Every so often, a poignant moment or life milestone reminds Tracy Ramin of how fortunate he is or the reasons why he is still alive and thriving 24 years after losing part of his left leg and very nearly his life in a horrific accident. The Montrose resident was struck by a speeding pickup while
In the beginning, Ellen Tomek’s rowing goals were rather modest. Not long after starting classes at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2002, the former Flint Powers Catholic basketball and softball standout found herself seeking a new competitive outlet. The answer came in the form of a flier announcing tryouts for the University’s
As the 2021-2022 high school athletics schedules wrapped up for the year, we invited the 25 Genesee County high schools to to choose two athletes – one each from their men’s and women’s sports teams – who excelled in both athletics and academics. The responding schools took care in selecting young people who have worked
Paige Webber was ecstatic. The holiday season had just ended, but she was receiving a bonus gift. One of the finest soccer talents Genesee County has ever produced, Webber assumed she had played her final game in the area when her storied Grand Blanc High School career concluded in 2019. She moved on, making an
Amid the sounds of dribbling and squeaking sneakers, Keno Davis, first-year coach of the second-year Flint United professional basketball team, outlined his vision for the program. “Our biggest goals are giving these guys opportunities to move to the next level, put a great product on the court and give the Flint community another thing to
They may be few in number, but their energy levels, enthusiasm and dedication are seemingly limitless. This is the conclusion just about anyone setting foot in a Mott Community College wrestling team practice is likely to draw. Under the direction of a youthful first-year head coach – 25-year-old Aaron Ward – seven wrestlers begin most
The game grabbed Shane Proulx’s attention, causing him to sit up and take notice. As he watched the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Grand Blanc man became enthralled with the dizzying, frantic pace of team handball. Proulx was fascinated by the way it incorporated elements of several sports he had thrown himself into at various times
In 2019, the “League of Legends” World Championship took place across three international locations (Madrid, Berlin, Paris) with 24 teams from around the globe competing for the grand prize. After a grueling tournament, the final match pitting team FunPlus Phoenix (China) against team G2 eSports (Europe) was viewed by over 100 million people, eclipsing the
At Beecher High School, Ja’Kobe Derricks was a fleet-footed, sure-handed defensive back who gave opposing offenses nightmares. His gridiron skills made Derricks an All-Stater. His feet carried him to a 100-meter dash state championship, running a time (10.78 seconds) bettered by only five others in Genesee County history. Nearly three years after last suiting up
While growing up in Ashton-in-Makerfield, situated roughly 18 miles east of Liverpool in central England, Andy Wagstaff envisioned the trajectory he hoped his soccer career would take. At age 16, Wagstaff eagerly accepted a two-year playing apprenticeship with the elite Bury Football Club, intending to secure a permanent roster spot when it ended and continue
Davison wrestler Cam Freeman was hanging on. With the state championship in the balance and a one-point lead, he was on the ropes. His Detroit Catholic Central opponent had turned the tide and was threatening to take the lead with 15 seconds left. Shouting encouragement and watching the clock, Freeman’s Davison teammates were frantic. Scrambling,
Roy Marble, Trent Tucker, Glen Rice, Deanna Nolen, Charlie Bell, Mo Peterson, Mateen Cleaves, Jeff Grayer, Pam & Paula McGee, Monte Morris, Demetrius Calip, Desmon Farmer, Linnell Jones-McKenney – the list goes on and on. The number of exceptional basketball players and teams from the small city of Flint is astounding and an outlier when
