Today in the MHSAA: 9/24/15

September 24, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Michigan’s athletes are in midseason form as we head into the final weekend of September, and some of Wednesday’s performances in cross country and golf are proof they’re hitting stride.

Cross Country

St. Joseph sophomore Anna Fischer, one of the top freshmen at last season’s MHSAA Finals, edged Portage Northern freshman Peyton Witt to win Wednesday’s Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference West race – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills senior Madison Goen continued her streak of winning every race she’s run this season, going 18 minutes flat as Kenowa edged Muskegon Reeths-Puffer 27-28 – Grand Rapids Press

Girls Golf

Macomb Lutheran North, No. 2 in Lower Peninsula Division 4, broke its school record for the second time this week, shooting 330 to win the Macomb County Golf Invitational; sophomore Serena Nguyen was the medalist at 77 – Macomb Daily

Boys Soccer

Midland edged Bay City Western 2-1 in Saginaw Valley League North play despite the 25th goal this season for the Warriors Ty Fulco – Bay City Times

Ortonville Brandon, No. 20 in Division 2, edged Flint Metro League foe Fenton 1-0 after a shootout; Brandon also beat Clio in a shootout Monday – Oakland Press

Petoskey’s 4-0 win over Elk Rapids was its sixth shutout in seven games and fourth straight; the Northmen are No. 14 in Division 2 – Petoskey News

Boys Tennis

Port Huron Northern, No. 8 in LP Division 1, downed St. Clair 6-2 to claim the MAC Red championship outright, its first league title since 2011 – Port Huron Times-Herald

Volleyball

Class C top-ranked Bronson downed Class D No. 5 Mendon in three sets in a matchup of two of southwest Michigan’s top teams – Sturgis Journal

Kent City, an honorable mention in Class C, downed No. 10 Morley-Stanwood in four sets to move into first place alone in the Central State Activities Association Silver – Big Rapids News

Today in the MHSAA: 2/1/16

February 1, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Incredible numbers in girls basketball and boys swimming and a matchup of undefeated rivals led the weekend’s headlines across Michigan. 

Girls Basketball

Southfield-Lathrup doubled up Southfield in the final regular-season matchup between the rivals – the schools are scheduled to merge next year – Oakland Press

Grand Rapids South Christian made 11 3-pointers to stay undefeated and hand the first loss this season to Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 70-50 – Grand Rapids Press 

Benton Harbor’s Kysre Gondrezick continues to climb the MHSAA career scoring list and moved past St. Joseph’s Kim Knuth for seventh place with 39 against Niles to give her 2,460 points – St. Joseph Herald Palladium

Competitive Cheer

Portage Central, Plainwell, host Otsego and Delton Kellogg won division titles at the Bulldog Invitational with Plainwell putting up the top score overall – Kalamazoo Gazette 

Boys Swimming & Diving

Midland Dow won its 14th Tri-Cities Swim Invitational title, and Nehemiah Mork broke multiple meet records including one set in 1982 – Saginaw News 

Wrestling

Six of the 14 champions at the Lenawee County All-Star Tournament came from Hudson – Adrian Daily Telegram

Battle Creek Lakeview won the Bill Evans Memorial Invitational ahead of a field that included Division 4 No. 7 Bronson – Battle Creek Enquirer

Macomb teams dominated the Macomb-Oakland County Challenge, led by undefeated Richmond – Macomb Daily

Unranked Niles won its fourth straight Greater Berrien County Invitational ahead of a field that included Division 2 No. 10 Stevensville Lakeshore – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

Good Reads

Fans of all schools will be rooting for Howell coach Ken Richards, who remains the school’s freshman boys basketball coach after being given a 50-50 chance of surviving cancer this past football season – Livingston Daily

Mount Pleasant is mourning the death of longtime coach Jim Powell, who guided more than 4,000 athletes during a 60-year career – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun