All Honorees

Jill (Treml) Stickney, of Custer, played basketball and softball and ran track at Mason County Eastern. In 1979, her senior year, Stickney was a state champion in shot put, setting a new state record that year with a throw of 41′ 7 3/8″ (12.68 meters). She also placed fifth in the discus with a throw of 107′ 2″ and was the Mason County track champion in shot put and discus. The 1979 track ...Read More...

Mike Evans graduated from Ludington High School in 1963. He played basketball and baseball for the Orioles and in 1963, was a Free Press all-state first team selection. He averaged over 18 points per game in 1963 and was chosen to Wood TV’s West Michigan All Star Team. In both 1962 and 1963, Evans was selected to the North Central Conference first team. Evans was considered to be on the cutti ...Read More...

Christy Christmas, of Ludington, graduated in 1979 from Mason County Central. Christmas coached softball at Mason County Central where the team accumulated 302 wins during her tenure. She had seven West Michigan Conference titles, six district titles, three regional titles, and twice took her team to the state semi-finals, each time losing by one run to the eventual state champion. Christmas was a ...Read More...

Alvin “Al” Hardman loved adventure and when he was in his 50s, he competed in his first of four Iditarod sled dog races, one of the most grueling sports events in the world. The Iditarod is 1,151 miles long. Hardman’s best  finish was in 2002 when he was 21st. His last Iditarod was run in 2004 when he was in his early 60’s. Hardman competed in races across the United States, finishing fo ...Read More...

Lyford Young played basketball and ran track at Free Soil high school, graduating with the Class of 1955. Lyford was a first team All-WMD Conference selection in 1953, 1954 and 1955. His team won the District Championship in 1954 and 1955. In the 1954-55 season, Young scored 420 points, averaging 19.1 points per game. Young went on to score 975 points in his high school career. In both 1954 and 19 ...Read More...

RyAnn Rohrer is a 2022 graduate of Ludington High School and participated in swimming, basketball, and track & field while an Oriole. RyAnn qualified for the swimming state championships 15 times while in high school. She was Academic All-State in swimming in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. She was also All-Conference first team in swimming 11 times and second team five times. She set three Donald Bald ...Read More...

Bob Cameron, of Scottville, graduated in 1979 from Mason County Central. His senior year he was undefeated at 167 pounds and went on to claim the state championship in wrestling as he assisted his team in claiming the state runner-up title that year. Cameron went to Western Michigan University intending to wrestle, but WMU dropped their wrestling program. Bob also participated in track and cross c ...Read More...

Will Flewelling receives the initial “Beyond the Game Spirit Award” for 2022. Will's life exemplified what it means to take sports “Beyond the Game.” As an outstanding soccer player from Ludington High School, Will was a driving force behind the 2017 state runner-up soccer team. But it’s what Will did off the field that exemplifies his character. As a young man battling cancer, Will ...Read More...

Eli Shoup, son of Robert and Amanda Shoup, is the Life Lesson Award honoree from Mason County Eastern and selected St. Mary's Caritas Food Pantry as the recipient of the donation given by the MCSHOF in his honor. Eli played basketball, baseball, ran cross country, as well as track & field and maintained a GPA of 4.0 while earning 15 varsity letters. Eli was dual enrolled at West Shore Community Co ...Read More...

Zoe Voss, daughter of Tom and Gina Voss, is the honoree from Ludington High School and selected the Lakeshore Food Club as the recipient of the donation given by the MCSHOF in her honor. Zoe played volleyball and track & field while maintaining a GPA of 3.776 and was involved in many other extracurricular activities. Zoe's educational plans include beginning her college studies at West Shore Commu ...Read More...

Jessica Gerbers, daughter of Robert and Cynthia Gerbers, is the Life Lesson Award honoree from Mason County Central and selected C.O.V.E. as the recipient of the donation given by the MCSHOF in her honor. Jessica played volleyball and softball and graduated with a 3.91 GPA. Jessica plans to attend West Shore Community College and Ferris State University. She was an H.G. Bacon Award recipient, Nati ...Read More...

Andrew Quinn is a 2022 graduate of Mason County Central and participated in wrestling and track & field while in high school, becoming a state champion in both sports. Andrew won the 2021-22 MHSAA Wrestling State Championship in the 285-pound class, about 50 pounds above his weight. He was third in 2020-21 at 215-pound class and sixth in 2019-20 at 189. Andrew was also team captain his junior and ...Read More...

Professional minor league baseball had its birth in Ludington in 1912 but after three seasons, the organization like many minor leagues throughout the country, disbanded, a casualty of the World War I. Professional baseball received new life in Ludington in 1920 and at a higher level as the Mariners played in the Central League with opposing teams based in Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Kalamazoo thro ...Read More...

A graduate of Ludington High School, Chazz Is the son of Christopher and D’ann Rohrer. His athletic accomplishments are spread over his entire four years of high school and include soccer, swimming, and track & field. Chazz, as a four-year member of the Oriole swim team, he was first team all-conference in 2017 through 2021. He was Swim Team Captain his senior year, and was All State in the 5 ...Read More...

Nyah is the daughter of John and Nicole Tyron, and is a graduate of Mason County Central. She was a 11-time Spartan Varsity Letter winner during her 4 years of high school. Earning varsity recognition of four years in Basketball. Three years in both Track & Field, and Volleyball. She also was a varsity member of the Central Cross-Country team. As a 4-year member of the MCC Varsity Girls Basketb ...Read More...

2007 MCC Volleyball Mason County Central’s volleyball team concluded their 2007 season as MHSAA Class B state runners-up with a 52-9-3 record. The Spartans beat Belding for the school's first ever volleyball regional title, swept Cadillac in the quarterfinals, and rallied for a victory over Carleton Airport in the semi-finals to face nationally-ranked Grand Rapids South Christian in the state ...Read More...

Adam Johnson earned first-team All-State honors twice while playing soccer at Ludington High School, was a member of the 1994 state runner-up team, and was the first Mason County soccer player to actively play at a Division I college. After his career at Western Michigan University, Adam played for Thames Valley University in London and started on the North London Cup championship team. Johnson pl ...Read More...

Dave Killips Dave Killips won 100-plus tennis matches at Ludington High School on his way to conference, regional, and state tournament qualification. Dave played in both singles and doubles play and was 29-2 at No. 1 singles his senior year. Killips went on to set a record for victories as a freshman at Central Michigan University and was his flight’s champion in the Mid-American Conference ...Read More...

Kelly Smith Kelly Smith, a Ludington native, competed professionally in motocross. He is a three-time East Coast four-stroke national champion, a two-time U.S. Open of Supercross Champion, the first ever Motocross Outdoor National winner on a KTM motorcycle and an 11-time national Arenacross winner. Smith recently switched to watercross, racing on jet skis and watercrafts and is a two-time wor ...Read More...

Dr. Annie (Tewel) Sadosty  Annie (Tewel) Sadosty, a 1987 Ludington High School graduate, earned all-conference, all-area, and all-state honors in basketball and all-conference, all-regional, and all-state honors in track. She was only the second female to score 1,000 career points in basketball at LHS and was a state runner-up in the 3200-meter run in track. Annie played two seasons of basketb ...Read More...

