Today in the MHSAA: 9/20/17
September 20, 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. Volleyball: Class B No. 10 Montague moved to 4-0 in the West Michigan Conference by a slim margin, downing Class C No. 5 Shelby in five sets, the last 15-13 – Local Sports Journal
2. Boys Soccer: Portage Central, No. 4 in Division 1, downed rival Portage Northern for the first time since 2014, 3-1 – Kalamazoo Gazette
3. Cross Country: The unranked Grand Haven boys won the first Ottawa-Kent Conference Red jamboree ahead of LPD1 No. 14 Rockford, although the top-ranked Rams girls won their side of the meet – Grand Haven Tribune
4. Volleyball: Class A No. 6 Clarkston won all three sets by five or fewer points to down honorable mention Rochester Hills Stoney Creek in a matchup of first-place teams in the Oakland Activities Association Red – Oakland Press
5. Boys Soccer: Division 2 No. 2 Dexter moved to 13-0 with a 1-0 win over No. 18 Tecumseh in Southeastern Conference White play – Adrian Daily Telegram
6. Cross Country: The Manton boys and McBain girls, both honorable mentions in LPD3, won Highland Conference jamborees; the boys race also included LPD4 No. 9 Beal City – Cadillac News
7. Girls Swimming & Diving: Ann Arbor Huron downed rival Ann Arbor Pioneer in a matchup of honorable mentions in Lower Peninsula Division 1 – Ann Arbor News
8. Boys Soccer: Fruitport scored three second-half goals to down Division 3 No. 14 Grand Rapids Covenant Christian 5-2 – Grand Haven Tribune
9. Volleyball: Class B No. 8 Fruitport continued building momentum for what will be a tough weekend with a four-set win over rival Muskegon Mona Shores – Grand Haven Tribune
10. Girls Swimming & Diving: Alma earned first places in nine of 12 events, but Mount Pleasant’s depth showed through in a 98-76 win over its pool neighbor – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun
Did You See That? (May 6-12)
May 13, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
It matters not which school you support: All of us cheer on those who emerge from sad or challenging circumstances to return to the field of play. Those are stories with which we all identify, no matter where they take place or the athletes involved.
Grass Lake's Julia Covill and the Grayling golf team are among those we cheered on last week. Read on for why.
Good Read of the Week
One more race: A little more than a year ago, Julia Covill suffered a broken pelvis, shattered femur and a smattering of other injuries after losing control of her vehicle on a patch of black ice. The volleyball and track and field standout hadn’t participated in sports since – but returned to the track for one more race Tuesday to earn a final victory, even in crossing the finishing line of the 200-meter dash last. (Jackson Citizen-Patriot)
Boys Golf
Grayling returns to the course: Long drives and birdie putts were less significant details as Grayling returned to competition Wednesday for the first time since a car crash that rocked the northern Lower Peninsula, resulting in three deaths and five more hospitalizations. (Petoskey News)
TC West record falls: Cam Murray shot a 67 on Tuesday as Traverse City West won its Big North Conference event with a team score of 306. (Traverse City Record-Eagle)
Track and Field
Back on track: The Lake Linden-Hubbell boys and girls swept their home invitationals Friday in what was for many one of the first times those athletes had competed on a track this season thanks to lingering snow. (Houghton Daily Mining Gazette)
Down to the finish: The Battle Creek Lakeview boys and girls teams swept their Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference championship meets Friday, with the Lakeview boys clinching in dramatic fashion by securing a one-point win with a 1.23-second victory in the final event of the day. (Kalamazoo Gazette)
Boys Lacrosse
Haslett/Williamston takes big step: The Vikings earned their first Capital Area Activities Conference tournament championship with a 13-3 win over Holt, the three-time reigning champ that had beaten Haslett/Williamston 14-3 on April 27. The win pushed H/W into the No. 10 spot in today’s Division 2 state computer ranking. (Lansing State Journal)
Novi hangs on: Novi survived to win the Kensington Lakes Activities Association tournament championship game 7-6 after a last-second Brighton shot crossed the line just after time expired. (MLive Detroit)
Girls Tennis
FHN No. 1 again: Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern continued to own its league Saturday, although this time in a new division. The Huskies won the first-ever O-K Bronze tournament championship by four points over Ada Forest Hills Eastern. FHN has won nine straight league titles. (Grand Rapids Press)
Wrestling
Meet Mr. Wrestler: Fowlerville’s Adam Coon added to his impressive list of accomplishments – including becoming the 17th MHSAA wrestler to win four Finals championships – when he was named Mr. Wrestler by the Michigan Wrestling Association. (Livingston County Daily Press & Argus)
Upper Peninsula Hall of Fame
High school stars inducted: High school standouts brought back plenty of memories as this year’s class was inducted Sunday into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame. (Marquette Mining Journal)
Boys Basketball
Root resigns after 30+ seasons: Longtime Flint Ainsworth and then Carman-Ainsworth basketball coach Bob Root resigned last week, potentially finishing a career that began at Flint Northern in 1978. (Flint Journal)