Show Off Your School Pride with MHSAA Spirit Contest

Following its successful inaugural contest in 2011, the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Student Advisory Council again will host a “Battle of the Fans” to reward the top high school student cheering section in Michigan this winter.

Groups are invited to submit a short video, via YouTube, of their cheering sections in action. Video submissions should be between 90 seconds and 3 minutes long and explain how that section meets the following contest criteria: positive sportsmanship, student body participation, school spirit, originality of cheers, organization of the group, student section leadership and fun.

The deadline for student-submitted video applications is Jan. 12, 2013. Five finalists including at least one Class C or D school will then be chosen and visited on a home game night by MHSAA staff and Advisory Council representatives. The MHSAA will produce a video of that finalist after each visit, with the champion being selected by the Student Advisory Council based in part on a public vote to be conducted on the MHSAA’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MHSAASports.

A total of 19 sections submitted videos for the 2011-12 contest. Frankenmuth was named champion and presented with a banner during the MHSAA boys basketball finals at Michigan State University’s Breslin Center. Sections from Grand Rapids Christian, Reese, Petoskey and Rockford also were finalists.

This year’s winner will be announced Feb. 22, 2013 and recognized March 22 at the Breslin Center. The “Battle of the Fans” advocates school spirit in a positive manner.

“We saw enthusiasm and excitement from both students and administrators during last year’s contest, and there was a real effort of sportsmanship put forth by our schools that participated. ‘Battle of the Fans’ helped create a culture of change at those schools, and that’s the exciting part,” said Andy Frushour, MHSAA director of brand management and advisor to the Student Advisory Council.

“It has allowed us to take a topic, sportsmanship, that often makes students roll their eyes, and turn it into something fun. During last year’s visits, administrators from athletic directors to superintendents told us how positive an impact this had on their student bodies," Frushour said.

Contest rules, directions for submitting videos, plus links to last year’s coverage of the finalists can be found on the MHSAA website at www.mhsaa.com/BOTF. This year’s finalist videos will be published on the MHSAA Second Half site at SecondHalf.MHSAA.com.