And the 2020 BOTF Winner is ...
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 20, 2020
A standard for Michigan’s high school student cheering sections has been set over nine years of Battle of the Fans.
Carter Aalfs has been part of it almost from the start.
He caught the fever as a fifth grader in 2013, watching an older cousin lead Buchanan’s newly-organized “Herd” to the BOTF II championship. Two years later, now in seventh grade, he stopped into the MHSAA’s finalists interview session with high school leaders to tell us how he already was becoming part of the growing tradition as a member of the younger students’ “Junior Herd.”
He was in the stands for Buchanan’s second BOTF championship in 2018. And this year, as a senior, he was one of the leaders directing from up front, showing his classmates the way to the Battle of the Fans IX championship – a victory that made Buchanan the first three-time winner in BOTF history.
"We've established a place where you can be yourself. You can be outgoing. You can have fun. And you don't have to worry about anybody judging you," Aalfs said. "Many people don't get to have an experience like this where you get to be with all your friends, all having a good time, while also supporting your school.
"Everybody is going to go crazy. Everybody is going to be so excited about it. Just because of all the hard work we put in during the whole season, all the way back into football season. All the preparation it took, the long meetings, and just making it all come together."
Buchanan will accept its Battle of the Fans IX championship banner during halftime of the first Division 2 Boys Basketball Semifinal on March 27 at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center. Finalists Saginaw Heritage and Zeeland East also have been invited to Breslin to be honored for this season’s achievement.
Buchanan was chosen based on a vote by the MHSAA’s 16-member Student Advisory Council influenced by public vote on the MHSAA’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sites. A total of 10,086 social media votes were received – the first time the total has reached 10,000 – with those results then equated against a school’s enrollment. This year’s results came out to 3.5 votes cast for every student attending one of our finalist schools.
Buchanan totaled the most public social media support. Combined, the three finalists received more than 10,000 RTs, Shares and Likes on social media since Tuesday, including 6,500 on Instagram.
Other numbers to consider from this season's contest: The application videos have been watched nearly 13,000 times, and the MHSAA-produced videos from our finalist tour stops have almost 2,000 views. The stories detailing the three tour stops plus Tuesday’s explanation of how to vote and the announcements of semifinalists and finalists had been viewed more than 6,000 times as of 8:30 this morning. The three Instagram stories covering our visits were viewed nearly 6,400 times combined.
The Student Advisory Council based its vote on the following criteria: positive sportsmanship, student body participation, school spirit, originality of cheers, organization of the group, section leadership and overall fun. Nine semifinalists were selected from the original application group before Buchanan, Saginaw Heritage and Zeeland East were chosen for MHSAA visits. Caro, Frankenmuth, Hart, Petersburg Summerfield, Reese and Traverse City West also were semifinalists.
In addition to its three championship years, The Herd was a BOTF finalist in 2014, 2015 and 2018. Heritage was a finalist for the second straight year, and Zeeland East was a finalist in 2013.
Below are our final takeaways from this year’s finalist trips:
Power of Ownership Award: Saginaw Heritage
What we saw: The Hawk Nest has come so far so fast over the last two years, from pretty much nothing to two-time BOTF finalist. Visiting for the second year in a row, we were surprised at first to learn the foundation of the section had changed from being rooted in the school’s Leadership class to being completely student organized and directed. At the same time, students taking the reins is a section evolution we’ve heard about or seen for ourselves over the last decade of BOTF, and there was little doubt the Nest this year was taking its cues from student leaders including representatives from three grades. The Nest showed off another nice turnout for our basketball game visit considering the highly-ranked hockey team also was playing on the same night. Students who did attend this boys basketball game were invested in the action and cheered throughout. We also enjoyed how a wide variety seemed to have roles during our visit, from conducting the “light show” during pregame warmups to taking part in various cheers and a halftime relay competition.
Why we’re fans: We have a lot of respect for student initiative, and we appreciate the Nest owning not only the opportunities to have fun but also the importance of self-policing to make sure everyone is enjoying themselves in appropriate and sportsmanlike ways. They showed us some fun ideas and were up to try new things, and there was a strong feeling from that multi-class leadership that this section won’t drift away any time soon. We also appreciated how they take the show to the football field and ice rink, and do so in force. The enthusiasm was overflowing, and we could feel it.
