Rep Council Wrap-up: Spring 2019
May 8, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The addition of seeding at the District level in basketball and soccer and multiple adjustments to the process used to select the playoff field for 11-player football were among the most notable actions taken by the Representative Council of the Michigan High School Athletic Association during its annual Spring Meeting, May 5-6 in Gaylord.
The Spring Meeting of the 19-member legislative body of the Association’s more than 1,500 member schools is generally the busiest of its three sessions each year. The Council considered 26 committee proposals and dealt with a variety of eligibility rule, postseason tournament and operational issues.
Beginning with the 2019-20 school year, girls and boys basketball and soccer will employ a seeding process to place the top two teams in every District on opposite sides of that bracket, guaranteeing those two teams could not play each other before the District championship game.
The two teams to be seeded in each District will be determined using a Michigan Power Ratings computer formula based on regular-season results against other MHSAA Tournament-eligible teams and opponents’ strength of schedule. (Games against out-of-state or non-MHSAA opponents will not count in the MPR formula.) The MHSAA will draw all brackets two weeks before the start of District play. After the top seeds are determined and separated to opposite sides of the bracket, the draw process will place the remaining teams on the bracket based on a randomly-selected order determined earlier in the season. However, the draw process does not guarantee the seeded teams will receive byes or serve as home teams.
The MPR is being used this spring to seed the Boys Lacrosse Tournament. Separate seeding proposals were recommended to the Council by the MHSAA committees for both soccer and basketball.
The changes to the 11-Player Football Playoffs selection process were proposed by the MHSAA Football Committee and are designed to reward teams that play more successful opponents. Beginning with the 2020 season, eight divisions will be determined before the season, and 32 playoff qualifiers from each division will be selected at the end of the regular season based on playoff-point average – there no longer will be automatic qualification based on win total. The adjusted playoff points formula will award bonus points for all opponents’ wins, regardless of whether the team beat or lost to those opponents. Currently bonus points are awarded only if the team defeated an opponent. More points also are awarded for defeating teams from larger divisions. The Football Committee proposed these changes believing the bonus points received for a “good loss” – combined with the elimination of automatic qualifiers – will be enough incentive for teams to schedule more successful opponents, easing the annual difficulty in football scheduling and taking away arguably the most cited reason for the breakup of leagues and conferences.
Also on recommendation by the Football Committee, the Council approved an enrollment limit of 215 students for teams to be eligible for the MHSAA 8-Player Playoffs. This too will take effect for the 2020 season. Currently, a school must be Class D to be eligible for the postseason, or in a one-year grace period if it grew larger than Class D for the current school year. While the Class D enrollment line changes annually, the 8-player line of 215 students will remain static year to year. The grace period also will remain for schools that might receive a one-year enrollment bump before falling back below 215 students.
The Council also approved a committee recommendation to add limited video review of scoring plays or potential scoring plays, or of turnovers or potential turnovers at MHSAA Football Finals for both the 11 and 8-player formats. This process will be available at Finals only because of the availability of camera coverage provided by broadcasts of those highest-level games of the tournament. Although all scoring and turnover plays could be reviewed, a play will be reversed only when there is indisputable video evidence showing the original call was incorrect.
Continuing its focus on safety in football, the Council also approved a committee recommendation to adopt revised definitions and limits on contact allowed during preseason practices and practices after games have begun. Beginning with this 2019 football season, teams will be allowed no more than six hours of full-pads collision contact per week during the preseason and no more than 30 minutes of collision contact during a week of in-season (after games begin) practice. “Collision” is defined as contact at game speed, with the execution of full tackles at a competitive pace, taking players to the ground.
However, while “collision” contact will be limited, “thud” contact will be unlimited. “Thud” is defined as full speed but above the waist only, with no player taken to the ground and no winner or loser. Thud contact is not considered collision contact. The revised definitions of “collision” and “thud” and related time limitations are products of collaboration between the MHSAA, Michigan High School Football Coaches Association and Practice Like Pros, a national movement dedicated to safety in high school football. The recommendation was brought to the Football Committee by leadership of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association and further defines the degree and amount of practice contact following similar practice safety changes approved by the Council for football in 2014 and 2017.
The new sport-specific transfer rule will take effect with the 2019-20 school year, and the Council approved a series of corresponding changes. Most notably, the Council approved a change to the athletic-related (links) rule to not grant immediate eligibility with a residential change if a student follows a coach from his or her former school to a school where the coach has been newly hired. The Council also approved a sport-specific penalty for the athletic-motivated transfer rule so that a student would not be eligible during the current school year in the sport played the previous school year if that student was confirmed to have made an athletic-motivated transfer.