Robert “Bob” Ayers Robert "Bob" Ayers, a 1944 Ludington High School graduate, was a state runner-up in high hurdles and fifth in low hurdles his senior year. He also played football and basketball and became an accomplished bowler in Mason County. He helped organize fastpitch softball as the president of the Mason County Softball Association and was an outstanding fastpitch softball pitcher ...Read More...

Zachary Quinn Quinn wrestled for four seasons for the Mason County Central Spartans, earning All-State recognition twice.  He was a two time West Michigan Conference champion, and he was the captain of the team for two years.  He set a school record for takedowns in a season at 118.  Quinn also received letters in football for two seasons, cross country for one season and three years in base ...Read More...

Malburg was a standout in cross country and track at Mason County Eastern. She is a four-time state-qualifying runner and twice was All-State, and she is a four-time Class D All-State runner. She captained the cross country team the her Junior and Senior year. f She was All-Western Michigan D League all four seasons.  In track, she is a two-time state qualifier and earned All-WMD twice on the fir ...Read More...

Dr. William M. Anderson is one of the foremost historians on the Detroit Tigers, writing The Detroit Tigers: A Pictorial Celebration of the Greatest Players and Moments in Tiger History, The Glory Years of the Detroit Tigers, 1920-1950, and The View From the Dugout: The Journals of Red Rolfe. He co-authored Rick Ferrell: Knuckleball Catcher with the former Tigers coach and vice president, and four ...Read More...

Harrie Lee Volkers Harrie Lee Volkers is a 1960 graduate of Ludington where he played football, basketball, baseball and track. He earned All-Conference and All-State honors during his senior year in basketball, and he amassed 937 career points. Harrie was considered one of LHS’s best “big men” during the golden years of LHS basketball, and voted “Most Athletic” in 1960. He went on to ...Read More...

Erica Reed Erica Reed, a 1999 graduate of Mason County Central, golfed four years for Mason County Central's boys’ team, and she was the team most valuable player her senior year. She went on to play four seasons at Western Michigan University where she was a three-year captain and was voted the most valuable player three years. She earned first team All-Mid-American Conference while setting ...Read More...

Rachel Jensen Faucett Rachel Jensen Faucett was one of the top individual tennis players for her respective age as a youth, garnering top 10 rankings in singles and doubles, and eventually going professional. Paired with twin sister Rebecca Jensen Dilanni, they were ranked in the top five nationally in doubles play through their teenage years. Faucett experienced high WTA singles ranking, won m ...Read More...

Rebecca Jensen Dilanni Rebecca Jensen Dilanni garnered top 10 rankings as a youth, and eventually turned professional. She, and twin sister Rachel Jensen Faucett, were ranked in the top five nationally in doubles play and won national tournaments in their teenage years. Dilanni earned a scholarship at Kansas University where she was one half of a doubles national championship. Rebecca was twice ...Read More...

Jeff Henry Jeff Henry is a 1977 graduate of Mason County Central, and he is Mason County's first ever state champion in the sport of wrestling. Henry won the title at 138 pounds with an undefeated record of 32-0 during his senior year. Henry was a four-time state tournament qualifier — a first for a Mason County wrestler — and he was the state runner-up in 1976 at 132 pounds with a 32-1 rec ...Read More...

Steve Schoenherr Steve Schoenherr is a 1958 graduate of Ludington where he earned all-conference honors twice, scored 705 total points. He set a single high game point total of 42 for a team and league record. He was a winning middle distance runner at LHS. He was named first team All-State by both the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press in 1958 in basketball. He went on to the University of Mi ...Read More...

Nathan Lange earned nine varsity letters in his high school career: four in baseball, three in tennis, and two in basketball. He reached the MHSAA tennis state semifinals twice in doubles, and earned all-state honorable mention honors. In his senior year, in No. 1 doubles, he was named first-team all-state. He was also All-Coastal Conference second team his junior year and All-Coastal Conference f ...Read More...

Emma Fountain earned seven varsity letters in her high school career: four in track and field, two in cross country, and one in basketball. She excelled in track and field, where she was the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 state champion in in 2018, and an all-state runner in 2019 in the 400-meter. She was a part of two all-state 3,200-meter relay teams in 2016 and 2017. Fount ...Read More...

The 2001 Ludington boys soccer team won the 2001 MHSAA Division 3 soccer state championship with a 24-1-2 record. The Orioles won district and regional titles as well as its conference. The team had two first-team All-State players. The Orioles were coached by Fred Horstman and assisted by Chad Horstman, Tim Bryant and Brad Reed. Members of the team were Joel Budreau, Landon McIntosh, Steve Massie ...Read More...

The 2001 Mason County Eastern softball team won the 2001 MHSAA Division 4 state championship with a 38-2 record. The team won district and regional championships in the playoffs and the Western Michigan D League. The team had two first-team All-State players. Members of the Cardinals were Laura Herrera, Denise (Purple) Cory, Sara (Marek) Hilton, Emily (Heath) Rogers, Bernadette Battre, Jeanne (Col ...Read More...

Duane Ingraham Sr. coached Mason County Central's boys basketball team to the Class C state tournament in 1966. Ingraham had two coaching stints with the Spartans, in the 1960s and in the 1980s, and he guided the teams to four district championships, a regional title and four West Michigan Conference titles. He was 143-81 in 10 seasons coaching the Spartans, and he was named the Muskegon Chronicle ...Read More...

Earned eight varsity letters throughout her high school career – three in basketball and two each in volleyball and soccer. In volleyball, Luce set state records for aces in a single game with 20 and aces in a best of five games match with 32. Her 111 aces for a season placed her on the states record books, too. She won the Oriole’s captain for two seasons, earned All-Conference honors her sen ...Read More...

Gale Tyndall is a 1955 graduate of Custer High School where he excelled in track, basketball and baseball. He was an honorable mention All-State selection in basketball in 1955. In baseball, Tyndall could pitch with both hands, and he only lost two games in his high school career. The Detroit Tigers took notice, and the Major League franchise signed him. He played in the club's minor leagues for t ...Read More...

Wally Schafer is a 1957 graduate of Ludington High School where he set the state record in the mile run in 1956 with a time of 4:37.04. He was the state runner-up the following spring despite losing a shoe on the first lap. He earned four varsity letters and was the Orioles' track captain his senior year while also being named the All-Around Senior. He went to the University of Michigan on a track ...Read More...

Caleb Schoon earned 11 varsity letters through his high school career – three in soccer and four each in swimming and track. In soccer, he was an All-District and All-Region selection, his junior and senior years, and he was a second team All-State selection his senior year. He was on Ludington‘s 2017 MHSAA Division III state runner-up team. Schoon qualified for the MHSAA Division Three swimmi ...Read More...

Lee Schoenherr went from having an impact on various athletic fields to helping to provide so many opportunities for those in and around Mason County. Schoenherr, a 1953 graduate of Ludington, was a member of the Orioles' 1953 state runner-up team. In 1959, he was still listed as the fifth-highest scoring player in school history. He earned all-North Central Conference honors for his play He ...Read More...

Leanna (Wolf) Geers shined brightly on the track and the cross country courses for Mason County Central and Ferris State University. Geers graduated from MCC in 2002 and owned four school records (400-meter, 800, 3,200 relay and 1,600 relay) with multiple West Michigan Conference championships in the 400 and 800 runs with the 1,600 and 3,200 relays. She was awarded the female Senior Sportsmansh ...Read More...

Jerry McCormick's athletic career zoomed to life following his graduation from Mason County Eastern in 1964. McCormick was a three-sport athlete for the Cardinals in track, baseball and basketball. He lettered in each of the sports, and at one point, McCormick owned the 100-meter dash record. He also was named honorable mention all-state in boys basketball twice. His exploits earned him the Mas ...Read More...

Dick Daron used a standout track and field career at Ludington High School to earn a scholarship at Central Michigan University shortly before World War II. His high school career included earning the 1939 state championship during his junior year of high school in the 440-yard run with a time of 53.0 seconds. His quarter-mile record for the school stood for 20 years. He captained the Orioles f ...Read More...

Amanda Stowe had one of the greatest basketball careers for anyone from Mason County. The 1997 Ludington High School graduate was the runner up for Miss Basketball her senior year and chosen for All State three times by the Associated Press. She was also chosen for All State her junior and senior years from the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News. She finished her career with 2,160 points and ...Read More...

Qualified all four years at the state meet in cross country. All conference champ Jr and Sr year in wrestling. Won 3rd place at state Jr year and state champ Sr year in wrestling. 3.57 gpa, National Honor Society, Gold recipient H.G. Bacon award, MHSAA Scholar athlete award recipient. Active in 4-H and St. Mary's church. Jacob will be attending Grand View University, Des Moines, Iowa to continue w ...Read More...

Two time state champ in 100 meter dash. State record holder in 100 meter dash. County record in 400 meter dash. Qualified in 4 events at state track meet 2017. 3x class D all state in cross country. Participates in student council, SADD, Homecoming queen. Jordan will be attending Aquinas College to continue running. ...Read More...

State runner up in 800 Jr year, state champ in 800 Sr year. Conference champ in track 6 times and conference champ cross country 3 times. 4.213 gpa Alpha grad,National Honor Society, student council, and plays in the band. Lauren will be attending U.S. Military Academy at West Point to continue running. ...Read More...

Thirty years ago, Bud Dodson became involved in Special Olympics. In the span of 10 years, he became the Area 24 Special Olympics Director. In that span, and beyond, he guided the group from a $6,000 a year budget to one that has $34,000 for more than 115 athletes. Dodson's teams played in three seasons in a variety of sports: cycling, poly hockey, cross country skiing, basketball, aquatics, track ...Read More...

One game. The first for the University of Notre Dame. Ludington native George Cartier was the quarterback for the Fighting Irish on Nov. 23, 1887 in the school's very first football game and it happened to be against Michigan. The Fighting Irish lost the game, 8-0, but Cartier went on to be involved in sports in one fashion or another later on in his life.His brother, Warren Cartier, was a Notre D ...Read More...

Jenny (Irwin) Every set several Ferris State University track records after an outstanding high school career at Mason County Central. At MCC, she qualified for the state meet four times running in the 800-meter and 1,600 as well as the 1,600 and 3,200 relays. Irwin set six Ferris State records and made appearances three consecutive years at the NCAA Division II meet, was named the 2006 GLIAC Most ...Read More...

The 1986 Mason County Central Boys Track and Field Team won the MHSAA Class C state championship, defeating Detroit St. Martin dePorres by two points in the state meet. The Spartans started the season after finishing as the state runner-up in 1985. MCC went on to win the 17-team Fremont Invitational, the East Grand Rapids Invitational, the Traverse City Relays and the West Michigan Conference titl ...Read More...

Mike Benedict ran to the 1981 Class B state cross country championship in his senior year at Ludington High School. It was set up by a 19th place finish the year before. In both seasons, Benedict was all-region and all-Seaway Conference. In track, Benedict was a three-time all-Seaway Conference athlete and was the conference champion in the two-mile his senior year. Benedict eventually ran for Sag ...Read More...

Ross Donley coached the Ludington High School track teams for 37 years and cross country for 26 years. His track teams won 16 league titles, four regional titles and three times were in the top 10 at the state meet. Donley's cross country teams won six league titles and four regional titles. He is a four-time regional cross country coach of the year and the 1983 track coach of the year. Donley is ...Read More...

The 2015-16 Mason County Sports Hall of Fame Female Student-Athlete of the Year is Mason County Central's Kylie Mount. She earned four letters each in basketball and track and field while also earning three letters in volleyball. She set the Mason County Central school record in the high jump while being all-state twice in the 100-meter hurdles and once in the long jump. In 2016 alone, she was ...Read More...

The 2015-16 Mason County Sports Hall of Fame Male Student-Athlete of the Year is Mason County Central's Spencer Knizacky. He competed all four of his high school years on the wrestling and baseball teams and for three seasons on the varsity football team. He is a two-time West Michigan Conference, district and regional champion in wrestling and he placed three years at the state meet, including ...Read More...

Carl Mayhand was a record-setting runner at Mason County Eastern, leaving the school with seven records in tow. He went on to be an All-American during his junior college days and had to turn down a full scholarship to Auburn University because of family commitments. But in high school, he was tough to beat in cross country and track. He owned state titles in the 1980 state cross country meet and ...Read More...

Greg Melchert was an outstanding baseball and football player as well as wrestler at Mason County Central, and he found his greatest success in baseball. He played at Western Michigan and went on to pitch in the Detroit Tigers farm system for Lakeland and Utica. He was an All-State special mention in baseball. He was a three-time state qualifier in wrestling, finishing fourth as an individual and ...Read More...

Lee T. Snyder was a one-man wrecking crew one fine spring day at the 1954 Class B state track meet. The Ludington Oriole single handedly gave his school the state runner-up trophy as he won state titles in the pole vault and high jump while taking second in the low hurdles and third in the long jump. Snyder's prowess wasn't limited to the track as he was a member of the boys basketball teams and f ...Read More...

Although Matt Urka saw his playing days with baseball cut short by an accident, his love for the stick-and-ball game never subsided. He helped to sponsor fastpitch softball teams and he organized what was one of the premier fastpitch softball tournaments in the country over the Memorial Day weekend, turning MacPhail's field in Scottville into a fastpitch paradise with a who's who of players and te ...Read More...

The Ludington gymnastics program in the late 1970s was dominant, and that was partly thanks to the work of Rae Jean, then known as Debbie Hineline. She was a three-time All-State selection in 1976, 1977 and 1978. She was the first Ludington gymnast to win an all-around state championship, doing so in 1978, as she won state titles in three individual events: vault, uneven bars and floor exercise. I ...Read More...

Perhaps no person is as synonymous as the voice of Ludington football and basketball as Rod Beckman. For 40 years, Beckman was the play-by-play voice of both programs on the airwaves of WKLA and for a year of basketball at WMOM. And when he wasn't delivering sports on the air, he continued to play in a sport where he excelled — baseball and softball. He was a member of the Custer VFW teams long ...Read More...

Brandy Thomas left her mark on the walls of Ludington's Hawley Gymnasium and all anyone had to do was look at the track record book. Thomas set new school records in the discus and shot put numerous times throughout her high school career while also participating in volleyball and basketball. She is a four-time Lakes 8 Activities Conference champion in the shot put and a four-time state qual ...Read More...

Noah Dobrzelewski brought leadership to the field and the pool in his years at Ludington High School as he competed in football, swimming and diving and track and field. Dobrzelewski swam for four seasons for Ludington, earning the Coaches' Award in his ninth grade year and following that with Most Valuable Swimmer honors his sophomore through senior years. Dobrzelewski also earned honorable me ...Read More...

Don Stokely keeps a watchful eye of the baseball diamond at the corner of Gaylord and Lowell streets. That diamond bears his name after he oversaw the Ludington baseball program for 33 years. Stokely compiled a record of 452 wins and 288 losses and saw his teams win 11 league titles, six district titles and one regional crown. He was a regional coach of the year in 2001 and was the Class A & B Mus ...Read More...

Long before Dr. Howard Hoffman became a prominent physician in Ludington, Hoffman was a standout athlete at Ludington and then at the University of Michigan. He played three seasons for Ludington High School's football team and was the captain for two of those. He also ran track for Ludington. At Michigan, though, is where Hoffman had an incredible run. He was on the university's track team with h ...Read More...

Fabian Knizacky was a great race-walker, finishing ninth in the 1984 Olympic trials for the 50-kilometer race walk. The four-year varsity letterwinner from Free Soil in cross country went on to Aquinas College where he really excelled. At Aquinas, he was the first three-time all-American for the school and was the first person to win All-American honors in indoor track. In all, he is a five-time a ...Read More...

Melissa (Thompson) Gross ran her way into what's seemingly a permanent place in the Ludington High record books. While an oriole, she set a school record in the 1,600-meter run and was a member of the school-record setting 1,600-meter relay team. She was also a state champion miler in 1982 while running to third in 1983 in the 800-meter run and third in 1981 in the 1,600-meter run. She also was a ...Read More...

The Orioles' gymnastics program was built by Patricia M. Jensen and under her guidance, Ludington went 143-3 in duals and won state championships in five consecutive seasons, from 1975 to 1979. That record included 111 consecutive victories, a national record. Sixteeen of her gymnasts were named all-state and 14 earned full college scholarships. She was named the Detroit News Michigan High School ...Read More...

Todd Patulski has lived a life of athletics and it all began at Mason County Central. Patulski was the 1985 Mason County Central Athlete of the Year as he was a guard on the Spartans' 19-1 boys basketball team and was a state qualifier in the high jump, 300-meter hurdles and 400-meter relay team in track and field. He also played fastpitch softball, including being the starting pitcher on the Clas ...Read More...

Chase Barnett leaves Mason County Central with many school records and state titles in tow after a standout four-year career. He was a four-year star in cross country and track and field while playing two years of boys basketball at Central, one year on the varsity. He was a four-time All-State honoree in cross country, finishing as the state runner-up twice and placing third once. He set the ...Read More...

Madison Geers' athleticism couldn't be missed on the floor or in the field during her high school career at Mason County Central. Geers was a four-year varisty letter winner in both basketball and softball while earning three letters in volleyball. She made her biggest mark in basketball, earning Associated Press All-State honors her senior year after setting the all-time scoring mark for Maso ...Read More...

The 1947 edition of the Abrahamson-Bannon softball team helped to set up decades to come of softball greatness from Mason County as it won the MASA Class B state championship. The team compiled a 35-4 record that season and went 17-2 in its league. At the state tournament, the team allowed just one run and eight hits while scoring eight runs on 20 hits. Bob VanDyke tossed the first two games, incl ...Read More...

Bob Wolff is a two-time world record holder in archery. Wolff, known as the "The Bow Bender" or the "Bull of the Woods", had one of the greatest years in 1969 in archery, scoring a state title with a record for the highest score and highest margin of victory. He set his two world records at Cobo Hall in Detroit, competing in the sport before the advent of the compound bow. And in that year, throug ...Read More...

Bonita "Bonnie" Vasicek put the footprints down for girls and women's softball in Mason County starting at the age of nine. Vasicek's 40-year career included playing for Custer High School and attempting to get a contract at 15 with the Grand Rapids Chicks, a semipro team. She won a state title with the 1959 Carr's Rockets, the 1969 Baldwin Merchant Team and the 1971 Baldwin Girls' Team. She also ...Read More...

Dick Dennis is one of the pioneers of softball in Mason County as he and good friend Ralph Wienert brought the windmill pitch to fast pitch softball here and perfected it for the ages. Dennis began to play softball at age eight, and he was on his first men's team at age 11 in 1935. He went on play on various teams during his service with the U.S. Army Air Corps and once he came back home, he joine ...Read More...

Fred Horstman began the Ludington High School soccer program from scratch and built it into a state powerhouse, including guiding the Orioles to the 2001 Division 3 state championship. In 15 years, Horstman had a record of 258-54-22 as Ludington won 11 conference, 10 district and six regional championships. Before the state title, Ludington was the 1994 and 1997 state runners-up. The 2001 Division ...Read More...

Jay Hansen was one of the most prolific swimmers to come through Ludington High School. Hansen, a 1988 graduate, won 11 individual Coastal Conference titles and set five league records while an Oriole. He set five school records and still owns four of them and he won three individual state championships and set one state record. He was at his best in the 100-yard butterfly, even recording the 34th ...Read More...

Paul Spencer Peterson used a great distance-running career at Ludington and propelled himself into a wonderful runner for Saginaw Valley State University. Peterson was the runner-up at the 1978 Class B state meet. But once he became a Cardinal, he earned NAIA All-American honors in several events. He is three-time All-American in the 10,000-meter run and a two-time All-American in the 5,000-meter ...Read More...

D'Erika Varenhorst of Ludington competed in basketball, volleyball and track in her high school career with the Orioles and basketball proved to be her top game. In all, she earned eight varsity letters while an Oriole. Varenhorst was one of just a few Ludington girls basketball players to be named to the Associated Press, BCAM and Detroit Free Press Class B All-State teams in school history. Vare ...Read More...

Elena Luce of Mason County Eastern earned 17 total letters for participating in cross country, volleyball, basketball, softball and soccer. She earned all-Western Michigan D League recognition in each of those sports, with basketball being her strongest sport. She was a three-time Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Academic All-State selection and a two-time BCAM All-State choice. She won ...Read More...

Payton Tyndall accumulated six letters during his high school career in cross country, basketball, baseball and football. In basketball, he earned honors from the West Michigan Conference, all-district from the coaches and all-area from the Ludington Daily News. In baseball, Tyndall was all-conference honorable mention and all-district. Tyndall has spent time with 4-H, in the Mason County Reform C ...Read More...

