5 Ways Boyne City’s Ramblers Get Rowdy
January 18, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
BOYNE CITY – There’s a party going on in the student section at Boyne City, and everyone’s invited.
The streets were mostly empty as we rolled into town for Friday’s Battle of the Fans VI visit – freezing temperatures probably had something to do with that, even in the heartiest of ski country. But we found a full parking lot and plenty of bustle as fans poured in for the basketball doubleheader against Kalkaska – and the Rambler Rowdies “Fright Night,” our first stop on this year’s BOTF tour.
The breakdown: The section formerly known as “Bleacher Creatures” had a pretty good tradition of cheering on Boyne City teams over the years, but interest ramped up during the 2014-15 school year when both the football and boys basketball teams advanced to MHSAA Semifinals. Last winter, with the boys basketball team set to face rival East Jordan in a Class C District Final for the third season in a row, the Rambler Rowdies were born to take support to another level. After losing to East Jordan twice during the regular season, Boyne City won 62-33 – and the section’s name, along with its newfound passion, stuck.
On this trip, we met with seniors Tristan Stackus, Emma Vondra and Camella Zipp, and juniors Jake Kelts and Ethan Hewitt. Check out the video, followed by more of what we saw from the Rowdies.
1. They’ve gotten everyone on board
The Rowdies claim to be a true cross-section of the school and its nearly 400 students. In a building that size, students often take part in a wide range of activities, and all are represented. In addition to athletes from other sports, the band is a regular and lined the top rows of bleachers on Friday. And while Stackus, Vondra, Kelts and Hewitt all play at least one sport – Hewitt actually plays on the basketball team – Zipp spends her time in the arts, but is just as "rowdy." The togetherness is personified when the student section enters games as one, instead of trickling into gym as individuals show up. “We’re including more people in it. Our band’s getting more involved. We have kids coming from drama that will get involved because they really like acting everything out. … (and) I feel like especially when we enter as one, it makes us more united,” Zipp said. “We’re all the same. I don’t think of myself as a drama person, or even as the basketball jock.” The section this season began choosing themes for the first time, and all have a voice; Stackus, who administers the @Rambler_Rowdy Twitter feed, gets ideas from classmates on Mondays, posts a Twitter poll so all may vote and then announces via Twitter the winner.
The theme for Tuesday's game against Charlevoix will be red and blue! Wear your Rambler gear and be ready to be rowdy! #boynetough
— Rambler Rowdy (@Rambler_Rowdy) January 16, 2017
And here’s a spin on seniority we hadn’t heard before: The Rowdies don’t do the “seniors in front and everyone else in back thing,” which in itself isn’t that rare among our annual BOTF finalists. But the Rowdies differ in that they put freshmen near the front so they can’t hide and not cheer, filling behind them with upperclassmen to make for a stronger section front to back. In fact, Kelts led the section two years ago as a freshman – which does qualify as a rarity and no doubt has helped develop this attitude toward mixing up the classes.
2. They’re teaching marketers a thing or two
The Rowdies are selling the Boyne City brand in the hallways, and clearly it’s taken hold. The business plan started in the high school’s marketing class, taught by Tony Cutler, who has served as the architect helping student leaders get the section rolling. The buy-in has been wide-ranging, with plenty of helpers chipping in – keep an eye out in the video for all of the Rambler Rowdy/MHSAA co-branded banners advertising “Friday Night,” plus the other staging created for the event like the cemetery fence and the “R.I.P. Bad Sportsmanship” gravestones put together by additional students who put in outside time to be a part. The message also is taking root in the community – with Cutler’s help, section leaders have made connections that have resulted in local donations of everything from cowbells to head bands to spirit towels.
Don't forget about Friday!! #boynetough pic.twitter.com/AahonXW30D
— Rambler Rowdy (@Rambler_Rowdy) January 12, 2017
3. They own the airwaves
This goes with the marketing and branding discussion above, but carries enough clout to have its own point here. The Rowdies make full use of an in-school television station – the Rambler Sports Network – that rivals any in our state, regardless of size of school, with production done by students in the Visual Imaging class (known in the halls as BCVI). TVs all over campus showed eye-catching promos for Friday’s BOTF visit and gave it extra oomph. Students filmed and produced Friday’s game, and their work is now included on broadcasts by local MI News 26.
4. They’re doing it right
Kelts was quick to note the school has won 10 sportsmanship awards over the years, and doing the right thing in the stands is not just talk. In fact, we didn’t hear a negative word coming from the Rowdies the entire night. They focused on cheering their team and having fun. It was that simple, but from our point of view the 100-percent positivity certainly was noticeable.