The Council additionally approved clarifications under the sport-specific transfer rule for multi-school districts which have schools that are both geographical boundary schools and schools which are district-wide, for students transferring to nonpublic or charter schools and for students who have taken part in international student exchange programs and chosen to stay in Michigan.
To provide consistency for officials’ jurisdiction across all sports, the Council approved the addition of wording that allows an official to disqualify a student or coach following the conclusion of a contest – but before the official has left the facility and/or grounds – if that student or coach commits an offense worthy of ejection and disqualification against the official. (Example: A player or coach verbally berates an official while following that official to his or her vehicle.) This penalty also would include the next-day-of-competition suspension. This does not apply if the official has remained at the facility and encounters the offense while as a spectator for another event.
Here is a summary of other notable actions taken by the Representative Council at the Spring Meeting, which will take effect during the 2019-20 school year unless noted:
Regulations
• The Council approved an increase from $25 to $40 as the maximum value for any award (trophies, medals, plaques, etc.) that an athlete may receive for participation in an athletic event without conflicting his or her amateur status.
Sport Matters
• In track & field, the Council approved a Cross County/Track & Field Committee recommendation to allow Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula Regional competitions to be conducted on Thursdays, in addition to the current Fridays and Saturdays, to provide for more flexibility for tournament hosts and participants when up against other school activities and college entrance exam testing dates.
• Also in track & field, the Council approved a recommendation to allow for use of a double waterfall mark and step-up start in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters, beginning in 2020 when those events will begin employing a one-turn stagger.
• In golf, a committee recommendation was approved allowing golfers to use cell phones during play in four circumstances – to call a coach or tournament administrator for a health and safety issue, for use in inputting scores for live scoring or other scoring applications, to contact a rules official with questions, and for use as a distance-measuring device.
• The Council approved a Golf Committee recommendation setting the maximum allowable score at 12 strokes per hole, in part to help improve pace of play.
• The Council also approved a Golf Committee recommendation to allow for a Lower Peninsula Regional to be played any day, Monday through Saturday, during the week reserved for that round of the tournament. Similar to track & field, this allowance was made to increase scheduling flexibility.
• In girls competitive cheer, the Council approved a committee recommendation allowing for non-braced static inversions at the high school level only with the following stipulations: the original base or spotter maintains constant contact with the flyer, prior to the static inverted position the flyer must originate from below shoulder level, and the inversion must dismount to the cheering surface, cradle, any waist-level position or a non-inverted stunt at shoulder level. Also, twists from inversions and inversions released to extended level are illegal.
• The Council also approved a recommendation to allow for the review and possible restructuring of the girls competitive cheer format as early as the 2020-21 season, keeping athlete safety and efforts to increase participation as the primary focuses.
• In girls gymnastics, the Council approved a committee recommendation solidifying language stating that when four judges are contracted for a meet in which two events are conducted simultaneously, a total of 28 gymnasts may compete per event in a double-dual or quad meet, with up to 14 per school per event (for schools with A and B teams).
• In boys lacrosse, the Council approved a committee recommendation allowing for a multi-team tournament option of playing two full games (four 12-minute quarters) with a possible four-minute sudden-victory overtime period, instead of three running-time games (25-minute halves) with no overtimes allowed.
• In soccer, the Council approved a recommendation to allow for multi-team tournaments to be played not only on non-school days, but on days not followed by a school day.
• The Council also approved a committee recommendation in soccer removing a rule that previously required District and Regional Finals to begin after 5 p.m. on SAT and ACT national testing days.
• In diving, the Council approved a Swimming & Diving Committee recommendation requiring divers who enter MHSAA Qualifying Meets to provide a name of a designated MHSAA-certified coach to serve on the judging panel. After volunteers are accepted from the list, a random draw of those designated coaches will fill out the rest of the seven-judge panel.
• In tennis, the Council approved two committee recommendations regarding MHSAA Tournament play. The first requires any lineup substitution be made before the end of the last scheduled coaches meeting prior to play to allow for the automatic redrawing of a bracket if a seeded player is unable to play. The Council also approved the allowance of three coaches on the first day of MHSAA Finals, when play often takes place at many courts and at multiple sites. In the case of multiple sites, an additional coach may be added for each site (all coaches must continue to meet MHSAA coaching requirements). On the second day of the Finals, only two coaches are allowed.
