Logo

Did you see that?

February 21, 2012

Check out our must-know scores and news from Feb. 13-18.

(Click on links for coverage.)

Swimming & Diving

First champions of 2012: The Marquette girls and Houghton boys won the first MHSAA Finals of the winter 2011-12 season, claiming the Upper Peninsula championships Saturday at Sault Ste. Marie. Sault Ste. Marie senior Colin MacQuarrie set two U.P. Finals records – he won the 50-yard freestyle in 20.85 seconds (breaking the former record of 22.18 set by his school’s Peter Stevens in 2003) and the 100 butterfly in 52.80 (former record was 53.62, set by his school’s Thomas Stabile in 1988). Marquette senior Kinsey Vear won two individual races and was on two relay champs as well. (Sault Ste. Marie Evening News boys story) (Sault Ste. Marie Evening News girls story)

Basketball

King is King and Queen of PSL: The Detroit Martin Luther King girls and boys basketball teams swept their counterparts from Detroit Pershing to claim both the boys and girls Detroit Public School League championships at Detroit Mercy's Calihan Hall. The girls result wasn't too much of a stunner -- although Pershing has held the upper hand between the two of late, King has long been considered one of the state's strongest programs. But the boys result was more of a shocker. Although King has been solid all season, Pershing was undefeated and considered the heavy favorite to win Class A next month. (Detroit News girls story) (Detroit News boys story)

Preview of things to come?: In what could be the first of two meetings between reigning Class A girls champion Inkster and Lansing Waverly, Inkster handed the Warriors their first loss of the season, 56-53 on Feb. 14. Both are considered contenders for the Class A title.  

Wrestling

Oxford defense lives on: The reigning Division 1 team champion needed to defeat two other ranked opponents to win its Regional and move on to Friday's Finals weekend at Battle Creek's Kellogg Arena. Oxford, No. 7, beat No. 9 Fair Haven Anchor Bay 50-18 before upending No. 6 Rochester 31-27 in the final at Utica Ford. (NorthOaklandSports.com)

Gymnastics

10.0, again: For the second time in three weeks, Grand Ledge senior Christina Wilson posted a perfect score on the uneven parallel bars. This time she did so in winning the all-around competition and leading the Comets to a Capital Area Activities Conference meet championship -- their 73rd-straight meet win. (Lansing State Journal)

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].

High 5s: 10/3/2012

October 3, 2012

This week's honorees are some of Michigan's best on the golf and cross country courses and volleyball court. 

Each week, Second Half recognizes two athletes and a team for their successes during the current season. To nominate a candidate, email editor Geoff Kimmerly at [email protected].

Below are this week's honorees. Check back later this week for details plus links to stories on each.

Jacqueline Setas
Lansing Catholic junior
Golf

Setas earned all-state honors in Division 4 as part of MHSAA championship teams her first two years of high school, but likely has put herself in contention for the Miss Golf Award this fall as one of the state's elite, regardless of division. She's won five tournaments this season, finished second twice and sixth in her team's first event this season, and is averaging 74.3 strokes for 18 holes and 35.9 for nine-hole matches. She shot a 68 on Thursday to win the Capital Area Activities Conference White championship at Wheatfield Valley in Williamston. She also plays basketball and softball, but hopes to play Division I college golf and is down to a list of five or six schools from which she'll likely choose.

Brother knows best: Setas' older brother Ben Setas played on Lansing Catholic's 2005 Division 3 championship team. "If I needed a quick swing change, without my coach (there), he's a scratch golfer and he can spot things really quickly. ... I beat him for the first time this summer, and that was not a happy day for him."

Still in the swing: "A lot of people told me that softball screws up your golf swing. (This spring) was the first time I've played in five years, and I was hitting my best this summer. I don't think it screwed up my golf swing too badly."

My favorite golfer is: "Probably Morgan Pressel, because she's sponsored by Polo. Luke Donald too; he's got a picture-perfect swing."

Pearly whites: "I'd like to study pre-dental. I just really liked going to the dentist growing up. Not a lot of people did, but I found it fascinating. If I had a loose tooth, I always pulled it out."

Click to read more.

Nathan Burnand
Waterford Mott senior
Cross country

Burnand, last season's sixth-place finisher at the MHSAA Division 1 Final, has been arguably the top runner in the state this fall and won the Sept. 14 Spartan Invitational elite race at Michigan State in 15:21 -- 17 seconds faster than his time at Michigan International Speedway last November. He opened this season with a second-place finish at the Oakland University Golden Grizzly Invitational and last weekend won the Waterford Mott Fall Classic.

My toughest opponents: "There can be so many. There are so many good people. I've raced (Lake Orion's) T.J. (Carey) a lot. (Milford's Brian) Kettle, (Cody) Snavely. (Mason's) Tanner Hinkle. 

XC for me: "I like being in control, and cross country allows me to be in control of my own destiny. It's what I do, not others, and of course I've been helped by my team and coaches. I (also) like the measured improvement I can constantly see."

My favorite runner: "Galen Rupp over the summer was amazing. That was a highlight."

Race thoughts: "It's definitely a challenge to keep negative thoughts out of your head. (When I'm running) I'm thinking things about my form and what I can do to make my race good as possible. I'm thinking about making my race as perfect as possible. (Mental focus) is definitely something I'm constantly improving on."

Click to read more.

Beal City volleyball

The Aggies are 26-5-1 under first-year coach Kelly David, a former standout on the team who graduated in 2010. Beal City is ranked No. 3 in Class D, and last weekend won the St. Louis Invitational with wins over the Class C No. 2 Sharks and No. 7 New Lothrop.

Click to read more.

Previous 2012-13 honorees: