2025

JocQuin Slappey's journey in the Special Olympics is a testament to resilience, leadership, and an unwavering positive spirit. Despite facing adversities, including personal losses, JocQuin has maintained a respect for life and the games he plays.  On the basketball court, his selflessness shines bright.  He consistently chooses teamwork over personal glory, ensuring everyone is invol ...Read More...

In 2025, the 1975 Free Soil girls’ softball team will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their MHSAA State Runner-up finish. The Pirates won the 1975 District tournament with a 22-11 win over Bear Lake, defeated Center Lake 20-3 to win Regionals, beat Hilman 7-4 in the quarterfinals and captured the semifinal, defeating Waterford Lady of the Lakes, 10-9, before bowing out of the finals with a 10- ...Read More...

Jeff Kraus, a 1983 Ludington High School graduate, built an undefeated 41-0 record in his senior season to become Ludington High School’s first ever State Champion wrestler, accumulating 29 pins along the way. Kraus wrestled in the 119-pound weight division and was the Orioles’ first three-time conference champion and the first to break the 100-career victory mark. He also established the s ...Read More...

Bruce Krieger coached track & field, cross country, basketball and football at Mason County Central, becoming the 1986 Michigan Track & Field Coach of the Year in Class C and the 1986 National Track & Field Coach of the Year-Bronze Award recipient. Krieger coached the 1985 boys Track & Field MHSAA State Runner-up team and the 1986 State Champion team. His teams were conference c ...Read More...

Harry Plouff has been running for over 30 years and has logged over 100,000 miles, running in 57 marathons on seven continents. Plouff initially attended Mason County Central where he played football for coach Loren Dietrich and he ran track prior to attending Ludington High School where he ran track and graduated in 1966. Some of the interesting locations Plouff has run are Dublin, Ireland; ...Read More...

Jayne (Halvorsen) Reed coached girls’ basketball and softball at Mason County Central High School, coaching the girls’ basketball team to a 1976 MHSAA State Runner Up finish in Class C. In basketball, Reed coached seven years, from 1976 to 1982 and had four conference championship teams, three district champions, twice won regionals and quarterfinals and the 1976 team won the semi- finals. ...Read More...

Jim Stankowski, Sr. was a standout baseball and fastpitch softball player while in high school. He began playing fastpitch softball at age 15 at the shortstop position. He began pitching that same year and continued as a pitcher/manager until 1993. Stankowski was a part of the 1975 Class C and 1976 Class B ASA State Championship teams, the 1978 Class A State Runner up and Great Lakes Regional t ...Read More...