Thank You from Second Half
January 25, 2013
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Next week will mark the one-year birthday of Second Half, our place to tell your high school sports stories.
And I thank you for helping us to such a great start.
We knew what we hoped to accomplish starting this site a year ago, but we've learned quite a bit during a relatively short time. Although we continue to pursue the mission of being home of the state’s best high school stories and a daily stop for fans, we’ll continue to experiment to figure out what you'd most like to see and how best we can continue to pass along the great things happening in MHSAA athletics.
A few things to call to your attention as we move ahead:
- First and foremost, we strive to tell your stories – hoping to hit every sport and all regions of our state – and have some intriguing ones coming up as we get into the second half of the winter season. Stay tuned.
- Second Half is the home for the “Battle of the Fans II.” We have visits to Buchanan and Vandercook Lake next week, followed by Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard and Zeeland East the week after. We’ll announce the winner Feb. 22. All will be found here first.
- We've revamped our video page (see menu across the top of this screen) and will be adding more videos more regularly in the year to come.
- After a brief hiatus, we’ll next week bring back “High 5s” featuring two athletes and a team that have done great things this season.
- What you’re reading now is the first of a weekly “First Pitch” blog that will allow us to post more of the quick hits we run across in our regular travels. Make sure to continue checking out the twice-weekly blog by Executive Director Jack Roberts, as well as the Viewpoints and SAC Sound-Offs supplied regularly by our friends from the Michigan State University Institute for the Study of Youth Sports and the members of our Student Advisory Council, respectively.
- We began providing in-depth statewide coverage – both previewing and then postgame reporting – of our Finals in every sport this fall, and hope to become your first and fastest source for the stories behind our championships.
We’re always looking for ideas both for stories or any other features you’d like to see – and feel free to send them directly to me at [email protected].
And again, thank you again for coming to our site today. We look forward to seeing you more in the year to come.
Holland Christian Wins 6 Flights, Claims 1st Team Championship since 1965
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
October 23, 2024
MIDLAND – Holland Christian, for several years a Lower Peninsula Division 3 boys tennis program, has found Division 4 to its liking this season.
The Maroons captured the Division 4 championship Tuesday at the Midland Tennis Center, rolling to the title with 33 points ahead of runner-up Maple City Glen Lake at 23. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett was third with 21.
Heading into the semifinals, Holland Christian carried a one-point lead over Glen Lake, with University Liggett a distant third with 16 points. The championship was the Maroons’ fifth but first since 1965, with its best Finals finish since coming in second in Division 3 in 1998. They had finished fourth in Division 3 in 2023 before moving into Division 4 for this season.
“We’re used to seeing teams (like) Detroit Country Day and Cranbrook; that’s part of it,’’ said Henry Langejans, a senior on the Maroons top-seeded doubles team with Lucas Van Wieren. “Stepping down to D-4 is a factor. We expected to be here.’’
Holland Christian won six flights, with a sweep at doubles. Langejans and Van Wieren captured the title at No. 1 doubles with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Landen Maltby and Luca Marciano of Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett, and Tyler Hemmeke and Gavin Swiftney defeated Liggett’s Griffin Machal and Niko Cooksey at No. 2, 6-3, 7-6. Sophomores Michael Gorno and Graham Tanis prevailed with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Casey Jackson and Brady Thelen of Traverse City St. Francis, and Levi King and Jack DeYoung got the best of Liggett’s Davis Ford and Lucas Ferguson at No. 4 doubles 6-3, 6-4.
Gorno is the son of Holland Christian coach Steve Gorno.
“Playing for my dad is amazing,’’ said Michael. “He has taught me everything I know about tennis. We have a great coaching staff. We’ve been blessed to have our three coaches.
“We’ve been ranked No. 1 all year. We’ve had a target on our backs, so we’ve gotten every team’s best all year.’’
The runner-up finish was Glen Lake’s best all-time, and coach John Voss also noted this season’s Regional title was his program’s first since 2002. “We have players in No. 2 and No. 3 singles so we’ve had a good year,’’ said Voss. “This has been our best year.’’
Lakers senior Michael Houtteman, the top seed at No. 3 singles, said his team’s run started before the season. He defeated Edwin Seo of Berrien Springs, 6-2, 6-1, to clinch his flight.
“A lot of us have been putting the work in before the season,’’ said Houtteman. “We got tennis courts at the school my freshman year. I think a lot of us are playing our best tennis now. We have a lot of seniors. We’re all pretty amped us. A couple of flights lost, but they are out cheering us on as hard as they can.’’
No. 1 singles was a battle between friends: Freshman top-seed Oliver Caldwell of Grand Rapids West Catholic and Owen Jackson of Traverse City St. Francis.
After entering the Finals 1-1 against each other, Caldwell prevailed this time, winning 6-2, 6-3.
“He was the only person I lost to this year,’’ said Caldwell. “I’ve had a great season. He’s a great player. We go way back. I used to live in the Traverse City area, and we went to the same tennis school.’’
Holland Chrisitan’s Dylan Becksvoort defeated Hawthorn Sutherland of Glen Lake 6-3, 7-5, to win No. 2 singles. At No. 4, Holland Christian freshman Nicco Grosso defeated senior Hayden Riley of Lansing Catholic 6-1, 6-3.
“I’m kind of emotional right now because I’ve been working all year for this,’’ said Grosso. “Since the summer, Coach has had this planned out. We didn’t necessarily have the lineup, but the plan was there.’’
PHOTOS (Top) Holland Christian’s Lucas Van Wieren winds up during a No. 1 doubles match Tuesday at Midland Tennis Center. (Middle) The Maroons’ Tyler Hemmeke serves at No. 2 doubles. (Below) Grand Rapids West Catholic’s Oliver Caldwell shows intensity during a No. 1 singles match. (Click for more from High School Sports Scene.)