Today in the MHSAA: 4/12/19

April 12, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Another colossal Grand Rapids-area lacrosse matchup, this time between boys contenders, tops our list of Thursday’s most exciting results just ahead of the best from girls soccer and softball.

1. Boys Lacrosse: In a rematch of the last three Division 2 championship games, reigning runner-up Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central defeated two-time reigning champion East Grand Rapids 17-5 – FOX 17

2. Girls Soccer: Richland Gull Lake won a matchup of annual MHSAA title contenders 3-0 over Forest Hills Central – Kalamazoo Gazette

3. Softball: Schoolcraft put up a pair of impressive wins over Division 4 No. 2 Kalamazoo Christian – JoeInsider.com

4. Softball: Division 1 No. 3 Clarkston swept No. 5 South Lyon with a pair of one-run wins – State Champs Sports Network

5. Baseball: Division 1 No. 13 Rochester continued its strong start with a 7-2 win over Division 2 No. 10 Detroit Country Day – Detroit News

6. Girls Soccer: Quincy repeated as winner of the “Battle of the Birds” game against Coldwater, 2-1 – Coldwater Daily Reporter

7. Girls Soccer: Hartland continued its early surge with a 5-3 win over Canton – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

8. Softball: Birmingham Seaholm swept Bloomfield Hills Marian, winning the second game on a single in the bottom of the seventh inning – Observer & Eccentric

9. Girls Soccer: Jackson Christian scored three goals over the final 13 minutes to get past Hillsdale 5-3 – Hillsdale Daily News

10. Baseball: Division 1 No. 7 Lake Orion downed formerly-ranked Pontiac Notre Dame Prep – Oakland Press

Also of note …

Baseball: From Tuesday, Niles Brandywine swept Constantine to reach 900 wins since the program started in 1962 – Niles Daily Star

From High School to Olympic Swimming

July 11, 2012

Fans of U.S. Swimming already have plenty of reasons to cheer for Missy Franklin later this month at the Summer Olympics -- she's only 17, but qualified to compete in a U.S. women's all-time best seven events.

But fans of high school sports and what they provide athletes at all levels of ability can also support her for how she's chosen to compete when she's not racing against the best in the world.

Franklin, who lives in Colorado, has continued to swim for her high school team despite the financial rewards she could've earned by taking the elite swimmer's usual path of going pro.

A ton has been written about Franklin lately, for obvious reasons. Below is a link to a New York Times story from February that focused on her continued dedication to her high school team.

Before the Olympic Trials, There’s This Big High School Meet (New York Times)