Today In The MHSAA: 4/19/21

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

April 19, 2021

Some of the stars from the last spring season played in 2019 have become the first this spring to shine again, including over the weekend on the diamonds and track.

1. Softball: Brynn Polega struck out a record book-worthy 22 batters over 10 innings as Unionville-Sebewaing outlasted Essexville Garber 1-0 – Bay City Times

2. Baseball: Division 2 top-ranked Orchard Lake St. Mary’s swept Division 1 No. 3 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice to move to 13-0 this spring – Oakland Press

3. Girls Track & Field: Petoskey’s Emma Squires was a star of Remus Chippewa Hills’ Warrior Invitational, breaking a 29-year-old school record among three race wins – Petoskey News-Review

4. Boys Golf: East Grand Rapids shot a 319 to win the Coldwater Invitational – Coldwater Daily Reporter

5. Softball: Escanaba and Jackson Northwest split a pair over the weekend – JTV

6. Baseball: North Muskegon’s Charlie Branch missed a perfect game by an out in a 2-0 win over Division 4 No. 11 Muskegon Catholic Central – Muskegon Chronicle

7. Girls Tennis: Division 3 No. 7 Chelsea won 20 of 24 individual matches in defeating Flint Powers Catholic, St. Clair and Saline – Chelsea Sun Times News

8. Softball: Three Rivers won a pair over Plainwell, with standout Kali Heivilin hitting her 40th career homer during the second game – WWMT

9. Softball: Morrice scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to get past Potterville 19-18 in the latter’s invitational championship game – Owosso Argus-Press

10. Baseball: Phil Yancey threw a no-hitter in his first varsity game to lead New Boston Huron past Lincoln Park in a doubleheader sweep – Monroe News

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)