BOTF IX: Time to Show Us Your Best
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
January 13, 2020
Congratulations, Battle of the Fans IX semifinalists. You've made it to the "Challenge Round."
Consider this quite an accomplishment – but also an incredible opportunity to give the rest of Michigan an inside look at why your student section should be crowned the state's best.
Nine student cheering sections from Michigan High School Athletic Association member schools have been selected from the first phase of this year’s “Battle of the Fans IX” contest to take part in the “Challenge Round” as they vie for this year’s championship recognizing the top section in the state.
This year’s nine semifinalists are Saginaw Heritage, Traverse City West and Zeeland East from Class A; Buchanan, Caro and Frankenmuth from Class B; and Hart, Petersburg Summerfield and Reese from Class C/D.
Battle of the Fans IX, organized by MHSAA staff and its 16-member Student Advisory Council, kicked off by inviting schools to submit short videos, via YouTube, of their cheering sections in action by Jan. 11. The Advisory Council has selected nine semifinalists to accomplish a list of tasks showing off their sections over the next 12 days – and the Council will then select three finalists for MHSAA visits.
This year’s winner will be announced Feb. 21 and recognized March 27 during the MHSAA Boys Basketball Semifinals at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center.
Semifinalists are required to complete 10 challenges via their social media channels by 11 p.m. on Jan. 25. Five mandatory challenges focus on contest criteria: positive sportsmanship, student body participation, school spirit, originality of cheers, organization of the group, student section leadership and overall fun.
Five elective challenges (taken from a list of 15 options) will allow semifinalists opportunities to show the unique characteristics that make their sections elite. Click for descriptions of all 20 challenges.
“This year’s semifinalists feature some heavyweights of past BOTF competitions, but also some faces we haven’t seen in a while,” said Andy Frushour, MHSAA director of brand management and advisor to the Student Advisory Council. “Over the next two weeks, we’ll learn a lot about what these student sections bring to every game night.”
The Student Advisory Council will select the finalists for announcement Jan. 27 on Second Half. MHSAA staff and Student Advisory Council members will visit all three finalists for home basketball games during the second half of this regular season, with coverage and video from those visits and the announcement of the winner all to be published on Second Half.
The winner will be selected by another Advisory Council vote based in part on support each section receives on the MHSAA’s social media sites. All social media postings regarding Battle of the Fans IX should include the hashtag #BOTF. The MHSAA will share semifinalists’ challenge posts over the next two weeks on its Instagram, Twitter and Facebook sites. The MHSAA also will post from the three finalists visits on those channels.
A total of 20 schools applied for this year’s contest, including nine schools for the first time to bring the total to 105 member schools that have applied for the contest at least once over its eight-year existence.
Buchanan and Traverse City West both have applied seven times and will compete in the semifinals for the third-straight year. Buchanan was the BOTF champion in 2013 and 2018, and West won in 2016. Saginaw Heritage and Petersburg Summerfield also are repeat semifinalists; Heritage advanced to the finals as well in 2019.
Frankenmuth was the BOTF champion in 2012 and 2017 and also a finalist in 2013 and 2014. Zeeland East was a finalist in 2013, and Reese was a finalist in 2012. Hart and Caro are first-time semifinalists – Hart in its second time applying for BOTF and Caro as a first-time applicant.
“We’re basically in the ‘Regional’ round now if you compare this competition to our other tournaments,” Frushour said. “This group of nine is just getting warmed up and preparing for making it to the ‘state finals.’ We’re excited to see the creativity and positivity of the nine semifinalists.”
The other first-time applicants were Fremont, Grosse Ile, Grosse Pointe South, Howell, Lake Fenton, Melvindale, Morenci and Stevensville Lakeshore. Reigning BOTF champion North Muskegon did not apply for this year’s competition. Click to view all applications on YouTube.
The contest is sponsored in part by the United Dairy Industry of Michigan, which promotes Michigan's locally-produced dairy products and nutrition education. Rules plus links to past years’ coverage of the contest can be found on the MHSAA Website.
The Student Advisory Council is made up of eight seniors and eight juniors who each serve two-year terms. The Council acts as the voice of Michigan's student-athletes; it serves as a student sounding board for the MHSAA's Representative Council, assists in planning Sportsmanship Summits, Captains Clinics and other student leadership events; participates in a yearly focus group about the state of high school sports for Michigan State University's Institute for the Study of Youth Sports and assists with medal ceremonies at MHSAA championship events.
PHOTO: Saginaw Heritage "battles" for the BOTF VIII championship in 2019. VIDEOS: Below, check out the videos from our visits to all of the first eight BOTF champions.
Century of School Sports: Student Advisory Council Gives Voice to Athletes
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
April 15, 2025
The Michigan High School Athletic Association, since its inception in December 1924, has sought to reflect the desires of its membership – at this time, 754 high schools and more than 750 middle schools – and for most of its history carried out that mission by acting on the ideas and concerns of administrators, coaches and game officials.
With the start of the 2006-07 school year, another constituency began supplying its voice to the MHSAA’s decision-making process.
That fall, the first Student Advisory Council began its tenure, made up of eight juniors – four girls and four boys – with those first eight setting the tone for 144 students total who have served over the last 18 years.
The Student Advisory Council, in essence, is that student voice that not only weighs in on topics regarding school sports that are being debated among MHSAA member schools, but also speaks to the benefits of school sports as ambassadors in their schools, leagues and across the state.
