New Member to join MHSAA Rep Council

October 15, 2012

Elections were completed recently to fill positions on the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s legislative body, its Representative Council, and one new member was among those selected.

Reese athletic director Dave Derocher will join the council to represent Class C and D schools in the northern section of the Lower Peninsula. He was elected to a two-year team, as were seven others who were re-elected and will begin terms during the council’s fall meeting.

Saginaw Heritage athletic director and assistant principal Peter Ryan will continue to represent Class A and B schools in the Lower Peninsula’s northern section, Buchanan athletic director Fredrick Smith will continue to represent Class A and B in the southwestern section, and Brighton athletic director John Thompson will continue to represent Class A and B in the southeastern section. Negaunee superintendent James Derocher will continue to represent Class C and D schools in the Upper Peninsula.

Grand Haven assistant superintendent Scott C. Grimes was re-elected to a statewide at-large position, and Clare Middle School principal Steve Newkirk was re-elected to represent junior high and middle schools. Vic Michaels, director of physical education and athletics for the Archdiocese of Detroit, will continue to represent private and parochial 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. St. Ignace superintendent Donald Gustafson was chosen to represent Class D schools. Michael Berutti, who serves as principal, athletic director and football coach at Iron River West Iron County High School, was elected to represent athletic coaches.

MHSAA Suspends Fall, Winter Sports

November 15, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The Michigan High School Athletic Association has suspended its Fall tournaments for girls volleyball, girls swimming & diving and football, and all winter practices and competitions scheduled to begin over the next three weeks per the emergency order to pause activity announced Sunday by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to limit the spread of COVID-19.  

The volleyball and swimming & diving tournaments have one week remaining, with MHSAA Finals for both previously scheduled for Nov. 21. The 11 and 8-Player Football Playoffs also are nearing their conclusions, with the 8-player postseason two games from completion and 11-player down to its final three rounds.

Executive Director Mark Uyl: 

“We understand the need for action, and we will explore all options to complete our Fall tournaments when restrictions are lifted. We will assess everything over the next three weeks relative to Fall and Winter sports and come up with a plan that keeps us connected to our goal, for months, of having three seasons that are played to their conclusions.”