Today in the MHSAA: 3/14/16

March 14, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The MHSAA Gymnastics, Hockey and Boys Swimming and Diving seasons closed this weekend with seven team and multiple individual champions honored, and the boys basketball postseason finished its first week with a number of communities celebrating for the first time in a long time.

Boys Basketball

Battle Creek Central claimed its first District title since 2008, downing Kalamazoo Loy Norrix in a Class A Final – Battle Creek Enquirer

Lowell claimed its first District title since 1984 with a Class A win – Grand Rapids Press

Dylan Carl went over 1,000 points for his career as Alma downed Ovid-Elsie in a Class B Final – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Kingsford upset Great Northern Conference champion Menominee to claim a Class B title – Iron Mountain Daily News

In Class C, Hanover-Horton won its 15th straight District championship – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Ishpeming Westwood pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the week, downing rival Ishpeming in a Class C Final – Marquette Mining Journal

Niles Brandywine earned its first District title since 2001 with a Class C win – Niles Daily Star

Rock Mid-Peninsula claimed its first District title in two decades with a Class D victory – Escanaba Daily Press

Pickford also picked up a first District title in decades, beating Brimley to win for the first time since 1992 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Gymnastics

Despite losing senior standout Madi Myers to an injury midway through the meet, Rockford/Sparta repeated as MHSAA champion after finishing with a strong rotation on beam – Second Half

Grand Ledge’s Rachel Hogan followed three top-10 finishes to end her high school career as the Division 1 individual champion Saturday – Second Half

Ice Hockey

Detroit Catholic Central extended its Division 1 title streak to three under a third coach – Second Half

Romeo added a hockey championship to its fall football title, winning Division 2 for the first time – Second Half

Hancock won its first MHSAA title since 1999 finishing an impressive run with a Division 3 clincher over Grand Rapids Catholic Central – Second Half

Boys Swimming & Diving

Birmingham Brother Rice claimed its third straight Lower Peninsula Division 1 championship, outracing the field by 77 points – Second Half

Dexter built an early lead and won LP Division 2 for the second time in five seasons – Second Half

Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood also won a third straight title, claiming LP Division 3 ahead of East Grand Rapids – Second Half

Today in the MHSAA: 12/16/16

December 16, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Looking for a neat feel-good story today? Check out how a Rogers City man filled in the missing words on a 78-year-old trophy in the school’s display case, a great find from our daily grazing of statewide preps coverage.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.

Boys Basketball

Frankenmuth rebounded from a loss to Bridgeport with a 48-47 win over rival Millington led by Mario Whitley’s 28 points and 18 rebounds – Saginaw News

Hancock remained undefeated with a 41-37 win over rival Houghton – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Girls Basketball

A close game at halftime turned into a 44-26 St. Clair win over Almont – Clinton Township Voice

Hockey

Traverse City West scored first and most in a 5-2 win over rival Traverse City Central – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Wrestling

Clare went 1-1 with a win over Saginaw Nouvel and loss to Freeland, as Hart Smalley earned his 100th win – Saginaw News

Good Reads

A 1939 trophy at Rogers City didn't list a champion and led to a resident’s quest to find out more about the only team in school history to finish a boys basketball regular season undefeated – and have the final words added to the award – Alpena News

“Battle of the Fans VI” kicked off this week, and the northern Lower Peninsula has had its share of contenders including reigning champion Traverse City West and Petoskey – which will be applying again according to this report on the benefits of a strong student section – Petoskey News Review