banner 5-18-2023

Page 14 — Thursday, May 18, 2023 — The Hastings Banner

Council adjusts, expands out-of-state competition opportunities at meeting

Substantial changes to the rules governing
out-of-state competition by Michigan High
School Athletic Association member schools
were among the most notable actions taken
by the MHSAA’s Representative Council
during its annual Spring Meeting, May 6-7 in
Gaylord.
The Spring Meeting of the 19-member leg-
islative body of the Association’s more than
1,500 member schools is generally the busiest
of its sessions each year. The Council consid-
ered 31 committee proposals and dealt with a
variety of eligibility rule, postseason tourna-
ment and operational issues.
The most far-reaching changes approved by
the Council shifts the MHSAA rules regarding
competitions against out-of-state opponents.
Moving forward, MHSAA member schools
may continue to compete against teams from
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin
and Ontario – but also may compete against
teams from elsewhere in the United States as
long as those competitions take place in Mich-
igan, one of those five contiguous states or
Ontario. The Council voted to remove the

allowance for MHSAA member schools to travel up to 300 miles to play an out-of-state opponent; MHSAA member schools still can compete against those opponents, but competition must take place in Michigan or one of the states/province listed above. Any event including schools from outside of Michigan or those contiguous states/province must receive approval by the MHSAA and each state high school association with a team involved in order for MHSAA member schools to be allowed to participate. In an effort to strengthen the undue influence regulation, the Council approved a change making it a violation for coaches or their representatives to connect via social media with students from another high school or with a student prior to ninth grade who has not yet enrolled in a high school or participated in an athletic practice or competition as a high school student. Violations of this rule include connecting via social media with a “follow,” “friend request” or “direct message” to a student. The Council also expanded the portion of the undue influence regulation that doesn’t

allow coaches and representatives to visit pro- spective athletes and their families at the families’ homes to not allow them to visit athletes and families at “other locations” as well. The Council approved an expansion in the use of video to determine penalties when there is a bench-clearing situation or other incident where team members enter the area of competition during an altercation. MHSAA staff, based on video evidence, will be allowed to assess additional penalties including ejections and suspensions to team members, coaches and other staff who enter those areas to participate or engage in such an altercation. Concerning specific sports, changes to three stand out from several adopted by the Council. The Council approved three Bowling Com- mittee recommendations affecting postseason competition in that sport. The first reorganizes Regional competition to eight sites, with each qualifying the top two teams and top seven singles for both girls and boys competitions to the Finals (instead of the previous six sites qualifying three teams and 10 singles for both girls and boys). The Council also approved a proposal to change the Team Finals match play to a head-to-head, best-of-five Baker game format. Finally, the Council approved a proposal to adopt the Phantom II oil pattern for all MHSAA Tournament competitions. In girls volleyball, the Council approved a Volleyball Committee recommendation to begin seeding the top two teams in each Dis- trict beginning with the 2024-25 school year. As is done currently with girls and boys basketball and girls and boys soccer, the top-two seeded teams in each District will be placed on opposite sides of the bracket, guaranteeing they will not play each other before the Dis- trict Final. Seeding will be determined using the Michigan Power Rating (MPR) formula which takes into account regular-season suc- cess and strength of schedule. MPR is used to seed Districts in the same way in basketball and soccer. In wrestling, the Council approved a Wres- tling Committee recommendation adding two regular-season dual meets to the allowed number of wrestling contest dates. These must be dual meets and may not be converted into three-team (tri) or four-team (quad) meets. Teams and individuals now will be allowed 16 days of competition with no more than eight of those days allowed for tournament-type events where a wrestler competes more than twice. Here is a summary of other notable actions taken by the Representative Council at the Spring Meeting, which will take effect during the 2023-24 school year unless noted: Regulations

The Council approved a classification-re-
lated change for the MHSAA’s smallest mem-
ber schools, allowing them to request partici-
pation of eighth and seventh-grade students,
based on the high school’s enrollment. Schools
with fewer than 125 students (instead of the
previous 100) may request an MHSAA Exec-
utive Committee waiver to use eighth-grade
students in all sports except football, ice hock-
ey and wrestling. Schools with fewer than 75
students (instead of the previous 50) may
make the same request to use seventh and
eighth-grade students in all sports except those
three. Schools requesting a waiver must show
cause and rationale for those students’ partici-
pation.
Sports Medicine

The Council approved a Sports Medicine
Advisory Committee proposal requiring mid-
dle school head coaches to have valid, current
CPR certification. Similar to the high school
requirements for head coaches at all levels, this
addition at the middle school level will ensure
each team has at least one coach at each level
present who is CPR-certified. This require-
ment will take effect with the 2024-25 school
year, and schools will attest to its completion
by the established deadline for each season.
Officials

The Council approved an Officials Review
Committee recommendation adjusting the
minimum requirements for postseason consid-

eration in wrestling, competitive cheer and soccer. In wrestling, officials must receive 75 coaches ratings (instead of the previous 100) to be considered for working a postseason meet. In girls competitive cheer, judges must be members in good standing of a Local Approved Association. In soccer, officials must work a minimum of five regular-season games (down from the previous 10) to be considered for the postseason.