• Additionally in tennis, the Council approved a committee recommendation allowing coaches who are on-court for coaching purposes during matches to text coaches or players not engaged in matches, as long as it is not disruptive to play. The Council also approved a committee recommendation allowing coaches at the subvarsity and middle school levels to offer coaching at any time during a match as long as the coach remains off court and does not disrupt the flow of play.
In an effort to increase recruitment of young officials, the Council approved a staff proposal to expand the Student Officials Legacy Program to include freshman and sophomore students at least 14 years of age. These underclassmen will be allowed to officiate with a mentor official at the junior high/middle school level only.
The Council also discussed various other topics, including work by the Multi-Sport Task Force toward a possible awards program and the MHSAA’s growing efforts as a presenting sponsor at junior high/middle school events and at high school events that have ties to MHSAA member schools but are not MHSAA-sponsored sports (that is by competition rules, governance, etc.).
The Council also reviewed reports on membership, with 750 senior high schools and 810 junior high/middle schools in 2018-19 plus 56 elementary schools with 6th-grader participation; cooperative programs, with 313 programs for 552 teams during 2018-19; eligibility advancement applications, which totaled three for this school year; the use of Educational Transfer Forms, out-of-state practice requests, school violations, attendance at athletic director in-service workshops and Coaches Advancement Program sessions, officials’ registrations, rules meetings attendance and officials reports submitted for the past three sports seasons. The Association’s $11.9 million budget for the 2019-20 school year also was approved.
The Representative Council is the 19-member legislative body of the MHSAA. All but five 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 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.
2026 Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients Announced in Class C & D
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 3, 2026
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected 10 student-athletes from Class C and D member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program.
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 37th year of sponsoring the award, will give $2,000 college scholarships to 32 individuals who represent their member schools in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament. The first 30 scholarships are awarded proportionately by school classification and the number of student-athletes involved in those classes; also, there are two at-large honorees who can come from any classification.
Students applying for the Scholar-Athlete Award must be carrying at least a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average and have previously won a letter in a varsity sport in which the Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsors a postseason tournament. Other requirements for the applicants were to show active participation in other school and community activities and produce an essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.
The 32 scholarship recipients will be recognized March 14 during the MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing.
The Class C Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are Maya Carlson, Manistique; Hope Miller, Blissfield; Irelynn Pachulski, Saranac; Gavin Comero, Ishpeming Westwood; Drew Ruddy, Ottawa Lake Whiteford; and Ethan Stine, Bridgman.
The Class D Scholar-Athlete Award recipients are Caila Fitchett, Dryden; Madison Karakashian, Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart; Jack Nelson, Ontonagon; and David Wahl, Gaylord St. Mary.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class C Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Maya Carlson, Manistique
Played three seasons of varsity volleyball, ran three of cross country, played two seasons of varsity basketball, one of golf, and is finishing her first season of swimming & diving. She also will compete in her fourth season of track & field this spring and has played travel ice hockey throughout high school. Finished among the top four at MHSAA Cross Country Finals twice and earned all-state and academic all-state in that sport. Earned all-region and academic all-state in volleyball and qualified for MHSAA Finals all of her first three seasons of track. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and as treasurer, serving third year as student council president and first as student leadership vice president. Served on Youth Advisory Council and participated in YETI service club throughout high school and served as president of both. Will attend Trine University and major in exercise science.
Essay Quote: “I learned that being competitive and being a good sport aren’t opposites. In fact, they depend on each other. When you respect the game and the people playing it, your victories feel more accomplished, and your losses teach you more.”
Hope Miller, Blissfield
Ran four seasons of cross country, is playing her second of varsity basketball, and will compete in fourth of varsity track & field this spring; also played two seasons of varsity soccer. Earned all-state in cross country three times and set school record in that sport, earned all-state two seasons in track and set school records in two races, and earned all-league in soccer. Helped basketball team to league and District titles. Served as cross country team captain the last two seasons. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and as secretary, fourth on student council and as vice president, and third on Lenawee Youth Council. Founded and serving as editor of school newspaper. Participated in two years of debate and received top speaker awards. Is undecided where she will attend college but intends to study ecology or environmental sciences.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship allows for a community to be built around a shared love for the sport and a goal of improving oneself as much as possible. In order for athletes to reach their full potential they must be in an environment that supports their goals and their needs as well as encourages them to have fun with their sport.”
