Good will and hot soup

In Michigan’s tough economy, residents across the metro area have seen their share of ups and downs.

Despite many of us that are enduring hard times, there are some who are following the adage, “When your plate is full, get a bigger plate” and are giving back to those even less fortunate.

These amazing people are the local coaches and athletes that may seem like busy teenagers but are doing extraordinary things for families in need.

Take Madison Heights Lamphere student-athlete Tessa Maynard, who, while maintaining a 3.9 grade point average, is president of her class, captain of her volleyball team and manages to pack baskets for families in need every year before Christmas.

There’s also the Macomb Dakota girls basketball team, which for the past four years has volunteered at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit, serving up generosity and hot soup to its patrons.

These are just two shining examples of teams that have giving back to those in need.

For more on teams that are spreading holiday cheer this Christmas season, check the Dec. 24 edition of your local C & G Newspaper.

While the holiday season looks bleak for those just trying to make ends meet, there are ways to stretch your generosity, even if you can’t stretch your wallet.

Those who are interested in giving back can still donate to good causes, even if you’re budget is tight. Here are a couple of more ways, besides the 20 or so listed in our papers, to give back:

• Gleaners Community Food Bank: donors can provide canned and/or nonperishable food items to a local drop-off center.

• Vietnam Veterans of America: Donors can set out clothing of all types & sizes (men’s, ladies, children’s, baby’s) in boxes or bags and the driver will look for donations from the street. Please put it out, mark it for Vietnam Veterans of America or VVA, where it is clearly visible. Contact (800) 775-VETS (8387) so VVA is aware of donation.

Kicking off with preps

When the dog days came to a end last week with the first official day of school, another budding season of preps began.

For me, another season means the smell of freshly cut soccer fields and the screeching of sneakers on the hardwood of a volleyball court.

That's where you can catch me — on the sidelines covering boys soccer in the Oakland Activities Association Red and Blue divisions , the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference and the Catholic High School League, and in the stands watching volleyball teams in the Macomb Area Conference White, Blue and Bronze divisions.

Here's a few teams to watch out for in both sports:

Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day's soccer team might be young, but the elite program returns to the pitch as the Division 3 defending state champions and ranked No. 1 in Division 3 by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association's Sept. 8 poll.

Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (9-0-0 overall) returned 12 players from last year's Division 4 state runner-up squad and aims to make another title run. Leading the squad is seniors Jacob Stanko on offense, Josh McKenna in midfield and Kramer Everett in goal. The Lancers are ranked No. 1 in Division 4.

Troy High (1- 1- 1 in the OAA Red and 2- 1-1 overall) was ranked No. 4 in the MHSSCA's rankings and comes in with a strong senior class, which hopes to capture the district title that Birmingham Brother Rice snatched from it last year.

Some volleyball teams were shifted around into new divisions this fall, while an entirely new division, the Bronze, was created to accommodate Clawson High, which joined the MAC this year.

Warren Cousino's volleyball squad (1-0 in the MAC White, 7-5 overall) packs a powerful punch in outside hitters seniors Kate Sak and Danielle Meyer. Coach Patti Hunter said this is the year for Cousino to break out and make a run in the state tournament.

The Blue Division welcomed two new teams in Sterling Heights High and Grosse Pointe South. While Utica High dominated the league last year (12-0), with Utica Stevenson (10-2) close behind, this year there's much more parity.

Warren Fitgerald returns as the favorite after winning the MAC Silver division last year. The Spartans, who are now in the Bronze Division, are guided by a senior-heavy squad that is aiming for league and district titles.

But the Spartans should look for a hard-hitting Clinton Township Clintondale squad and an energized Madison Heights Lamphere's team.

A change is coming

In the past week, I got to see firsthand how one woman is bringing change to the male-dominated sport of sailing by encouraging women to take the helm.

