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: Pickford's Talya Schreiber
October 24, 2025
Talya Schreiber ♦ Pickford
Senior ♦ Cross Country
The Panthers' distance star capped her high school cross country career Saturday by winning her third-straight Upper Peninsula Division 3 Finals championship and obliterating her race record time clocking an 18:31.6 at Pictured Rocks Golf Course in Munising. That time outpaced her record run last year by more than 17 seconds and also would rank as the second-fastest in both UP Division 2 and Division 1 Finals histories.
Schreiber dominated throughout her season, finishing first in 11 races, third once and fourth once, and while making several trips to face downstate competition. She finished first at the Portage Central Early Bird Invitational on Aug. 15 and also first in the Division 4 race at the Oct. 4 Portage Invitational, where she bested the field by 30 seconds. She placed third in the Division 1-2 Gold race at the Veterans Serving Veterans Invitational in Cadillac and fourth in the Elite race at the Shepherd BLUEJAY Invitational while running a personal-record 17:46.5 against some of the Lower Peninsula's fastest runners. She also this spring led Pickford to its first track & field UP Finals championship since 2007, winning the 800, 1,600, 3,200 and leading off the winning 3,200 relay in Division 3.
@mhsaasports 🏃♀️➡️POW: Talya Schreiber #pickford #crosscountry #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA
@mhsaasports 🏃♀️➡️POW: Talya Schreiber #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA
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Previous 2025-26 honorees
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
PHOTO Pickford's Talya Schreiber rounds a curve during last Saturday's Upper Peninsula Division 3 Final. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)