LocalSportsJournal.com
Wow, what a great party!
Local Sports Journal, along with our terrific partners from WLCS 98.3 FM, Tatra Hall and Sport Clips, hosted the first annual LSJ high school football preview section release party on Friday night.
We were crossing our fingers, hoping a few folks might find their way to the first-year event. The turnout was a lot better than that.
Steve Cezerwon talks with WLCS 98.3 FM’s Power Hour host John Russel during the high school football preview release party. Photo/Marc Hoeksema
An estimated 300-400 people visited Tatra Hall between 4-7 p.m. to pick up their free copy of LSJ’s high school football preview section and the August edition of the Local Sports Journal magazine, participate in 50/50 and various other raffle drawings, and have their photos taken with local coaches and other area sports celebrities.
We were thrilled to have so many coaches show up, including Greg Vargas of Fruitport, Matt Koziak of Mona Shores, Steve Czerwon of Muskegon Catholic, David Smith of Ravenna, Tommy Elliott of Muskegon Heights, Joe Tanis of Orchard View and Cary Harger of Oakridge.
Area sports VIPs in attendance included former Muskegon Catholic football coach Mike Holmes, Muskegon Catholic and University of Michigan star Mike Reinhold, Fruitport and U-M star Mike Teeter, Orchard View and Michigan State star Josh Keur, Muskegon High School Athletic Director Keith Guy, Muskegon Catholic Athletic Director Jason Stariha, Mona Shores Athletic Director Ryan Portenta, Muskegon Heights Athletic Director Glen Metcalf and many others..
Vargas, the Fruitport coach, had the hot hand in the raffle drawings, purchasing several winning tickets. Unfortunately he won’t be able to enjoy many of his prizes, because he won free tickets to several local football games that occur on nights when his own team plays.
The event was highlighted by a live remote broadcast from WLCS and great food and hospitality from the good people at Tatra Hall. And all of the above was made possible by the generous support of Sport Clips.
Former Michigan football player Mike Reinhold talks with John Karafa and Brian Burrell at Tatra Hall. Photo/Erik Sturr.
Pretty much everyone agreed that the event was a rousing success, and a great way to kick off the local high school football season.
“Today was terrific,” Stariha, the new MCC athletic director, posted on Facebook Friday evening. “Thank you Local Sports Journal and 98.3 FM for putting the event on at Tatra Hall. It was great bringing the Muskegon area together to celebrate and promote the great things going on in football and our athletic programs.”
We couldn’t have summed it up better ourselves. Let’s do it again next year!
