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Video 2/17/16: Hoops, Hockey, Wrestling

February 17, 2016

By John Johnson
MHSAA Communications Director

Each week, MHSAA.tv features highlights of events produced by schools involved in the MHSAA School Broadcast Program.

This week's package includes clips from the Saginaw Heritage/Midland Dow girls basketball game, Division 3 Individual Wrestling District at Montrose and the Cadillac/Alpena ice hockey game.


More than 200 hours of live streaming video from a variety of MHSAA postseason tournaments in winter sports begins on Saturday (Feb. 20) on a subscription basis on MHSAA.tv, with about one-third of that content being generated by student crews from 11 schools involved in the MHSAA’s School Broadcast Program. 

The School Broadcast Program members will be producing tournament events taking place in their own buildings, as well as traveling to nearby tournament venues to stream action from Girls Competitive Cheer Districts and Regionals; District, Regional and Quarterfinal games in the Girls and Boys Basketball Tournaments; the Upper Peninsula Swimming Finals and one division of the MHSAA Skiing Finals. The participating schools are: Cedar Springs, Comstock Park, East Lansing, Flint Kearsley, Haslett, Lake Orion, Marquette, Montrose, Mt. Pleasant Tech Center, Negaunee and Rockford.

In its seventh 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 On-Demand – 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 is the schedule for winter MHSAA Tournaments on MHSAA.TV (As of Feb. 15, subject to change):

February 20

  • Upper Peninsula Swimming Finals at Marquette – 9 a.m.
  • Competitive Cheer Division 3 Districts at Comstock Park – 10 a.m.
  • Competitive Cheer Division 2 Districts at Cedar Springs – 10 a.m.
  • Competitive Cheer Division 1 Districts at Lake Orion – 11 a.m.
  • Competitive Cheer Division 4 Districts at Lake Orion – 4:30 p.m.

February 26

  • Team Dual Wrestling Quarterfinals at Mt. Pleasant – Div. 4 @ Noon; Div. 1 @ 2 p.m.; Div. 3 @ 4 p.m.; Div. 2 @ 6 p.m.

February 27

  • Team Dual Wrestling Semifinals at Mt. Pleasant – Div. 1 & 4 @ 10 a.m.; Div. 2 & 3 @ Noon
  • Team Dual Wrestling Finals at Mt. Pleasant – 3:30 p.m.
  • Competitive Cheer Division 3 Regionals at Rockford - 6 p.m.
  • Competitive Cheer Division 3 Regionals at Flint Kearsley - 6 p.m.

February 29

  • Division 1 Skiing Finals at Marquette – 10 a.m.
  • Class C Girls Basketball District First Round at Laingsburg
  • Byron v. Saranac – 5:30 p.m.
  • Laingsburg v. Carson City-Crystal – 7 p.m.

March 2

  • Class C Girls Basketball District Semifinals at Laingsburg
  • Game 1 winner v. Pewamo-Westphalia – 5:30 p.m.
  • Game 2 winner v. Bath – 7 p.m.
  • Class A Girls Basketball District Semifinals at Mt. Pleasant
  • Saginaw Heritage v. Bay City Western-Mt. Pleasant winner – 5:30 p.m.
  • Midland v. Midland Dow-Bay City Central winner – 7:30

March 3

  • Individual Wrestling First Round at Auburn Hills – 2 p.m.

March 4

  • Individual Wrestling Rounds 2-4 at Auburn Hills – 8:30 a.m.
  • Girls Competitive Cheer Finals at Grand Rapids – Div. 1 – 6 p.m.
  • Class A Girls Basketball Finals at Mt. Pleasant – 6:30 p.m.
  • Class C Girls Basketball District Finals at Laingsburg – 7 p.m.
  • Individual Wrestling Semifinals at Auburn Hills – 7 p.m.

March 5

  • Individual Wrestling Rounds 6-8 at Auburn Hills – 8:30 p.m.
  • Girls Competitive Cheer Finals at Grand Rapids – Div. 2 – 10 a.m.
  • Girls Competitive Cheer Finals at Grand Rapids – Div. 3 – 2 p.m.
  • Individual Wrestling Finals at Auburn Hills – 4:45 p.m.
  • Girls Competitive Cheer Finals at Grand Rapids – Div. 4 – 6 p.m.

March 7

  • Class A Boys Basketball District First Round at East Lansing
  • East Lansing v. Lansing Waverly – 5 p.m.
  • Haslett v. Grand Ledge – 7:30 p.m.

March 8

  • Class A Girls Basketball Regional Semifinals at Mason - 6 & 7:30 p.m.
  • Class A Girls Basketball Regional Semifinals at Hudsonville - 6 & 8 p.m.

