Category: Athletics

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.

SC4 College Housing to host Open House June 16

St. Clair County Community College is hosting an Open House for students interested in learning more about living in SC4’s housing facility. The event welcomes current high school seniors and their parents, student athletes, international students and all other students considering attending SC4.

SC4’s College Housing facility, referred to as “The Dock,” is located in downtown Port Huron at 514 Huron Avenue. Join us from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 16, at the Open House event to tour the facility, ask questions and learn more about housing and campus.

SC4’s residence hall offers fully furnished units and provides up to 80 students with easy access to campus and downtown Port Huron.

Living in housing offers students an affordable, safe option that provides countless benefits including, access to campus for academic support, free gym access, campus events, clubs and organizations, the local area’s entertainment, dining, recreation activities and potential employment opportunities.

Rooms are double-occupancy suite-style and include an XL extended-length twin bed, furniture, private bathroom, high-speed Wi-Fi Internet, heating and air conditioning. Shared spaces include a communal kitchen, student lounge, laundry facilities and parking. Limited single occupancy and triple occupancy rooms arrangements also are available.

SC4 is the first community college in southeastern Michigan to offer student housing. Statewide, only seven of the 28 community colleges have on-campus housing available. It’s a great way for students to have a full college experience.

More information about housing can be found at sc4.edu/housing.

SC4 to host NJCAA Women’s Basketball National Championship

St. Clair County Community College is hosting the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship March 15-19 at the SC4 Fieldhouse. The championship tournament will bring the best 16 teams from across America to the Blue Water Area to compete for a national title.

During the fall of 2018, SC4 was identified as a site finalist by the NJCAA, competing with two other venues from Arkansas and Iowa. The process included a visit by NJCAA officials to evaluate the SC4 Fieldhouse and surrounding community, which resulted in SC4 being selected as the winning bid.

“The NJCAA is very excited to award SC4 with the Division II Women’s Basketball Championship in the coming years,” said Dr. Christopher J. Parker, NJCAA executive director. “We know SC4 will provide the highest quality tournament for all of our participating student-athletes, coaches, administrators and fans.”

Both the 2020 and 2021 tournaments were impacted by the pandemic, so the campus and community are excited and ready to host the 2022 event.

“We are thrilled to welcome the NJCAA championship to our campus and look forward to showcasing the SC4 Fieldhouse as well as our many great restaurants, hotels, businesses and activities,” said Dale Vos, SC4 director of athletics. “We look forward to some exciting games throughout the week and to crowning a National Champion on Saturday night.”

The teams and tournament seeding will be announced by the NJCAA on Tuesday, March 8. The double–elimination tourney begins at the SC4 Fieldhouse on Tuesday, March 15, with the first game tipping off at 9 a.m. The championship game will be held on Saturday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. Visit sc4skippers.com/fanzone/ticketing for tickets. A complete game schedule will be available on the NJCAA website njcaa.org/championships/sports/wbkb/div2.

The event will make a substantial positive impact to the local community, bringing in approximately $250,000 each year. “This is a big deal to host 16 teams and their fans in St. Clair County for a week in March,” said Marci Fogal, president of the Blue Water Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are excited to partner with SC4 and the NJCAA to host this great event. As the spring weather arrives, it will be wonderful to have people here from throughout the U.S. enjoying our downtown and beautiful waterfront.”

Skippers Esports looks to continue its success in the fall

The St. Clair County Community College Esports team found tremendous success in its inaugural season, claiming three top-four finishes this past April in the National Junior College Athletic Association Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. tournaments.

Skippers Jarod Graham and Mitchell Lumpford finished second in the country in the doubles for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Graham finished fourth in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate single player tournament. Kylar Marinez, David Roy and Philip Winterbauer finished fourth in the country in Rocket League.

The teams were launched in the fall, and through their first season continued to grow under the direction of coach James “Jimmer” Jordan. When COVID-19 closed campuses throughout the country cancelling other sports, SC4 Esports team members were fortunate enough to have their own systems at home so they could continue the season.

Each of the players began Esports at different ages, some using the Nintendo 64 console when they were younger than 10 years old, while other team members picked up on video games in junior high school. Most stated they really began taking Esports seriously late into high school, and one just a few months before when they joined the Esports team.