By hosting a women's only sailing clinic Aug. 1 at Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit, Dawn Riley — a St. Clair Shores resident and world-renowned sailor — hopes that women will find confidence to brave the waves on their own, sans the men in their lives.

Riley began sailing with her family when she was a young girl. She said by the age of 13 she was "obsessed" with the sport and was ready to captain her own ship. Since then, she has manged to become the first woman to captain an America's Cup sailing team and race on three America's Cup teams and two Whitbread Round-the-Word Race teams.

While all that may seem daunting for a novice sea gal, Riley said sailing is not an exclusive sport. If you're interested in trying it out, Riley says there are always boats looking for crew. To get involved, she said just get to a local marina or club and ask around.

“All you have to do is show up,” Riley said. “Even if you don’t know ( how to sail), they’ll train you.”

Riley's clinic welcomes women of all skill levels to participate. By learning some basics — and a few tricks Riley has picked up during her travels — the next time you're out boating, you can surprise your friends (and yourself) by taking the helm.

"Something special"

It's not too often that you come across a team that holds its coach in such high regard.
But that was the case with the Detroit Demolition women's professional football team and it's coach, Tony Blankenship.

Most sports fans recognize Blankenship's name, growing up as a top-notch prep athlete at Detroit Murray-Wright and becoming one of the Wolverines' top special teams players and free safety, but I had no idea of the impact he's made on his team.

After spending a couple hours at a recent Demo practice, the admiration for Blankenship shared by the players was evident in their smiles when they successfully completed one of his drills and in their endless praise.

In the next week's newspapers, you'll get to know Blankenship a little better find out he has become the face of the Demolition, and I think you will see why his players call him "something special."

The feature will be posted online after it has run in our 19 local papers.

Sports series bonanza

With the spring prep season all wrapped up, the time has come to embark on a summer endeavor.

To pass the dog days of summer, I will be working on a series of features that profile local people who have interesting and unique sports-related jobs.

Staff writer Mike Moore and I will be putting our heads together to bring readers compelling features on people who love sports and found a way to make it their living.

First up on my list is Tony Blankenship, former University of Michigan defensive back and coach of the women's tackle football team the Detroit Demolition.

Readers can look for a profile on Blankenship in their local C & G Newspaper in the upcoming weeks.

If you know of someone who fits the bill, a sports nut with a great sports job, shoot me an e-mail.

Rivals will meet and titles will be decided

As the Macomb Area Conference girls basketball season heads into the second half , the competition gets tougher and the implications get more important. Here are a few of the key upcoming showdowns as teams battle to stay at the top of their respective MAC divisions.

St. Clair Shores South Lake at Clinton Township Clintondale, 7 p.m. Jan. 16
These two teams have battled for the MAC Silver title for the past three years. Last year, (2006) Clintondale won it. The year before that, South Lake took the title. Though both teams are struggling a bit this year — the Cavs were 1-1 in league play and the Dragons were 0-2 prior to play Jan. 11 — when they get together, its always a great game.

Grosse Pointe North at Fraser High, 7 p.m. Jan. 18
North and Fraser are the cream of the MAC Red crop this year and have developed a great rivalry. Prior to play Jan. 11, both teams were undefeated in league play. This should be a classic.

Eastpointe East Detroit hosts Roseville High, 7 p.m. Jan. 18
Nothing says Friday night like a crosstown rivalry. While Roseville has three-straight wins over the Shamrocks, Amy Altman's crew is determined to put an end to the streak.

Clinton Township Clintondale at Madison Heights Madison at 7 p.m. Jan. 22
Again, the MAC Silver triangle of Madison-Clintondale-South Lake comes to a head as these two teams duel. Madison's ace, Meesha Nolen, will be a good match for Clintondale's Dionne Washington and Gaby Adams.

Utica Ford II at Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 7 p.m. Jan. 24
Here you'll see two top guns in action: Ford II's Lea Jones and Chippewa Valley's Claire Cannon. They can both shoot from long range, and the two of them on the same court is worth the price of admission.