The SAC meets six times during the school year, plus once more for a 24-hour leadership camp, and discusses subjects connected with the core values of the MHSAA and educational athletics – scholarship, sportsmanship, safety and a sensible scope of athletic programs, with student leadership also a common topic. SAC members then promote those values through their assistance in the MHSAA’s annual Sportsmanship Summits, various leadership projects, and social media posts and videos.
Over the years, the Student Advisory Council has written two versions of the "MHSAA Captains 101" booklet which was delivered to every school in the state. Members have been features in two versions of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Captains Course, and the group has advised on changes to MHSAA trophies and medals and gear sold at Finals events.
SAC members also assist with medal ceremonies at MHSAA championship events and take on other projects throughout the school year; for example, the Student Advisory Council coordinated and judged the MHSAA’s Battle of the Fans student section contest during its 10-year run that ended in 2022, and this school year created the below statement on sportsmanship to be used during MHSAA broadcasts and live events.
The Student Advisory Council was the creation of MHSAA Assistant Director Andy Frushour and based at first on a similar program hosted by the Indiana High School Athletic Association.
The first Council included then-juniors Andria Baker of Constantine, Dustin Baker of St. Louis, Bryce Bilinski of Southgate Anderson, Brittany Bullock of Lansing Catholic, Rachel Gebauer of Alpena, Eric Howard of Hudsonville Freedom Christian, Blake Laethem of Caro and Molly Waterhouse of Vicksburg. Joining them in Year 2 were juniors Abby Cohen of Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, Willie Cruz of Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse, Michelle DeMuro of Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, Adam Dingman of Cedarville, Matt Herman of East Kentwood, Molley Lockwood of Fife Lake Forest Area, Jeff Petsch of Montague and CC Weber of Goodrich.
Including that group, there have been representatives from 136 schools – nearly 20 percent of the MHSAA’s high school membership.
Applications are being accepted through April 21 from candidates for the Class of 2027 – with those students, as juniors, to serve as part of the 20th Student Advisory Council. Click here for the application. Selections are made through a multi-part process that includes initial consideration of applicants by members of the MHSAA’s brand and student services team and then interviews with finalists.
The current Student Advisory Council includes seniors Cale Bell from Sault Ste. Marie, Drew Cady from Oxford, Macy Jenkins from Milford, Isaiah Kabban from Harbor Beach, Ella Knudsen from Leland, Kaylee Kranz from Clinton, Joey Spada from Kalamazoo Central, and Aynalem Zoet from Grandville Calvin Christian; and juniors Itzel Albarran from Bronson, Harper Barnhart from Brownstown Woodhaven, Diamond Cook from Southfield Christian, Henry Ewles from Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Cole Haist from Big Rapids, Frannie Keeley from Jenison, Trey LaValley from Romeo, and Ethan Stine from Bridgman.
Previous "Century of School Sports" Spotlights
April 9: State's Storytellers Share Spring Memories - Read
April 2: Sharp Leadership Synonymous with MHSAA Success - Read
March 25: Athletic Directors Indispensable to Mission of School Sports - Read
March 18: 2025 Finals Begin Next Half-Century of Girls Hoops Championships - Read
March 11: Boys Basketball's Best 1st to Earn MHSAA Finals Titles - Read
March 5: Everything We Do Begins with Participation - Read
Feb. 25: Slogans & Logos Remain Unforgettable Parts of MHSAA History - Read
Feb. 19: MHSAA Tickets Continue to Provide Fan-Friendly Value - Read
Feb. 11: We Recognize Those Who Make Our Games Go - Read
Feb. 4: WISL Conference Continues to Inspire Aspiring Leaders - Read
Jan. 28: Michigan's National Impact Begins at NFHS' Start - Read
Jan. 21: Awards Celebrate Well-Rounded Educational Experience - Read
Jan. 14: Predecessors Laid Foundation for MHSAA's Formation - Read
Jan. 9: MHSAA Blazes Trail Into Cyberspace - Read
Dec. 31: State's Storytellers Share Winter Memories - Read
Dec. 17: MHSAA Over Time - Read
Dec. 10: On This Day, December 13, We Will Celebrate - Read
Dec. 3: MHSAA Work Guided by Representative Council - Read
Nov. 26: Finals Provide Future Pros Early Ford Field Glory - Read
Nov. 19: Connection at Heart of Coaches Advancement Program - Read
Nov. 12: Good Sports are Winners Then, Now & Always - Read
Nov. 5: MHSAA's Home Sweet Home - Read
Oct. 29: MHSAA Summits Draw Thousands to Promote Sportsmanship - Read
Oct. 23: Cross Country Finals Among MHSAA's Longest Running - Read
Oct. 15: State's Storytellers Share Fall Memories - Read
Oct. 8: Guided by 4 S's of Educational Athletics - Read
Oct. 1: Michigan Sends 10 to National Hall of Fame - Read
Sept. 25: MHSAA Record Books Filled with 1000s of Achievements - Read
Sept. 18: Why Does the MHSAA Have These Rules? - Read
Sept. 10: Special Medals, Patches to Commemorate Special Year - Read
Sept. 4: Fall to Finish with 50th Football Championships - Read
Aug. 28: Let the Celebration Begin - Read
PHOTOS Student Advisory Council members over the years participate in challenges during an overnight camp, hand out championship trophies, take photos together at MHSAA leadership events, and take a few minutes for a dance-off during a monthly meeting.