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.
Preparation Pays Off Again as University Liggett Returns to Reign
By
Perry A. Farrell
Special for MHSAA.com
October 21, 2025
MIDLAND – Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett believed this fall's tough regular-season schedule would prepare the team for any other contenders it might face with a title on the line at this week's Lower Peninsula Division 4 Finals.
The Knights were indeed ready. They fought off determined Jackson Lumen Christi on Tuesday, claiming the crown with 31 points by stretching its lead during the championship flights. The Titans had 21 points, and Maple City Glen Lake finished third with 19.
Liggett had most recently won Division 4 in 2022 and finished runner-up in 2023.
"The theme for the season was 'play the ball,''' said coach Mark Sobieralski, finishing his 44th year. "And not worry about who you are playing against, and let everyone play Liggett. You have to use that to your advantage because of the history of the school.
“The kids bought it. The worst thing you can do is look at the draw and say ‘I have to play the No. 1 seed,’ or ‘I've got to play this guy or this guy.’ You can't worry about that. You just have to play the ball. That's all you can control.”
The Finals field was a little bit different this time, with 2024 champion Holland Christian playing in Division 3 this season. Liggett led second-place Lumen Christi 26-20 heading into Tuesday’s semifinals.
Seniors Niko Cooksey and Griffin Marchal, second-seeded at No. 1 doubles, captured the team’s first flight championship with a 6-1, 6-1, victory over top-seed Casey Jackson and William Gibbons from Traverse City St. Francis.
"Coach always has us play a competitive schedule during the regular season,'' Cooksey said. "Our year has been great, actually. We get the hardest schedule. Our (No.) 1 doubles has been good. We've lost to some good teams, but we've beaten some good teams. We beat the No. 2 seed in Division 2 (Birmingham) Seaholm, so that was a big win. We've just been playing within ourselves.''
"It was a tough match (today), but I think the tough schedule we played during the season helped,'' Marchal added. "Before this, beating Seaholm was the highlight of the season. The state title is the goal.''
Lansing Christian junior Stephen Gollapalli avenged his only loss this season by downing Lansing Catholic sophomore and top-seeded Noah West 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, in the No. 1 singles final.
West had defeated Gollapalli 6-4, 6-3 at their Regional before Gollapalli turned the tables.
"It was really tough, and I'm just glad I was able to stay strong,'' said Gollapalli. "The last hours were tough. I was battling cramping. My coaches were really good. My mom was up there cheering and gave me some will to fight.
"I had a three-setter in the semifinal, and to tell you the truth, I just kept grinding. I got off to a fast start by winning the first set, and that helped. He's a fantastic player. He wasn't just going to give it to me.''
No. 2 singles also went three sets with Grand Rapids West Catholic’s fourth-seeded freshman Crew VanBeynen facing Berrien Springs’ second-seeded senior Phil Seo. Seo prevailed 6-2, 1-6, 7-5.
Edwin Seo of Berrien Springs (no relation) captured No. 3 singles with a 6-4, 6-4, victory over Jason Gonerka of Jackson Lumen Christi.
Liggett won No. 2 doubles with Landen Maltby and Charlie Laethem defeating Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian's Hudson Tolsma and Jaben Bell, 6-1, 6-0. No. 4 singles also went to Liggett as Justin Platt outlasted Glen Lake’s Porter Martin 6-3, 6-2.
The Lakes won No. 4 doubles with top seeds Levi Lamb and Luke Selby handling Theo McEldowney and Nolan Curtis of Jackson Lumen Christi 6-1, 6-3.
The Liggett No. 3 doubles team of Rene Quint and Lucas Ferguson defeated Jackson Lumen Christi's Holden Luce and Brogan Kelly 7-6 (8-6), 5-7, 6-2.
"My dad and I put in so much effort in tennis,'' said Quint. "To finally have it pay off. … Last year I lost my first round in a rat tail. To come back this year and be able to win means so much.''
(PHOTOS by High School Sports Scene.)