Welcome Back to 'The Woods'

January 17, 2014

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Buchanan, here we come. 

The MHSAA and its Student Advisory Council will kick off "Battle of the Fans III" tonight with a return trip to Buchanan, last season's BOTF champion. 

Buchanan, tucked into the southwest corner of the Lower Peninsula, is a Class B school of 465 students hailing from a community of roughly 4,400. The Bucks earned voters' hearts in 2013 as most of that student body and community filled the home gym – fittingly referred to as "The Woods" – for the MHSAA's BOTF visit. 

The MHSAA will visit finalists Beaverton, Bridgman, Frankfort and Traverse City West later this month and during the first two weeks of February before crowning a champion on Feb. 21 and inviting representatives from the winning section to a banner presentation during the Boys Basketball Semifinals on March 21 at Michigan State's Breslin Center. 

Remember, follow the Battle of the Fans on the MHSAA's FacebookTwitter and Instagram social media sites by clicking hashtag #BOTF. The MHSAA-produced story and video from tonight's trip will be published Tuesday on Second Half. 

Here's Buchanan's application video for this winter's contest. 

PHOTO is courtesy of Buchanan High School. Battle of the Fans III is sponsored in part by the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.

Student Leaders to Attend NFHS Summit

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

July 14, 2015

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Four members of the Student Advisory Council will represent the MHSAA at the inaugural National Student Leadership Summit hosted by the National Federation of State High School Associations from July 20-22 in Indianapolis.  

Ben Kowalske of Livonia Stevenson, Bekah Myler of Gaylord St. Mary, Trevor Trierweiler of Portland and Greta Wilker of Belding will join an expected group of at least 100 students who are active in leadership programs in their home states.

Students will be split into groups for instructive discussions on communication with peers and adults, relationship building, social media usage and proper perspective in high school athletics. Attendees also will participate in a community service project with the Indiana Special Olympics.

MHSAA assistant director Andy Frushour, who advises the Student Advisory Council, will be among state association staff serving as adult ambassadors. 

Check back at the end of July to learn how the Summit will help Michigan's representatives continue to provide strong student voices in educational athletics. Click to learn more on the Student Advisory Council.