Category: Athletics

Nationally ranked teams, Zeke the Wonderdog featured at Jan. 25 MCCAA Hunger Games matchup at SC4

St. Clair County Community College welcomes back Zeke the Wonderdog—a famous, frisbee-catching fixture of Michigan State University football and basketball games—as halftime entertainment during the Skippers women’s and men’s basketball games Wednesday, Jan. 25, against rival Macomb Community College at the SC4 Fieldhouse. The women’s game begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men’s game at 7:30 p.m.

The Jan. 25 games also are part of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association’s (MCCAA) annual Hunger Games and will help support basic needs through donations to Skip’s Corner Pantry at SC4. All fans will receive free admission to the games with the donation of a canned or non-perishable food item.

“This will be a battle between two of the best men’s teams in the nation as both SC4 and Macomb are currently ranked,” said SC4 Director of Athletics Dale Vos. “On top of that, Zeke will be back on campus thanks to SC4 Student Government, and we’ll be helping current and future students through collections for our basic needs pantry. We look forward to filling the Fieldhouse Jan. 25!”

For more information on Skippers basketball, including rosters, schedules, tickets and more, visit sc4skippers.com.

Can’t make it to the game but still want to support Skip’s Corner Pantry? Visit sc4.edu/give or send an email to pantry@sc4.edu. 

SC4 to host 48 high school basketball teams for 2022 Holiday Showcase

The 2022 St. Clair County Community College Holiday Basketball Showcase will take place Wednesday, Dec. 28, through Friday, Dec. 30, in the SC4 Fieldhouse. The event will feature 48 high school varsity girls and boys teams representing 12 counties.

“This is a top-notch event, bringing together impressive teams from all over the state,” said Director of Athletics Dale Vos. “We look forward to some exciting competition and to welcoming teams and fans from around Michigan to the SC4 Fieldhouse.”

Tickets for the showcase are available for $10, which is good for an entire day of games. To purchase tickets, visit SC4 Ticketing, click on the drop-down menu and choose “Hosted events.” Tickets also will be available for purchase at the door.  

SCHEDULE

December 28

TimeHome Team Away Team
9:30 a.m.New Haven High School BoysVS.Detroit Osborn High School
11 a.m.New Haven High School GirlsVS.Romeo High School Girls
12:30 p.m.Bridgeport High School BoysVS.East Lansing High School Boys
2 p.m.Bridgeport High School GirlsVS.East Lansing High School Girls 
4 p.m.Yale High School GirlsVS.Marine City High School Girls
5:30 p.m.Yale High School BoysVS.Birch Run High School Boys
7 p.m.Land Mark Academy GirlsVS. Brown City High School Girls
8:30 p.m.St. Clair High School BoysVS.Arthur Hill High School Boys

December 29

TimeHome Team Away Team
9:30 a.m.Jalen Rose Academy GirlsVS.Marlette High School Girls
11 a.m.Jalen Rose Academy BoysVS.Marlette High School Boys
12:30 p.m.Capac High School GirlsVS.Peck High School Girls
2 p.m.Capac High School BoysVS.Richmond High School Boys
4 p.m.Bishop Foley High School BoysVS.Almont High School Boys
5:30 p.m.Croswell-Lexington High School GirlsVS.Swartzcreek High School Girls
7 p.m.Swartzcreek High School BoysVS.Roseville High School Boys
8:30 p.m.Port Huron High School BoysVS. Genesee Christian High School Boys

 December 30

TimeHome Team Away Team
9:30 a.m.Deckerville High School GirlsVS. Oak Park Girls
11 a.m.Troy Athens High School BoysVS.Madison Heights Lamphere High School Boys
12:30 p.m.Marysville High School BoysVS.    Cass City High School Boys
2 p.m.Marysville High School Girls VS. Meridian High School Girls
4 p.m.Lakeview High School GirlsVS.Davison High School Girls
5:30 p.m.Meridian High School BoysVS.Ferndale University High School Boys
7 p.m.St. Clair High School GirlsVS.Goodrich High School Girls
8:30 p.m.Port Huron High School GirlsVS.Farwell High School Girls

New York Times bestselling author to make Michigan book discussion debut at SC4

New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss will make his book discussion and signing debut in Southeast Michigan on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at St. Clair County Community College (SC4) in Port Huron.

The event, hosted by SC4’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will feature a guided book discussion on “Strong Inside,” the story of trailblazing athlete Perry Wallace and of civil rights and race in America during the tumultuous 1960s. The book also highlights as a key character Detroiter Godfrey Dillard, a fellow pioneering black Vanderbilt Commodores player and now prominent civil rights attorney.

“Strong Inside” is the first of five books by Maraniss that aims to illuminate social justice issues through an athletics lens in an effort to raise awareness and foster an interest in reading. His other books include:

  • “Inaugural Ballers: The True Story of the First U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team” – Due out on Sept. 13, 2022
  • “Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke” – The story of Glenn Burke, the first openly gay MLB player and inventor of the high five
  • “Games of Deception: The True Story of the First U.S. Olympic Basketball Team at the 1936 Olympics in Hitler’s Germany”
  • “Strong Inside” Young Readers Edition

“I was really into sports growing up, and I realized there are a lot of social issues you can study through sports,” Maraniss said. “Whether it’s paving the way as a first player or team in a previously prohibited space, or advocating for pay equity or more, sports often have a way of leading and elevating the discussion. My hope is that by writing about these events, teams and figures, more readers, especially students, who have a passion for sports will want to continue reading other books as well.”

