8 Members Elected to MHSAA Representative Council
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
September 23, 2026
Elections were completed recently to fill positions on the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s legislative body, its Representative Council, with six members receiving re-election from their respective constituencies and two more members also selected to join the Council beginning with its Fall meeting this December.
Five Council members were re-elected to two-year terms after running unopposed: Petoskey athletic director Mike Bakker for a statewide at-large position, Brighton athletic director John Thompson to represent Class A and B schools in the southeastern section of the Lower Peninsula, Richland Gull Lake athletic director Karyn Furlong to represent Class A and B schools in the southwestern section of the Lower Peninsula, Cadillac athletic director Fred Bryant to represent Class A and B schools in the northern section of the Lower Peninsula and Bangor athletic director Fred Smith to represent junior high and middle schools.
Three Council members were elected to two-year terms by a majority vote. Calumet faculty member and past athletic director Sean Jacques was re-elected to represent Class C and D schools in the Upper Peninsula. Charlevoix athletic director Alex Tiseo – who previously served on the Council while on staff at Marquette High School – was elected to represent Class C and D schools in the northern section of the Lower Peninsula. Mike Evoy – who serves as director of the Catholic High School League and director of well-being for Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of Detroit – was elected to represent private and parochial schools.
The Representative Council is the 19-member legislative body of the MHSAA. All but five members are elected by member schools. Four members are appointed by the Council to facilitate representation of females and minorities, and the 19th position is occupied by the Superintendent of Public Instruction or designee. The Council meets three times annually. Five members of the Council convene monthly during the school year to form the MHSAA’s Executive Committee, which reviews appeals of Handbook regulations by member schools.
Additional elections took place to select representatives to the Upper Peninsula Athletic Committee. Lake Linden-Hubbell athletic director Jack Kumpula was re-elected to represent Class D schools, and West Iron County High School and Middle School principal Mike Berutti was re-elected to represent high school athletic coaches. Both of those elections were uncontested.
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract more than 1.4 million spectators each year.
Sportsmanship Summits Go Annual
October 29, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The Michigan High School Athletic Association will present its Sportsmanship Summit series again this November as the program becomes an annual event after previously being presented every other school year at four sites across the state.
MHSAA staff, with assistance from school administrators and the MHSAA Student Advisory Council, conduct Sportsmanship Summits. More than 1,000 students from more than 100 schools are expected to take part in the four workshops, where they will discuss the line that separates good from bad sportsmanship, especially when it comes to cheering at athletic events.
“Sportsmanship is a key part of athletic competition and should be a way of life for all young athletes,” said MHSAA assistant director Andy Frushour, who leads the Summits and serves as advisor to the Student Advisory Council. “By bringing the Sportsmanship Summit series to students every year, and to all areas of the state more regularly, we can better promote this value that will continue to serve student-athletes as they move on from high school and into other endeavors.”
Instruction will be based in part on insights gained during the Student Advisory Council’s Battle of the Fans competitions. The contest annually recognizes the best student cheering section in Michigan. The first Battle of the Fans champion was awarded at the end of the 2011-12 winter season.
This fall’s Summits again will feature hands-on breakout sessions – including one session developed and instructed by members of the Student Advisory Council. To conclude the Summits, the delegation from each participating school will meet to develop a youth sportsmanship campaign to implement upon returning to school.
Sessions will take place at the following:
- Marquette – Nov. 9 – University Center, Northern Michigan University – 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
- Warren – Nov. 11 – DeCarlos Banquet Center – 9 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
- Kalamazoo – Nov. 16 – Downtown Radisson – 9 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
- Lansing – Nov. 18 – Crowne Plaza Lansing West – 9 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Registration at each site is limited to the first 300 students and administrators, and the Lansing and Marquette Summits are sold out. Schools are welcome to bring as many as 10 total representatives, including two administrators. For additional registration information, contact Andy Frushour at the MHSAA office – [email protected] or (517) 332-5046.
Registration information also is available on the MHSAA Website.