March 9

  • Class A Boys Basketball District Semifinals at East Lansing
  • Game 2 winner v. Lansing Eastern – 5 p.m.
  • Game 1 winner v. DeWitt – 7:30 p.m.

March 10

  • Division 2 Ice Hockey Semifinals at Plymouth – 5 & 7:30 p.m.
  • Class A Girls Basketball Regional Finals at Mason – 7 p.m.
  • Class A Girls Basketball Regional Finals at Hudsonville – 7 p.m.

March 11

  • Division 3 Ice Hockey Semifinals at Plymouth – 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
  • Girls Gymnastics Team Finals at Rockford – 2 p.m.
  • Division 1 Ice Hockey Semifinals at Plymouth – 5 & 7:30 p.m.
  • Class A Boys Basketball District Finals at East Lansing – 7 p.m.

March 12

  • Division 2 Ice Hockey Final at Plymouth – 10 a.m.
  • Lower Peninsula Boys Swimming & Diving Finals – 3 locations – Noon
  • Girls Gymnastics Individual Finals at Rockford – Noon
  • Division 3 Ice Hockey Final at Plymouth – 2 p.m.
  • Division 1 Ice Hockey Final at Plymouth – 6 p.m.

March 14

  • Class C Boys Basketball Regional Semifinals at Flint Hamady - 6 & 7:30 p.m.
  • Class D Boys Basketball Regional Semifinals at Negaunee - 6 & 8 p.m.
  • Class D Boys Basketball Regional Semifinals at Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart - 6 & 7:45 p.m.

March 15

  • Class A Girls Basketball Quarterfinals at Fenton – 7 p.m.
  • Class A Girls Basketball Quarterfinals at Battle Creek Central or Class B Quarterfinals at Fowlerville – 7 p.m.  (Dependent on match-up)
  • Class D Girls Basketball Quarterfinals at Negaunee – 7 p.m. (Dependent on match-up)

March 16

  • Class C Boys Basketball Regional Finals at Flint Hamady – 7 p.m.
  • Class D Boys Basketball Regional Finals at Negaunee – 7 p.m.
  • Class D Boys Basketball Regional Finals at Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart – 7 p.m.

March 17

  • Class C Girls Basketball Semifinals at East Lansing – 1 p.m. & 2:50 p.m.
  • Class D Girls Basketball Semifinals at East Lansing – 6 p.m. & 7:50 p.m.

-          LIVE Post-Game Press Conferences after each contest

March 18

  • Class A Girls Basketball Semifinals at East Lansing – 1 p.m. & 2:50 p.m.
  • Class B Girls Basketball Semifinals at East Lansing – 6 p.m. & 7:50 p.m.

-          LIVE Post-Game Press Conferences after each contest

March 19

  • LIVE Girls Basketball Finals coverage of post-game awards & press conferences; plus Shooter’s Challenges and presentation of BCAM’s Miss Basketball Award

March 22

  • Class A Boys Basketball Quarterfinals at Grand Blanc – 7 p.m.
  • Class A Boys Basketball Quarterfinals at Lansing Eastern – 7 p.m.

March 24

  • Class C Boys Basketball Semifinals at East Lansing – 1 p.m. & 2:50 p.m.
  • Class D Boys Basketball Semifinals at East Lansing – 6 p.m. & 7:50 p.m.

-          LIVE Post-Game Press Conferences after each contest

March 25

  • Class A Boys Basketball Semifinals at East Lansing – 1 p.m. & 2:50 p.m.
  • Class B Boys Basketball Semifinals at East Lansing – 6 p.m. & 7:50 p.m.

-          LIVE Post-Game Press Conferences after each contest

March 26

  • LIVE Boys Basketball Finals coverage of post-game awards & press conferences; plus presentation of MHSAA’s Charles E. Forsythe Award and Scholar-Athlete Award; Shooter’s Challenges and presentation of BCAM’s Miss Basketball Award

Here’s the schedule of events School Broadcast Program members plan to stream this week for broadcast at MHSAA.tv. On-Demand listings may be available as soon as one hour following an event’s completion.

Wednesday, February 17

Thursday, February 18

Friday, February 19

Saturday, February 20

Monday, February 22

Tuesday, February 23

Wednesday, February 24

Schools interested in becoming a part of the School Broadcast Program should contact John Johnson at the MHSAA Office.

Mike Grisdale, right, and partner Nate King broadcast a Cheboygan game from Central Michigan University.

Grisdale to be Honored for 40 Seasons on Call for Cheboygan Football

By Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com

September 13, 2024

When Jason Friday was in high school, there were two types of football fans in Cheboygan.

Northern Lower PeninsulaFolks either went to watch the Cheboygan Chiefs play under the lights, or they listened to the game on the radio called by play-by-play announcer Mike Grisdale.

Well, not much has changed. Friday, a 1992 Cheboygan grad, is now the school’s athletic director. And Grisdale is in the middle of his 40th season on the air.

