Student Advisory Council Class Selected

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

May 1, 2014

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Eight student-athletes who will be juniors at their schools during the 2014-15 academic year have been selected to serve two-year terms 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 2014-15 are: Tucker Gross, Beal City; Katie Hartzler, Bridgman; Benjamin Kowalske, Livonia Stevenson; Jared Pittman, Muskegon; Bekah Myler, Gaylord St. Mary; Jordan Michalak, Birmingham Seaholm; Trevor Trierweiler, Portland; and Greta Wilker, Belding.

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 72 schools from 36 leagues plus independent schools that do not play in a league. Combined, the new appointees have participated in 10 MHSAA sports, and all eight will be the first SAC members from their respective schools.

The Student Advisory Council meets seven 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. 

Members contribute in planning Sportsmanship Summits, Captains Clinics and other student leadership events, and assist with medal ceremonies at MHSAA championship events. The Council also judges the “Battle of the Fans,” which it created during the 2011-12 school year as a way to promote positive sportsmanship.

Newly-chosen members will join the following from the Class of 2015: 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. 

Performance of the Week: Fenton's Jena Fijolek

December 15, 2023

Jena FjolekJena Fijolek ♦ Fenton
Senior ♦ Bowling

Fijolek rolled a perfect 300 during last week’s match against Ortonville Brandon – her previous high in a league match was 232 – and that 300 game also contributed to her career-high series of 489. Her team’s win in that match made Fenton 2-0 in Flint Metro League matches to kick off this winter.

The Tigers already had aspirations of reaching the MHSAA Team Finals this season; they finished eighth in their Division 2 Regional last season and sixth in 2022. Fijolek’s personal aspirations also received a boost by her perfect game – she’s seeking to make the Singles Finals for the first time after finishing 16th at her Regional last season, just 31 pins out of advancing to the championship weekend among the top 10. A four-year varsity bowler on the team, Fijolek also came close to making the Finals as a freshman, finishing 18th and just 44 pins outside of qualifying in 2021.

@mhsaasports 🎳POW: Jena Fijolek #bowling #300 #letsgo #fenton #part1 #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA

@mhsaasports 🎳POW: Jena Fijolek #tiktalk #questiontime #part2 #night #redbull #emoji #summeriturnedpretty #spritecranberry #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA

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Past 2023-24 Honorees

Dec. 8: Sophia Wagner, Escanaba gymnastics - Report
Dec. 1:
Isaiah Marshall, Southfield Arts & Technology football - Report
Nov. 24:
Sarah Bradley, Clarkston Everest Collegiate volleyball - Report
Nov. 17:
Kalieb Osborne, Waterford Mott football - Report
Nov. 10:
Tekalegn Vlasma, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian soccer - Report
Nov. 3:
Colton Kinnie, Birmingham Seaholm football - Report
Oct. 27:
Lauren Timpf, Macomb Lutheran North golf - Report
Oct. 20:
Alena Li, Okemos golf - Report
Oct. 13:
Seth Norder, Grand Haven cross country - Report
Oct. 5:
Paige Anderson, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer golf - Report
Sept. 29:
MacKenzie Bisballe, Lake City volleyball - Report
Sept. 22:
Jhace Massey, Gladwin football - Report
Sept. 15:
Kaylee Draper, Sturgis swimming - Report
Sept. 8:
Owen Jackson, Traverse City St. Francis tennis - Report
Sept. 1:
Rachel Forsyth, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report

(Photos courtesy of the Fenton girls bowling program.)