SAC Sound-Off: Seniors Say Good-Bye

June 13, 2012

All over Michigan during the last three weeks, seniors have been finishing up their high school athletic careers -- some to next play at the college level, most to continue as students only, but armed with a book full of memories and lessons learned on the field.

Our SAC seniors are no different. Here's what they'll miss most as they too move on to the next level.

I'm going to miss ...

"...everything about high school sports -- competing, winning, hanging out with my friends and meeting new people." -- Benzie Central's Travis Clous

"... the atmosphere of growth and learning, with others around encouraging me to always strive for greatness as I do the same for them." -- New Buffalo's Lena Madison

"... the butterflies in my stomach before every serve-receive and cheering for my teammates when they make a mistake." -- Detroit Country Day's Maria Buczkowski

"... the team unity the most. In high school sports, I've been friends with most of my teammates ever since kindergarten. Sports in college aren't the same because your teammates aren't your lifelong friends." -- Rudyard's Tyler Wilson

"... supporting my fellow students while leading our student cheering (section) for football. Those were some of the most fun nights of my life in high school." -- Grand Blanc's Bailey Truesdell

"... the support that my community gives to all of the sports teams." -- Muskegon Catholic Central's Alissa Jones

Selections Named for Advisory Council

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 2, 2013

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Eight student-athletes who will be juniors at their schools during the 2013-14 academic year have been selected to serve a two-year term on the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Student Advisory Council.

The Student Advisory Council is a 16-member group which provides feedback on issues impacting educational athletics from a student’s perspective, and also is involved in the operation of Association championship events and other programming. Members of the Student Advisory Council serve for two years, beginning as juniors. Eight new members are selected annually to serve on the SAC, with nominations made by MHSAA member schools. The incoming juniors will join the group of eight seniors-to-be appointed a year ago.

Selected to begin serving on the Student Advisory Council in 2013-14 are: Eliza Beird, Holland Black River; Grant Osborne, White Lake Lakeland; Amanda Paull, Cheboygan; Jonathan Perry, McBain Northern Michigan Christian; Emily Starck, Remus Chippewa Hills; Connor Thomas, Marlette; Caycee Turczyn, Lapeer West; and Aaron Van Horn, Kingston. 

The new additions to the SAC will join the Class of 2014 members who were selected a year ago: Ryan Fischer, Grandville; Emileigh Ferguson, Bear Lake; Kristen Law, Bloomfield Hills Andover; Madeleine Martindale, Lake Orion; Kiersten Mead, Saginaw Swan Valley; Zachary Nine, Pinconning; Coby Ryan, Manistique; and Hayden Smith, Hamilton. 

The first Student Advisory Council was formed for the 2006-07 school year. With the addition of this class beginning this summer, members will have represented 55 schools from 34 leagues plus independent schools that do not play in a league. Combined, the new appointees have participated in 12 MHSAA sports, and seven of the eight will be the first SAC members from their respective schools.

The Student Advisory Council meets six times each school year, and once more for a 24-hour leadership camp. In addition to assisting in the promotion of the educational value of interscholastic athletics, the council discusses issues dealing with the 4 S’s of educational athletics: scholarship, sportsmanship, safety (including health and nutrition) and the sensible scope of athletic programs. There also is a fifth S discussed by the group – student leadership.

This school year, the Council judged the second “Battle of the Fans” after creating the contest during 2011-12 as a way to promote positive sportsmanship. The Council also began updating the “Captains 101” leadership guide that was published in 2009 and has been distributed throughout Michigan and also, by request, to other states and internationally. The Council aims to finish the update by the end of spring 2014.

PHOTO: The 2012-13 Student Advisory Council is in its final month before welcoming a new class this summer.