Did you see that? (10/1-10/7)
October 8, 2012
The first MHSAA championships of the 2012-13 school year highlight the best of non-football events from the last week.
Tennis
Titles for three: Kingsford and Negaunee shared the Upper Peninsula Division 1 girls tennis championship, and Ishpeming Westwood won the Division 2 title as the first MHSAA Finals of 2012-13 were played. Escanaba’s Codi Jenshak won her second straight championship at No. 1 singles. (Marquette Mining Journal - D1) (Marquette Mining Journal - D2)
Country Day tops the top-ranked: Division 1 No. 2 Ann Arbor Huron, Division 2 No. 1 Midland Dow, Division 3 No. 1 Detroit Country Day and Port Huron Northern met for a boys tennis quad that ranked among the most competitive in the state this season. Country Day finished 3-0, while Huron was 2-1 and Dow was 1-2. (Midland Daily News)
First in 60: The Otsego boys tennis team claimed its first league championship since 1952. Otsego edged Allegan by a point after also beating Allegan for the first time ever during the dual season. (Grand Rapids Press)
Swimming
LaDuke swims on: Seventy stitches and a broken leg from a boat propeller couldn't keep Marysville senior Ally LaDuke out of the pool this fall. She's recovered from those serious injuries to contribute to the top team in the Macomb Area Conference White. (Port Huron Times-Herald)
Cross country
Saline girls repeat: Saline, ranked No. 3 in Division 1, won the Portage Northern Invitational for the second straight season against a field that included five the top 10. (Mlive.com)
Multiple records fall: The small-school boys and the large-school girls race records were set at the Hudson Booster Cross Country Invitational. (Monroe Evening News)
Honors
The Animal returns: Jim Myers, also known as George "The Animal" Steele of professional wrestling fame, returned to Madison Heights Madison for a ceremony honoring the namesake of the school's stadium. Myers was a teacher and coach at Madison while also pursuing his wrestling career. (The Oakland Press)
Former Howell, Hartland coach honored: Jim Downs has coached swimming for 46 years, and was honored by the Michigan Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association with its Matt Mann Award for his leadership in the sport. (Livingston County Daily Argus & Press)
Story of the Week
Bellevue plays for Coach: The Bellevue co-ed soccer team has only 14 players and had just one win midway through last week. But the Broncos have major inspiration this fall. Bellevue has dedicated its season to former volunteer head coach Larry Denniston, who was shot and killed in March. (Battle Creek Enquirer)
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.)