Be the Change Award: Zeeland East
What we saw: Two hours of creativity and originality poured into genuine support for the players on the floor. The Valentine’s Day theme was pulled off to a T, and we’re sure all involved on this Senior Night felt the love – including mothers in the crowd supporting both the Chix and opponent Hamilton who received roses during halftime. The involvement of the school’s Ottawa County Sheriff’s deputy in leading a wild cruiser ride was memorable, and the middle school breakdancer unforgettable. We like to dissuade sections from playing with potentially messy confetti or glitter, but the blast of pink and silver into the air over The Coop looked pretty awesome. Coop Crazies say it’s all about the party – and we felt like they were throwing the biggest bash in town.
Why we’re fans: A lot of student sections say, “This is our year. We’re going to change some things.” Coop leaders actually had the courage and put in the work to do it. Underwhelmed by their student section experience the last three years, a group of seniors took over and quickly rewrote the script. The question moving forward is how the next group of leaders will mold the section – but if they can keep the creativity and party atmosphere going, this will be a section to contend with for years to come.
Battle of the Fans champion: Buchanan
What we saw: There’s a line here between not saying enough about this year’s Herd and having already said it all, and we’re straddling it because we’ve had an opportunity to see Buchanan in action a number of times over the years. But as we stated in our original report last week, something did catch our attention – from the front row to the back and across the section through the Junior Herd youngsters who joined in, everyone was all in all the time during our Tuesday night visit, and without special rallying cries needed to keep it up. The Herd, standing together, was naturally cohesive and fun, which comes with really wanting to be there and be a part. The section was loud from start to finish, every possession and every break, and always engaged in the action. But there’s more to it.
Why we’re fans: The first time we visited Buchanan, in 2013, the takeaway was a new student cheering section had changed school culture dramatically over just a few short months. Now that culture is ingrained in every grade from elementary school up. People have asked over the years if this Herd lifestyle is real or just a show – and we’re here to tell you, it’s absolutely authentic.
The Herd experience sends outgoing seniors into tears and brings past leaders back to watch those who have followed them. It has now linked nearly a decade’s worth of students – and continues to set an example any school would be wise to follow.
And Buchanan is glad to be that example. Over the years, Herd leaders have been sought out by other student sections across the state, and even some from other states, asking for advice on how to do something similar at their schools.
Aalfs and his classmates are glad to show anyone the ropes, that those schools too might enjoy some of what he and his friends have grown up with and grown to love about their high school experience.
"It's going to leave me with such great memories that I'm going to remember for the rest of my life," Aalfs said. "Just being around everybody, everybody being so positive. It's crazy."
The Battle of the Fans is sponsored in part by the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.
Check out below our stories and videos behind the finalists. Also, click to see student-produced videos from all sections that entered the contest. (Photos courtesy of Buchanan High School.)
Buchanan
Read all about it: Have You Herd? Buchanan Tradition Lives On
Saginaw Heritage
Read all about it: Heritage's Hawk Nest Taking Charge
Zeeland East
Read all about it: Zeeland East's Coop Crazies Share the Love
2025 Scholar-Athlete Award Recipients Announced in Class C & D
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 4, 2025
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 36th 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 15 during the MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing.
The Class C Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are Dayne Behning, Munising; Kelcie Pung, Fowler; Isaiah Kabban, Harbor Beach; Trevor Nolan, Munising; and Wheatley Rodammer, Saginaw Valley Lutheran.
The Class D Scholar-Athlete Award recipients are Sarah Bradley, Clarkston Everest Collegiate; Ella Knudsen, Leland; Joshua Gaunt, Dollar Bay; and Dakota Malek, Fulton.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class C Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Dayne Behning, Munising
Played four seasons of varsity tennis and three of varsity volleyball, is playing her fourth of varsity basketball and will compete in her fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-state in cross country, all-Upper Peninsula recognition in tennis and all-conference in volleyball and basketball; and earned academic all-state team and individual honors in cross country. Served as team captain of tennis and volleyball varsities. Serving in second year on student council with leadership roles as council vice president and also class vice president. Participating in fourth year of Key Club and as vice president. Participating in second year of National Honor Society, third in Youth in Government, third on yearbook staff and competing in first year of quiz bowl. Is considering attending Baker College to study veterinary technology.
Essay Quote: “The reality of high school athletics in the Upper Peninsula often means long bus rides and hours of travel for away games. This distance creates a unique dynamic among athletes, especially when you spend years competing against the same opponents. Over time, the girls on opposing teams become familiar faces – people you’ve grown up playing with. Through countless games and practices, rivalries evolve, and competition becomes a shared language. We end up being each other's biggest cheerleaders.”