The Council also approved a Committee
recommendation increasing the amount paid
when an official arrives on site prior to a com-
petition before receiving notice that competi-
tion has been canceled due to an “act of God”
including weather that results in unplayable
conditions. In these situations, officials will
receive one-half of the contract fee (instead of
the previous one-third).
Sport Matters

For baseball, the Council approved a
change to when trophies will be awarded to
Regional champions. Those trophies will be
presented to both Regional champions after
the Quarterfinal is concluded, as Regional
Finals and the ensuing Quarterfinal are played
at the same site on the same day and both
Quarterfinal participants will have earned a
Regional championship earlier that day.

In addition to the Regional and Finals
changes for bowling explained above, the
Council also approved a Bowling Committee
proposal seeking common start dates for prac-
tice and competition for Lower and Upper
Peninsula teams. For the 2023-24 season,
bowling teams in both peninsulas will begin
practice Nov. 9 and competition Nov. 25. Pre-
viously, Upper Peninsula teams were allowed
to begin their seasons slightly earlier – this
past season four days sooner for practice and a
week earlier for competition than their Lower
Peninsula counterparts.

The Council also approved a start date
change in girls competitive cheer, proposed by
the Competitive Cheer Committee, moving
the practice start date to the second Monday
before Thanksgiving. This shortens the season
by one week, but also allows a more comfort-
able gap between the fall sideline cheer and
winter competitive cheer seasons. This change
will take effect with the 2024-25 school year.

Also in cheer, the Council approved a
Committee recommendation that adjusts the
restricted period at the end of competitive
cheer season to the Monday following Memo-
rial Day, which will allow athletes to try out
for sideline cheerleading for the upcoming
season after the completion of the majority of
spring-sport competitions.

Additionally, the Council approved an
exception to the MHSAA’s all-star regulation
that will allow for individual competitive
cheer and sideline cheer athletes to participate
in an event that is “all-star” in name only as
long as the selection components of the event
comply with MHSAA regulations.

In cross country and track & field, the
Council approved Cross Country/Track &
Field Committee recommendations to elimi-
nate a pair of uniform-related rules adapta-
tions designating the types of head attire that
previously could be worn during cross country
races and body adornments that previously
were allowed to be worn during competitions
in both sports.

In golf, the Council approved a Golf
Committee recommendation to require ath-
letes to participate in at least four competi-
tions for the high school team prior to repre-
senting that athlete’s school team in an
MHSAA postseason golf competition. Those
four regular-season competitions may be 9 or
18-hold events.

A Council action in gymnastics will better
define how athletes are assigned a division for
the individual portion of the MHSAA Finals.
Athletes are assigned either Division 1 or
Division 2 based on past experience and skill
level – Division 1 for those with the most –
and the Council approved the allowance of the
Xcel levels of Sapphire and Diamond to be
part of the determining criteria. Athletes who

have previously competed in a non-school event at either of these levels would be required to compete in the Division 1 level for MHSAA postseason competition.

In tennis, the Council approved a Tennis
Committee recommendation allowing in the
Lower Peninsula for a No. 1 doubles pair
from a non-qualifying team to advance from
Regional to Finals competition if that pair
finishes first or second at the Regional and
the No. 1 singles player from that team also
has qualified for the Finals individually by
finishing first or second in Regional play.
(Upper Peninsula tennis does not play a
Regional.)

The Council approved a Swimming &
Diving Committee recommendation restruc-
turing how qualifying times for Finals are
determined in an effort to provide more entries
in swimming events at the championship
level. Moving forward, qualifying times will
be determined based on the past five years of
MHSAA race data, but also will account for
past numbers of qualifiers in each swim race;
qualifying times will be shifted to allow for
more athletes to advance to the Finals in
events where fields have not been full over the
previous five seasons.

The second swimming & diving recom-
mendation approved by the Council assigned
specific breaks during Finals competitions.
During Friday preliminaries (swam in the
Lower Peninsula only), 10-minute breaks will
be placed between the 200-yard medley relay
and 200 freestyle races, and between the 200
freestyle relay and 100 backstroke, with a
15-minute break between the 50 freestyle and
100 butterfly. The same 10-minute breaks will
be mandated for Saturday Finals competitions,
with a 15-minute break during Finals coming
between the conclusion of diving and 100 but-
terfly races.

