![](/sites/default/files/imported/Photos/3_Secondhalf.jpg)
Linked Up: 11/22/11
December 20, 2011
Thanksgiving week means a short one for most -- and more time for family, shopping, relaxation, watching the MHSAA Football Finals and hopefully a little additional reading.
Here are some suggestions from the last week and as we get ready to leave the fall and jump into the winter sports season.
Remember, if you find something high school sports-related that you think others would find useful or inspiring, send me a link at [email protected] and I'll check it out.
Okemos girl's cancer battle inspires Spartans (Lansing State Journal)\
We believe high school sports are about community. While not high school-related, this is a story about community and its power to do great things. Joe Rexrode tells us about 11-year-old Paige Duren and her battle against brain cancer – with the support of her community including big assists from the Michigan State football and basketball teams. She’s a two-sport athlete herself – playing soccer and basketball – and an inspiration to those who’ve come to know her. Rexrode makes it easy to understand why.
Sister act: Shaw, Halberg share much in common, despite more than 2,000 miles between them (Petoskey News)
That the Grunch sisters are excellent volleyball coaches isn’t a coincidence, Charlevoix people surely would say. But it’s a neat one that Liz (Grunch) Shaw and Christine (Grunch) Halberg both led their teams to their best finishes since 1989 (Halberg) or ever (Shaw). Shaw coaches their alma mater, while Halberg coaches 2,300 miles away in Washington. Steve Foley fills us in on how this worked out.
Avenall the right choice to lead Clarkston into volleyball history (NorthOaklandSports.com)
Clarkston coach Kelly Avenal was part of some great teams as a player, but until this past weekend Clarkston had never reached an MHSAA Finals weekend. Dan Stickradt tells us how she’s taken the program to the elite level while also giving a brief history lesson on how it got rolling toward that trip to Battle Creek.
Natural fit: Superior Dome was easy choice for 8-man final according to MHSAA (Marquette Mining Journal)
A few of us spent Friday night at Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome, and count me among those who will look forward to making a return trip. Here’s some of the story behind the MHSAA’s selection of the Superior Dome as home of the inaugural 8-Player Football Final, as well as Semifinals most years.
Lowell's Noel Dean to Receive 2011 Power of Influence Award (AFCA.com)
The Red Arrows are headed back to Ford Field on Friday for the Division 2 Final, but Dean also will be scheduling a January trip to San Antonio, Texas, to receive this prestigious award from the American Football Coaches Association and American Football Coaches Foundation. Dean started his head coaching career at Bendle in 1991 before heading to Lowell in 1996. He's led teams to three MHSAA championships, and also the fundraising of $425,000 for cancer support through the "Pink Arrow Project."
![Today In The MHSAA](/sites/default/files/2021-03/Today%20In%20The%20MHSAA_8.png)
Today In The MHSAA: 5/16/22
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 16, 2022
1. BASEBALL Division 1 No. 17 Traverse City Central downed No. 2 Grand Blanc and Division 2 top-ranked Ada Forest Hills Eastern to claim its home invitational title – Traverse City Record-Eagle
2. TRACK & FIELD Zeeland East swept Ottawa-Kent Conference Green league meet championships; both East teams are ranked No. 1 in Lower Peninsula Division 2 – Holland Sentinel
3. BOYS LACROSSE Division 2 No. 2 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central won a matchup of undefeated state powers, 16-3 over Division 1 No. 3 Clarkston – FOX 17
4. BOYS GOLF LPD3 No. 6 Grosse Ile shot a 329 to edge LPD2 No. 12 Trenton by a stroke and win its fifth-straight Marauder Invitational title – Southgate News-Herald
5. TRACK & FIELD The Negaunee girls and Kingsford boys won Negaunee Lions Invitational championships – Marquette Mining Journal
6. TRACK & FIELD Otsego swept Wolverine Conference league meet championships – Niles Daily Star
7. TRACK & FIELD The LPD2 No. 3 Freeland girls and Saginaw Heritage boys were the first team champions to be awarded at the Korf/Schultz Saginaw County Championships – Saginaw News
8. TRACK & FIELD The Pinckney boys and LPD2 No. 6 Tecumseh girls won Southeastern Conference White league meet titles, while the LPD1 No. 3 Saline boys and Ann Arbor Pioneer girls won in the SEC Red – Livingston Daily Press & Argus | Adrian Daily Telegram | Saline Post Boys | Girls
9. GIRLS TENNIS Muskegon Mona Shores edged Holland by two points to win the O-K Green Tournament, and LPD4 No. 4 North Muskegon won the Coastal Conference Tournament – Local Sports Journal O-K Green | Coastal Conference
10. TRACK & FIELD Bay City Western swept at the Bay County Championships – Bay City Times