Today in the MHSAA: 6/14/16

June 14, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Today's action in softball, baseball and girls soccer kicks off the final week of this school year, and below are a few stories of interest we found to serve as appetizers as we get into our final championships runs of 2015-16.

Good Reads

Earlier this season we recognized Farmington Hills Mercy’s Abby Krzywiecki with a “Performance of the Week,” and the impressive senior has continued to shine as she’s set the MHSAA single-season home runs record with 20 while helping her team into this week – Oakland Press

With the help of community and propped up by internal strength, the Heck family of Marine City is coming back strong after a tough senior year for son Mike, who missed the entire football season after ankle surgery a month before his dad Mike Sr. suffered a stroke from which he’s still recovering. Mike Jr. did make it back to slug his way through this spring’s baseball season – Port Huron Times Herald

Traverse City West will play this week in its first Quarterfinal ever (and first for any Traverse City Class A school, including the former Traverse City High) after upsetting Bay City Western in the Regional – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Today in the MHSAA: 12/10/15

December 10, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wednesday was the first day of winter in full swing with significant matchups coming in six sports as four got into the heart of their first week of the season. Be sure to check out as well a story on MHSAA officials recruiting efforts.

Girls Basketball

Traverse City St. Francis won an early battle between two of the north’s top small-school teams, downing Frankfort (featured today on Second Half) 76-72 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

A pair of Concord players filled the stat sheet in a 62-56 win over Michigan Center; senior Lindsey Lehmen led with 24 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals, and sophomore Camryn Ward grabbed 19 rebounds – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Boys Basketball

From Tuesday, Sanford Meridian freshman Lucas Lueder will be among first-year players to watch, if his 18 points in a 65-61 win over Saginaw Nouvel are an indication – Midland Daily News

Boys Bowling

Vandercook Lake could be in line for an exciting season or four after watching freshmen Korey Reichard (278) and Conner Lackey (267) lead the way in a 29-1 win over Grass Lake – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Ice Hockey

Division 3 No. 10 Farmington’s two first-period goals were enough as the Falcons scored a key early-season win over Division 2 No. 4 Berkley – Oakland Press

After finishing regulation tied, Division 2 No. 9 Traverse City Central needed only 14 seconds of overtime to get past Cadillac 4-3 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Boys Swimming & Diving

Chelsea coach Dave Jolly was the mid-Michigan link to Wednesday’s Waverly Relays, the annual event for Lansing-area teams to kick off the season; his Lower Peninsula Division 3 No. 3-ranked team broke Okemos’ five-year hold on the meet championship – Lansing State Journal

Wrestling

No. 3 Davison earned one of the most significant early wins so far this season, 45-27 over No. 4 Brighton, which beat Davison in the Division 1 Semifinals last season – Livingston Daily

Saginaw Swan Valley, No. 8 in Division 3, just escaped Essexville Garber for a 32-30 win – Saginaw News

Good Read

After more than five decades as an official, Dick Kalahar is watching from the stands this season. He is among a growing number of retiring officials the MHSAA is charged with replacing over the next few years, and this piece looks at some of the challenges and opportunities, in part through Kalahar’s eyes – Jackson Citizen-Patriot