Today in the MHSAA: 8/25/2015

August 25, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

A soccer coach celebrated his 1,000th game and a community mourned the passing of a longtime football program leader.

Those and a feature on a member of our Student Advisory Council are among today’s notable headlines and links to coverage below.

Football

Newaygo is mourning the passing of longtime coach Mark Puff, who guided the varsity to 128 wins and seven league titles over 22 seasons before retiring in 2000 – Muskegon Chronicle

Girls Golf

Jackson Lumen Christi went from two returning members last season to 17 golfers total this fall and won its first tournament since 2013 by edging Parma Western by six strokes at Hanover-Horton’s invitational – Jackson Citizen Patriot

Boys Soccer

Fraser coach Thaier Mukhtar coached his 1,000th high school soccer game Monday (boys and girls games combined), guiding his team to a 5-0 win over Romeo. He formerly coached the Warren DeLaSalle boys and leads both teams at Fraser – Macomb Daily

Saginaw Heritage has posted three shutouts during a 4-0 start after finishing 9-10-1 last season; Monday’s was a 4-0 win over Flushing – Saginaw News

Alma’s Brevan Bender is coming off a season during which he set a school record with 30 goals, and Monday he netted five in an 8-0 win over Birch Run – Saginaw News

Volleyball

Left over from Saturday: St. Louis has long been one of the dominant programs in Class C statewide and against all classes in the mid-Michigan area; Ithaca beat the Sharks for the first time since 1993 when they faced off at the Alma Invitational – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Good Read

Muskegon senior Jared Pittman played in last season’s MHSAA Division 3 Football Final, and after his team was defeated handed the trophy to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s as a member of the MHSAA Student Advisory Council. He’ll be a significant contributor to his team and the Council this fall – Detroit Free Press

Today in the MHSAA: 12/8/16

December 8, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wrestling season started Wednesday with matches all over the state, including the first of the 50th season for a highly-respected coach.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state.

Boys Basketball

Oak Park freshman Malik Carr had 18 points and 16 rebounds off the bench in a 78-61 win over St. Clair Shores South Lake – Detroit News

From Tuesday, Munising’s Alec Blank sank two free throws with a second remaining to give his team a 59-57 win over Gwinn – Marquette Mining Journal

Girls Basketball

Bath downed Pewamo-Westphalia 48-36 in a key early-season Central Michigan Athletic Conference matchup – Ionia Sentinel-Standard

From Tuesday, Scottville Mason County Central earned an impressive 42-41 win over Fruitport Calvary Christian – Ludington Daily News

Also from Tuesday, Taylor Gauthier drilled two free throws with 20 seconds left to give Escanaba a 38-37 win over Negaunee – Escanaba Daily Press

Hockey

Mount Pleasant downed Midland for the first time in program history, 3-2 with three goals in the third period – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

With only nine skaters and one goalie available, Marysville got past Bloomfield Hills 3-0 – Clinton Township Voice

From Tuesday, Houghton scored five third-period goals to down Kingsford 9-3 – Iron Mountain Daily News

Boys Swimming & Diving

Okemos won the Waverly Relays, breaking a 15-year-old meet record in the 400-yard individual medley relay – Lansing State Journal

Wrestling

Whitehall, 26-2 last season, opened this winter with a 41-22 victory over Grand Haven – Muskegon Chronicle

Marysville kept the Blue Water Belt with wins over Algonac and Port Huron – Port Huron Times Herald

Midland celebrated its 50th season of wrestling with wins over Bay City Central and Saginaw Heritage – Midland Daily News

Good Reads

Battle Creek Harper Creek kicked off the season with a quad, but the story was the start of the 50th season for coach Dave Studer – Battle Creek Enquirer

The Macomb County basketball community is mourning the death of Tannisha Stevens, who scored more than 2,000 points starring for Mount Clemens from 1988-91 – Macomb Daily