Did you see that?
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)
Editor's note: Did we miss something? Comment below and tell us about it. Is there an event coming up that we should make sure to note? Comment or e-mail [email protected].
'Region Report' Tells More of Your Stories
August 17, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We hope the first three years of Second Half have made it a must-read for MHSAA Finals coverage, as well as a great place to start your day during the weeks leading up to our championship competitions.
Starting Tuesday, you'll find more reason to tune in daily as we introduce locally-centered coverage from all regions, all over the state, supplied by some of the most experienced voices in Michigan high school sportswriting history.
Our correspondents, averaging more than 30 years of experience covering MHSAA sports, will take turns delivering compelling stories four days each week of the regular season beginning this week and into our final tournaments in June.
We’ve split Michigan into eight regions, and each “Region Report” will be of interest to that area but with statewide appeal as well. Plus, each month we’ll publish a historical perspective looking back at notable moments of Michigan’s rich high school sports past.
See below for our correspondents, their coverage areas and contact information, listed in order of when their region's first stories will appear over the next two weeks.
Mid-Michigan
Geoff Kimmerly joined the MHSAA as its Media & Content Coordinator in Sept. 2011 after 12 years as Prep Sports Editor of the Lansing State Journal. He has served as Editor of Second Half since its creation in Jan. 2012. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for the Barry, Eaton, Ingham, Livingston, Ionia, Clinton, Shiawassee, Gratiot, Isabella, Clare and Montcalm counties.
Bay & Thumb
Bill Khan served as a sportswriter at The Flint Journal from 1981-2011 and currently contributes to the State Champs! Sports Network. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.
Greater Detroit
Tom Markowski is a columnist and directs website coverage for the State Champs! Sports Network. He previously covered primarily high school sports for the The Detroit News from 1984-2014, focusing on the Detroit area but also contributing to statewide coverage of football and basketball. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.
Upper Peninsula
Denny Grall retired in 2012 after 39 years at the Escanaba Daily Press and four at the Green Bay Press-Gazette, plus 15 months for WLST radio in Escanaba; he served as the Daily Press sports editor from 1970-80 and again from 1984-2012. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for the Upper Peninsula.
Southwest Corridor
Pam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She continues to freelance for MLive.com covering mainly Kalamazoo Wings hockey and can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.
Wes Morgan has reported for the Kalamazoo Gazette, ESPN and ESPNChicago.com, 247Sports and Blue & Gold Illustrated over the last 12 years and is the publisher of JoeInsider.com. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
West Michigan
Tom Kendra worked 23 years at The Muskegon Chronicle, including five as assistant sports editor and the final six as sports editor through 2011. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Muskegon, Oceana, Mason, Lake, Oceola, Mecosta and Newaygo counties.
Dean Holzwarth covered primarily high school sports for the Grand Rapids Press and MLive for 16 years and more recently served as sports editor of the Ionia Sentinel and as a sports photojournalist for WZZM. Contact him at [email protected] with story ideas for Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties.
Northern Lower Peninsula
Dennis Chase worked 32 years as a sportswriter at the Traverse City Record-Eagle, including as sports editor from 2000-14. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
Southeast & Border
Chip Mundy served as sports editor at the Brooklyn Exponent and Albion Recorder from 1980-86, and then as a reporter and later copy editor at the Jackson Citizen-Patriot from 1986-2011. He also co-authored Michigan Sports Trivia. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
MHSAA History
Ron Pesch has taken an active role in researching the history of MHSAA events since 1985 and began writing for MHSAA Finals programs in 1986, adding additional features and "flashbacks" in 1992. He inherited the title of MHSAA historian from the late Dick Kishpaugh following the 1993-94 school year, and resides in Muskegon. Contact him at [email protected] with ideas for historical articles.