In addition to his work as an author, Maraniss also serves as director of special projects at Vanderbilt Athletics. He’s also held positions as a contributing writer at ESPN, a partner at McNeely, Pigott & Fox Public Relations, and media relations manager with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Though Maraniss himself does not have Michigan roots, his father, David Maraniss—who’s also a New York Times bestselling author—was born in Detroit. Andrew’s grandparents also have ties as residents and University of Michigan alumni.

“We’re thrilled to bring such a talented and relevant author to campus and to our region,” said Dr. Deborah A. Snyder, president of SC4. “We’re committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable educational environment here at SC4. Our students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members and guests from across Southeast Michigan and Ontario will benefit greatly from this discussion and visit.” 

The book signing will take place from 5 to 5:45 p.m. and the discussion from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on SC4’s Port Huron, Mich., campus in the Fine Arts Theatre. The event is free and open to the public, though registration is required. For more information, contact SC4’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at dei@sc4.edu.

To order books by Maraniss, visit andrewmaraniss.com/buy-the-books/.

“Strong Inside” book review
“In a magnificently reported, nuanced but raw account of basketball and racism in the South during the 1960s, Andrew Maraniss tells the story of Perry Wallace’s struggle, loneliness, perseverance and eventual self-realization. A rare story about physical and intellectual courage that is both shocking and triumphant.” – Bob Woodward, Washington Post associate editor and author

SC4 to host first round of NJCAA Men’s and Women’s Soccer National Championships

St. Clair County Community College has been awarded a two-year bid to host the first round of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Men’s and Women’s Soccer National Championships Oct. 29-30, 2022, and Oct. 27-28, 2023, at the Skippers Soccer Field in Marysville, Mich.

This Region 12 event will bring eight teams from throughout Michigan, Ohio and Indiana to the Blue Water Area. The teams will be playing for an opportunity to advance in the tournament, which concludes with the NJCAA National Championship in Tucson, Ariz., the week of Nov. 14-19.

The Skippers Soccer Field, a collegiate synthetic turf surface spanning 75 yards wide by 120 yards long, played a large role in securing the bid as a host site. Another key factor was the outstanding support from the local communities that SC4 has received in successfully hosting other NJCAA tournaments in volleyball, basketball, softball and wrestling, including the 2022 NJCAA National Championship in women’s basketball.

SC4 is excited to bring high-caliber collegiate soccer to the Blue Water Area and is committed to providing all teams, as well as fans in attendance, with a memorable experience.  

“We are thrilled to welcome more NJCAA championships to our campus and community. We look forward to showcasing the SC4 Skippers Soccer Field as well as our many great restaurants, hotels, businesses and activities,” said Dale Vos, SC4 director of athletics. “I encourage area residents to come watch some exciting collegiate-level soccer competition.”

The eight tournament qualifiers and match schedule will be announced by Region 12 of the NJCAA on Oct. 23. Both the women’s and men’s semi-finals will be played Fri. Oct. 29, with the finals held on Sat. Oct. 30. All matches will be played at the Skipper Soccer Field located at 560 Busha Highway in Marysville, Mich. Ticket information will follow once the tournament details are set.

This new soccer event will make a substantial positive impact to the local community, bringing visitors to the area and filling hotels and restaurants. For example, the 16 teams competing at the NJCAA Women’s Basketball Championship last March accounted for more than 1,200 hotel room nights during the week of the event, a major positive boost to the local economy. The women’s basketball National Championship will return to the SC4 Fieldhouse March 21-25, 2023.

“The city of Marysville is happy to welcome soccer teams for the NJCAA tournament,” said Marysville City Manager Randy Fernandez. “We are proud to be the home of one of the finest soccer fields in the state through our collaboration with the college. This tournament provides a great opportunity to bring people to our area and showcase SC4, the city of Marysville and the region as a whole.”

SC4 announced women’s soccer as a new offering in the fall of 2019; however, the team’s first season was delayed until the spring of 2021 due to the pandemic. The Skippers are working hard to qualify for the NJCAA tournament and will open their 2022 regular season at home on Wed., Aug. 24, at 5 p.m. vs. Rochester University. A full schedule of Skippers games is available at sc4skippers.com/sports/wsoc/2022-23/schedule. 

Registration open for SC4’s Golf Classic to benefit student-athletes

The St. Clair County Community College Athletic Department will host the SC4 Golf Classic on Friday, July 22, at Marysville Golf Course. Participants will enjoy 18 holes of golf with friends to support student-athletes.

This year’s event is sponsored by Joe Mericka in honor of his sister Georgette “Gigi” Mericka. As both a community and SC4 supporter, Gigi assisted in securing sponsorships and helped make the SC4 golf outing a success for many years.

“We are grateful for the ongoing community support of Skippers Athletics and our students,” said SC4 Athletic Director Dale Vos. “This event is a great opportunity for us to come together, have some fun and help our hard-working student athletes pursue a college degree.”

The four-person scramble is limited to the first 32 teams to register. The cost is $125 per golfer or $500 per team. Registration for golfers and additional sponsorship opportunities are available online at sc4.edu/thepier/golf.

Check in begins at 11:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Dinner, awards and prizes will begin at 4:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Dale Vos at (810) 989-5671 or email dvos@sc4.edu.