In Memoriam: Ryan Fischer (1996-2014)

Students

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

March 7, 2014

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Grandville senior Ryan Fischer, a three-sport athlete, straight-A student and member of the MHSAA’s Student Advisory Council, died in his sleep overnight Thursday.

Fisher was co-captain of Grandville’s ice hockey team and set to join his teammates at Compuware Arena for tonight’s Division 1 Semifinal against Detroit Catholic Central. Fischer also was to receive an MHSAA Class A Scholar-Athlete Award later this month and recently had gained acceptance to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he planned to study aerospace engineering.

“Our staff enjoyed knowing Ryan as an engaging member of the MHSAA Student Advisory Council for two years, and we grieve his loss with the entire Grandville community,” MHSAA Executive Director Jack Roberts said.

Fischer was to turn 18 on April 10.

He also served as captain of his football team this fall and had lettered in baseball. A three-year member of the hockey team, he was named to its leadership council and earned all-league honors as a junior.

Fisher held roles in a number of additional leadership initiatives. He served four years on Grandville's student government executive board and also on the school's Leadership Team and his church’s youth leadership council. Fischer was selected to attend both the U.S. Military Academy Summer Leadership Experience and the U.S. Naval Academy Summer Seminar after his junior year.

A decision to play tonight’s hockey game as scheduled was made after conversations between Fischer’s family and Grandville’s administration.

Battle of the Fans VI: Vote Now

February 11, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The best Michigan high school student cheering sections have shown us their best over the last four weeks.

Now it's your turn to tell us which of those final five has earned the title Battle of the Fans VI champion.

Vote today through 4 p.m. Thursday on your favorite of these five (enrollments in parentheses) – Boyne City (396), Charlotte (815), Frankenmuth (533), Petoskey (954) and Traverse City West (1,552) – by liking, sharing and re-tweeting on the MHSAA’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram sites

But before you do, take a few minutes to watch all five videos 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 significant weight to the public social media vote. Votes will be valued proportionate to the size of the school receiving them (for example, one vote for Class C Boyne City will mean more than one vote for much larger Class A Traverse City West).

The champion will be announced Friday on Second Half. Video of all five finalists will be shown on the main scoreboard during the Girls and Boys Basketball Finals in March at Michigan State's Breslin Student Events Center. All five finalists will be invited to Breslin on March 24 for the Class B Boys Basketball Semifinals, and the winner will be presented with a championship banner at center court.

And now, the finalists, in alphabetical order:

Search

Boyne City

Charlotte

Frankenmuth

Petoskey

Traverse City West