5. They’re filling the night with fun
The Rowdies packed a lot into “Fright Night” starting with all of the themed decorations and Kelts’ take on Jason Voorhees (from the “Friday the 13th” movies) leading a section full of classmates in black from head to toe. They entered the “Wheelhouse” – their gym – together in something out of a horror movie, sprinting in from multiple directions in advance of Kelts and his chain saw (only a toy, of course). We’ve heard most chants over five years and 25 BOTF visits, but the Rowdies had a few we hadn’t heard before. And the halftime surfing by Kelts – propelled by classmates on the floor on a surfboard covered in what had to be a case of duct tape – traveled half the court and was a highlight of the night.
In their words
Focus on the game: “We didn’t really even think about Battle of the Fans,” Stackus said. “It started out as us for (the team), and now it’s come to where we’re still doing it for them but we need to get bigger. We need more people to make us better, but we’re still doing it for them.”
Players love it: “That Grayling game (a 49-44 win Dec. 13), we were down, and I hit a 3 to go ahead and the student section just erupted,” Hewitt said. “After that, not only are you playing for yourself, but you’re playing for everyone else. … The environment in the gym is totally different.”
An Up North thing: “We’re all small towns and we’re all really close together, and we are rivals with a lot of these close towns,” Vondra said. “But since we’re so small, everybody knows about everything that’s going on. So whenever you get news about something that’s happening in the school or the community, everybody automatically knows, and then they’re just that much more into it.”
Next stop on BOTF: Next up is reigning champion Traverse City West for its boys basketball game Friday, followed by visits to Charlotte (Jan. 28), Petoskey (Feb. 1) and Frankenmuth (Feb. 3).
The Battle of the Fans is sponsored in part by the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.
PHOTOS: (Top) Junior Jake Kelts, in red, leads the student section's roller coaster Friday. (Middle) Fans, some in Jason Voorhees-inspired hockey masks, chant during the win over Kalkaska. (Photos by Boyne City Visual Imaging.)
Scholars & Athletes 2022: Class B
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 15, 2022
The Michigan High School Athletic Association has selected nine student-athletes from Class B member schools to receive scholarships through the MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award program.
Farm Bureau Insurance, in its 33rd year of sponsoring the award, will give $2,000 college scholarships to 32 individuals who represent their member schools in at least one sport in which the Association sponsors a postseason tournament. The first 30 scholarships are awarded proportionately by school classification and the number of student-athletes involved in those classes; also, there are two at-large honorees who can come from any classification.
Students applying for the Scholar-Athlete Award must be carrying at least a 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) grade-point average and have previously won a letter in a varsity sport in which the Michigan High School Athletic Association sponsors a postseason tournament. Other requirements for the applicants were to show active participation in other school and community activities and produce an essay on the importance of sportsmanship in educational athletics.
The 32 scholarship recipients will be recognized March 26 during the MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing.
The Class B Scholar-Athlete Award honorees are: Maggie Duba, Grand Rapids West Catholic; Whitney Farrell, Freeland; Claire Meacham, Montague; Rylee Tolson, Stockbridge; Derek Distelrath, St. Clair; Joseph Hayes, Shelby; Curtis Knapp, Jonesville; Michael A. Meneguzzo, Kingsford; and Jack Rellinger, Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
Overviews of the scholarship recipients of the Class B Scholar-Athlete Award follow. A quote from each recipient's essay also is included:
(NOTE: If an athlete intended to play and was part of a spring sports team in 2020, that sport is counted among the athlete’s total although the season was canceled due to COVID-19.)
Maggie Duba, Grand Rapids West Catholic
Ran four seasons of varsity cross country, and will play her fourth of varsity lacrosse and participate in her fourth of track & field this spring. Qualified three times for MHSAA Finals in cross country and earned all-state as a senior. Also earned academic all-state and served as cross country team captain. Ranked second academically in class of 125 entering this school year carrying 4.375 GPA with 12 dual-enrollment college credits earned. Participating in National Honor Society and has served three years as student government class secretary. Serving as junior and senior class peer advocate and has participated in a variety of volunteer and community service efforts. Will attend University of San Diego and study business accountancy and economics with the intention of continuing to medical school and studying to become a general surgeon.
Essay Quote: “In the split moment that I threw away an opportunity to achieve all-state, a position that I had prioritized for the five months of training before, I remembered that this is all supposed to be fun. … By sacrificing the race, I gained something much more important than posting my best time. I grew in humility and developed a new perspective on sports and competing.”