Dean Adams helped push the Ludington Orioles to a 1955 North Central Conference title with a 15-4 record and a Class B district title while also averaging 21 points per game and taking first-team all-state honors. Following his graduation, he went on to play three years of varsity hoops at Central Michigan University, scoring 1,074 points. When his playing days for the Chippewas were over, he was ...Read More...

George Wilson made his mark on Mason County from the broadcast booth, working as play-by-play man for WKLA from the 1950s and into the 1970s. Even after his play-by-play days were over, Wilson stayed behind the microphone, doing public address work for both Mason County Central and Ludington schools for more than 50 years. He also wrote a local sports column for the Ludington Daily News when he wo ...Read More...

Ken Papes was a stand out all-around prep athlete at Free Soil, being a state-class sprinter, long-jumper and shot-putter in track and field. In hoops, he averaged more than 25 points per game as a senior and had 1,459 points for his career for Free Soil, tops for the school's history. In baseball he was a part of the Free Soil baseball team that won 54 consecutive games, primarily working as the ...Read More...

Lloyd Wallace had a lifetime's work as the sports editor for the Ludington Daily News, retiring in 2011 after a remarkable 41-year career. He was instrumental in the Associated Press giving equal coverage to girls athletics through it's polls and all-state teams and won a litany of writing awards in his career, including being named top sports columnist by the AP in the paper's division a record f ...Read More...

Matt Hughes has the distinction of being Ludington's sole Olympian, having competed in the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China in rowing. He finished fifth in the men's quadruple sculls in the Olympics, after earlier winning the world championship in Lucerne, Switzerland. Not only an excellent rower, Hughes was the goalkeeper for Ludington's 1998 and 1999 soccer teams that went a combined 43-4-4 w ...Read More...

Susan (MacDonald) Monaghan has the distinction of being the first outstanding girls distance runner in the county, having owned records at Ludington High in the 880-yard, mile, and two-mile races. No one has surpassed her two-mile mark. She was the state runner-up in 1978 with a time of 11 minutes, 7.7 seconds and placed sixth in the mile. She pioneered the Orioles' cross country program, and did ...Read More...

Alyssa Bryan is a multiple-letter winner across four sports in her four years at Mason County Eastern. She won four letters with the softball and volleyball teams and three others for basketball. She also has a letter in cross country. She's a four-year first-team all-Western Michigan D League softball honoree and has first-team all-WMD honors in basketball once and volleyball three times. In s ...Read More...

Tyler Thurston excelled in his athletic endeavors and the classroom for all four years at Mason County Eastern. In all, he earned 12 athletic letters with four each from soccer and baseball and two each from cross country and basketball. In 2012, he captained all four teams he was involved with and earned first-team all-Western Michigan D League honors for each. In basketball, he tied the single g ...Read More...

On the 50th anniversary year of its Class D state runnerup season, the 1961 Free Soil High boys basketball team went 25-1 and finished second in the state. Called "Carey's Comets," the team won its first 25 games, most by wide margins, before losing to Marquette Pierce, 68-61, in the Class D State championship game. Led by Jim Jackoviak (20.9 points per game), Norm Clausen (17.9), and Mel Carey (1 ...Read More...

Chadd Holmes is one of only three Ludington High School basketball players to earn first-team all-state honors twice. He did it in 1994 when he averaged 18.9 points a game and again in 1995 when he averaged 22.4 points per game for the 22-4 Orioles. In high school, the 6-foot-9-inch Holmes also started on Ludington's state-ranked soccer teams. After high school, Holmes attended Division 1 Davidson ...Read More...

Born in Ludington in 1897, Claire served in the Navy in World War I, after which he was a strong-armed shortstop with the Ludington Mariners of the Class B Central League in 1920. He was scouted and purchased for $2,000 by the Detroit Tigers, and played three games in September of that year, hitting in front of Ty Cobb and collecting one hit in seven at bats. Claire played three years of professio ...Read More...

Ed Papes was a three-sport star for Free Soil High School, graduating in 1967. In track and field, he held the school record in the 100-yard dash (10.4 seconds) and also helped set school records in the 880- and mile relays. As a basketball player, Papes was a key member on Pirate teams that advanced to the Class D state semifinals in 1966 and 1967. He led the latter squad in scoring at 18.2 point ...Read More...

In 2001, Mason County Eastern rode the pitching and hitting of Jeanne (Cole) Miller to the Division 4 state championship. She was 31-1 and in 195 innings she struck out 288 batters, walked 38 while allowing just 52 base hits and 16 earned runs for what was then the lowest earned run average (0.11) ever by a prep softball player in Michigan. She also hit .648 with 27 doubles, seven triples, six hom ...Read More...

Lee Edmundson, as a high school sophomore in 1964, shot an 80 in the Class B state golf tournament, helping Ludington High to a share of second place, three strokes behind co-champions Kalamazoo University High and Whitehall. In his junior year, the Orioles finished ninth as a team but Edmundson was co-medalist in the state meet with a 77. As a senior in 1966, Ludington was fifth and Edmundson sho ...Read More...

Brandon Melchert lettered three times in both baseball and football and twice in basketball. In football, he was the team’s co-captain and most valuable defensive player. As a junior, he was first team All-West Michigan Conference, all-district and all-area in baseball, earning the team’s Most Valuable Player Award. He also earned All-WMC Scholar Athlete honors in each of his varsity se ...Read More...

Kada Knizacky, of Mason County Eastern, was chosen the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame’s Femaie Scholar Athlete of the Year. Knizacky earned a total of 15 varsity letters in her four-year athletic career at Eastern. She lettered four times each in cross country and track and field, three times in volleyball, twice in basketball and once each in softball and soccer. In track and field, Kni ...Read More...

Nick Allen, of Mason County Central, lettered four times in cross country and wrestling and three times in baseball, and was named Mason County Central’s Senior Male Athlete of the Year. In wrestling, Nick earned All West Michigan Conference honors, as well as all-district, all-area, and all-state honors and served as the Spartan’s team captain. He set a school record with 56 victories in t ...Read More...

Martha Garrett was a three-time first-team all-state gymnast. She was a key performer for the Orioles in all four years of her high school career. During her prep career, Ludington never lost a meet, winning four consecutive state championships. The team was undefeated in 73 straight competitions that included duals, conference and regional championship meets and state finals. As a freshman at sta ...Read More...

Charles Dennis was a two-time state mile champion for Ludington High in 1931 and 1932. In both years, his coach, Mitch Read, entered him in the University of Chicago National Interscholastic Track and Field Championships, which drew elite athletes from all over the United States. Dennis was fifth in the mile in 1931 and second in 1932. He attended Michigan State College where he lettered in track ...Read More...

When Ludington High started its five-year state championship run in gymnastics, it had been competing in the sport for only two years. The first state title came in 1975 and Martha Garrett was the lone all-stater on the team. She was second in floor exercise, third on the uneven parallel bars, fourth in vaulting and tumbling and third in the all-around competiton as the team went 19-0 in duals. In ...Read More...

