Today in the MHSAA: 9/23/16
September 23, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
A stunning win by the reigning Class A volleyball champion was among notable results in that sport and among others that also saw state-ranked teams surge Thursday.
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
Reigning Downriver League girls champion Wyandotte Roosevelt took the first steps toward a repeat in winning the first league jamboree of this season – Southgate News-Herald
The Lower Peninsula Division 3 top-ranked Traverse City St. Francis girls placed the first two finishers in winning the Kingsley Invitational; Division 4 No. 6 Manton won the boys race – Traverse City Record-Eagle
Boys Soccer
Midland Dow needed a last-minute goal to stay undefeated this season with a 2-2 draw against Saginaw Heritage – Saginaw News
Spring Lake, No. 3 in Division 2, added a tie over Division 3 No. 3 Grand Rapids Catholic Central to a win over the Cougars earlier this season to keep an upper hand in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue – Grand Haven Tribune
Volleyball
Class A No. 2 Novi swept No. 4 Northville in one of its most impressive wins since claiming the 2015 MHSAA title – Oakland Press
Macomb Dakota, an honorable mention in Class A, avenged a loss five days earlier to Romeo with a three-set win – Macomb Daily
Class A No. 6 Grand Haven down Hudsonville 3-1 on “Buc Pride Night” played to benefit cancer research and with freshman assistant coach Kabel Sheehan – currently fighting the disease – among those in mind – Grand Haven Tribune
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)