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.
Story in Photos: 2025 Volleyball Division 2 & 3 Semifinals
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
November 21, 2025
BATTLE CREEK – The final four championship contenders earned their ways to the season’s final day during Friday’s Division 2 and 3 Semifinals at Kellogg Arena.
Saturday’s Finals will see the following face off:
10 a.m. – Division 4 – Fowler (35-8-2) vs. Mendon (38-6-1)
Noon – Division 1 – Farmington Hills Mercy (41-5-3) vs. Bloomfield Hills (43-6-1)
2:30 p.m. – Division 2 – Detroit Country Day (28-9) vs. Flat Rock (39-8)
4:30 p.m. – Division 3 – Kingsley (56-4-1) vs. Kalamazoo Christian (30-11-3)
All four matches offer the opportunity for a first-time champion as Fowler, Bloomfield Hills, Flat Rock and Kingsley will be playing for an inaugural title. Country Day will be playing for a repeat after winning its first championship a year ago, while Mercy and Kalamazoo Christian won in 2023 and Mendon’s most recent Finals victory came in 2019.
Hockey Weekly Action Photos captured the following from Friday’s action.
Kalamazoo Christian junior Eliana Keller unloads a kill attempt during her team’s 25-23, 25-16, 25-20 win over Saginaw Valley Lutheran. She finished with 11 kills.
Valley Lutheran sophomore Grace Parker (7) attempts to split by a block by Keller and senior Lydia Boley. Parker had five kills for the Chargers (51-11-3).
Kingsley junior Aizlyn McKinley (10) follows through on a kill attempt as Monroe St. Mary’s Olivia Beaudrie (2) and Kiley Urbanski (9) set up a block during the Stags’ 17-25, 25-19, 25-23, 8-25, 17-15 victory.
SMCC junior Olivia Horning extends for a dig. She finished with 11 for the Kestrels (36-6-1).
Flat Rock and Fremont players meet on a ball at the net during the Rams’ 25-20, 26-24, 23-25, 25-22 win. Both teams were appearing in a Semifinal for the first time, and Fremont finished 38-14.
Flat Rock junior Sarah Giroux connects on a kill attempt. She finished with 30 kills and 24 digs.
Detroit Country Day’s Elise Hiemstra (9) winds up for a hit during her team’s 18-25, 30-28, 25-23, 25-23 win over Grand Rapids Christian. Hiemstra had 19 kills for the match.
Grand Rapids Christian junior Taylor Frost (4) sends a kill attempt toward a block by Country Day sophomore Sici Guerrant (11) and junior Leah Green. Frost had18 kills for the Eagles (36-10), and Green had nine blocks for the Yellowjackets.
TOP PHOTO Flat Rock players pile onto the Kellogg Arena floor after clinching their first trip to the MHSAA Finals on Friday.