Howard Jensen coached Ludington High's boys tennis teams for 29 years during which the Orioles won 17 conference and 14 state regional championships. His teams won 292 dual matches and lost 77, a .791 percentage. During one 12-year span, his teams were 174-5 in duals and won 12 conference and 11 state regional titles. Eight of his teams finished in the top 10 at the state finals. His players went ...Read More...

A 1963 graduate of Mason County Eastern, Rich Leonard was one of that school's finest all-around athletes. He was the leading scorer and rebounder during one of Eastern's most successful runs in basketball. He was also an outstanding athlete in track and field, baseball, and football. Growing up on a farm in Fountain, Leonard grew into a 6-foot, 3-inch, 220-pound slugger who is arguably the finest ...Read More...

Jay Stielstra participated in track and field, football and basketball in all four years of his high school career. In track and field, he long-jumped 22 feet, 9 5/8 inches, setting a school and Mason County record that still stands. It is the oldest county record still standing. In 1950, Stielstra was the Class B state champion in the 180-yard hurdles with a time of 20.9 seconds. In 1951, he fini ...Read More...

Chris Conrad earned four letters in track and field, three in cross country and one in soccer. He holds school records in the 400-meter dash and was a member of Mason County Central's state-championship 3,200 meter relay team along with Jake Hernandez, Dan Deller and Jake Lauber. The winning time posted by this team, 7:54.74, was a new school record. He was all-conference and team captain in cross ...Read More...

Nikki Arner earned four letters in basketball and two in volleyball. She was named to the Associated Press Class B All-State team as a sophomore, junior and senior. Arner, who will attend Ferris State University on a basketball scholarship, played in more winning games (76) in her four-year high school career than any other Oriole. Her 1,430 career points places her second on the school's al ...Read More...

The team that launched the Golden Age of Basketball in Mason County, the 1953 Ludington Orioles won 21 games and lost two and is still the only LHS squad to advance to the state finals. Coached by Joe Kowatch, who was then in his first year at Ludington, the team won the North Central championship as well as Class B district and regional titles. The team won its first four games of the season befo ...Read More...

Bob Organ earned all-state honors in 1989 and 1990 in football and was a member of the Detroit News Blue-Chip team signifying the best 11 players in Michigan. He was also listed as one of the top 100 prep players in the nation by Street & Smith magazine. His junior year he caught 13 passes for 215 yards and five touchdowns and Ludington, which was 9-1, was champion of the Seaway Conference. Th ...Read More...

As a high school basketball player, Chris Raven scored 1,066 points. When he graduated in 1975, that was second only to Mike Hankwitz at Mason County Central. As a junior, the 6-foot, 3-inch Raven averaged 18.3 points per game. A two-time All-West Michigan Conference selection in basketball, he was also a first-team Class C all-stater as a senior, scoring 559 points when he averaged a school-recor ...Read More...

An outstanding guard, Glenda (Gruno) Krebs scored 1,044 points with a single-game high of 37 in her high school basketball career, the first girl at Mason County Central to go over a thousand. Said her former teammate and current Mason County Hall of Fame board member Christy Christmas, "Called 'Girl-Guard Gruno' because most thought she played like a guy - she could dribble the ball 'like a guy' ...Read More...

Russell Houk led Ludington High to Big Seven basketball championships in 1938, 1939 and 1940 and was the Orioles leading scorer his senior season. He was the president of his class, graduating with honors. One of the area's premier athletes in the 1940's and 1950's, he attended Central Michigan University where he played center at 6-feet, 4 inches and 170 pounds, in 1941 and 1942 before enlisting ...Read More...

Chelsea Henderson competed in four different sports at Ludington High School, earning varsity letters in volleyball (2 years), basketball (3 years), cross-country (1 year), and track (4 years). In track & field she earned all-conference honors four times, qualified for the state meet three times, and was academic all-state as a freshman on the mile relay. Chelsea also garnered all-conference h ...Read More...

A three sport athlete, Weston Squires showed great leadership skills in his high school career as he was selected to be Team Captain in all three sports. He earned varsity letters in football (2 years), basketball (2 years), and track (4 years). In football, Weston earned all-conference honors as a tight-end and was an all-conference scholar athlete in both football and basketball. Weston truly ex ...Read More...

Goulet played basketball for Ludington St. Simon in 1943 as a freshman. In 1944, his sophomore year, the Shamrocks defeated Ludington High twice. He attended an all-boys school in Wisconsin as a junior, playing football and basketball and then returned to Ludington and St. Simon in 1946. He began a long career in recreation sports in the summer of 1946, playing fast-pitch softball on the Ludington ...Read More...

Chad is the only Mason County athlete to earn first-team All-West Michigan Conference, All-Area and All-State honors in football, baseball and basketball in the same season. In 1998, he made the Associated Press All-State football team as a punter in the fall. During the winter season, he was the leading scorer and rebounder and a consensus first-team All-Stater on a 26-1 team whose only loss was ...Read More...

Jim Schulte got his first taste of organized athletics playing junior high football for the Scottville Blues under Coach Jim Lemire. At Mason County Central from 1966 to 1969, Schulte played two years of basketball, participated in track and field for four years, football for four years and wrestling for two years. “Football was my sport,” said Schulte, who played for Barry Aspenleiter, Sam Or ...Read More...

Before her junior year at Mason County Eastern, Sharon Stickney was told she would be pitching when the softball season started. She was still chucking 30 years later. Success has followed Sharon, whose last name is now McCumber. Her Eastern high school team was the Class D state runner-up in 1977. She went to Oakland University where she played softball and volleyball for one year before transfer ...Read More...

Wally Sadosty’s athletic career began at the age of seven under the wing of basketball standout Pete Tillotson, who was a member of the first Mason County Sports Hall of Fame class in 2005. Sadosty played baseball in the spring and summer, football in the fall and basketball outside in the winter. In high school, he was the starting quarterback for Ludington High for three straight years. As a s ...Read More...

Ashley Melchert lettered in softball in all four of her high school seasons, helping Mason County Central reach the Final Four as a freshman and as a junior.  In basketball and volleyball she lettered her sophomore, junior and senior years.  She earned All-West Michigan Conference honors in softball her junior and senior seasons and in basketball and volleyball as a senior.  She earned all-area ...Read More...

With a grade point average of 4.102, Thomas Marshall finished fourth in his class and was a member of the National Honor Society.   In athletics, he earned two varsity letters in basketball and one in baseball, tennis and golf.  He played freshman basketball and junior varsity baseball as a freshman.  In his sophomore year, he played on the junior varsity in baseball and basketba ...Read More...

Hal Madden played three years of varsity football at Central Michigan University from 1947 to 1949. Madden was a lineman. He was a center in basketball and a split end on offense and defensive end. He was the scholar athlete of the year as a senior. A native of Detroit, he graduated from Detroit Denby High School where he played football and basketball. After high school, he served four years in t ...Read More...

A baseball, basketball, football and soccer player as a youth, John Wallis found his athletic niche in 1978 when, at the age of 40, he entered a 10-kilmeter race in Chicago. At that time, he was a single parent raising three small daughters and he had neither the time nor financial resources to follow other recreational pursuits. Since then, has run over 75 ultra marathons, including races in Gree ...Read More...

