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Breslin Bound: Girls Report Week 2

December 17, 2013

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor 

Those who regularly contend for MHSAA titles or monitor high school sports statewide always are on the lookout for surprise teams making an impression at the beginning of a season or showing signs of contending at the end. 

A number of teams making this week’s report would qualify. Read on for why.

1. Pittsford (4-0, Class C) – The Wildcats have won their last three games by at least 18 points apiece, including by 18 over last season Class D Semifinalist Climax-Scotts. 

2. Ann Arbor Huron (4-1, Class A) – Huron has rebounded from an opening loss against powerful Goodrich to put up some solid wins including a 26-pointer over Temperance Bedford.

3. Jackson (4-1, Class A) – The Vikings also started last season 4-1, but look a lot better this time with a big win over perennial power East Lansing. 

4. Flat Rock (4-0, Class B) – The Rams are on another run after going 22-2 last season, already posting an impressive win over Flint Southwestern.

5. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart (5-0, Class D) – The Irish have cruised after an opening two-point win, and beat reigning Class D runner-up Waterford Our Lady by 30 last week. 

6. Mackinaw City (5-0, Class D) – The school has only 61 students but five girls hoops wins including three by 40 or more points.

7. Flint Southwestern (3-2, Class B) – Southwestern won only five games last season; its victories so far include an impressive one over Muskegon, while the losses were to Flat Rock (mentioned above) and last season Class B runner-up Flint Powers. 

8. Plymouth (3-0, Class A) – The Wildcats have beaten three teams with winning records to reverse paths after opening last season 1-3.

9. Hemlock (4-0, Class C) – The Huskies have won their first four games by 50, 19, 40 and 43 points, respectively, after opening last season 2-4. 

10. Twining Arenac Eastern (4-0, Class D) – The Eagles have beaten soundly some bigger opponents already, with three victories by 25 or more points.

PHOTO: Saginaw Heritage, in green, got past Saginaw 61-48 last week and stood at 2-1 entering this week. (Click to see more at HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)

Tony Coggins serves as PA announcer during a 2022 Division 3 volleyball match at Kellogg Arena.

In Memoriam: Tony Coggins (1971-2023)

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

October 24, 2023

The MHSAA and Holly school communities are grieving this week after the sudden loss of Tony Coggins, a shining light in his educational community and an enthusiastic supporter of school sports as a public address announcer for several of our largest championship events.

But while that cheerful tone has been quieted, it surely will not be forgotten by the many fortunate to enjoy an event in the presence of that voice and the joyfulness he brought into every arena, press box and classroom.

Coggins, 51, died Saturday. He is survived by his wife Kristy and children Emma and Bradlee, among several family and friends from his local and greater sports communities.

Tony CogginsHis career as a PA announcer began during his freshman year of high school in 1985, when his father Dale Coggins – Flushing’s athletic director at the time – couldn’t find anyone else to announce middle school football games. That was 39 years ago, and this fall Tony Coggins was in his 24th announcing at Holly, where he taught and served as an administrator in addition to his role as “Voice of the Holly Bronchos” for football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, competitive cheer and swimming & diving over the years.

Coggins has been a mainstay among MHSAA Finals PA announcers over the last decade in football, basketball, softball and most recently volleyball. He lent his voice to college sports at University of Michigan as well. “Tony was a huge part of our Finals events. It’s hard to imagine it being the same without him,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said.

As part of the run-up to the MHSAA public address announcers clinic in 2018, Coggins said this about what drew him to the microphone:

“I have zero athletic ability whatsoever, which is interesting because my father was an all-state running back. But I enjoy being involved, and I've always been the one for history and statistics and knowing what's going on,” Coggins said. “This is a way for me to be involved. It's a way for me to use a talent I've been given; public speaking has always come pretty naturally for me.

“So I worked at my craft to get better. I got better from watching the people around me, from studying the people I like, and the people – if I saw someone I didn’t care for – I'd make a note and say to myself, ‘Don't do that.’ I take feedback from people very personally, and I mean that in a good way. If somebody takes the time to come up and say, ‘You did this well; I think you should change this,’ that means they care about the program also. We all have the same goal in mind, and that's to make the experience good for the high school student and the parents, the fans, that come there.”

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at St. John Vianney, 2415 Bagley Street in Flint. There will be visitation from 2-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, and at the church from 10 a.m. Saturday until the time of the Mass.