Irelynn Pachulski, Saranac
Played two seasons of varsity volleyball, is completing her second of varsity basketball, and will play her third season of varsity softball and compete in her fourth season of track & field this spring. Also played two seasons of junior varsity football, and participated on the sideline cheer team as a senior. Earned all-league recognition in volleyball, softball and track, also all-region in softball and qualified for the MHSAA Finals in track the last two seasons. Served as captain in volleyball and softball and served on hiring committees for varsity volleyball and softball coaches. Participated in Scouting throughout high school and attained Eagle Scout rank as a sophomore. Played in marching and concert bands throughout high school, serving as marching band drum major and percussion section leader. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and second on student council, as treasurer. Played lead roles in three drama productions. Will attend Montcalm Community College and study exercise science, then transfer to finish her studies in physical therapy.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship in high school athletics starts with strong leadership. When coaches set the pace, players follow. Where an intentional culture of good sportsmanship exists, you can try new things. You can be brave. You can learn.”
Gavin Comero, Ishpeming Westwood
Played two seasons of varsity football, is completing his fourth season of wrestling and will compete in his fourth season of track & field this spring. Earned all-state in track & field and all-conference in football and wrestling, and all-academic in wrestling as well. Served as team captain for football and wrestling. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and third on student council. Played in concert/pep band throughout high school and competed with Business Professionals of America the last three years, earning state and national places in BPA and serving as president as a senior. Served as student council vice president as a freshman and sophomore and band council vice president this school year. Participated two years in Key Club and as part of local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, and served as volunteer youth wrestling coach throughout high school. Will attend University of Michigan and study business administration.
Essay Quote: “Throughout the season I learned the bigger picture of sportsmanship, playing with integrity at all times. No matter what that scoreboard read at the end each Friday night, we continued to play with 110-percent effort. We had every reason to be negative and start pouting, but we remained positive and persisted.”
Drew Ruddy, Ottawa Lake Whiteford
Played three seasons of varsity football, is playing his second season of varsity basketball and will compete in his fourth season of track & field this spring. Earned all-state and academic all-state in football and played on Finals championship and runner-up teams. Qualified for MHSAA Finals in track & field and earned academic all-state in that sport, and earned league scholar-athlete awards in all three sports all four years. Served as captain of all three varsity teams. Serving fourth year as class president and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Participating in third year of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and as huddle leader. Participated three years in Future Farmers of America and was a state competitor, and has contributed to multiple community service projects. Will attend Hillsdale College, but is undecided what he will study.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship is a mental discipline that requires integrity, strength of character, and the willingness to make the right decisions every time. It is also about practicing emotional intelligence, exercising self-control, and speaking with respect to others while on and off the field. Sportsmanship is about respecting yourself enough to accept both wins and losses with humility.”
Ethan Stine, Bridgman
Played three seasons of varsity football and two of varsity soccer, is playing his fourth of varsity basketball and will play his fourth of varsity baseball this spring. Earned all-league honors in football, basketball and baseball, all-state recognition in soccer and academic all-state in baseball. Helped baseball team to Division 3 Finals championship as a freshman and all three of his other teams to league and/or District championships. Served as captain of football, basketball and baseball varsity teams. Serving second year on MHSAA Student Advisory Council and participating in third year of National Honor Society, and this year as chapter president. Competed on DECA team throughout high school, twice qualifying for state finals. Is undecided where he will attend college but intends to study engineering.
Essay Quote: “… Sportsmanship is the active choice to empathize with the people around you – whether they wear a stripe, a rival uniform, or our own colors. It's the unwavering commitment to life lessons over scoreboard outcomes. Our wins fade, but the way we treat people under pressure defines us forever. That competitive integrity, built on genuine respect and humility, is the most valuable degree we earn in educational athletics.”
Other Class C girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Ashley Carlson, Norway; Lillian Kwiatkowski, Rudyard; Izabella Latuszek, Laingsburg; Anna Poppema, Bath; Addyson Rhodes, Grandville Calvin Christian; Brynne Schulte, Elk Rapids; Molly Soper, Hanover-Horton; Luella Whipkey, Oscoda; and Emma Winans, Perry.
