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: 2/3/20

February 4, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The rapidly-growing Michigan Wrestling Association Girls Championships headlined a weekend full of notable competition as many of the state’s best met, especially on the mat and basketball court.

1. Wrestling: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central was first and Clinton second at the MWA Girls Championships at Adrian College – WZZM & Adrian Daily Telegram

2. Boys Basketball: Benton Harbor downed Ypsilanti Lincoln 73-51 in one of the most highly-anticipated games of the regular season – FOX 17

3. Gymnastics: Farmington United edged Rockford by just more than a point to win the Canton Invitational – Coldwater Daily Reporter

4. Wrestling: Division 1 No. 3 Brighton downed Division 2 top-ranked Lowell 35-21 in a matchup of MHSAA title contenders – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

5. Competitive Cheer: Gibraltar Carlson won Division 2 and overall championships at the Grosse Ile Invitational – Southgate News-Herald

6. Wrestling: Division 2 No. 2 Gaylord won the 38-team Northern Michigan Championship – Gaylord Herald Times

7. Wrestling: Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central won 11 weight classes to claim the team title at the Observerland Invitational – Observer & Eccentric

8. Bowling: Hillsdale swept girls and boys championships at the Adrian Madison Baker Bash – Hillsdale Daily News

9. Competitive Cheer: Sturgis scored a school-record 729.52 to win its invitational – Sturgis Journal

10. Boys Basketball: Orchard Lake St. Mary’s handed Hudsonville its first loss, 65-47 – FOX 17