Whitney Farrell, Freeland
Playing fourth season of varsity basketball, ran four seasons of cross country and will participate in her fourth of track & field in the spring. Qualified for MHSAA Finals in cross country and track and helped 2019 basketball team to Division 2 runner-up finish. Earned all-state in cross country and track and all-conference in basketball, and served as captain of all three teams. Serving third year on student council and second as part of National Honor Society, and also participating in fourth years of Be The Change club and Students Leading Students. Served as youth basketball coach and referee throughout high school. Will attend Ferris State University and study architecture.
Essay Quote: “Prior to my 2019-20 varsity basketball season, I truly believed that good sportsmanship was offering to help an opponent up off the court or shaking every single opponent's hand after a game. I had participated in sports since the age of 3 and that was sportsmanship in action. However, my experience with and understanding of sportsmanship completely changed throughout the 2019-20 basketball season … (as) each of our opponents was metaphorically helping us up off the court by recognizing the loss of our beloved coach.”
Claire Meacham, Montague
Playing third season of varsity basketball, played two seasons of varsity golf and will participate in her third season of track & field this spring; also played varsity volleyball as a freshman and varsity softball as a junior. Helped golf team to two MHSAA Finals championships, the track team to a Regional victory and the basketball team to league and District titles. Earned all-state recognition in golf and academic all-state in track and golf, and served as captain of track and basketball teams. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and has served as chapter president, and is serving second year as part of student senate. Participated in Future Farmers of America and DECA throughout high school, serving as a DECA officer and reaching state finals competition as part of both. Participates in various volunteer efforts as part of church and community organizations. Is undecided where she will attend college but intends to study civil engineering.
Essay Quote: “No matter the outcome, every athlete, coach, and individual has to remember that we are all part of a bigger game. We are all striving to improve the game and ourselves through personal growth and dedication. We are supposed to be preparing our athletes to be model citizens who set standards for what is right and just, on and off the court.”
Rylee Tolson, Stockbridge
Playing third season of varsity basketball, ran four seasons of cross country and participated two seasons in track & field. Qualified for MHSAA Cross Country Finals all four seasons, earned all-state three times and won Lower Peninsula Division 3 title as a sophomore. Served as captain of cross country and track teams. Serving fourth year on student council including second as an executive officer, and has served as class vice president. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and serving as chapter president. Playing fourth years of marching and concert band and third of jazz band, and served as section leader for drumline. Participating in third years of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and peer-to-peer assistance program. Will attend University of Michigan and study kinesiology.
Essay Quote: “I try my best to be a support system for everyone around me all of the time. Supporting others includes time outside of sports. Tutoring after school before practice, waking up early to prepare for a National Honors Society meeting, or helping a teammate during lunch with a class that I have already taken allows me to help my peers strive to be their best academically.”
Derek Distelrath, St. Clair
Played four seasons of varsity tennis and is playing his first of varsity basketball this winter. Finished No. 1 singles runner-up in Lower Peninsula Division 3 as a sophomore and made semifinals as a junior and senior. Won United States Tennis Association Midwest singles and national doubles championships. Earned academic all-state in tennis all four high school seasons and twice served as team captain. Participating in third year of National Honor Society and serving as vice president, and participating in second year of student council and serving as spirit corps leader. Participating in fourth year on St. Clair County Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council, including second on executive board. Served as youth tennis coach throughout high school and as youth basketball coach as a senior. Will attend Western Michigan University and study business analytics and statistics.
Essay Quote: “Compete intensely but honor and respect opponents. If athletes transfer this lesson into life, the world would be a much better place because we would take the time to get to know people who differ from us and treat each other with honor and respect. We would seek to unite people instead of divide them.”
Joseph Hayes, Shelby
Playing fourth season of varsity basketball, played three of boys soccer and will play third of baseball in the spring. Helped soccer team to Regional championship and baseball team to District title. Earned all-league and all-District in soccer and all-conference recognition in basketball. Served as soccer team captain multiple seasons. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and has served as president, and also participating in fourth year of local Youth Advisory Council. Played two years in school band earning “1” ratings, and has participated in 4-H throughout high school earning “A” awards for showing of livestock. Is undecided where he will attend college but intends to study business and entrepreneurship.
