Friday Night Kickoff http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/ Getting you ready for your game, Friday Night Kickoff en Copyright 2009 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:37:55 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2ysb5-20051201 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss We know sometime we must reach the final page... The 2008-2009 High School Sports season is now finished.  So I guess this is going to be one of those "season wrapup" types of entry.

So without any further fanfare I guess we'll start with what is probably not only the biggest local sports story, but biggest news story of the year.  If you haven't figured it out yet... The Benton Harbor Lady Tigers Class A State Basketball Championship.  Sorry Niles Softball...

]]> http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/06/fin.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/06/fin.html Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:37:55 -0500 Another State Championship for Berrien County One quick update.  Congratulations to the Niles Vikings Softball team as they claimed the 2009 Division 2 Softball State Championship on Saturday with a 4-0 win over Livonia Ladywood at Bailey Park in Battle Creek.

 

]]> http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/06/another_state_championship_for.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/06/another_state_championship_for.html Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:52:07 -0500 Eau Claire and Brandywine name coaches A few quick updates. 

Brandywine and Eau Claire have named their head football coaches for the upcoming seasons.

]]> http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/eau_claire_and_brandywine_name.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/eau_claire_and_brandywine_name.html Wed, 27 May 2009 18:54:25 -0500 Big shakeup coming to Red Arrow and Lakeland... Sources have told me that you can expect to be hearing about some changes coming in 2010 for the Red Arrow and the Lakeland Conference.

Football is the sport that is driving this, and so far everything I've learned is just football, I don't know about anything involving any other sport besides football...

]]> http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/big_shakeup_coming_to_red_arro.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/big_shakeup_coming_to_red_arro.html Red Arrow Wed, 27 May 2009 07:55:52 -0500 OK a few random sports topics. The high school sports seasons are starting to wind down, the track regionals are finished, the tennis regionals are done, and there are only a handful of baseball, softball and soccer games left before the tournaments begin.  So I guess this is just going to be one of those "all over the place" type of entries so be prepared for a ride with Dave in a car with no steering wheel... (figuratively of course).

]]> http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/ok_a_few_random_sports_topics.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/ok_a_few_random_sports_topics.html Mon, 18 May 2009 07:55:00 -0500 Beckman in at Coloma As reported in Tuesday's Herald Palladium.  Former Lake Michigan Catholic Head Coach Josh Beckman was named the Head Coach of the Coloma Comets.

We reported last week on why Beckman was let go at LMC. (http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/beckman_out_at_lmc.html)

Beckman wanted to be the head coach at Eau Claire, which would have been a lateral move from Lake Michigan Catholic, both Class D schools.   Well after losing out on the Eau Claire job and the fallout for his interview at Eau Claire have given Beckman a real move up.

Beckman goes from Class D Lake Michigan Catholic to Class B Coloma.  

Beckman takes over from Brent Nate who resigned in March after the season.  Coloma has struggled a bit over Nate's tenure as coach, but a new coach can sometimes work wonders.

]]> http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/beckman_in_as_coloma_coach.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/beckman_in_as_coloma_coach.html Coloma Tue, 12 May 2009 16:18:12 -0500 Beckman out at LMC http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/beckman_out_at_lmc.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/beckman_out_at_lmc.html Thu, 07 May 2009 18:40:01 -0500 Gregg Schaffer steps down at St. Joe As reported by the Herald Palladium on Wednesday morning, St. Joseph Boys Basketball Coach Gregg Schaffer resigned as the Bears head coach.  Schaffer joins Cassopolis' Josh Hood and Coloma's Brent Nate as coaching casualties so far this season.

]]> http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/gregg_schaffer_steps_down_at_s.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/gregg_schaffer_steps_down_at_s.html St. Joseph Sun, 03 May 2009 16:38:58 -0500 Some sad news... As some of you may have heard, Terry Geisler, also known as "The Candyman," passed away on Saturday morning.

Geisler wasn't only the man who refilled the vending machines at the station, but he also was one of the best area referee's.  Geisler worked many years as a basketball referee for the area conferences.   He also was one of the best softball and baseball officials, not only did he work MHSAA games, but he worked a lot of the tournament games at the annual tournaments at Eaton Park.

He also was one of the guys who worked on the chain crew during St. Joe football games and his sons both played at St. Joe.

I wanted to express my condolences to the entire family.  He will be missed by everyone who knew him and while many people didn't always agree with his calls while refereeing, they too will miss him.

]]> http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/some_sad_news.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/05/some_sad_news.html Fri, 01 May 2009 16:30:08 -0500 Rotary Track Meet It's an annual spring tradition, the St. Joe/Benton Harbor Rotary Club Track and Field Meet.

The annual event was previously held late in the season, but a few years ago, due to declining interest from area schools, much of it because it was held so close to the state meets. 

The Meet is now held a lot earlier in the track season, making it possible for teams to put out their best athletes against the best that Berrien County has to offer.

The best athletes in Berrien County will be in action this Friday at St. Joe's Dickinson Stadium.  The Rotary Club always puts on a great event, and this year's will be no exception.

]]> http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/04/rotary_track_meet.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/04/rotary_track_meet.html Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:35:18 -0500 No Class C Champions this season 2008 Class C State Championship... yes 2008.  As it turns out there is no 2009 Class C Champions.  Less than two weeks after defeating Schoolcraft, Melvindale Academy for Business and Technology has been stripped of their Championship by the MHSAA for using an ineligible player.]]> http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/04/no_class_c_champions_this_seas.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/04/no_class_c_champions_this_seas.html Playoffs Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:27:13 -0500 Spring Cleaning... http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/03/spring_cleaning.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/03/spring_cleaning.html Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:33:55 -0500 Girls Districts over, Boys ready to start http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/03/girls_districts_over_boys_read.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/03/girls_districts_over_boys_read.html Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:06:31 -0500 Colleen Howe - "Mrs. Hockey" I know this is a high school sports forum, but I need to say a few words about the first real "Hockey Mom" Colleen Howe, wife of Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe.  Two of her three sons Marty and Mark Howe, both played in the NHL with dad Gordie late in Gordie's career in the WHA, and are still involved in hockey today.

]]> http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/03/colleen_howe_mrs_hockey.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/03/colleen_howe_mrs_hockey.html Hockey Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:00:31 -0500 What a shot!!!! A couple of good local basketball videos

Recently the Vicksburg Bulldogs defeated Portage Central 61-60 in double overtime.  Portage Central had a 60-58 lead with just a few seconds left until Vicksburg won the game on this amazing shot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGKB_bJXAsY

Notice how the ball goes around the rim a few hundred times before going through the hoop.

A few weeks ago, the St. Joe Lady Bears beat Bridgman 50-47 and St. Joe's Katie Mavis tied the game at 47 with 10 seconds left, and then with 1.4 seconds left St. Joe got the ball back and Mavis hit the game winning three pointer to win it as time expired to give the Lady Bears the win.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd4naQRIrYE

]]> http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/02/what_a_shot.html http://wsjmsports.com/blogs/kickoff/2009/02/what_a_shot.html Fri, 27 Feb 2009 02:38:23 -0500