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Battle On for Top Cheering Section

January 14, 2013

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The champion is back. But the competition is all new and no doubt hungry to become known as the best cheering section in Michigan. 

Let "Battle of the Fans II" begin.

Reigning champion Frankenmuth along with Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, Buchanan, Vandercook Lake and Zeeland East have been selected as finalists for this year's "Battle of the Fans II," which for the second year aims to recognize the top MHSAA student cheering section. 

The contest, organized by MHSAA staff and its 16-member Student Advisory Council, will reward the cheering section that best creates the positive and festive atmosphere made possible when students show enthusiasm, togetherness and sportsmanship while rooting for their team. MHSAA staff and Student Advisory Council members will visit all five finalists for home 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 announced Feb. 22, and video of all five sections will be played on the Breslin Center HD scoreboard during the Finals in March. The champion also will be recognized during the Boys Semifinals on March 22. 

Schools were invited in December to submit a short video, via YouTube, of their cheering sections in action. Video submissions included explanations on how each section met the following contest criteria: positive sportsmanship, student body participation, school spirit, originality of cheers, organization of the group, student section leadership and overall fun. Click the links below to see the finalists' application videos. 

Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard - Buchanan - Frankenmuth - Vandercook Lake - Zeeland East

A total of 27 sections – including 24 first-time applicants – submitted videos by last week’s deadline. The finalists were chosen by the Student Advisory Council, and the winner will be selected based on the results of a public Facebook poll and another Advisory Council vote.

Finalists will be visited for the following home boys basketball games:

Jan. 18: Frankenmuth vs. Bridgeport

Jan. 31: Buchanan vs. Cassopolis Ross Beatty

Feb. 1: Vandercook Lake vs. Michigan Center

Feb. 5: Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard vs. Madison Heights Bishop Foley

Feb. 8: Zeeland East vs. Muskegon Mona Shores

Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard just missed being included among last year’s finalists, finishing sixth when the Advisory Council chose the 2012 group. Warren Woods-Tower, Beaverton, Schoolcraft, Wyandotte Roosevelt and Rockford placed sixth through 10th, respectively, in this year’s initial balloting.

Other 2013 applicants were Bear Lake, Bridgman, Clarkston, Clio, East Grand Rapids, Hemlock, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, Muskegon Mona Shores, Grand Rapids Northview, Pinconning, Royal Oak, Sparta, Sterling Heights Stevenson, Saginaw Swan Valley, Traverse City Central, Traverse City West and Warren DeLaSalle. Click to view all applications.

The online Facebook vote will take place Feb. 18-21.

Contest rules plus links to last year’s coverage of the contest can be found on the MHSAA BOTF site.

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 schools sports for Michigan State University's Institute for the Study of Youth Sports and assists with medal ceremonies at MHSAA championship events.

PHOTO: Five finalists have been selected for the "Battle of the Fans II," clockwise, Frankenmuth, Zeeland East, Vandercook Lake, Buchanan and Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard. 

SAC Sound-off: Who do you cheer for most?

May 2, 2012

Our MHSAA Student Advisory Council members all play at least one MHSAA varsity sport, and through their service to the council have learned much more about high school athletics throughout the state.

But when it comes to following sports teams, almost all do their most cheering for those at the college level.

We surveyed our SAC members on what level of sports they pay attention to most. Here’s a look at their answers.

  • Ten of 12 who submitted answers said they follow college sports most. Another SAC member said she follows both college and pro equally.
  • The breakdown of colleges was a little surprising. Three said the University of Michigan, two said Michigan State University, but two more said Ohio State University. We also had one vote for Hillsdale College and another for Baylor University.
  • Two put down the colleges they will compete for next year – University of Miami, Ohio (Grand Blanc’s Bailey Truesdell, in golf) and Notre Dame (New Buffalo’s Lena Madison, in track).
  • Truesdell was specific in his selection – he follows Miami’s hockey team the most. Michigan football and softball also were listed by SAC members.
  • Four professional teams made the radar of SAC favorites. Two follow the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, and a third follows the Miami Heat. The only Detroit teams to get a mention were the MLB Tigers and NFL Lions, one apiece.