Today in the MHSAA: 8/26/19

August 26, 2019

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Girls swimming & diving and volleyball teams launched into their seasons over the weekend and wasted no time helping fill today’s list of notable performances from Friday and Saturday.

1. Cross Country: The Traverse City Central and McBain girls and Grand Rapids Christian and Roscommon boys won championships at Benzie Central’s Pete Moss Invitational – Traverse City Record-Eagle

2. Cross Country: Brighton’s boys won the South Lyon Invitational ahead of reigning Lower Peninsula Division 1 champion Plymouth, while Brighton’s girls edged Plymouth’s with the tie-breaker – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

3. Girls Swimming & Diving: Ann Arbor Pioneer won the Huron Relays by eight points over Saline and 14 ahead of Northville – We Love Ann Arbor

4. Girls Swimming & Diving: Midland Dow and Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central shared the championship at the Battle Creek Relays – Midland Daily News

5. Volleyball: Host Battle Creek St. Philip won the Carrie Adams Invitational with a 2-1 finale victory over Centreville, which advanced with a semifinal win over reigning Division 3 champion Bronson – Three Rivers News

6. Cross Country: Both individual course records were broken and the Blissfield girls and Clinton boys won team titles at Addison’s Keunner Invitational – Adrian Daily Telegram

7. Volleyball: Marquette swept Calumet in the championship match to claim the Kingsford Invitational – Iron Mountain Daily News

8. Volleyball: Petoskey won the Sault St. Marie Invitational for the fourth straight season, downing Alpena in the final – Petoskey News-Review

9. Boys Soccer: Gaylord downed Adrian and Boyne City by a combined score of 12-1 to win its Sunrise Side Soccer Cup Challenge – Gaylord Herald Times

10. Volleyball: Manistique swept Brimley to clinch the Munising Invitational championship – Escanaba Daily Press

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)