What is changing tonight, though, is Cheboygan will officially dedicate the stadium press box to Grisdale in a special pregame ceremony before the Chiefs (1-1) take on Elk Rapids (1-1).

Former Cheboygan coaches, Grisdale’s family and people who have worked with him on the radio over the years will be on hand for the ceremony.

“We were able to get Dan Miller, George Blaha, Ken Kal and Dan Dickerson — radio broadcasters for all four Detroit sports — to record statements that we will play over the public address system,” said Friday. “Mike will be presented a smaller version of the plaque that we will be hanging in the press box, and he will have a chance to talk.”

Naming the press box after Grisdale has been in the works for more than a year, Friday noted. Grisdale first learned of the plan when he was interviewing Friday during halftime of a football game last year.

“Jason surprised me on the air,” Grisdale recalled. “I was shocked, but honored and thankful.”

The Cheboygan stadium press box will be dedicated to the longtime broadcaster.Grisdale, a 1979 Cheboygan grad, is humbled noting there are so many people who contribute to the radio broadcasts and football program. He remembers listening with his father to Jorden James and Bob Martin call Chiefs games when some of the older kids from the neighborhood were playing high school football.

“I have just been so fortunate to do it for this long and have become the go-to guy for historical information and perspective,” Grisdale said.

Grisdale, who has also done nearly 1,000 Chiefs basketball games on the air, along with some hockey and soccer, said his interest in sports goes back to his childhood.

Grisdale grew up in Cheboygan with three brothers in a neighborhood full of kids. Sports were a big part of their lives — collecting baseball cards, listening to the Detroit Tigers on the radio, and playing basketball, kickball and wiffle ball.  

Grisdale, who also hosts a Saturday morning radio show from a local restaurant called “Coaches Corner,” vividly recalls trying to keep a scorebook while listening to high school basketball games on WCBY radio and dreaming of becoming the next Blaha, or Ernie Harrell, Bob Ufer, or Bruce Martin - four legendary broadcasters of Michigan professional and college sports.

While at Central Michigan University earning a broadcasting degree, Grisdale got extensive of on-air experience on student stations. He worked on Cheboygan radio stations during summers.

Some of his fondest memories of Chiefs broadcasts have come from the locations where they’ve played.

“I have enjoyed having the opportunity to cover games at places like the Pontiac Silverdome, Palace of Auburn Hills, Crisler Arena and the Breslin Center,” Grisdale said. “You remember the exciting moments and big games”

Grisdale is on the call for another Chiefs game. The 40 years on the air, along with earlier turns covering Marshall and Albion football and basketball games, are really just a blur to the highly-revered radio personality.

“The seasons just seemed to run together,” Grisdale said. “There were many, many times when the weather and the long road trips took their toll.”

Grisdale played football at Cheboygan High School and was an offensive end and a defensive safety on a 9-0 squad his senior year in 1978. He caught three touchdown passes that season. He also held for extra points, collecting snaps from his brother Mark, the Chiefs’ long-snapper.

Mike Grisdale doesn’t hesitate to point out the best player he covered was fullback Shannon Scarborough from the 1991 team that reached the Silverdome – “The all-stater was strong and fast and played both ways,” he noted. But Grisdale has loved all the players and teams over the years. “I do it because I enjoy promoting the kids, keeping the traditions alive, seeing the community come together, good sportsmanship, and being part of a team.”

Friday, who also has broadcast multiple games alongside Grisdale over the years, has enjoyed Grisdale’s efforts to promote every player.

“Kids always love to hear their name on the radio,” Friday said. “What I think he does better than anyone is to make sure the offensive and defensive linemen are consistently mentioned — those boys in the trenches often get overlooked, but not with Mike on the call.”

When Cheboygan installed NFHS Network cameras, the athletic department sought to successfully connect Grisdale’s radio broadcast through the video feed. 

“That has been a huge bonus and something that many community members have told me they appreciate,” Friday said.

Grisdale, who also works part-time for Black Diamond Broadcasting in its Cheboygan studios and serves Mackinaw Health System based in St. Ignace as its marketing director, has no plans to end his broadcasting career.

“As long as our local radio station can keep the tradition alive and I am still around, it would be my privilege to keep it going,” Grisdale said.

Cheboygan High School games are carried on WCBY (Cheboygan) 1240 AM, 100.7 FM and 98.1 FM, and streaming at BigCountryGold.com.

Tom SpencerTom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.

PHOTOS (Top) Mike Grisdale, right, and partner Nate King broadcast a Cheboygan game from Central Michigan University. (Middle) The Cheboygan stadium press box will be dedicated to the longtime broadcaster. (Below) Grisdale is on the call for another Chiefs game. (Photos provided by Grisdale and the Cheboygan athletic department.)