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: 6/3/19

June 3, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The annual “busiest sports weekend of the year” is nearly behind us – a number of District baseball and softball tournaments will conclude today. But in addition to the 14 Track & Field and four Girls Tennis Finals we covered Saturday – see “Latest Posts” at right – here’s a glance at coverage of more highlights from Friday and Saturday.

1. Girls Lacrosse: No. 2 Bloomfield Hills Marian handed No. 8 Farmington its only loss of the season, 17-16 in overtime in a Division 2 Regional Final – Observer & Eccentric

2. Girls Soccer: Division 2 No. 10 Dexter avenged a loss and a tie to No. 14 Pinckney with a 5-1 win to clinch a fourth straight District championship – Chelsea Sun Times News

3. Girls Soccer: Clinton Township Chippewa Valley got past No. 12 Macomb Dakota in a shootout to claim a Division 1 District title – Macomb Daily

4. Baseball: Midland Dow got past Bay City Western to win its first District title in 12 years – Midland Daily News

5. Girls Soccer: Ali Keyser scored the equalizer late in regulation and the winner in overtime to get No. 9 Grand Haven past Muskegon Mona Shores in a Division 1 District Final – FOX 17

6. Softball: Division 4 No. 4 Rogers City scored seven runs in the ninth inning to beat Hillman 9-2 and clinch its eighth straight District title – Alpena News

7. Baseball: Evart’s Danny Witbeck fired a no-hitter to lead the No. 18 Wildcats past Morley Stanwood in a Division 3 District Final – Big Rapids News

8. Softball: No. 5 Gladstone downed Iron Mountain 6-2 to claim a Division 3 District title, its 17th straight – Escanaba Daily Press

9. Softball: Quincy came back off an 11-inning win over Jonesville to defeat Homer and win a Division 3 District title – Coldwater Daily Reporter

10. Baseball: Pinckney advanced to today’s Division 1 District Final with a 7-2 upset of No. 3 Brighton – Livingston Daily Press & Argus