For girls volleyball, the Council also
approved a Volleyball Committee recommen-
dation to permit the Michigan Interscholastic
Volleyball Coaches Association (MIVCA) a
3-minute on-court presentation during the
MHSAA Finals to recognize that season’s
Miss Volleyball Award winner. The presenta-
tion will take place between the second and
third sets of the Division 1 championship
match.
Junior High/Middle School

The Council voted to make permanent
cross country and track & field competitions
that have been conducted at a Regional level
as part of a pilot program during the 2021-
and 2022-23 school years. The Council also
voted to expand the number of sites per Junior
High/Middle School Regional to allow for
large-school (Divisions 1 and 2) and small-
school (Divisions 3 and 4) meets for each of
the eight Zones. Each participating junior high
and middle school will be classified for its
Regional meet based on the enrollment of the
high school with which the junior high/middle
school is connected.
The Council also reviewed reports on mem-
bership, with 750 senior high schools and 767
junior high/middle schools in 2022-22 plus 63
elementary schools with 6th-grader participa-
tion; cooperative programs, with 376 high
school programs for 692 teams during 2023-
23; eligibility advancement applications,
which totaled three; the use of Educational
Transfer Forms, of which there were 127;
school violations, attendance at athletic direc-
tor in-service workshops and Coaches
Advancement Program sessions; officials’ reg-
istrations, rules meetings attendance and offi-
cials reports submitted for the past three sports
seasons. The Association’s $13.3 million bud-
get for the 2023-24 school year also was
approved.
The Representative Council is the 19-mem-
ber legislative body of the MHSAA. All but
five are elected by member schools. Four
members are appointed by the Council to
facilitate representation of females and
minorities, and the 19th position is occupied
by the Superintendent of Public Instruction or
designee.

RUTLAND CHARTER TOWNSHIP

BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN

NOTICE OF ORDINANCE SUBMITTAL TO: THE RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF RUTLAND, BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN, AND ANY OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE proposed Ordinance #2023-188 appended hereto was introduced for first reading by the Rutland Charter Township Board at its May 10, 2023 meeting.

This proposed ordinance will be considered for adoption by the Township Board at its scheduled regular meeting on June 14, 2023 commencing at 7:00 p.m. at the Charter Township Hall.

Rutland Charter Township will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered at the meeting, to individuals with disabilities at the meeting/hearing upon seven (7) days’ notice to Rutland Charter Township. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the Township.

Format note---this proposed ordinance is prepared in “legislative format”: new verbiage proposed to be added is shown in bold type; any existing verbiage proposed to be deleted is shown lined-through.

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF RUTLAND

ORDINANCE NO. 2023-188 (PROPOSED)

ADOPTED:

EFFECTIVE:

An Ordinance to amend §220-5-3 of the Rutland Charter Township Code of ordinances pertaining to special land uses in the CR Country Residential District, and to amend §220-9-3 of the Rutland Charter Township Code of ordinances pertaining to special land uses in the MU Mixed Use District.

THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF RUTLAND

ORDAINS:

SECTION 1

AMENDMENT OF §220-5-3 (special land uses in CR Country Residential District)

§220-5-3 H.1. of the Rutland Charter Township Code pertaining to special land use approval for the keeping of livestock on a non-commercial basis accessory to a dwelling in the “CR” Country Residential District is hereby amended to read as follows (with all of subsection H. included herein for context):

“H. Keeping of livestock on a non-commercial basis is allowable accessory to an existing dwelling on the premises, subject to all applicable provisions of this Chapter, including the generally applicable special land use approval standards specified in §220-20-3, and also the following density, setback, and other requirements:

The minimum lot area for the keeping of any such animals is five
three acres.

There shall be at least two acres of lot area per animal unit kept
on the premises. (See definition of “Animal Unit” in §220-2-2)

All areas in which the animals are confined shall be located at
least 100 feet from all existing residences on adjacent properties.

All areas in which the animals are confined shall be located at
least 200 feet from any wellhead, and shall not include any drain
field.”

SECTION 2

AMENDMENT OF §220-9-3 (special land uses in MU Mixed Use District)

§220-9-3 of the Rutland Charter Township Code pertaining to the designated special land uses in the MU Mixed Use District is hereby amended to revise subsection BB. of same to read as follows:

“BB. Marihuana Retailer , with or without a drive-thru or drive-up facility; provided that any drive-thru or drive-up facility shall be accessed only from a private internal access drive and shall not be accessed directly from any adjoining public street .”

SECTION 3

AMENDMENT OF §220-9-3 (special land uses in MU Mixed Use District)

§220-9-3 of the Rutland Charter Township Code pertaining to the designated special land uses in the MU Mixed Use District is hereby amended to revise subsection CC. of same to read as follows:

“CC. Medical Marihuana Provisioning Center , with or without a drive-thru or drive-up facility; provided that any drive-thru or drive-up facility shall be accessed only from a private internal access drive and shall not be accessed directly from any adjoining public street .”

