Battle of the Fans III: Vote Now
February 18, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We visited, we watched, we enjoyed and now we've returned from our five trips to this season's MHSAA Battle of the Fans III finalists.
And now it's your turn to vote for your favorite in this season's search for Michigan's top high school cheering section.
Vote today through Thursday on your favorite of these five (enrollments in parentheses) – Beaverton (427), Bridgman (320), Buchanan (465), Frankfort (152) and Traverse City West (1,653) – by liking, sharing and re-tweeting on the MHSAA’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sites.
But before you do, take a few minutes to watch all five videos and read all five stories behind the section by clicking the links below.
The contest is sponsored by the MHSAA Student Advisory Council, which will have the final vote on the champion. SAC members will use all resources available to make their decision(s) – including giving significant weight to the public social media vote. Votes will be valued proportionate to the size of the school receiving them (for example, one vote for Class D Frankfort will mean more than one vote for much larger Class A Traverse City West).
The champion will be announced Friday on Second Half. Video of all five finalists will be compiled and shown on the main scoreboard during the Girls and Boys Basketball Finals in March at Michigan State's Breslin Student Events Center. The winner will be invited to Breslin for the Class C Boys Basketball Semifinals and presented a championship banner at center court.
And now, the finalists, in alphabetical order:
Beaverton
Read all about it: "Beaverton 'Creatures' Dominate Bleachers"
Bridgman
Read all about it: "Bridgman's 'Orange Crush' Rules the Hive"
Buchanan
Read all about it: "Herd Dat? Buchanan Back for BOTF III"
Frankfort
Read all about it: "Change Does Frankfort's 'Cage' Good"
Traverse City West
Read all about it: "TC West 'Creatures' Of Cheer Habit"
Battle of the Fans III is sponsored in part by the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.
Performance of the Week: Midland Dow's Melanie Kolnitys
February 6, 2026
Melanie Kolnitys ♦ Midland Dow
Senior ♦ Basketball
The Chargers’ senior point guard unfortunately finished her season – and high school basketball career – earlier than expected last week. But given the circumstances, it’s difficult to imagine a more incredible ending. Kolnitys entered Dow’s Jan. 28 game against Grand Blanc needing 22 points to reach 1,000, and with knee surgery scheduled for the next day. She scored only two points during the first half, but 20 during the second to reach the milestone on her final basket.
Kolnitys initially had been injured during a soccer game as a sophomore, tearing an ACL and both meniscuses in her right knee. A four-year varsity basketball standout, she played the last few and especially this winter knowing follow-up surgery was a possibility, and although she hoped to make it through her entire senior season, her ability to sprint had been affected enough to require that surgery Jan. 29. Kolnitys would like to return for the end of her soccer season this spring, and will continue her soccer career this fall at Saginaw Valley State. She plans to study biology on a pre-veterinary track.
@mhsaasports 🏀POW: Melanie Kolnitys #dow #basketball #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA
@mhsaasports 🏀POW: Melanie Kolnitys #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA
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MHSAA.com's "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and X @mistudentaid.
Previous 2025-26 honorees
Jan. 29: Stella Musialowski, Huron Valley United gymnastics - Report
Jan. 22: Baylor Perkins, Grand Blanc swimming - Report
Jan. 15: Delaney Vanier, Flint Kearsley bowling - Report
Jan. 8: Stevie Hall, Detroit Cass Tech basketball - Report
Dec. 18: Ethan Martha, Ishpeming Westwood basketball - Report
Dec. 11: Louis Smith, Three Rivers wrestling - Report
Dec. 4: Traverse Smith, DeWitt football - Report
Nov. 28: Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield swimming - Report
Nov. 20: Brady Kieff, Blanchard Montabella football - Report
Nov. 13: Ella Laupp, Battle Creek Harper Creek swimming - Report
Nov. 7: Hunter Eaton, Charlevoix cross country - Report
Oct. 31: Stephen Gollapalli, Lansing Christian tennis - Report
Oct. 23: Talya Schreiber, Pickford cross country - Report
Oct. 16: Avery Manning, Dexter golf - Report
Oct. 9: Brady Van Laecke, Hudsonville football - Report
Oct. 2: Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock volleyball - Report
Sept. 25: Sam Schumacher, Portage Central tennis - Report
Sept. 18: Kaylee Mitzel, Saline field hockey - Report
Sept. 11: Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4: Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report
(Photos courtesy of the Midland Dow girls basketball program.)