8 Re-elected to MHSAA Representative Council

September 28, 2016

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Elections were completed recently to fill positions on the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s legislative body, its Representative Council, with eight current members receiving re-election.

Saginaw Heritage athletic director Peter Ryan will continue to represent Class A and B schools in the northern section of the Lower Peninsula, and Reese faculty member and past athletic director Dave Derocher will continue to represent the Class C and D schools from their section. Benton Harbor athletic director Fred Smith will continue to represent Class A and B schools from the southwestern section of the Lower Peninsula, and Brighton athletic director John Thompson was re-elected to represent the Class A and B schools from the southeastern section. Calumet athletic director Sean Jacques was re-elected to represent Class C and D schools from the Upper Peninsula. 

Steve Newkirk, principal at Clare Middle School, was re-elected as one of two representatives of junior high and middle schools. Scott Grimes, assistant superintendent for Grand Haven Area Public Schools, will continue as one of two at-large statewide representatives. Vic Michaels, director of physical education and athletics for the Archdiocese of Detroit, will continue to represent private and parochial high schools.

The Representative Council is the 19-member legislative body of the MHSAA. All but five members are elected by member schools. Four members are appointed by the Council to facilitate representation of females and minorities, and the 19th position is occupied by the Superintendent of Public Instruction or designee. The Council meets three times annually, and five members of the Council convene monthly during the school year to form the MHSAA’s Executive Committee, which reviews appeals of Handbook regulations by member schools.

Additional elections took place to select representatives to the Upper Peninsula Athletic Committee. Houghton athletic director Bruce Horsch was elected to represent Class A and B schools. Michael Berutti, who serves as principal, athletic director and football coach at Iron River West Iron County High School, was re-elected to represent athletic coaches. Baraga faculty member and past athletic director Jeff Markham was re-elected to represent Class D schools.

The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,400 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract more than 1.4 million spectators each year. 

MHSAA Fall Sports Statement: 9/2/20

September 2, 2020

Michigan High School Athletic Association

The following statement is attributable to Mark Uyl, executive director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, in response to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s comment today that she will be speaking soon on the status of high school athletics this fall.

“The MHSAA has been in constant contact with the Governor’s office seeking answers and direction for fall sports under EO 160 since that order was issued, expressing the urgency for these decisions on behalf of our member school students, staff and families. This direct communication will continue and we will take Governor Whitmer at her word today that decisions will be made and shared with everyone very soon. We will have no other comment or media availability until the Governor addresses these athletic questions.”