SPORTS: alphARace

Karlie LeRoy of Saginaw, center, finishes the rope climb as Rick Hodges, left, of Midland, catches his breath while watching Amir Malekadeli of Midland and other competitors climb rope during an obstacle on Saturday morning at the Alpha Race at City Forest in Midland.

FEATURE: Graduation in green

After running across the room in celebration, Dow High School graduate Hannah Martin, 18, center left, smiles as she embraces classmate and friend Hayden Gosen, 17, while other members of the 2012 Dow High School graduating class file into lines, fix their caps and prepare to receive their diplomas on Friday night at Dow High School. "It's truly surreal that graduation is already here," Martin said. "I'm dumbfounded that the time is actually here and we're all moving on."

FEATURE: 'Ingenuity of our ancestors'

Ginger Kruger of Midland, right, picks up an antique agricultural book while cleaning a log cabin with Joyce Wolfgang of Midland, who dusts with a feather duster to keep the displays at the Sanford Centennial Museum pristine Saturday morning in Sanford. "We know what a lot of the things in these displays do because we lived through using them with our parents and grandparents, but I bet generations of people come in here and have no idea," Kruger said. "It's amazing to think of the ingenuity of our ancestors and what they were able to do before we had all the electronics we have today." A smile gleams from the face of Ginger Kruger of Midland, back center, picks up a little brown jug to show other elderly volunteers as she contiued to dust with a feather duster, cleaning the displays at the Sanford Centennial Museum on Saturday morning in Sanford. "We know what a lot of the things in these displays do because we lived through using them with our parents and grandparents, but I bet generations of people come in here and have no idea," Kruger said. "It's amazing to think of the ingenuity of our ancestors and what they were able to do before we had all the electronics we have today."

FEATURE: Dow RunWalk

Alicia Mead of Gladwin, left, flashes a grin as her daughter Breanna Mead throws her hands up in celebration just steps away from completing the 5K run Saturday morning at the Midland Community Center's Dow RunWalk.

FEATURE: Playing Poseidon

Grand Haven resident Ari Davis, 23, left, watches as her boyfriend Zak Armstrong of Grand Rapids, 22, pretends to be Poseidon as he throws his arms up while the waves crash into the Grand Haven pier Tuesday evening, while another couple, Matt Bullard, 20, and Kasey Fought, 21, both of Allendale, stand close together for warmth as they stroll the boardwalk at Grand Haven State Park. "We wanted to watch the storm come in," Armstrong said. "The waves were rolling in and just sprayed up into me. It was pretty cool."

Violet.

Violet. from Jake May on Vimeo.

FEATURE: Color Run

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Orange and blue paint powder flies through the air, landing on Traverse City senior Renee Rothgarber as she ducks her head but continues to throw more during a paint fight Thursday between Moore Hall and the IET Building during the Color Run, a two-mile fundraiser for Threads Fashion Show.



LEFT: A foot print lies dormant in a pile of orange paint Thursday between Moore Hall and the IET Building after the Color Run, a two-mile fundraiser for Threads Fashion Show. RIGHT: Manton junior Nick Viox smiles, his sunglasses, teeth and face plastered with spots of orange and blue paint powder from a powder fight Thursday afternoon after the Color Run, a two-mile fundraiser for Threads Fashion Show.

FRIENDS: Sean Proctor

FEATURE: St. Patrick's Day on Douglas Street

Commerce Township sophomore Alicia Potchynok, center, cheers as she and Grosss Pointe junior Craig Henderson see friends approaching the porch as the celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Saturday at Polo Village in Mount Pleasant.



Joseph Broaddus of Hazel Park, 25, and his girlfriend Ashley Macka of Berkley, 25, sleep in each other's arms in the trunk of their car at 4:30 p.m. after drinking since 9 a.m. Saturday on St. Patrick's Day on Douglas Street near High Street in Mount Pleasant.



Haslett junior Jay Twichell, far right, belts out country song lyrics as he props his foot up on a cooler while sharing a porch with seven other Central Michigan students Saturday at Douglas Street Apartments in Mount Pleasant.

FEATURE: Maple Syrup Day

Emma Burrell, 7, left, and her sister Sarah Burrell, 10, both of Midland, push hard as they work together to pump water for Finley Lake of Ohio, 4, who dips his hand into the gushing water from an old-fashioned water pump Saturday at Chippewa Nature Center during Maple Syrup Day, where more than 1,000 people toured facilities, made crafts and saw demonstrations and other activities.



Lily Newton, 2, left, and her sister Katelynn, 4, both of Midland, play around and atop a log fence with long walking sticks they found near the Sugarhouse dawning shamrock skirts and a green hat for St. Patrick's Day on Saturday at Chippewa Nature Center during Maple Syrup Day, were more than 1,000 people toured facilities, made crafts and saw demonstrations and other activities.

SPORTS: Hanover-Horton students rush court after win

Hanover-Horton freshman Cameron Sherman throws his fist into the air in celebration after he and other members of the student section rushed the court Monday when Hanover-Horton beat Vandercook Lake during the district tournament at Michigan Center High School. "It's a great comeback to see Hanover-Horton win after losing twice to them earlier in the season," he said. "What a game to watch. It was awesome."

FEATURE HUNT: Around Jackson, Mich.

