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: 9/2/20

September 2, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Tuesday saw high-powered clashes on a tennis court north of Mackinac Bridge and a golf course in the region to the south as northern teams dominated today’s headliners.

1. Girls Tennis: Reigning champion Ishpeming Westwood swept West Iron County in a matchup of the top two teams from the last three Upper Peninsula Division 2 Finals – Marquette Mining Journal

2. Girls Golf: Traverse City West was first, Traverse City Central second and Big Rapids third at the Titan Invitational; West is ranked No. 10 in Lower Peninsula Division 1, and Big Rapids is No. 3 in LPD3 – Big Rapids News

3. Boys Soccer: Everest Noyes scored all of his team’s goals in Traverse City Central’s 5-0 win over Leland – Traverse City Record-Eagle

4. Cross Country: Petoskey’s girls and Traverse City West’s boys claimed wins in five-team 2-mile races – Petoskey News-Review

5. Volleyball: Carney-Nadeau moved to 3-0 with a sweep of Bark River-Harris – Escanaba Daily Press

6. Volleyball: Ludington opened its season with a sweep at Lake City – Ludington Daily News

7. Volleyball: Manton improved to 3-0 with a sweep of Frankfort and Brethren – Cadillac News

8. Volleyball: Chassell got past Hancock 3-1 – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

9. Girls Tennis: Reigning UPD1 champion Marquette earned a 7-1 victory against Iron Mountain Iron Mountain Daily News

10. Boys Tennis: Pinckney earned a league win 7-1 over Adrian – Adrian Daily Telegram

Also of note …

Football: Frankenmuth is mourning the death of retired coach Budd Tompkins, who led the Eagles to a 34-1 record and two “mythical” state championships during his first four of eight total seasons after taking over the program in 1966 – Saginaw News