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: 4/28/16

April 28, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

An epic finish by a past MHSAA Finals star highlighted a day of records and rematches across Michigan on Wednesday.  

Baseball

Hartland’s John Baker drilled a walk-off home run to lead the reigning Division 1 champion past rival Brighton in 18 innings; he also threw the final 10 innings for the Eagles – Livingston Daily

In his second career pitching start, Walled Lake Central’s Pierson Hoy no-hit Waterford Mott 2-0 – Oakland Press

Girls Soccer

In just two seasons, Birch Run junior keeper Kalyn Breckenridge has tied her school’s career shutouts record of 36, which also will place her on the MHSAA career list – Saginaw News

Boys Tennis

In a rematch of last season’s Upper Peninsula Division 2 co-champions, Ishpeming Westwood downed Iron Mountain 5-3 – Iron Mountain Daily News

Track & Field

From last week, East Grand Rapids’ Niki Ezeh broke her school’s shot put record set in 1981 with a toss of 40 feet, 9 inches, and also won the 100 and 200 and anchored the 400 relay winner against Grand Rapids Christian – Grand Rapids Press

Good Read

Muskegon Orchard View baseball coach Ed Macheta was diagnosed last summer with Parkinson’s disease, but he’s hoping coaching will help him stay active and minimize the early effects – Muskegon Chronicle