Kelcie Pung, Fowler
Ran four years of varsity cross country, will compete in fourth season of track & field this spring and played varsity basketball as a sophomore and junior. Earned all-state in both cross country and track, the latter all of her first three seasons, and helped track team to Lower Peninsula Division 4 Finals championship last spring. Served as cross country team captain this past fall. Serving fourth year on school’s student athletic advisory council, and as president, and also serving as student council class secretary. Participating in fourth year with school’s LINKS program and serving as president for second year. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and fourth with school’s renaissance program for students with strong academics. Will attend Saginaw Valley State University and study upper elementary education.
Essay Quote: “Sportsmanship can be seen in the moments where adversity is overwhelming and where the outcome is far from expectation. In the depths of a difficult situation, there is a choice to make. The decision between sportsmanship or dwelling on defeat define one’s character. Just like other personal values, genuine sportsmanship is contagious and does not go unnoticed.”
Isaiah Kabban, Harbor Beach
Played two seasons of varsity football and will compete in fourth of track & field this spring; also played junior varsity basketball two seasons. Earned all-area in football and helped team to league and District championships. Earned all-state in powerlifting and twice qualified for state meet. Earned academic all-league in football and track. Served as football and track throws captain and coached middle school flag football and as varsity basketball student assistant. Will complete second associate degree before high school graduation. Serving on MHSAA Student Advisory Council and participated in student government throughout high school including as vice president. Served as representative for local district’s Congressional Youth Council. Serving as national director of ongoing legislation for American Youth Association and was a national spokesperson finalist for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Leadership Council. Participated in American Legion Boys State and Boys Nation with leadership roles. Is undecided on which college he will attend, but intends to study public policy.
Essay Quote: “Sports only matter because we agree they do – and because of the relentless work we put into them. … (Sportsmanship is) what makes the game more than just a competition. It’s the foundation that gives sports their meaning, their stories, and their legacy.”
Trevor Nolan, Munising
Ran four years of varsity cross country, is playing his fourth of season of varsity basketball and will compete in fourth of track & field this spring; also played varsity football for the first time this past fall. Helped basketball team to 2023 Division 4 Finals championship and has earned all-state and academic all-state recognition in that sport. Won multiple league championships in cross country and earned all-Upper Peninsula honors, and was Finals relay champion in track. Earned all-conference honorable mention in football. Served as cross country and basketball team captain. Participating in second years of National Honor Society and Key Club and served on student council as a freshman as class president. Is undecided on which college he will attend, but intends to study physical therapy or kinesiology.
Essay Quote: “A coach once told me that the reason why high school sports are so successful is that they are great at teaching young kids how to mature into adults. There is no better way to teach kids how to develop great character than by teaching them the importance of sportsmanship. … Growing up, I was not always a good sport, but as I got older I learned the importance of sportsmanship through many important lessons.”
Wheatley Rodammer, Saginaw Valley Lutheran
Played four seasons of varsity soccer, is playing his second of varsity basketball and will compete in his fourth of track & field this spring. Earned all-league and all-District in soccer and contributed to academic all-state team. Qualified for MHSAA Track & Field Finals as part of relay. Served as captain of soccer and basketball teams. Participated two years in National Honor Society, four years in school’s Protect Life group and in STEM and Global Awareness clubs as a junior. Will serve as head timer for grade school track meets for fourth year this spring and head announcer for third year. Completed Great Lakes Area Leadership Camp. Will attend Saginaw Valley State University and study a business-related major.
Essay Quote: “Throughout my years in grade school and high school sports, I have often heard coaches repeat phrases like “practice makes perfect” and “you get out of it what you put into it.” These lessons have prepared me for life beyond sports. Having good sportsmanship is a personal choice that requires commitment. There is a significant difference between showing sportsmanship only when it feels convenient and displaying it consistently, no matter the circumstances. Educational athletics often throw curveballs your way, requiring you to remain composed and prepared at all times – not just when you feel like it.”
Other Class C girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Baylee Goddard, Alcona; Kaylee Kranz, Clinton; Alexyn DuBois, Hanover-Horton; Grace Hayhurst, Harbor Springs; Allie Nowak, Johannesburg-Lewiston; Kate Mattson, Munising; Ashlyn Orr, New Lothrop; Tess Tillman, Royal Oak Shrine Catholic; and Makayla Zelinko, St Charles.
