In Memoriam: Ryan Fischer (1996-2014)
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 7, 2014
Grandville senior Ryan Fischer, a three-sport athlete, straight-A student and member of the MHSAA’s Student Advisory Council, died in his sleep overnight Thursday.
Fisher was co-captain of Grandville’s ice hockey team and set to join his teammates at Compuware Arena for tonight’s Division 1 Semifinal against Detroit Catholic Central. Fischer also was to receive an MHSAA Class A Scholar-Athlete Award later this month and recently had gained acceptance to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he planned to study aerospace engineering.
“Our staff enjoyed knowing Ryan as an engaging member of the MHSAA Student Advisory Council for two years, and we grieve his loss with the entire Grandville community,” MHSAA Executive Director Jack Roberts said.
Fischer was to turn 18 on April 10.
He also served as captain of his football team this fall and had lettered in baseball. A three-year member of the hockey team, he was named to its leadership council and earned all-league honors as a junior.
Fisher held roles in a number of additional leadership initiatives. He served four years on Grandville's student government executive board and also on the school's Leadership Team and his church’s youth leadership council. Fischer was selected to attend both the U.S. Military Academy Summer Leadership Experience and the U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar after his junior year.
A decision to play tonight’s hockey game as scheduled was made after conversations between Fischer’s family and Grandville’s administration.
Performance of the Week: Saline's Kaylee Mitzel
September 19, 2025
Kaylee Mitzel ♦ Saline
Junior ♦ Field Hockey
Mitzel – Saline’s goalkeeper – had seven saves including a potential win-securing deflection in the fourth quarter as the Hornets defeated Ann Arbor Pioneer in a rematch of last season’s Michigan High School Field Hockey League Division 1 championship game. Saline (9-1-1) also defeated reigning Division 2 champion Chelsea 1-0 in their next game last week.
After playing basketball and soccer as a freshman, Mitzel turned her focus to soccer as a sophomore – she’s an all-area goalkeeper during the spring – and also played field hockey for the first time. The Hornets’ only loss this fall came Wednesday, in a rematch with Pioneer, with the score again 1-0. This is the first year of MHSAA sponsorship for girls field hockey, with Regionals set to begin Oct. 8 and the first Final on Oct. 25.
@mhsaasports 🏑POW: Kaylee Mitzel #saline #fieldhockey #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA
@mhsaasports 🏑POW: Kaylee Mitzel #funfacts #tiktalk #gettoknowme #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA
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Previous 2025-26 honorees
Sept. 11: Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4: Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report
(Photos courtesy of the Saline athletic department.)