Performance of the Week: Houghton's Jack Sayen

March 12, 2026

Jack Sayen headshotJack Sayen ♦ Houghton
Senior ♦ Hockey

The Gremlins senior forward capped his high school career with a game his community will never forget. Sayen scored the opening goal of Houghton’s Division 3 championship game against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, then a full hat trick during the third period including the tying and go-ahead goals in a 5-2 win that earned the Gremlins their first Finals title since 1982.

Sayen was the third player in MHSAA history to have three goals in one period of a championship game, and one of four players – and first since 1993 – to score four goals in a Final. He also had two assists in Houghton’s 4-0 Semifinal win over Traverse Bay Reps and finished this season with 19 goals and 21 assists in making the Division 3 all-state second team. The Gremlins entered the postseason ranked No. 2 and finished the winter 25-6-1.

@mhsaasports 🏒POW: Jack Sayen #houghton #icehockey #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA

@mhsaasports 🏒POW: Jack Sayen #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA

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Previous 2025-26 honorees

March 5: Devin Patrick, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - Report
Feb. 26: 
Madison Nieuwenhuis, Plainwell wrestling - Report
Feb. 20: Sophie Ramey, Allen Park competitive cheer - Report
Feb. 13:
Cam Ryans, Grand Rapids Northview basketball - Report
Feb. 6:
Melanie Kolnitys, Midland Dow basketball - Report
Jan. 29:
Stella Musialowski, Huron Valley United gymnastics - Report
Jan. 22:
Baylor Perkins, Grand Blanc swimming - Report
Jan. 15:
Delaney Vanier, Flint Kearsley bowling - Report
Jan. 8:
Stevie Hall, Detroit Cass Tech basketball - Report
Dec. 18:
Ethan Martha, Ishpeming Westwood basketball - Report
Dec. 11:
Louis Smith, Three Rivers wrestling - Report
Dec. 4:
Traverse Moore, DeWitt football - Report
Nov. 28:
Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield swimming - Report
Nov. 20:
Brady Kieff, Blanchard Montabella football - Report
Nov. 13:
Ella Laupp, Battle Creek Harper Creek swimming - Report
Nov. 7:
Hunter Eaton, Charlevoix cross country - Report
Oct. 31:
Stephen Gollapalli, Lansing Christian tennis - Report
Oct. 23:
Talya Schreiber, Pickford cross country - Report
Oct. 16:
Avery Manning, Dexter golf - Report
Oct. 9:
Brady Van Laecke, Hudsonville football - Report 
Oct. 2:
Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock volleyball - Report
Sept. 25:
Sam Schumacher, Portage Central tennis - Report
Sept. 18:
Kaylee Mitzel, Saline field hockey - Report
Sept. 11:
Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4:
Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report

Battle of the Fans X: Vote Now

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 15, 2022

We have seen Battle of the Fans reborn across Michigan over the last two months, and after visiting our three BOTF X finalists over the last two weeks, we're just days from awarding this year's champion.

We want your help to determine which should be crowned as the state's best student section for 2021-22.  

Vote today through 4 p.m. Thursday on your favorite of these three (enrollments in parentheses) – Buchanan (435), Midland Dow (1,270) and Traverse City West (1,629) – by liking, sharing and re-tweeting on the MHSAA’s FacebookTwitterInstagram and TikTok sites.

But before you do, take a few minutes to watch all three videos from our visits and read the stories behind the sections by clicking the links below. 

The contest is sponsored by the MHSAA Student Advisory Council, which will have the final vote on the champion. SAC members will use all resources available to make their decision – including giving weight to the public social media vote. Votes will be valued proportionately to the size of the school receiving them (for example, one vote for Class B Buchanan will be worth more than one vote for Class A Midland Dow or Traverse City West). 

The champion will be announced Friday on Second Half. All three finalists will be invited to Michigan State University's Breslin Center on March 25 for the Division 2 Boys Basketball Semifinals, and the winner will be presented with a championship banner at center court.  

And now, the finalists, in alphabetical order:

Buchanan

Read all about it: Buchanan's 'Herd' Begins New Era with Same Bucks Energy


Midland Dow

Read all about it: Dow Aims to Give Teams Advantage with Charger Spirit


Traverse City West

Read all about it: West's Creatures Filling Bleachers with Support for Titans Teams