Linked Up: 11/15/11

November 15, 2011

We're heading into the final two weeks of the MHSAA fall season, which means playoffs for a few more sports, first practices for many others, and some catch-up on good stories that have made their way into my e-mail or onto my desk. Here are five more I've run across this week.

And again, if you see something high school sports-related that you think others would find valuable, send me a link at [email protected].

Walled Lake Central's Zac Leimbach stands strong after father's death (Detroit Free Press)

Walled Lake Central quarterback Zac Leimbach led his team to the playoffs this fall (WLC lost last weekend). He also is the oldest of three sons and now the man of his house in the wake of the summer death of their father after a battle with cancer. Mick McCabe's passage about Leimbach's final conversation with his father really struck me -- incredible.

Being in the pool makes Zeeland swimmer Becky Taylor feel like equal (Holland Sentinel)

Taylor was born with spina bifida -- "a hole in her back" -- and paralysis from the hips down. But she can leave her wheelchair behind when she takes to the pool as a member of the Zeeland swim team. Dan D'Addona tells us this inspiring story that has made waves on the west side of the state this season.

Mercy's Maddy Doyle takes home Miss Volleyball award (Oakland Press)

Doyle was the spokesperson for her team to the media after tough losses ended their last two seasons. But she was able to stand in once more  -- joyfully tearful this time -- in accepting the Miss Volleyball award for 2011. Matthew B. Mowery wraps up her great career.

It's like I never left, almost: EGR still winning playoff games, this time against Holland (Grand Rapids Press)

East Grand Rapids' win over Holland was the Pioneers' 28th straight in postseason play. That's a story unto itself, of course. But another big one for West Michigan high school sports fans was the return of the Press' Jane Bos, who is back in the press box after nearly a year working through medical issues. This is her return column, and I'm sure a loyal reader base is thankful to have her back.

From a standout player, a different sort of care basket (Los Angeles Times)

This is a little old, but came back into the light this week with the start of college basketball season. It's a college story, but also a high school story, of a star hoops player who won $40,000 in scholarship money in a free-throw shooting contest -- and then gave it to the seven runners-up. You'll probably hear about Cal State-Northridge's Allan Guei at some point over the next few years. Here's why.

Today in the MHSAA: 5/29/24

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 29, 2024

1. GIRLS SOCCER Trenton delivered No. 10 New Boston Huron’s first and only loss to win a Division 2 District Final shootout – Southgate News-Herald

2. BOYS LACROSSE Dearborn Divine Child came back to get past Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood 12-9 and claim a second-straight Division 2 Regional title – Oakland Press

3. GIRLS SOCCER No. 2 Richland Gull Lake advanced in its Division 2 District with a shootout win over No. 4 Plainwell – Kalamazoo Gazette

4. BOYS LACROSSE Grand Rapids Catholic Central also advanced in Division 2 with a 15-10 Regional Final win over Forest Hills Northern – FOX 17

5. BOYS GOLF Traverse City St. Francis repeated as a Regional champion with a 25-stroke victory in Lower Peninsula Division 3 – Traverse City Record-Eagle

6. BOYS GOLF Haslett finished eight strokes ahead of DeWitt to win their LPD2 Regional – Lansing State Journal

7. GIRLS SOCCER Bay City Western tied its single-season record for wins with a 3-1 victory over Cadillac in a Division 2 District Semifinal – Bay City Times

8. BASEBALL LeRoy Pine River earned coach Shawn Ruppert his 700th win with an 8-4 Division 3 District victory over Harrison – Cadillac News

9. SOFTBALL Livonia Franklin advanced to its Division 1 District Final with its first win over Churchill since 2015, 7-1 – Hometown Life

10. GIRLS SOCCER No. 5 Portage Central advanced in Division 1 with a 2-1 victory over Mattawan – WWMT