Today in the MHSAA: 8/16/18

August 16, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media. 

1. Girls Golf: Northville shot a 304 to edge Plymouth and win the opening invitational at Hudson Mills in Dexter – those teams finished fourth and fifth, respectively, at last season’s Lower Peninsula Division 1 Final – Observer & Eccentric

2. Girls Golf: Kalamazoo Hackett was first, St. Joseph second and Coldwater third at the Richland Gull Lake Invitational at Bedford Valley; Hackett was fifth in LP Division 4 last season, while St. Joseph was eighth in LPD2 and Coldwater was 14th – Coldwater Daily Reporter

3. Boys Tennis: Traverse City Central opened by winning its Summer Splash ahead of Holland West Ottawa, Traverse City West and Grandville; Central tied for 14th and Grandville tied for 19th at last season’s LPD1 Finals – Traverse City Record-Eagle

4. Boys Tennis: After falling to host Zeeland East, Grand Haven stormed back with wins over Grand Rapids Northview and Grand Rapids Catholic Central; Grand Haven was an LPD1 Finals qualifier last fall Grand Haven Tribune

Also of note …

Cross Country: Novi is mourning the death of longtime coach Robert Smith, who led the Wildcats boys to two MHSAA titles and two Division 1 runner-up finishes over 36 years from 1981-2016 – Observer & Eccentric

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)