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: 9/21/22

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

September 21, 2022

1. GIRLS GOLF No. 2 Brighton edged top-ranked Northville 162-168, the Bulldogs’ first victory over the four-time reigning Lower Peninsula Division 1 champion since they became league opponents in 2018 – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

2. CROSS COUNTRY A loaded tri saw the LPD1 top-ranked Northville boys finish ahead of No. 2 Plymouth and No. 6 Brighton and the No. 3 Brighton girls outpace No. 5 Northville and Plymouth – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

3. BOYS SOCCER Division 3 No. 10 Traverse City Christian avenged last year’s District loss to No. 7 Elk Rapids with a 3-2 victory – Up North Live

4. VOLLEYBALL Division 1 No. 7 Clarkston earned a key Oakland Activities Association Red win over honorable mention Lake Orion in four sets – Oakland Press

5. VOLLEYBALL Spring Lake won the final two sets to get past Division 2 honorable mention Fruitport in five – MuskegonSports.com

6. VOLLEYBALL Division 1 honorable mention Grand Blanc earned a five-set win over rival Davison – Mid-Michigan Now

7. VOLLEYBALL Navea Gauthier went over 1,000 career kills as just a sophomore as Division 3 No. 8 Shelby swept Ravenna – Local Sports Journal

8. BOYS SOCCER Petoskey kept its title hopes alive in the Big North Conference with a 2-1 win at Traverse City Central – Petoskey News-Review

9. VOLLEYBALL Hart came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Mason County Central in five sets – Ludington Daily News

10. VOLLEYBALL After losing the first set, Charlevoix won the next three to defeat Boyne City – Petoskey News-Review

Also of note …

CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK & FIELD Flint Carman-Ainsworth coach Kenn Domerese announced his retirement after leading four teams to MHSAA Finals championships over nearly five decades – Flint Journal