SAC Sound-off: Lessons Taught
May 9, 2012
MHSAA Student Advisory Council members are charged in part with passing on the lessons of educational athletics. We asked them what they tried to teach their teammates this school year.
“I tried to teach my teammates …”
Focus on the end game
“… How to be intense throughout the game and to be united in our goal to win.” – Portland St. Patrick junior Elle Lehman
“… To work together for a specific goal.” – Muskegon Catholic Central senior Alissa Jones
It starts with work
“… It doesn’t matter how big, strong or fast you are. What matters is how much heart and effort you put into any sport or life situation. Because hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work.” – New Buffalo senior Lena Madison
Stand together
“… Respect each other, because it’s nearly impossible to succeed as a team if you don’t work together.” Walled Lake Central junior Taylor Krumm
“… We are a family. Even if it’s cliché, it’s true. We win together and lose together. As a captain of the golf team, sometimes it is difficult to keep the team mentality since it is also an individual sport.” – Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central junior Abby Radomsky
“… The importance of being a good teammate – and how that includes both playing hard on the field and being supportive off of the field.” – Pontiac Notre Dame junior Carly Joseph
It’s about more than physical skills
“... Be selfless. It is so difficult for us as teenagers to stop and realize that not everything is about us. So I wanted to make sure we worked as a team, not as individuals, by communicating.” – Detroit Country Day senior Maria Buczkowski
“... To have a better attitude on the golf course.” – Grand Blanc senior Bailey Truesdell
“... Even in times of trouble (loss, problems, etc.), you need to keep cool and continue to work hard.” – Vandercook Lake junior Thye Fischman
“… To give it their all and to have fun; also to not get worked up over mistakes.” – Rogers City junior Evan Lamb
Don’t take this for granted
“… You need to have fun. Sports are not about winning or losing.” – Benzie Central senior Travis Clous
“… Love the game. My main message as a senior captain in three sports this year was simply to cherish every moment of high school sports. To me, there is nothing better.” – Rudyard senior Tyler Wilson
Performance of the Week: Flint Kearsley's Delaney Vanier
January 15, 2026
Delaney Vanier ♦ Flint Kearsley
Senior ♦ Bowling
The Hornets senior standout rolled games of 204 and 193 as Kearsley came back from a 10-0 deficit to defeat reigning Division 2 champion Swartz Creek in a roll-off. The matchup actually pitted the last two Division 2 team title winners; Kearsley was the champion in 2024 before being stopped in the semifinals last season.
Vanier's series of 397 was Kearsley's highest against Swartz Creek and especially significant after the Dragons opened the match by sweeping the two Baker games. Vanier also was a Singles Finals qualifier last season and will continue her bowling career after graduation at Rochester Christian, where she intends to study nursing.
@mhsaasports 🎳POW: Delaney Vanier #flintkearsley #bowling #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA
@mhsaasports 🎳POW: Delaney Vanier #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA
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Previous 2025-26 honorees
Jan. 8: Stevie Hall, Detroit Cass Tech basketball - Report
Dec. 18: Ethan Martha, Ishpeming Westwood basketball - Report
Dec. 11: Louis Smith, Three Rivers wrestling - Report
Dec. 4: Traverse Smith, DeWitt football - Report
Nov. 28: Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield swimming - Report
Nov. 20: Brady Kieff, Blanchard Montabella football - Report
Nov. 13: Ella Laupp, Battle Creek Harper Creek swimming - Report
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 courtesy of the Vanier family.)