Today in the MHSAA: 9/27/19
October 1, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Thursday provided championship opportunities for a few teams looking to avenge past years’ defeats – and Muskegon Mona Shores girls golf, Spring Lake boys soccer and Ishpeming Westwood girls tennis took advantage to top today’s list.
1. Girls Golf: Mona Shores broke Reeths-Puffer’s three-year hold on the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association championship by shooting a 372 to edge runner-up Whitehall, which is ranked No. 10 in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – Local Sports Journal
2. Boys Soccer: Division 2 No. 12 Spring Lake got past two-time reigning Ottawa-Kent Conference Blue champion Grand Rapids Catholic Central 5-1 to clinch the league title – Grand Haven Tribune
3. Girls Tennis: Ishpeming Westwood swept singles and won two doubles flights to claim the Mid-Peninsula Conference tournament title ahead of runner-up and three-time reigning champ Negaunee – Marquette Mining Journal
4. Girls Swimming & Diving: Ann Arbor Pioneer continued to build on its top ranking in LPD1 with a 136-50 win over No. 10 Ann Arbor Huron – We Love Ann Arbor
5. Cross Country: Harbor Springs swept Class B/C titles (boys are ranked No. 12 in LPD3, and girls are an honorable mention), and the LPD4 No. 8 Petoskey St. Michael boys and Mackinaw City girls also won Mackinaw City Invitational titles – Petoskey News-Review
6. Boys Soccer: Division 4 No. 3 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian stayed unbeaten in Lakes 8 Conference play while handing a first league loss to Ludington, 1-0 – Local Sports Journal
7. Boys Soccer: Fremont and Newaygo played to a 1-1 draw in a matchup of teams that both finished without a loss in Central State Activities Association Gold play – Local Sports Journal
8. Boys Soccer: Traverse City West won the latest matchup with rival Central, 2-1 – Traverse City Record-Eagle
9. Volleyball: Onaway swept Gaylord St. Mary to remain perfect in Ski Valley Conference play – Alpena News
10. Volleyball: Petersburg Summerfield came back from a two-set deficit to get past Ottawa Lake Whiteford in five – Monroe Evening News
From High School to Olympic Swimming
July 11, 2012
Fans of U.S. Swimming already have plenty of reasons to cheer for Missy Franklin later this month at the Summer Olympics -- she's only 17, but qualified to compete in a U.S. women's all-time best seven events.
But fans of high school sports and what they provide athletes at all levels of ability can also support her for how she's chosen to compete when she's not racing against the best in the world.
Franklin, who lives in Colorado, has continued to swim for her high school team despite the financial rewards she could've earned by taking the elite swimmer's usual path of going pro.
A ton has been written about Franklin lately, for obvious reasons. Below is a link to a New York Times story from February that focused on her continued dedication to her high school team.
Before the Olympic Trials, There’s This Big High School Meet (New York Times)