Today in the MHSAA: 8/21/17

August 21, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

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

Today’s Top 10

1. Officials: A year after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, MHSAA official Steve Johnson has beaten it and returned to the field to work a football scrimmage last week – ABC12

2. Volleyball: Reigning Class A champion Novi cleared a loaded Lakeshore Classic field undefeated, downing host Grand Haven in the championship match – Grand Haven Tribune

3. Volleyball: Kalamazoo Central opened with a championship at the Carrie Adams Memorial Invitational at Battle Creek St. Philip, downing among others Battle Creek Harper Creek, Portland St. Patrick, Coldwater and then Buchanan (which had advanced by beating Leland) in the championship match – Kalamazoo Gazette

4. Volleyball: After failing to do so last season for the first time in at least five, Calumet won the Kingsford Invitational now under new coach Matt Laho – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

5. Boys Soccer: Tecumseh came back from a halftime deficit to down Adrian Lenawee Christian and win the Bronson Mansfield Cougar Cup championship – Adrian Daily Telegram

6. Boys Soccer: For the 14th time in 16 season, Niles won the VandenBerg Invitational, downing Cassopolis 3-0 in the championship game – Niles Daily Star

7. Volleyball: Saginaw Swan Valley went 5-0-1 to win the Carrollton Invitational, downing Saginaw Heritage, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker and Saginaw Valley Lutheran in bracket play – Saginaw News

8. Volleyball: Two-time reigning Class C champion Bronson opened quickly as well with five wins to claim its invitational, downing North Adams-Jerome 3-0 in the championship match – Sturgis Journal

9. Volleyball: Adrian Madison went 5-0 to win the Addison Invitational, sweeping all five opponents – Adrian Daily Telegram

10. Cross Country: Lake City swept the Northern Michigan Christian Invitational races in McBain, the girls finishing first by three points and the boys by 11 – Cadillac News

Also of note ...

Girls Golf: From last week, Brighton downed Saline by two strokes to win the Traverse City Central Ben Lober Invitational; reigning Lower Peninsula Division 2 champ Midland Dow finished fourth – Midland Daily 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)