FEATURE: Twin Day

Eighth graders Kayla McQuinn, 14, left, Katie Domina, 13, Alex Crane, 13, and Kara Dobulis, 13, all laugh after Domina started eating her cupcake, getting frosting all over her mouth as the joked around before eating their lunches Friday during Twin Day at Freeland Middle School. The school encourage sets of friends to dress alike for the festivity. All four girls are best friends, but they split into duos to make it a fun competition. "(McQuinn) and I are blondes. They're the brunettes," Domina said. "We are tutu twin-kies. They call themselves freaks. It's just so much fun dressing up and hanging out at school wearing these outfits."



Seventh and eighth graders walk through the halls between classes Friday during Twin Day at Freeland Middle School. The school encourage sets of friends to dress alike for the festivity.

FEATURE: Eye on the ball, running down the hall

Eighth-grader Maddy Boman, 14, keeps her eye on a giant bouncy red ball as she lunges underneath to head the ball to a classmate as she and others enjoyed a free hour of gym class Friday morning at Freeland Middle School, where the teenagers chose what activities they wanted to perform.



Seventh-grader Alec Pilon, 12, runs out of the cafeteria to catch up with his friend Joshua Murphy after lunch Friday at Freeland Middle School.

FEATURE: "Hi Mom"

Eighth-grader Ben Whitting, 14, of Freeland shows love for his mother in an unusual way by writing a greeting on his hand Friday at Freeland Middle School.

NATURE: Remnants of winter

SPORTS: Tri-Cities Swimming Invitational

Water droplets splash up from the surface as Dow's Michael Pixton takes a breath leading the 200-yard freestyle at the Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School. Pixton won first place honors, recording a time of 1 minute, 46.10 seconds.



Seven different teams line the pool along with coaches, judges and officials as they say the pledge of allegiance before the start of the Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School.



Dow's Ben Martin performs his final flip turn during the 100-yard butterfly at the Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School. Martin finished in first place with a time of 54.21 seconds. Martin also finished first in the 200-yard Individual Medley and second place for both the 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay.



Dow's Jared Justin, center, stretches his swimming cap down over his ears and onto his head before jumping in the pool for warm-ups at Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School.



Dow's Ben Martin comes up for air as he pushes through the 100-yard butterfly at the Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School. Martin finished in first place with a time of 54.21 seconds. Martin also finished first in the 200-yard Individual Medley and second place for both the 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay.



Dow's Rick Knoff, left, leapt into the arms of his older brother Joey Knoff, who laughs as they celebrate Dow taking first place and the championship trophy at the Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School. Dow won with a combined 362 team points, more than 140 points higher than second place Bay City Central.



The water bubbles as a streamline of air comes from Midland's Tyler Slater as he comes up for his first breath during the 100-yard backstroke at the Tri-City Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Bay City Western High School. Slater finished in fifth place with a time of one minute, 2.28 seconds.

VIDEO: CMU's Mike Ottinger defeats MSU's David Cheza

CMU's Mike Ottinger defeats MSU's David Cheza 9-7 from Jake May on Vimeo.

SPORTS: CMU vs. MSU wrestling

Junior 184-pounder Ben Bennett, ranked No. 4 nationally, scores two points on a takedown against Michigan State’s Ian Hinton as he wraps him up for riding time during the third period Thursday at McGuirk Arena. Bennett finished his match with a 15-1 win, including one point for riding time. CMU beat MSU with a team score of 21-12.



Redshirt freshman 133-pounder Tyler Keselring, right, pushes Michigan State's Brandon Fifield as he manhandles him around the mat Thursday at McGuirk Arena. Keselring won the match 13-4.



Freshman 149-pounder Joey Kielbasa grapples with Michigan State's Dan Osterman as the two try to gain position advantage Thursday at McGuirk Arena. Kielbasa lost the match 7-6.



After a takedown, sophomore 141-pounder Scott Mattingly keeps position over the top of Michigan State's Brian Gibbs as he takes a knee to the face Thursday at McGuirk Arena. Mattingly won the match 10-2.



Sophomore 125-pounder Joe Roth, ranked No. 16 nationally, lunges at Michigan State's Eric Olanowski as he gains a two-point takedown on Thursday at McGuirk Arena. Roth won the match 5-3.

NEWS: Mitt Romney in Michigan

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney addresses more than 300 people at a campaign rally Wednesday at office systems company Compatico in Kentwood, Mich.



Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney laughs as he holds onto a less-than-thrilled 18-month-old Jonah Brieve of Grand Rapids as he greets a few of the more than 300 people in attendance at a campaign rally Wednesday at office systems company Compatico in Kentwood, Mich.



Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney addresses more than 300 people at a campaign rally Wednesday at office systems company Compatico in Kentwood, Mich.



Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney smiles as he shakes hands with West Michigan residents Wednesday with more than 300 people in attendance at a campaign rally at office systems company Compatico in Kentwood, Mich.



While smoking a pipe, Jim Wilson of Buckingham, Va., finishes a phone call with an West Michigan auto mechanic to replace his drive shaft, which broke 12 miles from the office systems company Compatico in Kentwood, Mich, where Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney spoke for at a grassroots campaign rally Wednesday in Kentwood, Mich. Wilson, who had his truck towed the distance to the rally, has followed Romney campaign from the start. "I'm doing this for my grandchildren," he said. "I want to leave this country as good as my grandparents left it for me. Romney is as clean as a whistle, has integrity and one of my daughters even says he's kind of cute. But understand, he's a unifier and that's what we need in the U.S. today. God bless America because she sure is needing it."