A two-time all-state basketball player for Mason County Eastern, Kristy Stark's 1,779 points set the state record for career scoring in 1979, breaking the record held by Magic Johnson's sister, Evelyn. Stark earned All-American mention and her scoring record earned her a spot in Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd section and Michigan Senate Resolution. Stark, with her trademark pigtails flyin ...Read More...

He was born Leland Stanford MacPhail in Cass City, Michigan. He acquired the name, Larry, when he was officiating Big Ten football games and he was listed in a program as Lawrence. His friends shortened it to Larry and it stuck. His father, C.W. MacPhail, was the founder of the present West Shore Bank and many other banks in Michigan. Larry lived in Scottville and later in Ludington, where he atte ...Read More...

Ruben Gomez was one of the most loved and respected coaches and teachers in Mason County. He coached track and cross country for 37 years at Mason County Eastern and Ludington high schools where his team won many league titles. “One year in high school, I had Mr. Gomez for shop, for vocational agriculture, as a Future Farmers of America advisor and for Spanish. Then, to top it off, the following ...Read More...

The versatile Jamie Melchert earned all-conference honors in softball four times, in basketball and in volleyball twice. She was also all-area in volleyball twice and in softball twice.  Felled by a serious injury, Melchert dropped out of school, taking a rare ‘red-shirt’ year as allowed by the Michigan High School Athletic Association, while rehabbing her surgical-repaired knee. She came bac ...Read More...

Kyle Cameron is the 2007 Mason County Central Senior Athlete Award winner and the school’s Senior Academic Athlete Award winner owns a 3.86 grade point average.  In basketball, he was all-conference and all-area in 2006 and 2007 and received all-state mention in 2007.  He was also all-conference in baseball in 2006 and 2007, a seven-time Academic All-West Michigan Conference Scholar-Athlete Aw ...Read More...

A four-time all-conference player in softball, Stefanie Morong holds every pitching record in Central’s record book. She was also a two-time all-area selection and was all-league in basketball in 2005 and all-league, all-area and an all-state honorable mention in volleyball in 2007.  In volleyball, Morong played the libero, the newly designated back-row position that is intended to be used as a ...Read More...

In the early 1970s when girls' athletics in Michigan were just getting their legs, Free Soil's Helen Shereda was off and flying. With her long arms and legs flapping, she flew like a giant, unstoppable bird across the basketball courts and softball diamonds of West Michigan. At 6-foot, 1 1/2 inches and 150 pounds, she was a dominating force on the inside in basketball. But she was also the best ba ...Read More...

Joe Kowatch was an outstanding athlete. Born in Ionia, he attended Ionia High School where he participated in football, basketball, baseball and track. He excelled in football as a halfback. Joe's older brother, John, played fullback and his younger brother, Al, was also a halfback. Kowatch attended Michigan State College after graduating from high school in 1929. In 1930, he moved up to the varsi ...Read More...

On an unseasonably cold day in the spring of 1979, Mason County Central girls track and field coach Gerry Genter thought it would speed things along if the two-mile races for boys and girls were combined in their dual meet with North Muskegon. "Their (athletic director) came up to me and we were talking about doubling up because it was so cold. He said he didn't really want to do that because it w ...Read More...

A two-time all-state basketball player at Ludington High, Mike Larsen set records for the most points scored in a career (1,336) and in a game (45). He also set records for rebounds in a career (1,097), a season (460) and a game (30). Mike led the Orioles to a 19-4 finish and a berth in the Class B state semifinals in 1971. Averaging 23.7 points per game as a junior and 25 as a senior, he earned A ...Read More...

The oldest of three baseball-playing brothers from Free Soil who competed for Central Michigan University, Steve Papes earned All-America honors in 1970, when he was the most valuable player and captain on a 36-4 Chippewa squad. "A great deal of the success we had this season was due to Steve's leadership on and off the field," said his coach, Waldo Sauter. Papes set CMU single-season records for ...Read More...

At 165 pounds, Tim Quinn was well-muscled. At 6-foot-1, he was lean and angular with the kind of physique that would lend itself to any endeavor. Indeed, when he graduated from Ludington High in January 1932, the quick-to-smile, easy-going Quinn was the school's best football player, best basketball player and, oh, yes, its best track runner. His time of 1 minute, 57.2 seconds in the 880-yard run ...Read More...

Danielle Drewry earned twelve varsity letters in her four years of high school at Mason County Eastern - one in cross country, three in volleyball, four in basketball and four in track and field. She made the All-Western Michigan D League team in cross country once, in basketball twice, in volleyball twice and in track and field three times. The versatile Drewry was also the recipien ...Read More...

Ludington High School's success in baseball, basketball and soccer over the last four years was due, in no small part, to the contributions of Kyle Gurzynski. He earned three varsity letters in each sport. In baseball, Ludington won three consecutive conference titles and Gurzynski, the starting shortstop and a relief pitcher, was named to the All-Western Waterways team all three years. This sprin ...Read More...

Jeff Barnett was the first area athlete to earn All-State honors in three sports: basketball, cross country and track. His performance in the 1986 Class C State Track and Field Finals at Bangor has never been equaled, let alone surpassed. On an unseasonably warm day, Barnett won the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter races and was the anchorman on the winning 3,200-meter relay team for Mason County Cent ...Read More...

Growing up in Ludington, Luke went with his mother, Patricia, to East Grand Rapids, where he became a state champion tennis player during his high school years. He attended the University of Southern California and was an All-American in singles and doubles. During his playing career he was known as "Dual Hand Luke" for his ability to serve with either hand. Known for his competitiveness and tough ...Read More...

As she enters the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame, Maria (Shoup) Holbrook has won more individual track and field state championships, ten, than any other female in Michigan. A 1981 Mason County Eastern High School graduate, Maria's high school career accomplishments went like this: 1978 - Won the 880-yard run in a state record time of 2 minutes, 20.1 seconds; won the 440 in 58.7 1979 - Won the 8 ...Read More...

Free Soil was a small community, but the success of its basketball program under the tutelage of Max Carey was large. In Carey's 26 years as their coach, the Pirates won or shared 15 Western Michigan D League championships, 11 Class D district titles and five regional championships. His record in the state quarterfinals was 3-1 and his overall record was 476-177. His 1961 and 1971 Free Soil teams ...Read More...

George Michael Hankwitz made his mark in athletics as a participant at Mason County Central High School, as a member of the University of Michigan's football team and as a long-time assistant college football coach. In his 40 years of coaching, his teams have recorded 34 winning seasons. He has also coached in 25 bowl games, including every major New Year's Day bowl game including the Rose, Sugar, ...Read More...

Ludington High became the first team in Mason County to reach the state finals in basketball. With Pete Tillotson at center, Joe Kowatch coached the Orioles to a 21-2 record and a state runner-up finish in 1952. In 1953, the Orioles were 18-4 and a state semifinalist. Tillotson was the Orioles' leading scorer and an all-stater in both seasons. At Ludington, the 6 foot 6 inch tall Tillotson set the ...Read More...

