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: 11/21/16
November 21, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The MHSAA volleyball and girls swimming & diving tournaments finished Saturday with seven championships awarded to teams from across the Lower Peninsula and coverage provided of each Final by Second Half correspondents.
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.
Swimming & Diving
Rockford passed recent champs and favorites to win the Lower Peninsula Division 1 Final and claim its first championship in the sport – Second Half
Birmingham Seaholm won its first title in 20 years, finishing ahead of reigning champ Dexter in LP Division 2 – Second Half
East Grand Rapids claimed its 20th MHSAA championship with arguably its most talented team ever, winning in LP Division 3 – Second Half
Volleyball
Novi advanced to its third straight Class A Final and won its second straight championship, 3-1 over Rockford – Second Half
North Branch met Lake Odessa Lakewood in the Class B Final for the third time in five seasons and prevailed over the top-ranked Vikings – Second Half
Bronson repeated in Class C against a Brown City team appearing in the Final for the first time – Second Half
Plymouth Christian secured its first MHSAA title, downing league mate Auburn Hills Oakland Christian in Class D – Second Half