44 Thursday, July 18, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com
WILL KOWALSKI
Sports Editor/Asst. Editor
Although there’s still more than a
month before the first high school
varsity football games of the 2024
season take place, there’s still a lot
of gridiron action going these days
on at local schools that are hosting
summer football camps.
And Battle Creek Central High had
four of them last week.
Following a Junior Bearcat Camp
(50-plus attendees), a Lineman
Camp (85 participants) and a Ferris
State University Kicking Camp (22
campers), BCC head football coach
and athletic director Lorin Granger
brought in a Chris Evans Football
Camp on the evening of Saturday,
July 13 that was led by former
University of Michigan standout
running back and current National
Football League running back and
kick returner Evans.
“The messages at the camps, in
general, is anything is possible with
hard work and discipline, and that
those attending the camps can be
BCC holds four football camps, including one led by NFL player Evans
Youngsters go through drills at last Saturday’s Chris Evans Football Camp at Battle Creek Central High’s C.W. Post
Stadium. (Shopper News photo by Will Kowalski)
helped to establish a sense of hope
and belief and belief in themselves,”
Granger said.
“Plus, it gives kids around the
area a chance to get noticed, so that
they might be able to continue their
student-athlete careers in college after
high school.”
Extreme heat last Saturday had
camp attendees and camp directors
going inside at BCC High to go over
strategies and the drills before head-
ing outside to do the physical skills
training at C.W. Post Stadium.
Granger said that Evans brought
his traveling camp to B.C. Central
last Saturday via a connection with
a Bearcat graduate, J.B. Matthews –
who works with Evans on business
matters as well as being friends.
“I do these camps to get the mes-
sage out to kids that there are a lot
of opportunities out there for them if
they look for them and go after them
- and for them to hopefully pass
along the same ideas and informa-
tion someday so that these kids can
give back to their community,” said
Evans, who earlier last Saturday did
at camp at Edwardsburg High.
“When we did that camp at
Edwardsburg, it was specific to
needs in that area. And now, same
thing with the camp here at Battle
Creek Central – and we’re running
this camp today with specific needs
in mind as well.
“And what we want the kids to
know,” continued Evans, “is that
aside from better ways to train for
and play football, we want the kids
to know that you can choose your
See FOOTBALL on 46
OPEN:
Friday 10am-5:30pm;
Sat. 10am-5pm;
Closed Sunday
14845 W. Michigan Ave., Marshall, MI 49068
Phone: 269-298-9006
Like Us On Facebook - Longstreet Living Marshall
Furniture | Mattresses
Huge JulyHuge July
Sale! Sale!
Up to Up to
50% Off50% Off
StorewideStorewide
* Compare prices - see store for details.
Delivery Available,Delivery Available,
Take Home Take Home
Today,Today,
Financing AvailableFinancing Available
117 E. Coolidge117 E. Coolidge
Battle Creek, MI Battle Creek, MI
OPEN 6 DAY S
Closed Tuesdays • OPEN 6am-3pm
GRUB HUB
Breakfast
All Day
DID YOUR FAVORITE BREAKFAST PLACE
GET TURNED INTO A CAR WASH OR CLOSE
IN RECENT MONTHS?
Come check us out at Sunrise Cafe for the
BEST BREAKFAST IN BATTLE CREEK
Some of our crowd favorite s include:
- Blueberry Cheesecake French Toast
- Steak & Eggs and • Southern Omelet