In Memoriam: Erik O. Furseth (1930-2022)
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 1, 2022
For 50 years, Erik O. Furseth’s voice chimed throughout MHSAA and Michigan State University athletic events. That voice surely will continue to live in the memories of the many who cherished listening to him, as he died Monday evening at the age of 91.
Furseth began as the public-address voice of MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals in 1968 and continued well into his 80s as those games moved from Jenison Field House to other locations across the Lower Peninsula and eventually settled into Breslin Center. He also was the longtime MHSAA football championship game voice going back to their days at the Pontiac Silverdome and provided the narration for MHSAA Baseball Finals for a decade. He announced his last MHSAA event in 2018.
An MSU basketball player during the early 1950s, the Cleveland Heights, Ohio, native played in the Spartans’ first Big Ten game in 1951. A forestry student initially, Furseth switched to communications. He later became a legendary rock-n-roll radio DJ in Lansing, and for a decade hosted Saturday night dances at the Lansing Civic Center that drew 1,000 teenagers a night – and a surprise performance by a young Stevie Wonder.
Furseth’s voice continued to be known particularly by Spartan fans as the homecourt voice for MSU basketball from 1968-2002 and MSU football from 1971-98. For more, see this feature from the MHSAA Basketball Finals programs written in 2013.
Furseth moved from East Lansing to Traverse City about 25 years ago. Click for his obituary and funeral arrangements.
Longtime MHSAA Public Address announcer Erik O. Forseth died Monday evening at the age of 91. Nearly every MHSAA Boys Basketball Final for 50 years started the same way – with Erik introducing both teams. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/CA5iRKt39t
— MHSAA (@MHSAA) March 1, 2022
Performance of the Week: Burton Bentley's McRecco McFadden III
January 10, 2025
McRecco McFadden III ♦ Burton Bentley
Senior ♦ Basketball
The 6-foot-5 guard became the first career 1,000-point scorer in Burton Bentley history during holiday break with a 25-point performance in his team’s 71-24 win over Burton Atherton on Dec. 27. Bentley is 6-4 and on a four-game winning streak heading into Friday’s game against Flint Hamady.
McFadden has been a high-volume scorer for Bentley for multiple seasons and was averaging 26 points, 10 rebounds and three assists per game heading into this week. He earned all-area honorable mention from the Flint Journal last season and is considering several opportunities to continue playing basketball at the collegiate level.
@mhsaasports 🏀POW: McRecco McFadden III #basketball #BurtonBentley #1000pts #schoolrecord #part1 #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA
@mhsaasports 🏀POW: McRecco McFadden III #wendys #smoothie #sing #redheart #justinbieber #TikTok #part2 #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
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Previous 2024-25 honorees
Dec. 18: Nash Leonard, Bay City Western hockey - Report
Dec. 11: Blake Cosby, Dundee wrestling - Report
Dec. 4: Keaton Hendricks, Zeeland West football - Report
Nov. 29: Kate Simon, East Grand Rapids swimming - Report
Nov. 22: Ella Kokaly, Essexville Garber volleyball - Report
Nov. 15: Caroline Bryan, Grosse Pointe South swimming - Report
Nov. 8: Kaylie Livingston, Whitmore Lake cross country - Report
Oct. 25: Oliver Caldwell, Grand Rapids West Catholic tennis - Report
Oct. 18: Alex Graham, Detroit Cass Tech football - Report
Oct. 11: Victoria Garces, Midland Dow cross country - Report
Oct. 4: Asher Clark, Bay City John Glenn soccer - Report
Sept. 26: Campbell Flynn, Farmington Hills Mercy volleyball - Report
Sept. 19: TJ Hansen, Freeland cross country - Report
Sept. 12: Jordan Peters, Grayling soccer - Report
Sept. 6: Gabe Litzner, Sault Ste. Marie cross country - Report
Aug. 30: Grace Slocum, Traverse City St. Francis golf - Report
(Photos courtesy of McRecco McFadden III.)