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: 10/29/15

October 29, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half

Boys Soccer Regionals continued Wednesday with a number of ranked teams matching up, but also note some significant volleyball accomplishments and a piece on a football coach taking major strides with West Bloomfield.

Boys Soccer

Division 3 No. 10 Gladwin downed No. 9 Whitehall by shootout in a Regional Semifinal – Muskegon Chronicle

Division 3 No. 11 Ludington made its first Regional Final since 2001 with a shutout of No. 12 Elk Rapids – Muskegon Chronicle

Division 4 No.3 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian took No. 12 Charlevoix to a shootout before winning their Regional Semifinal – Muskegon Chronicle

Division 4 No. 14 Burton Genesee Christian flew under the radar for much of this fall, but remained undefeated with a 5-0 win over Lincoln Alcona – Flint Journal

Division 1 No. 4 Utica Ford outlasted No. 7 Utica Eisenhower for a 2-0 Regional Semifinal win – Macomb Daily

Reigning Division 1 runner-up Rochester Adams, now ranked No. 3, edged Bloomfield Hills 1-0 – Oakland Press

Volleyball

Class C No. 10 Kent City won its first volleyball league title in 15 seasons while ending Morley-Stanwood’s run of 13 straight championships – Grand Rapids Press

Class B honorable mention Frankenmuth capped a perfect run through a Tri-Valley Conference East that includes No. 8 North Branch – Saginaw News

Class C honorable mention Calumet survived a five-set match against Hancock, a possible opponent in next week’s District – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

Good Read

West Bloomfield football is undefeated for the first time since 1962, coached by former University of Michigan and NFL receiver Ron Bellamy, who brought his team through struggles his first few seasons and also received some touching assistance from the legendary longtime coach next door – Detroit News