The Michigan High School Football Coaches Association has selected Bill Feraco (West) of East Lansing High School and Mike Zdebski (East) of Walled Lake Western High School as the head coaches for the 33^rd MHSFCA East-West All Star Game to be played at Arend D. Lubbers Stadium on the campus of Grand Valley State University on Saturday, June 22.
The game will feature 88 of the best high school players in the state as selected by the 2013 MHSFCA All Star Game coaches and the members of the All Star Game Committee.  Player selection for the 44 players on each team will be announced by MHSFCA on Saturday, Jan. 12.
“The Michigan High School Football Coaches Association is very pleased to announce that Bill Feraco and Mike Zdebski will serve as the head coaches for the 33rd East-West All Star Game,” said Jim Sparks, 2013 MHSFCA East-West All Star Game chair and Clawson High School football coach. “Bill and Mike are extremely well-respected high school football coaches and will represent the sport and MHSFCA very well.”

Clawson football coach Jim Sparks (center) is the MHSFCA East-West All Star game chairman. (File photo)

Also named as assistant coaches are Tim Conley of Southfield, Robert Hunt of Detroit Central, and Rod Gloddich of Marine City for the East squad; and Perry Baranic of Centerville, Shawn Griffin of Constantine, and Rick Applin of Boyne City for the West squad.

Romeo High School’s varsity football team was one of just three programs statewide that was given the Steve Spicer Leadership Award by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.
The award signifies leadership and community service.
Co-head coaches Jason Couch and Curt Rienas are extremely proud of their assistant coaches, players and parents for working so hard in the area of community service.

Trevor Medley of Romeo and his teammates really rose to the occasion when it came to community service. The Bulldogs were one of just three squads statewide to be given the Steve Spicer Leadership Award. (Macomb Daily staff photo by Ray J. Skowronek) 

 Among the football program’s many community service projects were supporting the Susan G. Komen 3-Day walk; assisting in a summer reading program; helping out at the Simpson Park Camp; helping the elderly spruce up their yards; assisting with a book drive; raising nearly $50,000 through cancer charity games; and participating in The Willis Foundation, a non-profit organization honoring Marine Corporal Christopher Kelly Willis.

The Grinch obviously does not play hockey at Dakota High School.
The school’s varsity and junior varsity players held their second annual Toys for Tots event at a team dinner and filled an extraordinary seven 42-gallon bags with new, unwrapped toys.
In the inaugural event last year, they filled five bags with toys.

The varsity coach is Mike Jakubik. His assistants are Mike Lesnau, James Rose, Vince Vuljaj (goalie coach) and manager Mary O’Connor. The roster consists of Cooper Bell, Tyler Ramar, Scotty Rymill, Chad Roskelly, Brandon White, Brad Scanlon, Marc Digrande, Anthony Piccirilli, Ronnie O’Connor, Bill Karvounis, Brad Schornak, Austin Swanson, John Kochanski, Sammy Shaheen, Austin Azzopardi, Vasko Vidovski, Shawn Eastman, Paul Andary, Matt Riehl, Johnny Greaves, Anthony Benvenuti and Justin Dudzinski.
The junior varsity coach is Bob Kotowski Jr. His assistants are Michael Hearns, Gordie Clark and Wayne Jarvis. The roster is made up of Jake Gorzelski, Zach Romback, Zach Goff, Eric Lesnau, Eddie Becker, Zach Chornoby, Brendan Carney, Donnie Scanlon, Matt Pellerito, Brandon Hyduk, Austin Wargo, Anthony Giacomantonio, Michael Gallucci, Kevin Paulus, Jared Ciaravino, Robbie DeVuyst, Brandon Baker and Kyle Kingman.

The second annual Dakota Cougars Charity Bowling Classic was held Saturday, Dec. 15, and a portion of the proceeds went to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Over $1,500 was raised in honor of Samuel Jones, a five-year-old Macomb Township boy, who died in 2008 from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare and very aggressive form of cancer. Samuel was treated at St. Jude’s in Memphis, Tennessee, which pioneers research on childhood cancers and catastrophic illnesses.

A bowling ball and drilling generously donated by Fred Baus at S&B pro shop was raffled off at the Charity Bowling Classic. A dollar donation to St. Jude’s was collected at the door and there was also a 50/50 raffle. In addition, 15 percent of all tabs from the team dinner held at Brann’s restaurant, went to St. Jude’s.
Everyone bowled in Samuel’s honor, and all coaches and bowlers wore an orange band, since orange was his favorite color.

The high school hockey teams from Romeo and Dakota will play a game at Clark Park in Detroit at 5:45 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 26.
“This is a very special and unique event for our players and Bulldog fans,” said Romeo coach John Minjoe. “We are very excited to be asked to play in this game at this site. This will be a fun and memorable night for everyone.”
Tickets to the game can be purchased at either school.