“I never really took competing in games seriously or thought that I had a chance. When some of my friends talked to me about playing for SC4, I decided to give it a try,” Winterbauer said. “It was a cool opportunity to get involved with Esports through my college, with a professional-level coach to mentor us and really step our game up to the next level.”

Winterbauer said he began the season at a low rank in Rocket League and in the past four months has climbed three ranks while competing for the Skippers.

“Anybody is capable if you put your mind to it,” he said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, why not give it your all? Maybe you’ll find your calling.”

Being on the team and competing together helps with real-world skills.

“(Esports) helped me improve and grow relationships and learning abilities. It teaches you diligence – to do things the right way, every time, even if it is harder that way when you first start,” Marinez said. “Things like that are really going to help me in the future and transfer over to job training.”

Added Graham: “It gives you the feeling of always wanting to do your best, not just for you but for the college, too.”

With a stay-at-home order in place, playing at home for the remainder of the playoffs wasn’t quite the same as the team atmosphere they have in the facilities at the college. The team had formed a family-like bond over the last few months.

“Competing with this team, and for the college, really gives it purpose for me,” Roy said. “It’s different than playing alone.”

Most of the team plans to come back next season, except for sophomore Mitch Lumpford, who completed his Associate of Arts degree at SC4 and will be continuing his education at Oakland University in the fall.

Jarod Graham, Mitch Lumpford, Kylar Marinez, David Roy and Phil Winterbauer
Jarod Graham, Mitch Lumpford, Kylar Marinez, David Roy and Phil Winterbauer

Three teams and 12 individuals are inducted in the Skippers Athletics Hall of Fame

Three teams and 12 individuals were inducted into the Skippers Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday, Feb. 22, at the SC4 Fieldhouse. It is the fourth class bringing the total of membership to forty-two individuals and 14 teams.

The three teams entering the Hall of Fame are the 1994 men’s golf team, coached by Ross Green; the 1994 baseball team, coached by Rick Smith; and the 1996-1997 women’s basketball team, coached by Chris Huss.

The individual inductees were women’s basketball player Taleesha Hardy; baseball players Dana Duskocy; Darby Parsons and Tyler Shantz; golfer Brian Bowman; softball player Marisa (Jensen) Pierce; men’s basketball players Mike Branaugh and Jeremy Denha; and volleyball player Morgan (Iloncaie) Fagerstrom. One athlete was inducted for two sports; Troy Dean played baseball and golf.

In addition to the players, two coaches were inducted, Ross Green coached golf and was the athletic director; and Rick Smith played baseball and returned to the college as a baseball coach.

The Skippers Athletics Hall of Fame is located in the SC4 Fieldhouse. To learn more about it and read their profiles, visit sc4.edu/halloffame.

Globetrotting professional women’s basketball player grateful for SC4 experience

When she joined the St. Clair County Community College Skippers women’s basketball team in 2012, Rachel Kehoe never imagined her basketball career would lead her to play with professional teams in France, Spain, Malta, Germany, Serbia, Finland, Ireland and now Denmark.

“I chose SC4 because I liked how I fit with athletics and academics,” said the St. Clair High School graduate. “I also liked that there was one central campus.”

While Kehoe was with the Skippers, the team won the league, regional and state championships twice and competed in the national tournament.

But it wasn’t just on the court where Kehoe found support and success.

“I had some great SC4 teachers who were passionate about their work and subject,” she said. “They were always available to us for questions, feedback or guidance. Kraig Archer, Charles Meeker and Mary Kennedy were a few of my favorites. Plus, the staff of the Student Center—especially Brenda Rinke—was always helpful and my work as a student ambassador allowed me to be more involved in the community as well.”

Kehoe earned her Associate of Science degree in 2015 and transferred to Eastern Michigan University where she played on the Eagles women’s basketball team and studied psychology and communication. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree from EMU in 2016.

Since graduation, Kehoe has experienced great success overseas. Some of her most notable accomplishments include winning the league and the Louis Borge Cup with her team in Malta. She was also recognized on the All-Tournament team (2017) and Second All-Tournament Team (2018) in the Mediterranean Cup.

Kehoe signed with the Lemvig VP out of Denmark in January 2020 and looks forward to continued growth as a professional player.

Though a few years have gone by, she still credits SC4 for playing a large role in her success.

“SC4 helped prepare me for the next step in both my education and in basketball,” she said. “I benefitted from smaller class sizes and a warm and welcoming community. I left a lot more confident in myself and my future.”