SECTION 4

REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; EFFECTIVE DATE All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed. This Ordinance shall take effect on the eighth day after publication or on such later date as may be required by law.

Robin Hawthorne, Clerk Charter Township of Rutland

199599

Delton Kellogg boys put up biggest score at Gobles Little Guys Invite

Brett Bremer Sports Editor The Southwestern Athletic Conference Central Division champions from Delton Kel- logg added another championship to their list of season accomplishments Friday. The DK boys took the title at the Gobles Little Guys Invitational, outscoring Three Oaks River Valley 96-70.5 at the top of the standings. The DK girls finished in a tie for fifth on the day at the 18-team meet. Delton Kellogg senior Jason Lundquist pushed his PR in the discus again, this time up to 127 feet 8 inches, to win that event. Senior teammate Giorgio Venturi was fifth in that event with a personal record throw of his own that went 109-8. Lundquist improved his PR to 41-5.75 in the shot put to place second in that event. The Delton Kellogg boys also had a pair of victories on the track Friday. The team of juniors Wyatt Colwell and Torren Mapes, senior Philip Halcomb and sophomore Wyatt Finney won the 4x200-meter relay in 1 minute 34.39 seconds. Colwell, senior Daniel Ruiz, Halcomb and Mapes scored a runner-up time of 45.95 seconds in the 4x100-meter relay. Panther junior Rhys Bedford was the winner in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles race. He hit the finish line in a new personal record time of 43.05 seconds. Senior Isaac Shepard was sixth in that race with a PR of 45.85. Finney and Bedford went 1-2 in the long jump, with Finney flying 19-5.75 and Bedford 19-1.

The DK team shook things up a bit. Mapes didn’t compete in the hurdles, but raced in the 200-meter dash for just the third time this season. He set his PR at 23.92 in the prelim’s and then dropped that time to 23.79 in a third- place finish in the finals. Delton Kellogg senior Gage Vincent was one of three DK guys to set a new PR in the 800-meter run. He was fifth overall in 2:07.78. Sophomore Ethan Rimmer dropped his PR to 10:57.93 while placing fifth in the 3200-meter run. Senior teammate Micah Martin lowered his PR to 5:06.92 in a 14th-place 1600-meter run finish. Vincent added a PR leap of 9-6 in the pole vault that had him in seventh place in that event. Maple Valley was also a part of the after- noon’s competition. Lion senior Nic Martin cleared 10-0 for the first time in a high school pole vault competition at the 2022 Greater Lansing Activities Conference Championship last May. He’d been stuck on 10-0 throughout this spring until reaching new heights at 10- Friday to place fourth. That was the top finish for the Maple Valley boys in any event. Freshman Jackson Burpee had the Lions’ other top ten finish, clearing the bar at 5-3 in the high jump to place seventh. The Maple Valley boys’ and girls’ teams both placed 17th on the day. Gobles outscored Saugatuck 89-76 at the top of the girls’ standings. Bridgman was third with 70 points ahead of Kalamazoo Christian 69, Marcellus 46, Delton Kellogg 46, Galesburg-Augusta 43, Kalamazoo Homeschool Cougars 40, St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake Catholic 37 and Blooming- dale 29 in the top ten.

Junior Breanna Chandler and freshman Iza- belle Gruber paced the Panther girls’ team. They were joined by sophomore Josie Wil- liams and junior Summer Ritchie in a runner-up 4x400-meter relay finish. They scored a time of 4:30.30. The DK team of Chandler, Gruber, Wil- liams and Ritchie was also third in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 53.87. Gruber and Chandler both both in the top ten in the two hurdles races. Gruber was the runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles with a personal record time of 17.95. Chandler was seventh in that race in 19.51. They both set new PR’s in the 300-meter low hurdles. Chandler was third in 50.74 and Gruber seventh in 55.04. Ritchie was sixth in the 400-meter dash in 1:05.75 and Williams placed seventh in the 100-meter dash in 13.89. DK senior Jimena Olmedo improved her PR in the 3200-meter run to 15:41.43 to place tenth. Ritchie scored a PR in the long jump, flying 13-10 to place fifth. Freshman Violet Kokx led the DK girls in the throws. She moved her PR to 25-9.5 in the shot put to place tenth and was sixth in the discus at 76-0. Junior teammate Maddy waller was ninth in the high jump at 4-5. Maple Valley junior Mackenzie Decker also cleared 4-5 in the high jump, a new PR for her, to place tenth in that event. The Lion team had two girls in the top ten in field events. Freshman Athena Morehouse was seventh in the pole vault clearing 6-6. The Panthers are in Bangor today, May 18, for their MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 3 Regional Meet. They head to Constantine Tuesday, May 23, for the SAC Championship.

banner 5-18-2023

Get our desktop app

Company

Features

Documentation

Resources