Rivals & Wrestlers Show Military Support
October 26, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Wrestling practice begins two weeks from Monday. But planning for a special military appreciation event at Coopersville is well underway and promises to be memorable.
The Broncos host an annual six-team tournament, which will take place this season Dec. 28. For this winter’s event, the school’s wrestling program has raised money to buy six uniforms – honoring the U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and MIA/POW(s) – one set of 16 shirts and shorts for each competing team.
None of the uniforms will bear a school name or symbol, only those of the armed service branch or troops the shirts support. Organizers are planning to begin the event with a grand march with veterans leading each team. All veterans and active military will be admitted free of charge, and Coopersville will be inviting residents of the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.
Hastings, Kent City, Grand Rapids Northview, Ravenna and Zeeland West also will be competing and taking part. The shirts are designed by Addix, a sponsor of the MHSAA.
Rivals Team Up to Support Military Families
Neighboring volleyball programs Birch Run and Frankenmuth came together Oct. 10 to give their match as a fundraiser for the I Support the 1% Food Pantry for Veterans of Michigan, which serves local military families.
The teams wore shirts supporting the cause with names on the back of family members who had served or are currently serving in the military.
The match alone was worth the price of admission, as the Panthers won in five sets. The previous week, Birch Run’s football team also supported the pantry as part of Homecoming against Bridgeport.
The Panthers’ volleyball match with the Eagles was just the latest effort between the two schools from the Tri-Valley Conference. The cross country teams also continued their annual joint “fun run” maze competition during a practice this month.
(Photos courtesy of the Birch Run athletic department.)
Performance of the Week: Farmington Hills Mercy's Campbell Flynn
September 27, 2024
Campbell Flynn ♦ Farmington Hills Mercy
Senior ♦ Volleyball
The 6-foot-3 setter had 28 assists and five kills as top-ranked Farmington Hills Mercy swept rival and No. 4-ranked Bloomfield Hills Marian 25-15, 25-15, 25-21. Mercy is the reigning Division 1 champion – having ended Marian’s three-year hold on the title last fall – and Flynn is considered among the top seniors nationally and earlier this month was named one of 10 finalists for this season’s Miss Volleyball Award from the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Coaches Association.
Flynn entered this fall as a two-time Division 1 all-state first-team selection and made the third team as a freshman. She also has built up significant international experience as well over the last two years as a member of USA Volleyball’s U19 and U21 national teams. She will continue her career at Nebraska, which is ranked No. 2 this week and has finished NCAA Tournament runner-up two of the last three seasons including a year ago.
@mhsaasports 🏐POW: Campbell Flynn #volleyball #Mercy #setter #winner #part1 #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA
@mhsaasports 🏐POW: Campbell Flynn #tiktalk #questiontime #culvers #reeses #snow #emoji #bridgerton #part2 #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey
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Previous 2024-25 honorees
Sept. 19: TJ Hansen, Freeland cross country - Report
Sept. 12: Jordan Peters, Grayling soccer - Report
Sept. 6: Gabe Litzner, Sault Ste. Marie cross country - Report
Aug. 30: Grace Slocum, Traverse City St. Francis golf - Report
(Photos courtesy of the Farmington Hills Mercy athletic department.)