Rivaling for a Cause
January 25, 2013
It’s impossible to include all the perspective we gain from every “Battle of the Fans” visit.
But this anecdote, although it didn't make Tuesday’s story about our Frankenmuth trip, tells of another great example for what student cheering sections can accomplish.
Frankenmuth and Millington are heated rivals, to say the least, separated by 13 miles and made more competitive by plenty of championship-deciding matchups over the years.
But for their boys basketball game Jan. 10 at Frankenmuth, student section leaders from both schools almost completely on their own set up the game as a cancer awareness night, complete with Frankenmuth students in black shirts and Millington’s wearing pink.
The idea was the brainchild of a of Frankenmuth section leader, who then received help from a local bank and contacted Millington to get the ball rolling.
Battle of the Fans has shown us the obvious – these student sections need strong leaders – but also the special things they can accomplish with additional initiative.
“Never Forgotten”
Two more rivals, Fennville and Saugatuck, met late last month for their second “Never Forgotten” boys and girls basketball games with proceeds going to the Wes Leonard Heart Team for the purchase of AEDs.
Players wore jerseys with names on the backs of friends and family members who had died, and those jerseys were then given to family members after the games. Officials Ace Cover, Chris Dennie and Kyle Bowen also donated their game checks to the Heart Team, as did the winner of that night’s 50-50 raffle.
Leonard died from sudden cardiac arrest after making the game-winning shot in a basketball game March 3, 2011. The two schools played their first “Never Forgotten” games last season.
More support for less specialization
I’m asked once a year at least about sport specialization – that is, athletes focusing on just one sport, often from an early age, and if it pays off some way down the road.
Most of my evidence to support my belief in the well-rounded athlete has been anecdotal, based on conversations with people at the high school and college levels over the years. But a British study published this fall in the Journal of Sport Sciences by University of Birmingham researchers provides some interesting empirical findings.
The study of 1,006 people from the United Kingdom showed that those who participated in three sports at ages 11, 13 and 15 were “significantly more likely to compete at a national rather than club standard” between ages 16-18 than those who had practiced only one sport.
In other words, the study found that those who played more sports at earlier ages played at a higher level during their high school-age years, which seems to contradict the one-sport focus philosophy.
Click for more perspective on the study from Chris Kennedy, the Superintendent of Schools in West Vancouver, British Columbia.
PHOTO: The boys and girls teams for Fennville and Saugatuck pose together after their "Never Forgotten" games Dec. 21 at Fennville High. (Photo courtesy of Al LaShell.)
Century of School Sports: We Recognize Those Who Make Our Games Go
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 11, 2025
A long-held and common philosophy among those serving in educational athletics is that celebrations of achievement should be focused primarily on the student-athletes who participate in MHSAA sports.
But those making those activities possible also realize more than most how much is accomplished behind the scenes – and the MHSAA annually recognizes those contributors as well.
Every school year, the MHSAA presents a series of service awards, voted upon by its Representative Council. Nominations are due by Nov. 1, and awards are then presented over the following months.
Below are brief descriptions of the MHSAA’s awards, and more information including all past honorees is available on the Awards page.
Winners of the 2024-25 Women in Sports Leadership, Nate Hampton Champion of Progress in Athletics and Charles E. Forsythe Lifetime Achievement awards will be announced later this month. This school’s year’s Vern L. Norris Leadership in Officiating Award honoree will be announced in April, and Allen W. Bush Meritorious Service Award winners will be announced later this spring.
Women In Sports Leadership Award: The MHSAA has honored 38 leaders since 1990 with this award, which is presented either during the every-other-year Women in Sports Leadership Conference or during MHSAA Finals in years between conferences. The WISL Award recognizes the impacts of women coaches, officials and athletic administrators.
Nate Hampton Champion of Progress in Athletics Award: The newest addition to the MHSAA’s annual honors was presented in 2024 for the first time and recognizes leaders who promote the advancement of opportunities for women, minorities and other underrepresented groups within interscholastic athletics, while serving as an administrator, coach, official, educator or school sports leader. Hampton served as an MHSAA assistant director for 32 years, retiring in 2021.
Charles E. Forsythe Lifetime Achievement Award: Since 1978, the Forsythe Award has honored 74 individuals who epitomize excellence and service throughout the interscholastic community based on outstanding contributions at the local, regional and statewide levels. Forsythe was the first fulltime executive director of the MHSAA, serving from 1931-68.
Vern L. Norris Leadership in Officiating Award: A total of 34 officials have been recognized with this award since 1992 for their participation in local officials associations, mentoring of other officials and involvement in officials education. Candidates all have been registered with the MHSAA for 20 or more years at the high school level. Norris served as the MHSAA’s executive director from 1978-86 and on staff for 23 years total, and also was a highly-respected game official.
Allen W. Bush Meritorious Service Award: Beginning in 1992, the Council has honored 108 individuals for their contributions in a number of roles including coach, administrator, game official, trainer, doctor or member of the media – focusing on candidates who have served without receiving much attention for their difference-making work. Bush was the MHSAA’s second fulltime executive director and served from 1968-78.
Previous "Century of School Sports" Spotlights
Feb. 4: WISL Conference Continues to Inspire Aspiring Leaders - Read
Jan. 28: Michigan's National Impact Begins at NFHS' Start - Read
Jan. 21: Awards Celebrate Well-Rounded Educational Experience - Read
Jan. 14: Predecessors Laid Foundation for MHSAA's Formation - Read
Jan. 9: MHSAA Blazes Trail Into Cyberspace - Read
Dec. 31: State's Storytellers Share Winter Memories - Read
Dec. 17: MHSAA Over Time - Read
Dec. 10: On This Day, December 13, We Will Celebrate - Read
Dec. 3: MHSAA Work Guided by Representative Council - Read
Nov. 26: Finals Provide Future Pros Early Ford Field Glory - Read
Nov. 19: Connection at Heart of Coaches Advancement Program - Read
Nov. 12: Good Sports are Winners Then, Now & Always - Read
Nov. 5: MHSAA's Home Sweet Home - Read
Oct. 29: MHSAA Summits Draw Thousands to Promote Sportsmanship - Read
Oct. 23: Cross Country Finals Among MHSAA's Longest Running - Read
Oct. 15: State's Storytellers Share Fall Memories - Read
Oct. 8: Guided by 4 S's of Educational Athletics - Read
Oct. 1: Michigan Sends 10 to National Hall of Fame - Read
Sept. 25: MHSAA Record Books Filled with 1000s of Achievements - Read
Sept. 18: Why Does the MHSAA Have These Rules? - Read
Sept. 10: Special Medals, Patches to Commemorate Special Year - Read
Sept. 4: Fall to Finish with 50th Football Championships - Read
Aug. 28: Let the Celebration Begin - Read
(MHSAA file photos.)