LSJ Blogs: Get Prepped

Blitz Picks video -- Week 6 -- Mid-Michigan high school football

Check out analysis and predictions for this Friday's biggest games from WILX's Jeremy Sampson and me.

 

Sexton (5-0) at Muskegon Heights (3-2)

DeWitt (5-0) at Fowlerville (4-1)

Lansing Catholic (5-0) at Portland (4-1)

Grand Ledge (5-0) at East Lansing (4-1)

 

State of mid-Michigan volleyball

I was a little stunned when I noticed this week that this area has never had a Class A or B state volleyball champion. Realizing a few programs -- mostly on the west side of the state -- dominate this sport ever year, the recent lack didn't surprise me. But never?

So I ask you now ... what has to happen for that to change? And in an area that has always been strong in girls basketball, is improvement happening more quickly now that volleyball has moved to the fall?

A little background: Volleyball state championships were first awarded by the MHSAA in 1976. The area's last state championships in any class came in 1990, when Saranac won Class C and Potterville won Class D (St. Louis won more recently and was previously considered part of the State Journal coverage area).

Although Lakewood is regularly considered a Class B state power, while Okemos has had its moments in A and DeWitt in B, no area team has played in a state final in either of those classes since Charlotte's back-to-back appearances in Class B in 1996-97. Especially coming from an area featuring a number of high-achieving female athletes every year, this seems a bit surprising. And Mid-Michigan has had some outstanding volleyball players lately too -- East Lansing's Heather Brooks became an All-American at North Carolina, and Okemos' Allison Ianni starred at Michigan State and Pacific, among others.

Is it because basketball has dominated this part of the state, getting more of the talented athletes? Or are the Marysvilles and East Kentwoods and Battle Creek St. Philips just too powerful every year? And the other point that had me thinking about this in the first place was how the CAAC went to a double round-robin schedule this fall, taking away opportunities for teams to face stronger foes from outside the area. Lakewood for one has relied on those outside tournaments to get ready for the postseason. Is the key for more schools to play in more of those competitive Saturday events?

Rest assured, my questions are in no way meant to be critical. But it's certainly a conversation worth having. Feel free to add to it below.

Weekend's best

As has been the case most of the fall so far, cross country leads the way of the past weekend's top mid-Michigan non-football performances.

Extra Points: Week 5 (updated)

This week was supposed to be lackluster because of few big-time matchups. But the regular season's mid-point provided plenty of highlights and a few surprises -- with Williamston/Lansing Catholic still on the way Saturday.

Tonight's TWEETS

Don't forget, we'll be posting Twitter updates from a number of games tonight, including Mason/St. Johns, East Lansing/Okemos, Portland/Perry and a number of others. Follow us @lsj_hssports.

Blitz Picks video -- Week 5 -- Mid-Michigan high school football

Geoff Kimmerly and Jeremy Sampson discuss and predict winners for four of the biggest mid-Michigan high school football games this week.

Top games this week:

East Lansing (3-1) at Okemos (2-2) -- 7 p.m. Friday

Fowlerville (3-1) at Haslett (2-2) -- 7 p.m. Friday

St. Johns (3-1) at Mason (4-0) -- 7 p.m. Friday

Williamston (4-0) at Lansing Catholic (4-0) -- 2 p.m. Saturday

Numbers game

The National Federation of High Schools has released its annual high school athletic participation numbers, and they're a lot to digest. So I've done it for you. Here are the highlights, including a few more from the Michigan High School Athletic Association's report on state finals attendance for 2009-10. I've bolded the statements that stuck out most to me.

Weekend's best

Lots of Mason at the top of this list of the weekend's best non-football high school performances.

Extra Points: Week 4

Although it's still early, at least two league titles likely were decided this week, and other teams raised their levels of play with playoff hopes already on the line. If only I'd had the guts to pick a few of the semi-upsets that came to fruition. 

Tonight's TWEETing

Remember to follow us @lsj_hssports. Tonight we'll have updates from Williamston/Portland, Sexton/St. Johns, Fowler/Pewamo-Westphalia, DeWitt/Eaton Rapids, Olivet/Kalamazoo Christian and a number of others.