Other Class C boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Sean Dammann, New Lothrop; Joe Gaffney, Charlevoix; Ryan Kowalczyk, Pinconning; Amos Miller, Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy; Luke Paxton, Pewamo-Westphalia; Sean Siems, Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep; Logan Slimko, North Muskegon; Eli Smith, LeRoy Pine River; and Grason Weber, Leslie.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class D Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Caila Fitchett, Dryden
Ran four seasons of cross country and also played her first of varsity volleyball in the fall, bowled as a junior and played two seasons of varsity soccer, and will compete in her fourth season of track & field this spring. Earned all-conference in eight track events during her career and all-state as part of the 1,600 relay as a sophomore. Won league cross country championship and served as captain of both the cross country and track teams. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and has served as chapter president two years. Serving fourth year on student council and has held office of vice president, and also has served as president of National Junior Honor Society, Spanish Club and school’s indoor track club. Participating in fourth year of youth group and co-founded Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter. Earned Rural and Small Town Award from College Board and Horatio Alger Association scholarship. Will attend Hope College and study psychology.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship is powerful because it teaches something the stopwatch never could. … It’s not about perfection. It’s not about medals or times. It’s about creating an environment where athletes realize that kindness, belief, and respect can change a season, or even a life.”
Madison Karakashian, Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart
Ran third year of cross country in the fall, is competing in third season of varsity skiing and will play third year of varsity tennis this spring. Earned all-region recognition in skiing and has served as that team’s captain three seasons. Competed in equestrian for more than five years including her first two of high school and qualified for national events multiple times. Participating in National Honor Society and serving fourth year in student government. Earned College Board recognition and the Dartmouth Book Award, Women in STEM Award from Rochester Institute of Technology and Rensselaer Medalist Award. Served as captain three years for debate and ethics bowl team, earning all-Catholic honors. Founded school’s all-girls robotics team that qualified for state competition. Founded and served as president of school’s Mental Health Matters Club, and founded company that generated more than $50,000 in revenue in the equine care industry. Is undecided on where she will attend college but intends to study biomedical engineering.
Essay Quote: “Athletics have also taught me that sports mirror real life. There are wins and losses, moments of confidence and moments of doubt. Sportsmanship is what helps you navigate all of it.”
Jack Nelson, Ontonagon
Played three seasons of varsity football, playing fourth of varsity basketball and will compete in fourth of track & field and golf and second of varsity baseball this spring. Also ran cross country as a freshman. Earned all-conference recognition in football and basketball, all-Upper Peninsula in golf and qualified for the MHSAA Finals in that sport. Served as captain of basketball team for four seasons and football team for two. Participating in third year of National Honor Society – this school year as chapter vice president – serving fourth as class vice president and attended American Legion Boys State. Serving as school radio station student manager, participating in second year of yearbook committee and fourth with school’s TANGO service group, and has participated all four years as part of St. Nicholas Project service efforts. Will attend University of Michigan and study sports management.
Essay Quote: “To me, the two core values of sportsmanship are respect and humility. These traits are important in every aspect of life, whether it's on the court, in the office, or at your grandparent’s house. Sportsmanship is like a compass, not only guiding athletes through competition, but pointing them towards the character values that will shape their lives, long after the final whistle blows.”
David Wahl, Gaylord St. Mary
Played three seasons of varsity football, is playing second of varsity basketball and will play fourth of varsity baseball this spring. Earned all-league recognition in football and served as captain of that team. Earned National Merit Scholarship Commended Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction awards, and College Board National Rural and Small Town recognition. Participating in third year of National Honor Society, serving as president, and third year as part of school student leadership team. Serving third year as local Downtown Development Authority student representative, and served as representative on national Youth Leadership Council. Participating in fourth years in school’s theatre club and music ministry, and played two years in marching/concert/jazz band earning Division 1 ratings for district and state solo and ensemble. Will attend University of Notre Dame and intends to study civil engineering.
Essay Quote: “Since that day, I approach competition differently. I’ve become a captain who models respect for opponents and empathy for teammates. I appreciate every moment I’m given, recognizing that each play, each season, is a privilege rather than a guarantee. I have learned to temper my drive with humanity and to pursue perfection without sacrificing compassion.”
Other Class D girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Emily DelFavero, Wakefield-Marenisco; Isabel Rookard, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart; Alexa Ross, Bloomfield Hills Academy of the Sacred Heart; Audrey Stone, Bessemer; Lorna Wiesen, Leland; and Hope Woolman, Sterling Heights Parkway Christian.
Other Class D boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Zyan Breznik, Adrian Lenawee Christian; Ian Flanagan, Deckerville; Connor Hill, Hillsdale Academy; Brady Jungwirth, Felch North Dickinson; Louis Kowalsky, West Bloomfield FJA; and Noah Zeien, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart.
The Class B scholarship award recipients will be announced Feb. 10, and the Class A honorees will be announced Feb. 17.
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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.
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