Mason County Central's football team was 7-4 in 2004 and advanced to the Division V district finals for the first time, due in large part to the quarterbacking of Matt Flutur. The senior athlete of the year at MCC, Flutur played football for four years, basketball for four years, baseball for one year and track and field for three years. He won his school's "Mr. Spartan" Award in basketball and fo ...Read More...

Taryn Ezdebski, a Ludington High School graduate, lettered three times in three sports: basketball, volleyball and soccer. She was a key member of the basketball team which advanced to the Class B state semifinals for the first time ever and compiled a best-ever record of 24 wins against three losses. Ezdebski started at guard. In soccer, she was a starter on defense and the Orioles were 17-8-1, a ...Read More...

Theresa (Knizacky) Shoop is a 1985 Free Soil graduate who excelled in volleyball, basketball and track and field. Shoop led the Pirates to a final four trip in volleyball her senior year and was second team all-state, scored 1,326 career points in basketball, fifth in the county, selected honorable mention all-state, and placed fourth in the shot put at the state track meet her senior year. Sho ...Read More...

Steve Hull, a 1975 graduate of Ludington High School, was an eight-time varsity letter winner, selected All-Seaway Conference in football, basketball and track and was honored with all-state honorable mention in basketball in 1974 and as all-state first team in 1975. He was selected all-district in basketball twice; in football once and in track and field once and all-regional in basketball in 197 ...Read More...

Robert Kapcia graduated from Mason County Eastern in 1976 and held the county record for the Most Points in a Basketball Career, 1,520, until 1992 when his record was surpassed, but he currently still remains second overall. Kapcia was selected first team all-state his senior year and all-state honorable mention his junior year. He continues to lead the list of Most Points in a Season with 710 ...Read More...

Nathan Wing earned 11 varsity letters, playing basketball and running cross-country and track & field while serving as a team captain in each sport and collected multiple West Michigan D League all-conference honors. Nathan is a five-time All-State athlete in Cross Country and Track. Maintaining a 3.5 grade point average, Nathan is a member of St. Mary's Church, active in CCD and is an alta ...Read More...

Nannette Gillispie Clearing-Sky Christensen graduated from Ludington High School in 1984. She won eleven varsity letters in basketball, volleyball and softball. Gillispie was the first Ludington girls basketball player to score 1000 points, setting points records for career, 1312, season, 479 and single game, 38. A four-year starter, she earned all-conference honors three-years and was selected to ...Read More...

Miriam Manier and Nathan Wing were selected as the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame 2023 Life Lesson Award honorees from Mason County Eastern High School. Miriam is the daughter of David and Mary Anne Manier and Nathan is the son of Daniel and Diane Wing. Miriam earned four varsity letters in track and field and multiple West Michigan D League all-conference honors and served as the team captai ...Read More...

John Kasley, a 1981 graduate of Ludington, was a standout swimmer, capturing a state championship in 1981 in the 50 meter freestyle as well as state runner-up titles in the 100 freestyle and the 400 freestyle relay. Kasley was the first Oriole to win a state championship in swimming. Upon graduation, Kasley held six school records at Ludington, the 50 and 100 freestyle, 100 backstroke, 200 Medley ...Read More...

Joel Trim graduated in 1997 from Ludington High School as a four-time MHSAA state tournament qualifier in wrestling. Trim was a four-time conference and district champion, a three-time regional champion, the MHSAA wrestling state runner-up in 1996, and state champion in the 160-pound class in 1997. Trim was voted MHSAA D-2 Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler in 1997. He achieved a 177-14 career w ...Read More...

Haley Story and Cullen Kraus-McCarty are the honorees from Mason County Central High School for the Life Lesson Award presented by the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame. Haley is the daughter of JoAnna and the late Rich Story and Cullen is the son of Monica Kraus-McCarty. Haley was a member of the bowling team for four years and a state-qualifier in 2022. Haley's senior bowling season was one of ...Read More...

In 2024, the 1974 Free Soil baseball team will celebrate the 50th anniversary of a run to the state finals and a runner-up finish. Free Soil's roster was made up of 12 players; five seniors who brought experience to the team. one junior, two sophomores, a freshman and three eighth graders, who were the true youth of the team. If a school had an enrollment under 75 students, eighth graders were all ...Read More...

Fred Reid graduated in 1956 from Free Soil High School. He was the first pole vaulter at Free Soil and the first Free Soil basketball player to score 1000 points. Reid received 14 basketball awards at Free Soil, set a single-game scoring record of 45 points, had a scoring average of 25 points per game, set a single season scoring record of 519 points in 1955-56, and set a free throw record of 73%, ...Read More...

Derek Shoup is a 1999 graduate of Ludington High School and attended Mason County Eastern from 1996 - 1998. Uniquely, Shoup holds track records at both high schools. His six records at MCE are in the 100 meter, 200, 400. long jump and he was a member of the the 400 and 800 record relay teams. He also holds four records at Ludington, in the 100, 200, 400 and was a member of the 1600 relay record te ...Read More...

Dan Aultman graduated from Mason County Central High School in 2000. In basketball, he was a two-time All-West Michigan Conference athlete; selected Muskegon Chronicle all-area; and was all-state, second team in 2000. Aultman was a two-year starter at Muskegon Community College, and in 2001-02, was team captain, MVP, and best free throw shooter. A two-time MCCAA All-Academic Team selection, in 200 ...Read More...

Cullen Kraus-McCarty's autism does not limit him in any shape or form. Cullen is a seven year cross country  runner, having raced since the sixth grade and is a six year track athlete. Cullen has won numerous racing medals over those years and earned academic all-conference honors throughout high school. In Cullen's sophomore year of cross country, he faced one the biggest challenge as his fat ...Read More...

Caleb Anthony, a 2001 graduate of Ludington High School, was all-state in football and in discus and shot put in track and field. He was a two-time all-American wrestler at Cadet National Championships; a seven-time Greco-Roman and Freestyle state champion—winning his first championship at age eight. In football, Anthony was All-Muskegon Area First Team, was selected to the Coaches East-West All ...Read More...

Brynn is the daughter of Ami Maglothin Brynn participated in sideline cheer and varsity softball and earned first-team all-conference and all-district honors in softball. Brynn attended the CTE Criminal Justice program at West Shore Community College and plans to pursue a career in dermatology after graduation. Brynn was selected as the Life Lesson Award recipient for the ability to perse ...Read More...

Adam Keffer participated in football and track & field and earned all-conference honors in both sports at Ludington High School.. Adam played trombone in the Ludington High School Jazz Band and also excelled in the classroom with a 3.706 grade point average. He was a Quiz Bowl member and part of the Ludington Rotary INTERACT Club. Adam plans to attend Western Michigan University to study pa ...Read More...

Ludington's equestrian teams have a rich history of success, including 25 years of continuous state qualification. In 2017, there were 42 equestrian teams in the B Division and Ludington captured the state championship. The championship came after the Orioles were state reserve champions (runner-up) in 2012, 2014 and 2015. In equestrian, there is a district, regional and state tournament. In 20 ...Read More...