#TBT: Remembering #BOTF I-III
January 15, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The MHSAA and its Student Advisory Council will kick of this winter's Battle of the Fans IV on Friday with a visit to reigning champion Beaverton.
In advance, let's recall what earned our first three champions -- Frankenmuth in 2012, Buchanan in 2013 and Beaverton last year -- the right to call their sections the best in Michigan.
2012: Frankenmuth
Frankenmuth Dance Party: Click for story
2013: Buchanan
Welcome to the Woods: Click for story
2014: Beaverton
Beaverton 'Creatures' Dominate Bleachers: Click for story
Performance of the Week: Lansing Christian's Stephen Gollapalli
October 31, 2025
Stephen Gollapalli ♦ Lansing Christian
Junior ♦ Tennis
Gollapalli emerged from the third seed to win the No. 1 singles flight at the Lower Peninsula Division 4 Finals, defeating Lansing Catholic top seed Noah West 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, after also upsetting Plymouth Christian Academy second seed Luke Zhang in their semifinal match. Gollapalli finished this fall 30-1, his only loss to West in their Regional Final nine days earlier.
The championship also came after Gollapalli had advanced to the No. 1 singles semifinals as a sophomore and quarterfinals as a freshman, both times falling to Traverse City St. Francis’ Owen Jackson, who graduated in the spring. Gollapalli this fall went to three sets only twice, winning 12 matches 6-0, 6-0, and raising his career record to 80-3 with one season left to play.
@mhsaasports 🎾POW: Stephen Gollapalli #lansingchristian #tennis #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA
@mhsaasports 🎾POW: Stephen Gollapalli #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA
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Previous 2025-26 honorees
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 Lansing Christian boys tennis program.)