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.
Traverse City West Begins New Reign, Marquette Completes Individual Title Sweep
By
Brian Freiberger
Special for MHSAA.com
February 24, 2026
BOYNE FALLS – Despite the Marquette boys ski team taking top individual honors in giant slalom and slalom, Traverse City West filled the ranks Monday at Boyne Mountain to capture its first team Finals championship since 2023.
“All of us really came together today. We weren’t skiing as individuals. We knew what we had to do and ski to our abilities,” Traverse City West junior Dane Lewandowski said.
The Titans took back the team title from Marquette, which finished second. Traverse City Central placed third.
Marquette senior Cooper Henry took first in slalom with a two-run combined time of 61.10, leading the field by a second.
“I didn't shine super bright in GS, and I felt like I let the team down. I had a mental reset at lunch to get ready for slalom. It was always my best discipline,” Henry said. “I started to feel the pressure in the second run. I've never really been in that position before, leading first in such a big race.
“This has definitely been a goal and a dream of mine for a while. I was super happy when that happened. I love skiing with these guys. It's been a huge part of my life, and capping off my senior season with the state championship is one of the happiest moments of my life. I'm so grateful for my team, my coaches, and everything. It's been such an awesome opportunity and a great way to end it.”
Behind Henry in slalom was a stable of Traverse City West skiers finishing second, third, and fourth (Cam Lewandowski, Dane Lewandowski, and Brock Lewandowski) to help secure the team championship. Grady Ellis also had a key seventh-place finish for the Titans.
Marquette sophomore Lake Skytta took first in GS with a combined score of 75.02, narrowly edging Dane Lewandowski. Gannon Cervin of Rochester Hills Stoney Creek finished third with a time of 76.47, followed by Cameron Lewandowski and Jack Plummer of Traverse City West in third and fourth place, respectively.
“Coming into this morning, I was pretty nervous, just trying to relax. After my first run, I was pretty excited. I knew I had a good result and focused on the team aspect,” Skytta said. “This is one of our last years with this group of guys that I've been growing up with. I’m making sure to cherish these moments. … (The championship) really means a lot to me. All of the work I've put in since I was little, spending every single day at the hill for hours.”
The Titans and Marquette were followed by Traverse City Central in third, then Clarkston, Brighton, Detroit Catholic Central, Walled Lake United, Northville, and Birmingham to round out the competition.
(Click for more photos by Adam Sheehan Photography.)