THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS SPORTS

The Latest News, Updates and Opinions from Flint-Area Communities

FLINT, Michigan — Nick Spiller scored at 2:45 of overtime to give Grand Blanc a 3-2 win over Fenton in a game played at Perani Arena. Grand Blanc (2-0) led 2-1 on goals by Spiller and Jake Endicott, but Fenton tied the game on Peter Renaud's third period goal. Austin Giesey scored Fenton's first goal. 

BURTON, Michigan — James Wedding scored two goals while Jay Traynor had three assists as Brandon opened its season with a 5-0 win over Clio at Ice Mountain. Austin Hyde, Ross Zimmerman and Kris Johnson also scored for Brandon.

Stephanie Christensen of Flushing had the ability to run college cross country, but didn't know if she'd have the time.

She went to North Central University in Minneapolis in 2005 to get a Christian education in music, not to further her athletic career.

She wound up achieving both.

Christensen was the individual champion in the National Christian College Athletic Association Division II meet last Saturday in Cedarville, Ohio, leading North Central to its fourth straight team title.

And to think, she nearly gave up cross country so it wouldn't interfere with her studies.

Continue reading "Flushing's Stephanie Christensen stuck with cross country, became national champ" »

HOLLY, Michigan — Looking across the volleyball net was like gazing into the mirror for Flushing Tuesday night.

The Raiders saw a team that took advantage of its size at the net, covered the floor well on defense, was able to rally when things got tough and made quick work of its opponent.

Birmingham Marian does everything Flushing does well — only better.

Marian came back from significant deficits late in the first and third games in a 25-23, 25-14, 25-23 victory over the Raiders in the state Class A quarterfinals at Holly.

Continue reading "Birmingham Marian wins tough three-game match over Flushing in state volleyball quarterfinals" »

Bill Khan from The Flint Journal will be filing live updates from the Flushing vs. Birmingham Marian Class A quarterfinal volleyball match at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Holly.

Flushing lost to Marian in the quarterfinals last season and is 0-4 against the Mustangs this season. Flushing has only five other losses in a 50-9 season. Marian is 63-8-1 and was the state runner-up last season.

The recent success of Davison and Powers Catholic at the state level should reflect well on Flint-area high school hockey as a whole.

It doesn't, however.

It reflects upon the strength of those two programs, but the overall state of high school hockey in the area has never been more bleak.

Continue reading "Flint-area prep hockey season begins with fewest teams since 1972-73" »

Davison's Kelsey Reid hadn't been swimming up to her potential all season.

In fact, she was seconds off her target times in both the 200 and 500 freestyle events at the preliminary round of the Big Nine Conference swimming and diving meet. Reid was in danger of failing to qualify for the state meet unless she could improve on her performance drastically Nov. 9 at Carman-Ainsworth, which is exactly what she did.

Reid swam a 5:20.80 in the 500 free, nearly 14 seconds faster than Grand Blanc's Carly Miller. In the 200 free, Reid finished in 2:01.14, almost six seconds better than Miller. Both times were good enough to qualify Reid for the state meet.

For good measure, she qualified in the 100 free as well. However, since swimmers are restricted to competing in only two individual events, Reid will stick with the 200 and 500 free at the state finals. In 2007, she finished eighth in the 500 free and 13th in the 200 free against the best swimmers in the state.

Continue reading "Davison swim team finishes strong at Big Nine Meet" »