Montrose Junior Named NFHS Network's Best

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director emeritus

April 26, 2017

Eric Vandefifer, a junior at Montrose High School, was named today the Best Student Broadcaster nationally in the NFHS Network School Broadcast Program Awards. 

For the second straight year, James Kitts, the coordinator of the School Broadcast Program at Montrose, was a finalist in the Teacher of the Year category.

Just last week, Montrose was named the “Program of the Year” in the MHSAA’s School Broadcast Program Excellence Awards for 2016-17, claiming the top honor for the fourth straight year.  Montrose took first place in four categories.

Vandefifer also was honored recently by the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association as the top Student Broadcaster in Division 3. Vandefifer and his broadcast partner David Sackrider placed second in the Play-By-Play Category in the MHSAA SBP awards and first in the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation Sports Announcing Team category this year.

In its eighth year, the School Broadcast Program gives members an opportunity to showcase excellence in their schools by creating video programming of athletic and non-athletic events, with students gaining skills in announcing, camera operation, directing/producing and graphics. 

The program also gives schools the opportunity to raise money through advertising and viewing subscriptions.  

All sporting events – live or delayed – are available on a subscription basis only for their first 72 hours online. They become available for free, on-demand viewing approximately 72 hours following their completion.

Here’s this week’s MHSAA.tv schedule of live video streams being produced by SBP members (All times Eastern):

Wednesday, April 26

Thursday, April 27

Monday, May 1

Tuesday, May 2

Be sure to check the Upcoming Events page at MHSAA.tv for schedule additions every day.

The NFHS Network has announced new pricing for 2016-17, eliminating the Day Pass and lowering the cost of a Month Pass to $9.95. Subscribers will have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country. All content becomes available for free, on-demand viewing 72 hours after being shown live. A portion of every subscription sold by a school goes to benefit its program.

A complete list of participating schools can be found on the School Broadcast Program page of the MHSAA website.

PHOTO: Montrose's Eric Vandefifer (left) and Conner Pyrc call an MHSAA Girls Soccer Semifinal last season for the NFHS Network. (Photo courtesy of Montrose High School digital media.)

UP Swim/Dive Finals to Stream Live

February 13, 2019

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

Six straight weekends of Winter Finals tournament coverage on MHSAA.tv begins this week, with coverage Friday and Saturday (Feb. 15-16) of the Upper Peninsula Swimming & Diving Finals at Marquette High School. 

Coverage of the Diving Finals takes place Friday, beginning at 2:30 p.m. The Swimming Finals will be contested Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. 

Over the remainder of the Winter season, MHSAA.tv will have live coverage of the following:

  • Team Dual Wrestling Quarterfinals-Semifinals-Finals – Feb. 22-23
  • Individual Wrestling Finals – March 1-2
  • Girls Competitive Cheer Finals – March 1-2
  • Ice Hockey Semifinals & Finals – March 7-8-9
  • L.P. Boys Swimming & Diving Finals – March 9
  • Boys Basketball Quarterfinals & Semifinals – March 12, 14-15
  • Girls Basketball Quarterfinals & Semifinals – March 19, 21-22 

Fans can purchase a Month Pass to watch on the NFHS Network for $9.95, which allows three log-ons. Subscribers will have access to all live video and streaming statistics across the country for 30 days. All content becomes available for free, on-demand viewing 72 hours after being shown live.   

In addition to this weekend’s swimming action, there will be coverage of Wrestling Regionals and Girls Competitive Cheer Districts produced by School Broadcast Program participants. 

The Regional phase of the Team Wrestling Tournament takes place Wednesday (Feb. 13), and the Regional round of the Individual Wrestling Tournament is scheduled for Saturday (Feb. 16). Competitive Cheer Districts are Friday and Saturday. 

Here’s the schedule for the Team Wrestling Regional action to be covered: 

Division 1 

Grandville
5:30 p.m. – Hudsonville v. Grandville; Rockford v. Traverse City West
6:45 p.m. – Final

Division 2 

Cedar Springs
5:30 p.m. – Muskegon Reeths-Puffer v. Cedar Springs; Ada Forest Hills Eastern v. Allendale
6:45 p.m. – Final

Here’s the schedule for the Individual Wrestling Regional action to be covered:

Division 1

Saline – 10 a.m.

Division 2

Fremont – 10 a.m.

Here’s the schedule for the Girls Competitive Cheer Districts to be covered:

Division 1

Rockford – Saturday – 10 a.m.
Lake Orion – Saturday – 10 a.m.
Novi – Saturday – 11 a.m.

Division 2

St. Clair Shores Lake Shore – Saturday – 10 a.m.
Linden – Saturday – 10 a.m.
Mt. Pleasant – Saturday – 11 a.m.

Division 3

Comstock Park – Friday – 6 p.m.

Here’s the remainder of week’s MHSAA.tv schedule of video streams being produced by SBP members. Check the online schedule throughout the week for late changes. 

Tuesday - Feb. 12

Wednesday - Feb. 13