Battle of the Fans X: Vote Now

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

February 15, 2022

We have seen Battle of the Fans reborn across Michigan over the last two months, and after visiting our three BOTF X finalists over the last two weeks, we're just days from awarding this year's champion.

We want your help to determine which should be crowned as the state's best student section for 2021-22.  

Vote today through 4 p.m. Thursday on your favorite of these three (enrollments in parentheses) – Buchanan (435), Midland Dow (1,270) and Traverse City West (1,629) – by liking, sharing and re-tweeting on the MHSAA’s FacebookTwitterInstagram and TikTok sites.

But before you do, take a few minutes to watch all three videos from our visits and read the stories behind the sections 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 – including giving weight to the public social media vote. Votes will be valued proportionately to the size of the school receiving them (for example, one vote for Class B Buchanan will be worth more than one vote for Class A Midland Dow or Traverse City West). 

The champion will be announced Friday on Second Half. All three finalists will be invited to Michigan State University's Breslin Center on March 25 for the Division 2 Boys Basketball Semifinals, and the winner will be presented with a championship banner at center court.  

And now, the finalists, in alphabetical order:

Buchanan

Read all about it: Buchanan's 'Herd' Begins New Era with Same Bucks Energy


Midland Dow

Read all about it: Dow Aims to Give Teams Advantage with Charger Spirit


Traverse City West

Read all about it: West's Creatures Filling Bleachers with Support for Titans Teams

Performance of the Week: Dexter's Avery Manning

October 16, 2025

Avery Manning headshotAvery Manning ♦ Dexter
Senior ♦ Golf

Manning carded a 2-under-par 70 at Michigan State’s Forest Akers East to win her Lower Peninsula Division 2 Regional by eight strokes, completing a career Regional sweep with her fourth title at a Finals qualifying round. Dexter, the No. 2-ranked team in LPD2, also won at Forest Akers with a score of 322 strokes, 40 ahead of the field.

The Dreadnaughts’ standout will be chasing a second-straight Finals individual championship this weekend at Bedford Valley in Battle Creek; she won last season’s by five strokes after finishing runner-up in 2023 and 12th in Division 2 as a freshman in 2022. Manning has committed to continue her golf and academic careers at Oakland University, where she’s considering studying business. Dexter as a team this weekend will be pursuing its first Finals championship since the spring 2007 season, and after finishing second a year ago.

@mhsaasports ⛳️POW: Avery Manning #dexter #golf #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA

@mhsaasports ⛳️POW: Avery Manning #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA

Follow the MHSAA on TikTok.

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 Twitter @mistudentaid.

Previous 2025-26 honorees

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 Avery Manning.)