Today in the MHSAA: 9/10/15

September 10, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The Birmingham Seaholm girls cross country team and Ann Arbor Pioneer girls golf team were among those that reminded us Wednesday to keep on the lookout for big things to come as we work through the first full week of September.

Cross country

The Seaholm girls appear elite against despite losing two of the state’s best from last season’s Lower Peninsula Division 1 championship team, and scored only 20 points in winning the Oakland Activities Association Red jamboree Wednesday – Oakland Press

Girls Golf

Anastassia Lee shot a one-under par 35 to lead Ann Arbor Pioneer to its season-low score of 161 and a win over rival Huron – MLive-Ann Arbor

Boys Soccer

Paw Paw won a battle of undefeated Wolverine Conference teams, and did so in a big way, 6-0 over Otsego to gain an early lead in the league standings – Kalamazoo Gazette

Utica Ford remained undefeated with a 2-0 victory despite a sharp performance by St. Clair Shores Lakeview keeper Shane Casacchia – Macomb Daily

Volleyball

Saranac jumped out to a 2-0 lead and then won the fifth set 15-13 to down perennial Central Michigan Athletic Conference contender Pewamo-Westphalia – Ionia Sentinel-Standard

Today in the MHSAA: 12/10/15

December 10, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wednesday was the first day of winter in full swing with significant matchups coming in six sports as four got into the heart of their first week of the season. Be sure to check out as well a story on MHSAA officials recruiting efforts.

Girls Basketball

Traverse City St. Francis won an early battle between two of the north’s top small-school teams, downing Frankfort (featured today on Second Half) 76-72 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

A pair of Concord players filled the stat sheet in a 62-56 win over Michigan Center; senior Lindsey Lehmen led with 24 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals, and sophomore Camryn Ward grabbed 19 rebounds – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Boys Basketball

From Tuesday, Sanford Meridian freshman Lucas Lueder will be among first-year players to watch, if his 18 points in a 65-61 win over Saginaw Nouvel are an indication – Midland Daily News

Boys Bowling

Vandercook Lake could be in line for an exciting season or four after watching freshmen Korey Reichard (278) and Conner Lackey (267) lead the way in a 29-1 win over Grass Lake – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Ice Hockey

Division 3 No. 10 Farmington’s two first-period goals were enough as the Falcons scored a key early-season win over Division 2 No. 4 Berkley – Oakland Press

After finishing regulation tied, Division 2 No. 9 Traverse City Central needed only 14 seconds of overtime to get past Cadillac 4-3 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Boys Swimming & Diving

Chelsea coach Dave Jolly was the mid-Michigan link to Wednesday’s Waverly Relays, the annual event for Lansing-area teams to kick off the season; his Lower Peninsula Division 3 No. 3-ranked team broke Okemos’ five-year hold on the meet championship – Lansing State Journal

Wrestling

No. 3 Davison earned one of the most significant early wins so far this season, 45-27 over No. 4 Brighton, which beat Davison in the Division 1 Semifinals last season – Livingston Daily

Saginaw Swan Valley, No. 8 in Division 3, just escaped Essexville Garber for a 32-30 win – Saginaw News

Good Read

After more than five decades as an official, Dick Kalahar is watching from the stands this season. He is among a growing number of retiring officials the MHSAA is charged with replacing over the next few years, and this piece looks at some of the challenges and opportunities, in part through Kalahar’s eyes – Jackson Citizen-Patriot