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: 9/4/19

September 4, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The start of September means the start of league play for many, and Tuesday set the stage as a number of teams – especially in boys soccer – began their conference schedules.

1. Cross Country: Dearborn Divine Child swept Division I championships at Erie Mason’s Frank Connolly Relays, while the Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central boys and Blissfield girls won the Division II titles – Monroe Evening News

2. Boys Soccer: Reigning Ottawa-Kent Conference Red co-champions Grand Haven and Caledonia played to a 1-1 draw; Grand Haven is No. 15 in Division 1 – Grand Haven Tribune

3. Boys Soccer: Traverse City West earned an impressive nonleague win, 2-0 over Division 3 No. 12 Elk Rapids – UpNorthLive

4. Boys Soccer: Livonia Stevenson ran its winning streak to five with a 6-0 victory at Franklin – Observer & Eccentric

5. Volleyball: North Muskegon emerged from a back-and-forth match to win 3-2 over Muskegon Oakridge – Local Sports Journal

6. Volleyball: Two weeks after being swept by Litchfield in its opener, Hillsdale Will Carleton returned the favor – Hillsdale Daily News

7. Boys Soccer: Dexter remained unbeaten with a 5-1 win over Ann Arbor Huron – Chelsea Sun Times News

8. Volleyball: Pellston continued to show its potential with a sweep of Harbor Springs – Petoskey News-Review

9. Boys Soccer: Freeland outshot Essexville Garber, but the Dukes emerged with a 1-0 win – Midland Daily News

10. Boys Soccer: South Lyon earned a key 1-0 league win over Walled Lake Northern – Oakland Press