teams all over the state earned opportunities to play for championships.

1. Volleyball: No. 7 Parma Western moved on to a Division 2 District Final with a four-set win over No. 10 Onsted – Jackson Citizen Patriot

2. Volleyball: After falling to South Lyon in District play the last two seasons, Division 1 honorable mention Brighton avenged with a sweep – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

3. Volleyball: No. 4 Hamilton and No. 9 Holland Christian won Division 2 matches to set up a District Final meeting – Holland Sentinel

4. Volleyball: No. 5 Bronson and No. 8 Centreville swept their Division 3 District Semifinals, setting up a championship match meeting – Three Rivers News

5. Volleyball: No. 6 Kingsley’s Division 2 sweep of Sault Ste. Marie finished a perfect run at home for the Stags’ senior class – Traverse City Record-Eagle

6. Volleyball: After winning its first league title since 2009, St. Johns has continued to surge and moved into a District Final with a Division 1 win over DeWitt – Lansing State Journal

7. Volleyball: After splitting the first four sets, No. 9 Rochester Hills Stoney Creek held on in the fifth to get past Rochester Adams in Division 1 – Oakland Press

8. Volleyball: Rapid River ended Munising’s two-year District title run with a Division 4 win – Escanaba Daily Press

9. Volleyball: Honorable mention Montague avenged a city tournament loss to Fruitport in a Division 2 District Semifinal win – Local Sports Journal

10. Volleyball: No. 2 Lowell moved on to a Division 1 District Final with a sweep of Rockford – FOX 17