![Second Half by MHSAA](/sites/default/files/2021-02/2H-placeholder.png)
Linked Up: 11/22/11
November 22, 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.
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.
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: 8/19/24
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
August 19, 2024
1. BOYS SOCCER Macomb Lutheran North defeated host Detroit Country Day in a shootout to claim the Paul Bartoshuk Invitational championship – Oakland Press
2. GIRLS GOLF Petoskey and Traverse City St. Francis’ Grace Slocum were champions of the season-opening Traverse City West Invitational – Traverse City Record-Eagle
3. GIRLS GOLF Hudsonville edged Caledonia by a stroke to win the Sydney Carfine Memorial Tournament hosted by Jenison – Hudsonville Athletics
4. BOYS SOCCER Davison, Flint Powers Catholic and Grand Blanc were winners at the Vehicle City Soccer Classic – WNEM
5. BOYS TENNIS Midland Dow opened with sweeps of Traverse City Central and Battle Creek Lakeview – Midland Daily News
6. BOYS SOCCER Traverse City West tied Mattawan and defeated Plainwell at Portage Central’s Justin Baily Memorial Soccer Shootout – Traverse City Record-Eagle
7. BOYS SOCCER Alpena opened this season with a 3-2 win over Bay City Western – Alpena News
8. BOYS SOCCER Spring Lake opened with a 1-0 win over Muskegon Mona Shores – Local Sports Journal
9. BOYS SOCCER Bloomfield Hills bounced back from an opening loss to Orchard Lake St. Mary’s with a win over Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest – Hometown Life
10. BOYS SOCCER Oxford opened with a 4-1 win over Dearborn Divine Child – Oakland Press
Also of note …
TRACK & FIELD Grant Fisher has reached legendary status with his Olynpics accomplishments this month, and he’s another example of why participating in multiple sports is the smart move – Detroit Free Press