Essay Quote: “One of the things that I dislike the most as an athlete is not just losing, but losing to a team full of players that are disrespectful to me and my team. Being a good sport during high school educational athletics is very important. Learning how to control your emotions and demonstrate great sportsmanship at a young age will lead you to demonstrate those qualities as an adult.”
Curtis Knapp, Jonesville
Playing third season of varsity basketball and played four seasons of varsity football. Earned all-state in football and set three school records in the fall. Earned Big 8 Conference Leadership Award multiple years and served as captain of both varsity teams. Carries 4.022 GPA. Serving fourth year as student council class president and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Participating in fourth year of Students Against Destructive Decisions and is a leader of that group as well. Has participated in various volunteer efforts with Rotary Club, Habitat for Humanity and 4-H. Started and owns lawn and landscaping business. Will attend Hillsdale College and study economics.
Essay Quote: “My definition of sportsmanship is the general respect you have for another team or player. … I have grown so much as a person through my four years in high school sports. I am thankful for the opportunity to build relationships with not only people from my own school, but also people that I have played in sports. I learned that sportsmanship is the most important part of sports, and that the overall goal is to have fun.”
Michael A. Meneguzzo, Kingsford
Playing third season of varsity basketball, played two of varsity football and will compete in third of track & field in the spring; also played varsity tennis as a freshman. Holds multiple school football records and earned all-Upper Peninsula recognition in that sport. Earned runner-up finish at Track & Field Finals. Served as captain of football and basketball teams. Participating in second year of National Honor Society and fourth of key club. Served as school’s representative on Youth Coalition and as French club vice president. Served more than 100 hours of volunteer service including for American Red Cross, Salvation Army and at youth football and basketball camps. Is undecided where he will attend college, but intends to study business.
Essay Quote: “I have always been very competitive. … (But) whenever I exhibited poor body language or questionable sportsmanship, my dad would talk to me after the game about how my actions affect the team and also, how they make me look as an athlete. My dad … has always held me to a different level than other players when it came to sportsmanship and body language during a competition.”
Jack Rellinger, Grand Rapids Catholic Central
Played three seasons of varsity football and will play second of varsity lacrosse in the spring; also played two seasons of subvarsity basketball. Helped football team to three MHSAA Finals championships and lacrosse team to District title. Earned all-league in football and academic all-state in lacrosse, and served as captain of lacrosse team and subvarsity basketball teams. Carries 4.5 GPA and posted “5” score on six Advanced Placement exams as a junior. Received National Merit Scholarship “commended” recognition and earned Harvard Book Award. Serving as head boy for his house as part of student government. Serving second year as student ambassador for Van Andel Institute biomedical research organization and participating in second year of National Honor Society. Is leaning toward attending Notre Dame University and intends to study computer engineering.
Essay Quote: “I think this is what sportsmanship is really all about. An appreciation for the game and the players objectively, regardless of the outcome. When you really step back to look at it, wins and losses make up such a small part of what makes high school sports great. These sports are made special through the bonds formed and shared between coaches, players, and even opponents, as well as a true, unbridled appreciation for the game.”
Other Class B girls finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Elise Rose Johnson, Benzie Central; Sydni Mudge, Birch Run; Claire Thomson, Clawson; Faith Breinager, Frankenmuth; Emma Kerkau, Frankenmuth; Sophia Argyle, Freeland; Haley Zerlaut, Fremont; Magdalaina Menghini, Kingsford; Mallory Moore, Ortonville Brandon; Paige Thwing, Ortonville Brandon; Alina Stanczak, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep; and Ashley Bower, Portland.
Other Class B boys finalists for the Scholar-Athlete Award were: Zachary Elmouchi, Ada Forest Hills Eastern; Thomas Hamann, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard; Jeff Ren, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood; Jace DeRosia, Chelsea; Jared Hanson, Escanaba; Liam Anderson, Essexville Garber; Alex Duley, Freeland; Seth Thompson, Manistee; Jerome Korten, Marshall; Cale Coppess, Montague; and Bennett Blase Hitzelberger, Richmond.
The Class C and D scholarship award recipients were announced Feb. 8, and the Class A honorees will be announced Feb. 22.
Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan was founded in 1949 by Michigan farmers who wanted an insurance company that worked as hard as they did. Those values still guide the company today and are a big reason why it is known as Michigan’s Insurance Company, dedicated to protecting the farms, families, and businesses of this great state. Farm Bureau Insurance agents across Michigan provide a full range of insurance services—life, home, auto, farm, business, retirement, Lake Estate®, and more—protecting nearly 500,000 Michigan policyholders.
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 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.