Did you see that? (9/24-9/30)

October 2, 2012

League champions have been crowned in a number of golf and tennis conferences, and we'll get to more of those next week. Volleyball and cross country provided the best of the non-football action from the week that was Sept. 24-30.

Volleyball

Make it 40: Adrian Madison has owned the Tri-County Conference over the last few seasons, and Thursday pushed its league winning streak for 40 with a pair of wins over Morenci, which also was undefeated in the league this season heading into the night.  (Adrian Daily Telegram)

Another weekend, another win: Richland Gull Lake, ranked No. 2 in Class A, this time won the East Grand Rapids Invitational by going undefeated in a Gold division that including formerly-No. 5 Portage Central and new No. 10 East Grand Rapids, among others. (Grand Rapids Press)

Calumet makes it three: The Copper Kings are ranked No. 4 in Class C and have dominated the Upper Peninsula this fall, including at this weekend's Marquette Invitational. Their title march included a final match win over Houghton. It's the third time this season Calumet has beaten Houghton, which won the Copper Kings' District the last two seasons. (Houghton Daily Mining Gazette)

Believe in Beal City: Some of the best small-school volleyball in the state is being played in the middle of the Lower Peninsula. Class D No. 3 Beal City downed Class C No. 2 St. Louis at the Sharks home invitational Saturday, and also beat Class C No. 7 New Lothrop on the way. (Mount Pleasant Morning Sun)

Cross country

Loaded fields at CCC: Some of the state's top competition, especially from the north and west, ran at the Carson City-Crystal Invitational on Saturday. Winning the four girls races were Division 2 No. 3 Ada Forest Hills Eastern, unranked Coopersville, Division 3 No. 1 Grandville Calvin Christian and Division 4 No. 3 Bear Lake/Onekama. The boys races were won by  Division 4 No. 1 Pewamo-Westphalia, Division 3 No. 1 Grandville Calvin Christian, unranked Alma and Division 1 No. 7 Saginaw Heritage. Cedar Springs' Connor Mora (15:31) and Grand Rapids Christian's Julia Bos (17:37) were the fastest individuals. (Playmakers.com)

Escanaba in the highlight: The Escanaba boys team topped a field of 28 at the Munising Invitational with four finishers among the top 13. Sault Ste. Marie freshman Parker Scott continued his tremendous first season winning the individual title in 16:15. Calumet won the girls race, with Marquette's Lindsey Rudden leading the way individually in 18:21. (Escanaba Daily Press)

Seaholm makes statement: The Birmingham Seaholm girls, ranked No. 3 in Division 1, topped a field that included No. 2 Saline and No. 1 Grosse Pointe South (although without top runners Hannah and Haley Meier). Seaholm placed five finishers among the top 10 in the large school race at the Coaching Legends Classic in Brighton. Division 6 No. 1 Romeo won the boys race. (Oakland Press)

In Memoriam

Northern Michigan loses personality, official: The Traverse City area mourned the unexpected death of Scott Michael Trager, the morning anchorman at 9&10 News/Fox 32 and an MHSAA basketball official for nearly a decade. Trager, who was 46, had been at 9&10 since 1990 and assisted in the creation of the station's 'Sports Overtime" show. (9&10 News)

Story of the Week

Touchdowns for Teal: Those who have watched Monroe's football team this fall may have noticed the players' teal shoelaces, which certainly stand out against the otherwise red, white and black uniforms. The team is wearing them in support of Julie West, whose son Tom West is the standout quarterback. Julie is being treated for ovarian cancer. (Monroe Evening News)

We're Back: 1st Practice and Games Dates

August 10, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The first football practices this morning (some in the middle of the night) kicked off another school year for MHSAA high school teams all over Michigan.

Here's a glance at when all of our fall sports can begin practice and games:

Football: Practice began today, Aug. 10, and the first varsity games will be played Aug. 27. Subvarsity teams can play their first games Aug. 26. 

Girls Golf: Practice begins Aug. 12 (Wednesday); first matches Aug. 19

Boys (LP) and Girls (UP) Tennis: Practice begins Aug. 12 (Wednesday); first matches Aug. 19

Volleyball: Practice begins Aug. 12 (Wednesday); first games Aug. 21. 

Boys (LP) Soccer: Practice begins Aug. 12 (Wednesday); first games Aug. 21.

Cross Country: Practice begins Aug. 12 (Wednesday); first races Aug. 21.

Girls (LP) Swimming and Diving: Practice begins Aug. 12 (Wednesday); first competition Aug. 21.

Middle School: Fall sports begin Aug. 24.

See below for all postseason dates:

Cross Country:
U.P. Finals – Oct. 24
L.P. Regionals – Oct. 30 or 31
L.P. Finals – Nov. 7

11-Player Football:
Selection Sunday – Oct. 25
Pre-Districts – Oct. 30 or Oct. 31
District Finals – Nov. 6 or 7
Regional Finals – Nov. 13 or 14
Semifinals – Nov. 21
Finals – Nov. 27-28

8-Player Football:
Selection Sunday – Oct. 25
Regional Semifinals – Oct. 30 or Oct. 31
Regional Finals – Nov. 6 or 7
Semifinals – Nov. 14
Finals – Nov. 20 or 21

L.P. Girls Golf:
Regionals – Oct. 7 or 8 or 9 or 10
Finals – Oct. 16-17

Soccer:
Boys L.P. Districts – Oct. 19-24
Boys L.P. Regionals – Oct. 27-31
Boys L.P. Semifinals – Nov. 4
Boys L.P. Finals – Nov. 7

L.P. Girls Swimming & Diving:
Diving Regionals – Nov. 12
Swimming/Diving Finals – Nov. 20-21

Tennis:
U.P. Girls Finals – Sept. 30-Oct. 3
L.P. Boys Regionals – Oct. 8 or 9 or 10
L.P. Finals – Oct. 16-17

Girls Volleyball:
Districts – Nov. 2-4 & 5, 6 or 7
Regionals – Nov. 10 & 12
Quarterfinals – Nov. 17
Semifinals – Nov. 19-20
Finals – Nov. 21