Troy Athens' Winning Work Promotes Importance of Becoming MI HEARTSafe
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
July 22, 2022
Troy Athens, and more specifically its girls soccer team, has been selected as this year’s winner of the MI HEARTSafe School Video Contest promoting the importance of Michigan schools becoming an MI HEARTSafe school.
The Kimberly Anne Gillary Foundation partners with the MHSAA to promote cardiac awareness – and Athens’ student-produced video (above) earned the school $5,000.
Michigan has lost at least 81 students to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and related causes since 1999, according to data compiled by the Kimberly Anne Gillary Foundation. Randy and Sue Gillary lost their daughter Kimberly to a cardiac arrest in a high school water polo game in April of 2000. Randy and Sue Gillary founded the Kimberly Anne Gillary Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable foundation within days of losing Kimberly. The mission of the Foundation is to donate automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to Michigan high schools and to advocate cardiac screening and testing of Michigan high school student athletes.
A major drive of the foundation is for every Michigan school to become an MI-HEARTSafe School. This is a designation given by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHSS) when a school has met the criteria to demonstrate it is prepared to respond to a cardiac emergency on school property. Schools receive a banner and other materials that can be displayed in the school to let those who attend and visit know that the school is an MI-HEARTSafe School.
Coaches Guide to Nutrition: Exercise Fueling
September 16, 2025
Fueling your body is just as important as training your skills when it comes to athletic performance.
Eating every 3–4 hours — including three balanced meals and three strategic snacks — helps keep your muscles energized, your focus sharp, and your mood steady throughout the day.
This consistent fueling not only supports performance on the field but also helps you succeed in the classroom.
Snacks play a key role, especially before and after workouts.
Knowing what to eat — and when — can boost performance, speed up recovery, and keep energy levels high.
In this edition (above), we’ll cover smart snack choices, pre- and post-exercise fueling tips, and strategies to stay prepared throughout the day.
Just like packing your gym bag, planning your food ahead of time is essential for success!
Information above is excerpted from UDIM’s A Coach’s Guide to Nutrition.