Battle of the Fans X: Vote Now
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
February 15, 2022
We have seen Battle of the Fans reborn across Michigan over the last two months, and after visiting our three BOTF X finalists over the last two weeks, we're just days from awarding this year's champion.
We want your help to determine which should be crowned as the state's best student section for 2021-22.
Vote today through 4 p.m. Thursday on your favorite of these three (enrollments in parentheses) – Buchanan (435), Midland Dow (1,270) and Traverse City West (1,629) – by liking, sharing and re-tweeting on the MHSAA’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok sites.
But before you do, take a few minutes to watch all three videos from our visits and read the stories behind the sections by clicking the links below.
The contest is sponsored by the MHSAA Student Advisory Council, which will have the final vote on the champion. SAC members will use all resources available to make their decision – including giving weight to the public social media vote. Votes will be valued proportionately to the size of the school receiving them (for example, one vote for Class B Buchanan will be worth more than one vote for Class A Midland Dow or Traverse City West).
The champion will be announced Friday on Second Half. All three finalists will be invited to Michigan State University's Breslin Center on March 25 for the Division 2 Boys Basketball Semifinals, and the winner will be presented with a championship banner at center court.
And now, the finalists, in alphabetical order:
Buchanan
Read all about it: Buchanan's 'Herd' Begins New Era with Same Bucks Energy
Midland Dow
Read all about it: Dow Aims to Give Teams Advantage with Charger Spirit
Traverse City West
Read all about it: West's Creatures Filling Bleachers with Support for Titans Teams
Performance of the Week: Traverse City St. Francis' Owen Jackson
September 8, 2023
Owen Jackson ♦ Traverse City St. Francis
Junior ♦ Tennis
Playing his first season at No. 1 singles, Jackson won matches at that flight over Traverse City Central and Petoskey. St. Francis plays in Lower Peninsula Division 4 and is ranked No. 2 this fall, while Central plays in LP Division 2 and Petoskey is ranked No. 8 in LP Division 3. Jackson is 16-3 this season.
The top-flight standout has been climbing the lineup throughout his career with the Gladiators. Jackson finished 39-4 as a freshman and won the No. 3 flight at the LPD4 Finals as St. Francis won the team championship. He moved up to No. 2 singles as a sophomore, finishing 34-9 and also winning his flight at the Finals. Jackson also plays golf and was part of the lineup that finished 14th in LPD3 this spring.
@mhsaasports 🎾POW: Owen Jackson #tennis #1singles #stfrancis #letsgo #traversecity #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #performanceoftheweek #fyp #MHSAA #part1 ♬ original sound - MHSAA
@mhsaasports 🎾POW: Owen Jackson #tiktalk #questiontime #part2 #disneymovies #miracle #rickandmorty #tennis #skittles #sweatshirt #emoji #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA
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MHSAA.com's "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. 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.
Past 2023-24 Honorees
Sept. 1: Rachel Forsyth, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
(PHOTOS courtesy of Owen Jackson.)