Rockford, P-CCS Student Broadcasters Honored Among 'Stations of the Year'

By Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties

April 15, 2024

Rockford High School’s “Beyond The Rock” and Plymouth-Canton Community Schools’ “88.1 The Park” were among those named the 2024 Student Stations of the Year by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB).

Johnny Kane (Bally Spots Detroit), Mark Champion (Pistons Radio), Greg Kelser (Bally Sports Detroit), and Sam Klemet (MAB) participate in the panel discussion.Students from those schools and collegiate winners Hillsdale College (“Radio Free Hillsdale”) and Michigan State University (“School of Journalism”) were rewarded with a trip to a Detroit Pistons game Thursday, and participated in a panel discussion with Pistons’ broadcasters Mark Champion, Greg Kelser, and Johnny Kane. The event was moderated by the President/CEO of the MAB, Sam Klemet.

Student journalists from Davison, Cedar Springs, Troy Athens, Montrose, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, East Kentwood, Bloomfield Hills, Warren Cousino and Dearborn Heights Star International also received awards in high school visual and audio categories.

For a complete list of Michigan Student Broadcast Awards, click here.

PHOTOS (Top) Rockford students enjoy the Pistons game at Little Caesars Arena. (Middle) Johnny Kane (Bally Spots Detroit), Mark Champion (Pistons Radio), Greg Kelser (Bally Sports Detroit), and Sam Klemet (MAB) participate in the panel discussion.

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

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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.)