Did You See That? (April 8-14)

April 15, 2013

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Near-constant rain – and for our northern schools, plenty of snow – has stalled many teams during this spring season.

But there still were plenty of notable performances as most schools returned last week from spring break and battled the elements to get back into the swing. 

Below is a look, with links to coverage, of some of news and results that stuck out most:

Softball

Lake Orion mourns longtime coach: Former Lake Orion softball coach Denny Davis, who retired in 2009 with 503 wins and more than 30 seasons in the dugout, died after a heart attack on April 7. His funeral was Thursday. (Oakland Press)

Strong start: Sturgis opened its season with a no-hitter by pitcher Dominique Beach over Three Rivers in a 7-0 win. (Sturgis Journal)

Girls Tennis

Strong start II: Traverse City Central – a top team in Division 2 last season – beat Division 1 powers Midland Dow and Saline on Thursday at the Midland Tennis Center. Traverse City Central will play in Division 1 this spring. (Traverse City Record-Eagle)

Golf

Rockford rules Winding Creek: Through snow, wind and freezing temperatures, Rockford went low against 16 other teams to win Saturday’s Zeeland East Invitational with a score of 314. Junior A.J. Varekois shot a one-under 70 to finish as medalist. (Grand Rapids Press)

Soccer

Gull Lake golden: The Blue Devils beat rival Plainwell 2-1 on Friday in a game that likely gave Gull Lake some added push for the first Division 2 state rankings released today. Gull Lake is ranked No. 5 and Plainwell sits No. 6. (Kalamazoo Gazette

MHSAA

Minter honored with Norris Award: Longtime MHSAA official and former assistant to the director Tom Minter has been named the Vern L. Norris Award winner for this year and will be honored at the MHSAA’s Officials’ Awards & Alumni Banquet on May 4 in East Lansing. Minter has officiated MHSAA games for 48 years and continues to serve as a clinician at training sessions all over the state. (Second Half)

Football

Mifsud heads to Parma Western: After 16 seasons leading a strong Dearborn program, coach Dave Mifsud was hired as the new leader of Parma Western’s last week. He led Dearborn to eight playoff berths over the last nine seasons – with 11-win finishes in 2004 and 2006. He is taking over a program seeking its first playoff appearance and coming off a 1-8 finish. (Jackson Citizen Patriot)

Monroe Jefferson’s Cisco steps down: After 47 seasons and more than 400 games leading Jefferson’s program, coach Marc Cisco announced his retirement last week. Including three more seasons as an assistant, he coached in the program for a half century. (Monroe Daily News)

Boys Track and Field

Northern wins Port Huron matchup: The boys track meet between Port Huron and Port Huron Northern came down to the day’s final event, the 1,600-meter relay. Northern finished seven seconds faster and a little more than four points better. (Port Huron Times-Herald)

Girls Lacrosse

Chargers survive Saline: Flint Powers Catholic, which missed last season’s Division 2 Semifinals via a one-goal loss to eventual runner-up Okemos, held off a comeback attempt by Saline to earn a 15-14 win Saturday. (Mlive.com)

Boys Lacrosse

Defining win: That’s how the Grand Haven Tribune defined the Buccaneers’ 12-7 victory over three-time Division 2 champion East Grand Rapids – which also has finished MHSAA runner-up in its division three times. (Grand Haven Tribune)

Today in the MHSAA: 1/21/25

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

January 21, 2025

1. COMPETITIVE CHEER Gibraltar Carlson scored nearly 800 points to get past Rochester and win the Pat Christiansen Memorial Classic – Southgate News-Herald

2. WRESTLING Kingsford claimed the Upper Peninsula Championships – Upper Michigan’s Source

3. SWIMMING & DIVING Midland Dow – No. 9 in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – won the Tri-Cities Championship for the 22nd-consecutive season – Bay City Times

4. WRESTLING Division 3 No. 5 Whitehall won the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association title for the 18th time over the last 19 seasons – Local Sports Journal

5. HOCKEY Division 3 No. 2 Houghton downed Division 2 No. 7 Grandville 6-3 on Friday and then Division 1 No. 8 Northville 2-0 on Saturday – Houghton Daily Mining Gazette

6. BOYS BASKETBALL Warren Lincoln downed Muskegon 76-66 at the Horatio Williams Freedom Classic – Local Sports Journal

7. GIRLS BASKETBALL Frankenmuth posted a 39-31 win over Saginaw Heritage at Saginaw Valley State’s MLK Classic – Saginaw News

8. WRESTLING Division 2 No. 8 Freeland was the repeat champion at the 40th Reed City Invitational – Cadillac News

9. COMPETITIVE CHEER Fruitport posted a big win at the Grand Rapids West Catholic Invitational – MuskegonSports.com

10. COMPETITIVE CHEER Dexter earned its first victory this season, finishing first at the Dearborn Heights Crestwood Invitational – Chelsea Sun Times News