SAC Sounding Off in 2012-13

September 26, 2012

We get it. We were the students once upon a time as well -- and sometimes, or maybe most of them, you'd much rather hear from one of your peers than another teacher or administrator telling you what's what.

After all, high school athletes are the ones on the fields of competition, the ultimate doers of high school sports. And we've got an impressive group of them representing you this school year -- our 16 members of the MHSAA Student Advisory Council.

Each Tuesday, we'll present a viewpoint from one of our eight seniors or juniors that we hope rings true with many of you. And we encourage our readers, especially students, to comment constructively and add to the conversation.

We'll kick things off next week with Madeleine Martindale, a junior from Lake Orion and one of our first-year council members. To learn more about the Student Advisory Council and this year's members, click for the SAC page on MHSAA.com.

Performance of the Week: Lansing Christian's Stephen Gollapalli

October 31, 2025

Stephen Gollapalli headshotStephen Gollapalli ♦ Lansing Christian
Junior ♦ Tennis

Gollapalli emerged from the third seed to win the No. 1 singles flight at the Lower Peninsula Division 4 Finals, defeating Lansing Catholic top seed Noah West 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, after also upsetting Plymouth Christian Academy second seed Luke Zhang in their semifinal match. Gollapalli finished this fall 30-1, his only loss to West in their Regional Final nine days earlier.

The championship also came after Gollapalli had advanced to the No. 1 singles semifinals as a sophomore and quarterfinals as a freshman, both times falling to Traverse City St. Francis’ Owen Jackson, who graduated in the spring. Gollapalli this fall went to three sets only twice, winning 12 matches 6-0, 6-0, and raising his career record to 80-3 with one season left to play.

@mhsaasports 🎾POW: Stephen Gollapalli #lansingchristian #tennis #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA

@mhsaasports 🎾POW: Stephen Gollapalli #funfacts #tiktalk #performanceoftheweek #highschoolsports #MHSAA ♬ Girly and cute synth pop - SAKUMAMATATA

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MHSAA.com's "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.

Previous 2025-26 honorees

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 Lansing Christian boys tennis program.)