SAC Sound-off: Leaving Town, Leaving Something Behind
May 22, 2012
The days are numbered.
For the past few months, graduation has been breathing down my back. For seniors, life as we know it in high school will soon become a distant memory.
And do I have a large number of people to thank.
Growing up in a small town has taught me lots of things. Everybody knows everybody. And everybody knows the big news and happenings the day it happened.
But that’s beside the fact. The biggest and best part is I feel loved. I am sure going to miss the atmosphere around Rudyard. I’ve grown accustomed to the slowed-down, laid back lifestyle. All my friends, teachers, coaches, and roots are here. I’ve done my best to leave “tattoos on my town."
Being a part of the MHSAA Student Advisory Council has been such a huge bonus for me. Everything we did and everything the MHSAA does is for a remarkable cause. And it really makes you well-known in the EUP (our short-hand for Eastern Upper Peninsula) if you are lucky enough to get picked to serve the two-year term. I just wish that the term was longer.
My message to the new juniors (now sophomores) who were recently selected to join the MHSAA class of 2013 is this: Make the most of everything you do at the office in East Lansing. Serving on the council has really improved my people skills and my ability to work in a group. I know for a fact that I will be able to take the skills I have learned from being in East Lansing on those Sundays and apply them to situations down the road.
And to all students: Soak up every part of high school that you can! Small town or big city, the sports, school, and extra-curriculars are all great experiences. So take advantage of them! Be involved in all that you can because you will most likely never regret joining a new club or team when you look back on it.
Make the most of everything, and do your part to leave your “tattoo” on your hometown.
Wilson, a three-sport athlete at Rudyard, graduated this spring. Next up: Grand Rapids Community College, where he'll play basketball and study pre-med.
Performance of the Week: Battle Creek Harper Creek's Ella Laupp
November 14, 2025
Ella Laupp ♦ Battle Creek Harper Creek
Sophomore ♦ Swimming
Laupp won the 200-yard freestyle in a school record 1:56.54 and the 500 in 5:21.86, and also swam on winning 200 medley (1:55.26) and 400 freestyle (3:44.79) relays as Harper Creek won the Southwestern & Central Conference championship meet – locking up the program’s first league title since 1983. Laupp’s 200 free time ranks 30th on the state’s “top times” list for all divisions and fourth in Lower Peninsula Division 3 this fall.
After finishing fifth in the 200 and eighth in the 100 freestyle at the MHSAA LPD3 Finals as a freshman, Laupp should score well again at next weekend’s meet; her best 500 time this season (5:15.84) ranks third on the LPD3 top times list and 29th statewide, and she also ranks sixth in LPD3 with a top 100 free of 53.53. Laupp first broke the school’s 200 freestyle record as a freshman and also owns the school record in the 500 after earlier this season surpassing the previous best posted by Lindy Maroney in 1987; Maroney went on to international fame and swam solo across the English Channel in 1991.
@mhsaasports 🏊POW: Ella Laupp #swimming #harpercreek #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA
@mhsaasports 🏊POW: Ella Laupp #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA
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Previous 2025-26 honorees
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 submitted by the Laupp family.)