Today in the MHSAA: 8/31/15
August 31, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The final weekend of August was a giant weekend for MHSAA volleyball contenders, with some of the top regular-season events this fall providing opportunities for the best to see how they might match up when playoffs begin in two months.
Below are headlines for some of the key high school reports from across the state; the weekend’s football round-up will publish later this afternoon.
Cross Country
Muskegon Reeths-Puffer’s Maryssa Depies set a course record of 18:11.3 to win the Big Red Invitational at McGraft Park – Muskegon Chronicle
Flint Powers Catholic’s top individual finisher came in ninth, but the Chargers girls as a team were first at the Lansing Catholic Invitational – Flint Journal
The reigning Lower Peninsula Division 2 champion Grand Rapids Christian boys repeated as winner of the prestigious Benzie Central Invitational, finishing ahead of Traverse City West and Central, while Central senior Anthony Berry won individually in 15:24 – Grand Rapids Press
Boys Soccer
Tawas, a Division 3 semifinalist last season, finished first from an Elk Rapids Invitational field that included Berkley and Saginaw Nouvel – Bay City Times
Volleyball
Lake Odessa Lakewood, last season’s Class B runner-up and the second-ranked team in that class this week, eliminated Class A No. 6 Grand Rapids Christian to win the West Michigan Volleyball Officials Association tournament for the first time in a decade – Grand Rapids Press
Class A No. 4 Grand Haven continued its perfect run at its outdoor Battle of the Boardwalk tournament, sweeping three opponents to remain undefeated through the event's third year – Grand Haven Tribune
Battle Creek Harper Creek, No. 9 in Class B, improved to 17-0 by winning the Cereal City Tournament at Pennfield with a 2-1 championship match win over Temperance Bedford, an MHSAA semifinalist last season in Class A – Battle Creek Enquirer
Good Reads
The Holland Sentinel introduced its top female athletes in that area’s history Sunday, and highlighted nationally-known softball star Kathy Arendsen and her successes during one of the MHSAA’s first Softball Finals – Holland Sentinel
Anyone who follows high school football history will enjoy going through the Muskegon Chronicle’s sampling of top-20 moments from that area’s football past – Muskegon Chronicle
More than 60 former Shepherd High School players from the last 25 seasons returned for an alumni doubleheader Sunday to honor coach Jack Nartker, who will retire after this spring – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Today in the MHSAA: 9/7/17
September 7, 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. Football: Farmington Hills Harrison will rename its stadium entrance for longtime leader John Herrington, who is closing in on the state’s coaching wins record for football – Observer & Eccentric
2. Soccer: The Battle Creek Enquirer looks at ways its local schools are working to decrease head injuries in soccer, where concussions aren’t nearly as publicized as in football – Battle Creek Enquirer
3. Volleyball: Rudyard continued to build its case as the No. 10 team in Class D with sweeps of Pickford and St. Ignace to improve to 6-1-2 – Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
4. Boys Soccer: Rochester remained undefeated at 4-0-3 with a key tie against Clarkston in Oakland Activities Association Red play – Oakland Press
5. Cross Country: The Shepherd boys and Cadillac girls won championships at the Bluejays’ 19-team invitational – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
6. Girls Golf: Freeland, No. 6 in Lower Peninsula Division 3, won its second Tri-Valley Conference jamboree with a season-best 176 – Midland Daily News
7. Girls Golf: Caledonia shot a 178 to win the third Ottawa-Kent Conference Red jamboree by two strokes over Hudsonville – Grand Haven Tribune
8. Boys Soccer: Manistee continued its undefeated start to this season with a 3-0 win over Shelby – Manistee News Advocate
9. Boys Soccer: New Boston Huron moved to 5-0 with a 4-2 win over Carleton Airport – Detroit News
10. Boys Soccer: Sturgis netted a 1-0 win over Marshall on a first-half goal – Sturgis Journal
Also of note …
Football: Traverse City Central and Traverse City West are playing this week their annual “Patriot Game,” which draws a sellout crowd to honor those who have served and continue to do so. The Record-Eagle is doing features every day this week; this is the first – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Football: Muskegon Mona Shores also will honor former and active-duty military and first responders with its second “Sailor Salute” taking place during a big-time matchup with Rockford – Muskegon Chronicle
Football: Ionia also will host a “Patriot Game” this weekend against Fowlerville, again to honor those who have and continue to serve – Ionia Sentinel-Standard