Welcome Back to 'The Woods'
January 17, 2014
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Buchanan, here we come.
The MHSAA and its Student Advisory Council will kick off "Battle of the Fans III" tonight with a return trip to Buchanan, last season's BOTF champion.
Buchanan, tucked into the southwest corner of the Lower Peninsula, is a Class B school of 465 students hailing from a community of roughly 4,400. The Bucks earned voters' hearts in 2013 as most of that student body and community filled the home gym – fittingly referred to as "The Woods" – for the MHSAA's BOTF visit.
The MHSAA will visit finalists Beaverton, Bridgman, Frankfort and Traverse City West later this month and during the first two weeks of February before crowning a champion on Feb. 21 and inviting representatives from the winning section to a banner presentation during the Boys Basketball Semifinals on March 21 at Michigan State's Breslin Center.
Remember, follow the Battle of the Fans on the MHSAA's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram social media sites by clicking hashtag #BOTF. The MHSAA-produced story and video from tonight's trip will be published Tuesday on Second Half.
Here's Buchanan's application video for this winter's contest.
PHOTO is courtesy of Buchanan High School. Battle of the Fans III is sponsored in part by the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.
Performance of the Week: Muskegon Reeths-Puffer's Sophia McCollum
October 2, 2026
Sophia McCollum ♦ Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
Senior ♦ Golf
McCollum, the reigning Lower Peninsula Division 2 individual champion, won the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association individual title Sept. 22 for the third-straight season. She carded a 77 to also lead Reeths-Puffer to the team victory as the Rockets scored a 354 to outpace runner-up Montague by six strokes.
After tying for 17th as a sophomore, McCollum won last year’s LPD2 Final by four strokes and is gearing up for her team’s Regional on Tuesday at Lincoln Golf Club in Muskegon. She will be continuing her golf career at the college level but has not publicly announced where at this time; she is interested in studying nursing or education at that next destination. She’ll also be returning to the track for the Rockets next spring after taking last season off but running primarily middle distance as a freshman and sophomore.
@mhsaasports ⛳️🏌️♀️ POW: Sophia McCollum #ReethsPuffer #Golf #Champion #PerformanceOfTheWeek #MHSAA @sophia.mccollum1 @sophiamccollumgolf ♬ original sound - MHSAA
@mhsaasports ⛳️ POW: Sophia McCullom #TikTalk #FunFacts #Golf #PerformanceOfTheWeek #MHSAA @sophia.mccollum1 @sophiamccollumgolf ♬ original sound - MHSAA
Follow the MHSAA on TikTok.
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 X @mistudentaid.
Past 2026-27 honorees
Sept. 25: Jenna Middleton, Kingsley volleyball - Read
Sept. 18: Caden Livermore, Grandville cross country - Read
(Action photo courtesy of the Local Sports Journal.)