Today in the MHSAA: 9/7/16

September 7, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The first day of school for most across our state brought with it mega matchups in a variety of sports – and some early re-ordering of teams as a few new league title contenders emerged.

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

Remus Chippewa Hills’ girls, who had only an individual qualifier at last season’s MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 Final, downed Big Rapids, which finished 16th at that race in 2015 – Big Rapids News

Girls Golf

Division 1 No. 9 Brighton continued to dominate this young season, downing Hartland while still playing without the reigning Miss Golf and another expected starter – Livingston Daily

Boys Soccer

Division 1 No. 5 Troy Athens earned a key early league win over No. 19 Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, 3-0 – Oakland Press

Warren DeLaSalle handed Sterling Heights Stevenson the latter’s first loss this season, 4-3, after trailing at halftime – Macomb Daily

Volleyball

Zeeland East downed both reigning Ottawa-Kent Conference Green champions in one night, defeating Zeeland West and then Byron Center both in two sets – Holland Sentinel

Port Huron Northern swept Marysville in three sets in a matchup of top Port Huron-area programs – Port Huron Times Herald

Today in the MHSAA: 12/10/15

December 10, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Wednesday was the first day of winter in full swing with significant matchups coming in six sports as four got into the heart of their first week of the season. Be sure to check out as well a story on MHSAA officials recruiting efforts.

Girls Basketball

Traverse City St. Francis won an early battle between two of the north’s top small-school teams, downing Frankfort (featured today on Second Half) 76-72 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

A pair of Concord players filled the stat sheet in a 62-56 win over Michigan Center; senior Lindsey Lehmen led with 24 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals, and sophomore Camryn Ward grabbed 19 rebounds – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Boys Basketball

From Tuesday, Sanford Meridian freshman Lucas Lueder will be among first-year players to watch, if his 18 points in a 65-61 win over Saginaw Nouvel are an indication – Midland Daily News

Boys Bowling

Vandercook Lake could be in line for an exciting season or four after watching freshmen Korey Reichard (278) and Conner Lackey (267) lead the way in a 29-1 win over Grass Lake – Jackson Citizen-Patriot

Ice Hockey

Division 3 No. 10 Farmington’s two first-period goals were enough as the Falcons scored a key early-season win over Division 2 No. 4 Berkley – Oakland Press

After finishing regulation tied, Division 2 No. 9 Traverse City Central needed only 14 seconds of overtime to get past Cadillac 4-3 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

Boys Swimming & Diving

Chelsea coach Dave Jolly was the mid-Michigan link to Wednesday’s Waverly Relays, the annual event for Lansing-area teams to kick off the season; his Lower Peninsula Division 3 No. 3-ranked team broke Okemos’ five-year hold on the meet championship – Lansing State Journal

Wrestling

No. 3 Davison earned one of the most significant early wins so far this season, 45-27 over No. 4 Brighton, which beat Davison in the Division 1 Semifinals last season – Livingston Daily

Saginaw Swan Valley, No. 8 in Division 3, just escaped Essexville Garber for a 32-30 win – Saginaw News

Good Read

After more than five decades as an official, Dick Kalahar is watching from the stands this season. He is among a growing number of retiring officials the MHSAA is charged with replacing over the next few years, and this piece looks at some of the challenges and opportunities, in part through Kalahar’s eyes – Jackson Citizen-Patriot