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.)

Titles On Line During Dot-TV Streams

October 9, 2018

By John Johnson
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

Some interesting conference race outcomes may take place during a trio of football games this week on MHSAA.tv, produced by participants in the School Broadcast Program.

The first scenario is cut and dry – Monroe is at Saline (Both 6-1 overall, 4-0 league) on Friday (Oct. 12) at 7 p.m. playing for outright possession of the Southeastern Conference Red title. Brighton (6-1, 6-0) can claim the West crown in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association with a win at Howell on Friday at 7 p.m.  A loss and a Canton win at Hartland would force a tie for the division championship.

The third game in the group – Clarkston (6-1, 4-1) at Lake Orion (4-3, 3-2) Friday at 7 p.m. – could force a logjam in the Oakland Activities Association Red.  A Clarkston win gives the Wolves the division outright.  A loss to Lake Orion would tie the Dragons with Clarkston and West Bloomfield (5-2, 4-2) for the title; and if Oxford (5-2, 3-2) beats Bloomfield Hills (1-6, 0-5), there would be a four-way split of the crown.

On Monday (Oct. 15), coverage of District action in the MHSAA Boys Soccer Tournament begins with a number of games hosted by School Broadcast Program participants.

Here’s this week’s MHSAA.tv schedule of video streams being produced by School Broadcast Program members and the NFHS Network:  (Check this list online at MHSAA.com for updates throughout the week as SBP members schedule additional games)

Tuesday - Oct. 9

Wednesday - Oct. 10

Thursday - Oct. 11

Friday - Oct. 12

Saturday - Oct. 13

Monday - Oct. 15

  • Potential MHSAA Boys Soccer District Games – Birch Run at Montrose, 4:30 PM; Niles at Stevensville Lakeshore, 6 PM; Walled Lake Central at Brighton, 6 PM; Midland Bullock Creek at Freeland, 7 PM

Tuesday - Oct. 16

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.

NFHS Network subscriptions begin at $9.95 a month. 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. School Broadcast Program participants also will be selling Season and Annual Passes at a discounted rate. 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.