Today in the MHSAA: 3/6/17

March 6, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

MHSAA Finals in wrestling, bowling and cheer, Regionals in gymnastics and hockey and Districts in girls basketball made for a busy weekend across our state – and also one full of celebration for a number of schools finishing the season or taking the next tournament step.

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. 

Girls Basketball

Undefeated Ypsilanti Arbor Prep, last season’s Class C champ, edged Dearborn Heights Robichaud 58-54 in a Class B District Final – Ann Arbor News

Lake City won its first District since 2001, downing Manton 54-53 in overtime of a Class C Final – Cadillac News

Niles Brandywine won its eighth District title in nine seasons with a 40-18 victory over Watervliet in Class C – Niles Daily Star

Charlevoix completed a Class C District run with a 46-36 win over Harbor Springs after going 3-19 a season ago – Petoskey News-Review

Bowling

Eight teams and eight individuals claimed MHSAA titles over the weekend, with Battle Creek Pennfield enjoying the most success with a boys team championship and sweep of singles in Division 3 – Second Half

Cheer

Allen Park broke Gibraltar Carlson's win streak in Division 2 while Rochester, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Breckenridge all repeated as Finals champions – Second Half

Gymnastics

Northville will compete at the MHSAA Team Final for the first time since 2010 after finishing second to Canton at their Regional – Observer & Eccentric

Hockey

Freshman Will Jentz scored in overtime to carry Brighton past Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 2-1 in a Division 1 Regional Final – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

Big Rapids upended Alpena 2-1 in overtime Saturday to claim a Division 3 Regional title – Big Rapids News

Wrestling

Walled Lake Central's Ben Freeman became the 22nd four-time champion in MHSAA history as the Individual Finals awarded 56 winners total (and we interviewed them all) – Second Half

Today in the MHSAA: 1/5/16

January 5, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Winter sports return in force with a full slate of events statewide tonight, but here are a few headlines of note as we get rolling – plus two great reads from the wrestling world.

Boys Basketball

Ishpeming in recent seasons has scheduled its first basketball games later than other teams to offset the football team’s four straight runs to the MHSAA Finals at Ford Field – but the Hematites were one of the first to play in 2016 and came away with a 74-72 win over Gladstone to move to 2-0 – Marquette Mining Journal

Girls Bowling

From Sunday, two-time reigning Division 2 champion Flint Kearsley got past 2015 Division 1 finalist Jackson to win the Lila Jean Furnish Classic in Owosso, which included a number of the state’s top teams – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Good Reads

When Clinton wrestler Nick Rolland was 3, his parents were told to say their good-byes after he was pulled from under a running lawn mower. But doctors were able to save his life, and then his leg, and this weekend he’ll wrestle for his 100th career win – Adrian Daily Telegram

Hastings wrestling coach Mike Goggins started out as an athlete for the Saxons, later coached at the middle school and now also is the high school athletic director – and owner of more than 400 varsity coaching wins after reaching that milestone during the Montrose Invitational on Dec. 29 – Grand Rapids Press