Parade of Champions 2014-15
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
June 22, 2015
A total of 90 schools won one or more of the 127 Finals team championships awarded by the Michigan High School Athletic Association during the 2014-15 school year – with five programs winning the first MHSAA team titles in any sport for their respective schools.
The Detroit Western International boys basketball, Armada boys bowling, Detroit Loyola football, Birmingham Roeper boys soccer and Romeo girls volleyball teams all brought home the first MHSAA team championships in their schools’ histories.
A total of 32 teams won their first MHSAA titles. A total of 48 champions were repeat winners from 2013-14 – and 16 of those won for at least the third straight season. The Birmingham Brother Rice boys lacrosse team has the longest title streak of 11 seasons, while the Battle Creek St. Philip volleyball team has won ninth straight titles for the second-longest streak overall and longest among girls programs.
Marquette claimed the most championships, seven, winning in Division 1 boys skiing, Upper Peninsula Division 1 boys cross country and girls cross country, Upper Peninsula boys swimming & diving and girls swimming & diving, and Upper Peninsula Division 1 boys track & field and girls track & field. Three schools won four titles apiece – Birmingham Seaholm, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood and Ishpeming – and four schools won three titles apiece: Birmingham Brother Rice, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Rockford.
Sixteen of the MHSAA's 28 championship tournaments are unified, involving teams from the Upper and Lower Peninsulas, while separate competition to determine titlists in both Peninsulas is conducted in remaining sports.
For a sport-by-sport listing of MHSAA champions for 2014-15 - Click Here (PDF)
PHOTO: The Romeo volleyball team hoists its Division 1 championship trophy, the first MHSAA Finals trophy won by the school in any sport.
Sportsmanship Summits Return
October 2, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Sportsmanship is an important part of educational athletics, and student cheering sections can be a key factor in creating a festive high school event. The Michigan High School Athletic Association will present its Sportsmanship Summit series in November, with this year’s focus on appropriate cheering and creating a fun and positive experience.
MHSAA staff, with assistance from school administrators and the MHSAA Student Advisory Council, present Sportsmanship Summits every other school year. 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.
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:
- Gaylord – Nov. 3 – Treetops Resort – 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Saginaw – Nov. 5 – Saginaw Valley State University Conference Center – 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Grand Rapids – Nov. 10 – Crowne Plaza – 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Warren – Nov. 12 – DeCarlos Banquet Center – 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Registration at each site is limited to the first 300 students and administrators. 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.