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: 11/2/16
November 2, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The MHSAA volleyball and boys soccer tournaments continued to progress Tuesday, although tragedy over the weekend left one community mourning – while paying a touching tribute – during its first-round victory.
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.
Cross Country
The Sturgis girls and Constantine boys won one of the final regular-season races of this fall, earning St. Joseph county championships – Sturgis Journal
Boys Soccer
Division 1 No. 6 Troy Athens secured the final spot in the MHSAA Semifinal field with a shootout win over Macomb Dakota – Oakland Press
Volleyball
In a matchup of Class A honorable mentions, Macomb Dakota came back from a 2-0 deficit to edge New Baltimore Anchor Bay in five – Macomb Daily
Romulus Summit Academy earned its first volleyball postseason win ever, 3-2 over Flat Rock in Class B – Southgate News-Herald
Class A honorable mention Saline swept Pinckney in Class A, earning coach Kenny Seiler his 300th victory at the school – Saline Post
In perhaps the closest three-set match of Tuesday night, Battle Creek Lakeview downed Coldwater in Class A 25-23, 25-21, 26-24 – Battle Creek Enquirer
Good Read
Class A honorable mention Caledonia won its first-round District match Tuesday against Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, but with an empty seat on the bench; teammate Macayla Kohn died in a car crash Friday, and her seat will remain hers alone during this tournament run – Grand Rapids Press