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: Hudsonville's Brady Van Laecke
October 10, 2025
Brady Van Laecke ♦ Hudsonville
Senior ♦ Football
Hudsonville's quarterback produced one of most notable performances in the state during Week 6, completing 11 of 13 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns and running 17 times for 85 yards and two more scores as the Eagles held off rival Rockford 35-28 to improve to 6-0 and move into first place alone in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red.
Van Laecke saw time during last season's Division 1 championship game loss to Detroit Cass Tech at Ford Field, throwing three passes, running five times and punting twice. He also is a sprinter on the track & field team and was part of Hudsonville's O-K Red championship 400 relay in the spring. His final scoring pass against Rockford, to teammate Lawsyn Weber, received national attention as Weber leapt over a defender and pulled down the pass in the back of the end zone.
@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Brady Van Laecke #hudsonville #football #highschoolsports #performanceoftheweek #MHSAA ♬ Bright and fun upbeat pops, Kids, Animals, Pets, Fun, Cute, Happy, Playful, Upbeat(1465232) - SAKUMAMATATA
@mhsaasports 🏈POW: Brady Van Laecke #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. 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 Hudsonville football program.)