by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 11, 2024 | Traditional
The McKellen brothers began their rise to stardom by spending countless hours as “rink rats” on the ice of Muskegon’s old Mart Auditorium in the 1930s. Those many hours of strenuous skating gave the McKellens the opportunity to create a unique act of...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 11, 2024 | Traditional
A two-time All-Stater at Muskegon High School, Bill McCall led the Big Reds to state football titles in 1926 and 1927. He was selected by The Detroit News as quarterback of their third team in 1926, and earned first-team honors one year later, as a senior On the...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 11, 2024 | Traditional
Muskegon High School’s Jim Johnson was possibly the last baseball superstar to benefit from the tutelage of the Big Reds’ veteran coach Harry Potter, who retired from the school in 1966. Blessed with a strong arm and impeccable fielding skills, Johnson...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 11, 2024 | Traditional
Ray Castenholz, like his Muskegon ancestors (an early local baseball park was called Castenholz Park), was an influential force in promoting and preserving the sport of baseball in the Port City. One of the founders of the Greater Muskegon Little League, Castenholz...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 11, 2024 | Traditional
A graduate of Muskegon High School, Hilliard Gates’ 52 years in sportscasting established himself as one of the finest in the profession. Christened Hilliard Gudelsky, he adopted the last name Gates when he got his start in broadcasting at WKBZ radio in Muskegon...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 11, 2024 | Traditional
Click Here for video of Weisenburger in practice at U of M A football, basketball and baseball star for Muskegon Heights High School, Jack Weisenburger served as team captain on each squad in his senior year of high school. A summa cum laude honor student, he entered...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 11, 2024 | Traditional
An all-around athlete and first team All-State fullback for Muskegon High School, Steve Sieradzki and his teammates won runner-up honors in the Class A basketball finals in the Spring of 1942, as well as a share of the mythical gridiron state championship in the fall...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 11, 2024 | Traditional
Although the incredibly talented Denise Sharps wanted to play basketball for Muskegon Heights High School, the school did not have a girls basketball program. An experienced player from the Heights’ City League, Sharps attended high school before the enforcement...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
Best known for his skills on the gridiron, John Regeczi captained both football and basketball teams at Muskegon Heights. He also set Tiger track records in the 100-yard dash, the 220-yard dash, and the javelin throw. A outstanding running back, Regeczi also handled...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
A three sport star at Muskegon Heights, Frank Howell led the Tigers to a third consecutive 9-0-0 gridiron record as well as a third consecutive mythical state championship in 1947. A member of the Associated Press All-State squad in 1947 and 1948, he entered the...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
A native of Montague, Ira Flagstead played baseball with four teams in a major league career that spanned 13 seasons. A catcher since his days with the Montague Independents, Flagstead was signed by the Detroit Tigers in the spring of 1917. The Tigers were deep in...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
One of the most innovative minds in the world of college football, Bob Zuppke received his start in coaching at Muskegon High School in the fall of 1906. After a brief stint as an artist in New York City, Zuppke accepted a position at Muskegon as the director of...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
An outstanding all-around athlete at Muskegon Heights High School from 1933-37, Milo Sukup earned All-State honors in basketball and football. Sukup also excelled in track, holding the school’s record in the 100-yard dash at 10.2 seconds, and in baseball, as an...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
A two-time All-State halfback on the gridiron for Muskegon St. Mary’s High School, Jim Morse tallied 130 points as a junior to finish third in the state’s prep scoring race. In his senior year, he notched 133 points en route to a second place finish in the...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
Soft spoken and low key, Ike Kepford lettered in three sports at Muskegon High School between 1935 and 1937. As captain of the football squad, Kepford earned All-State honors in the fall of 1937. Considered one of the finest blocking backs turned out by head football...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
An outstanding two-way tackle for Oscar E. “Okie” Johnson’s Muskegon Heights Tigers, Tom Johnson earned All-State gridiron honors in the fall of 1947. The Tigers rolled to 27 straight victories and three consecutive mythical state titles during...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
A 6-foot-9 center for Shelby High School, Paul Griffin led the Tigers to state Class C basketball crowns in 1971 and 1972. An All-State selection as a senior, Griffin averaged 26.9 points and 25 rebounds per game in his final year of prep play. After graduation, he...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
Muskegon High School’s Paul Dekker was a standout end with All-State credentials on some otherwise disappointing Big Red teams in Harry Potter’s first two years as head coach. Dekker was the archetype physical specimen for a football end – big,...
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
An outstanding all-around athlete at Shelby High School, Dave Whitsell earned letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. After graduation from the University of Indiana, Whitsell logged 12 seasons and 161 games as a defensive back with five NFL teams....
by Maxwell Dinesen | Feb 10, 2024 | Traditional
A football and baseball star at Western Michigan University, Secory gained fame as a professional baseball player and as a National League umpire. An all-around athlete, Secory tried out for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League before signing with the...
