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: 10/15/20

October 15, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A few more league races in volleyball and cross country came to an end Wednesday, while Boys Soccer Districts kicked off across the Lower Peninsula. 

1. Cross Country: Zeeland East’s girls claimed the Ottawa-Kent Conference Green title, its first in the sport, while Zeeland West won the boys championship – Holland Sentinel Girls/Boys 

2. Volleyball: Niles swept Buchanan to clinch the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph Conference Red title – Niles Daily Star

3. Boys Soccer: Macomb Lutheran North advanced in Division 3 with a District shootout win over No. 3 (MPR) Richmond – Macomb Daily

4. Boys Soccer: Rochester Hills Stoney Creek edged Rochester in overtime in a Division 1 opener – Oakland Press

5. Boys Soccer: No. 13 (MPR) Maple City Glen Lake scored two second-half goals to get past Charlevoix 2-1 in a Division 4 District opener – Up North Live

6. Volleyball: Division 3 No. 10 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian finished a win over Whitehall with a 31-29 fourth-set victory to advance in the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association Tournament – Local Sports Journal

7. Boys Soccer: Hemlock opened its Division 3 District with a win over Saginaw Swan Valley – Saginaw News

8. Boys Soccer: Marcellus Howardsville Christian remained undefeated with a Division 4 District win over Lawton – WWMT

9. Volleyball: Division 2 No. 3 Cadillac improved to 30-5 with a sweep of Traverse City Central – Cadillac News

10. Boys Soccer: Essexville Garber built on its recent success with a Division 3 District win over Unionville-Sebewaing – Bay City Times

Also of note …

Volleyball: From Tuesday, Division 4 top-ranked Mendon swept Centreville to clinch the Southwest 10 Conference title – Sturgis Journal

Cross Country: From Tuesday, the Morenci girls and Erie Mason boys won Tri-County Conference finals – Adrian Daily Telegram

Cross Country: From Tuesday, Benzie Central swept the Northwest Conference championships; the boys are ranked No. 10 in LPD3 and the girls are No. 4  Benzie County Record Patriot

Boys Soccer: From Monday, Livonia Stevenson downed Division 1 No. 14 (MPR) Salem to claim the overall Kensington Lakes Activities Association championship – Observer & Eccentric

Cross Country: From Monday, Sault Ste. Marie finished championship runs in the Straits Area Conference; the boys are an honorable mention in UPD1 and the girls are No. 3 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News