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February 5, 2012
Check out our must-know scores and news from Jan. 30-Feb. 4.
(Click on links for coverage.)
Gymnastiscs
Grand Ledge pushes streak to 69 at Canton Invitational: The Comets scored 146.8 to finish 0.075 points ahead of runner-up Canton on Saturday and continue a winning streak that dates back to the first event of the 2007-08 season. The Canton Invitational usually is the most competitive regular-season meet in the state, and this time included nine of 12 teams that competed in the 2011 MHSAA Team Final, including the top five placers. Grand Ledge’s highlight easily was a 10.0 by senior Christine Wilson on the uneven bars. She finished second all-around to Northville’s Daisy Ference, who scored 37.925. Grand Ledge’s Lauren Clark won the Division 2 all-around. (Grand Rapids Press)
Girls basketball
Country Day wins clash of state’s elite: Led by standout senior guards Aerial Powers and Amber Dean, Detroit Country Day handed Detroit Pershing its first loss this season and in a big way, 79-35 on Tuesday. Powers and Dean each scored 23 points. (Oakland Press)
Wrestling
Birch Run best in TVC by 41.5 points: Four of the top 10-ranked teams in the state Division 3 poll reside in a Tri-Valley Conference division, and Birch Run finished well ahead of them all at Saturday’s all-division championship meet that pits 20 teams from the TVC East, Central and West. Birch Run, ranked No. 4 in Division 3, was followed at the meet by No. 8-ranked Caro, No. 10 Bullock Creek and No. 9 Saginaw Swan Valley. (MLive.com)
Boys basketball
Detroit Public School League tournament begins: First-round games are complete, with the second round Tuesday and the championship game scheduled for Feb. 16 at the University of Detroit. Pershing, undefeated this winter so far, and Renaissance received the top seeds. (Detroit Public Schools)
MHSAA news
Comstock Park’s Gillette named 25th WISL Award winner: Recently-retired Janet Gillette gave nearly 40 years of service to Comstock Park schools, including her final 19 as the school’s athletic director. She was recognized Sunday as this year’s Women In Sports Leadership Award winner, the 25th recipient of the annual MHSAA honor. (Second Half)
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Brighton Unified Sports Earn Top Honor
September 7, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Brighton’s Unified Sports program – which combines students with and without intellectual disabilities on competitive athletic teams – has been recognized nationally as one of the nation’s five exemplary “Unified Champion Schools” for 2018.
The Unified Sports program is part of Special Olympics, and champion schools have met 10 national standards of inclusion excellence developed by leaders from the Special Olympics and education communities. Brighton was nominated by Michigan’s Special Olympics program and will be recognized as exemplary along with schools from California, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia.
Brighton also was one of 132 schools representing all levels of education recognized nationally as a “Banner Unified Champion School.” Also receiving the honor from Michigan were Detroit Loyola High School, Saline’s Pleasant Ridge Elementary School, Holt’s Washington Woods Middle School and Adrian College, Ferris State University, Michigan State University and Central Michigan University. To become a Unified Champion School, a school must show inclusive youth leadership and whole school engagement in addition to its Unified Sports program.
From that list of 132 banner schools, an honor roll of 30 was selected with Brighton as Michigan’s representative on that list.
The announcement of the five exemplary Unified Champion Schools as made Thursday by ESPN, a partner in the Special Olympics’ national recognition program.
“This recognition symbolizes all of our students, families, staff, and community as being leaders in building and spreading a culture of inclusiveness, respect, and care for each and every person,” wrote Brighton athletic director John Thompson is making the announcement to the school. “We could not be prouder of our Brighton Family! Your attitudes and actions speak volumes about each of you as individuals but also the collective strength of Brighton Nation coming together for the good of all!”
Brighton has Unified teams for flag football, basketball and bocce. Approximately 30-50 students – including special education students and their general education partners – participate in each sport, with a number of athletes participating in multiple. Brighton’s Kensington Lakes Activities Association last year formed a Unified League with programs from Hartland, Novi, Northville and Grand Blanc.
Brighton’s program is directed by special education teachers Jody Renicker and Lisa Johnson. The school will received its Unified Champion Schools banner during an assembly later this fall.
The MHSAA provides support and promotes Unified Sports, with teams frequently playing games as part of the March Magic Hoopfest also supported by the Greater Lansing Sports Authority. Click for more information on the Special Olympics Unified Sports program.
PHOTOS: (Top) Brighton students compete on Unified teams in basketball and flag football, and show off their medals at an event last school year. (Middle) Brighton’s team huddles for a photo during basketball season. (Photos provided by Brighton High School.)