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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 Facebook, Twitter 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.

SAC Sound-off: Meet Owosso's Matt Freeman

April 11, 2012

Matt Freeman is a big part of the Owosso football program -- he's 6-foot-2 and 270 pounds and made his all-league team last season -- and will continue to be a big part of the MHSAA's Student Advisory Council as a senior next fall.  He's one of eight juniors on the council; members are selected at the end of their sophomores years and serve two-year terms.

Matt Freeman, Owosso junior

  • Sports: Football, basketball, golf
  • Non-sports activities: Hunting, farming, drummer, theater
  • Favorite class: Weight lifting
  • Must-see TV: ESPN SportCenter
  • One shining moment: Coming back from 15 down to beat Corunna in basketball this season.
  • What’s next: Hopefully, college football. If not, then a small college, and coming home on weekends. Working with my hands – nothing behind a desk.
  • My favorite part of game day is: ... at school, knowing most of the people you see never get the opportunity to be on a team, and knowing you are lucky to be on the team you are on.

    PHOTO: Owosso's Matt Freeman (64) makes a tackle during last season's game against DeWitt. He plays on both the offensive and defensive lines.