Other Class C boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Lucas Hall, Bark River-Harris; Owen Heath, Bridgman; Jason Zarate, Brighton Charyl Stockwell Prep; Matthew Mellendorf, Cass City; Korbyn Russell, East Jordan; Carson Kienitz, Munising; Ian Weldon, Reese; Ben Denlinger, Roscommon; and Landon Pestrue, St Louis.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class D Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
Sarah Bradley, Clarkston Everest Collegiate
Played four seasons of varsity volleyball, playing fourth of varsity basketball and also played varsity softball as a sophomore. Led volleyball team to Division 4 championships the last two seasons, making the all-state first team after both and earning honorable mention as a sophomore. Helped basketball team to District titles her first three seasons, earning all-state as a junior and academic all-state in that sport as well. Served as volleyball team captain three seasons and basketball her final two. Earned AP Scholar recognition and is ranked first in her graduating class with a 4.3 weighted grade-point average. Serving second year on student government, as vice president, and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Served as ECyD youth group team leader throughout high school and two years as yearbook senior editor. Will attend Calvin University and study nursing.
Essay Quote: “To truly have this pivotal quality, it is necessary to not only be a good winner but also a good loser. It is easy to congratulate the other team on playing well when the outcome is in your favor. However, it is much harder to look into the eyes of your opponent who just ended your season and tell them they played well.”
Ella Knudsen, Leland
Played four years of varsity golf and ran four seasons of cross country, is playing her third of varsity basketball and will compete in her fourth season of track & field this spring; also played varsity soccer as a freshman and sophomore. Earned all-state three times in cross country, once in track and all-conference in basketball, and earned academic all-state in those three sports and golf. Served as captain of cross country, basketball and track teams. Earned AP Scholar recognition and Rural and Small Town Award from College Board. Serves on MHSAA Student Advisory Council and is participating in third years on Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council and as part of student government. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and third of National Art Honor Society, serving as president of both chapters and student council. Will attend Hope College and study kinesiology.
Essay Quote: “Over the years sportsmanship has been the driving force for me to connect with other competitors in our area. … These relationships have allowed me to care for others and in return I have been encouraged and motivated because of these connections over the course of high school.”
Joshua Gaunt, Dollar Bay
Ran four years of varsity cross country, playing fourth season of varsity basketball and will play fourth season of golf and compete in fourth season of track & field this spring. Helped cross country team to two Upper Peninsula Division 3 Finals championships and earned all-UP in track and golf. Served as basketball and cross country team captain multiple seasons. Serving fourth year on student council and as vice president, and participating in second year of National Honor Society and serving as chapter president. Serving as director of leadership while participating in fourth year of Student Leadership Advisory Council of the Keweenaw. Playing fourth year in school band and contributed to multiple festival superior ratings. Will attend Michigan Technological University and study mechanical engineering.
Essay Quote: “In educational athletics, sportsmanship is much more than just treating others with respect. It is about being honest with yourself and the game. … By showing integrity and embracing honesty, athletes not only honor the spirit of competition but also create a foundation for success in life. True sportsmanship ensures that victories are meaningful, challenges are overcome, and every moment in sports becomes a stepping stone toward becoming a better person.”
Dakota Malek, Fulton
Played two seasons of varsity football, wrestled two seasons and competed on track & field team as freshman and junior. Earned individual and team academic all-state honors in football and served as team captain his final two seasons. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and second as chapter president. Competing in fourth year of Business Professionals of America and is a three-time state competition qualifier. Participating for fourth year in school’s Above the Influence group and serving second year as student representative to school district’s board of education. Serving fourth year as broadcaster of school sporting events. Will attend Central Michigan University and study meteorology and broadcasting.
Essay Quote: “After the final whistle, I fell to the ground. I wanted to rewind and redo the play, but that wasn't possible. Instead, I got up and helped the Kingston defender up. I pulled it together, managed my emotions, and got in my last line to shake the opponents' hands. It was hard to see it in that moment, but that loss prepared me for the future. Losing my last game in that fashion prepared me to better manage my emotions and take responsibility.”
Other Class D girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Keira Jean Graham, Bessemer; Molly Coppens, Chesterfield Austin Catholic; Ella Grace Gasperich, Crystal Falls Forest Park; Leah Durfee, Fife Lake Forest Area; Mallory Rich, Muskegon Catholic Central; and Kaitlyn Miros, Saginaw Nouvel.
Other Class D boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were Seth Davis, Adrian Lenawee Christian; Owen Plum, Britton Deerfield; Andrew Spiegel, Hillsdale Academy; Carter Kosinski, Kinde North Huron; Alex Tyndall, Mason County Eastern; and Grady Pieratt, Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart.
The Class B scholarship award recipients will be announced Feb. 11, and the Class A honorees will be announced Feb. 18.
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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.