From our Battle of the Fans finalists ...

March 29, 2012

This winter's inaugural "Battle of the Fans" was about recognizing the top student cheering section in the state of Michigan.

But it also provided valuable lessons about sportsmanship and made every gym a classroom where they could be taught and learned.

The video below includes clips from all five finalists' videos shot by MHSAA staff and used in the judging for the contest. It played on the Breslin Center scoreboard before each of the Semifinals and championship games of the Girls and Boys Basketball Finals over the last two weekends.

If you were there, you no doubt caught at least a glimpse. If not, check it out below.

Battle of the Fans IV: Vote Now

February 16, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

We watched and enjoyed what hopefuls sent us from all over the state, then criss-crossed Michigan to see this season's best for ourselves.

And now it's your turn to vote for your favorite student cheering section of this season's Battle of the Fans IV.

Vote today through 4 p.m. Thursday on your favorite of these five (enrollments in parentheses) – Beaverton (422), Buchanan (462), Dowagiac (606), St. Johns (1,088) and Yale (716) – 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 Beaverton will mean more than one vote for much larger Class A St. Johns).

The champion will be announced Friday on Second Half. Video of all five finalists will be compiled and shown on the main scoreboard during the Girls and Boys Basketball Finals in March at Michigan State's Breslin Student Events Center. The winner will be invited to Breslin on March 27 for the Class B Boys Basketball Semifinals and presented a championship banner at center court.

And now, the finalists, in alphabetical order:

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Beaverton

Buchanan

Dowagiac

St. Johns

Yale