Sports

The Munising Mustangs expanded their annual senior game with members of law enforcement to celebrate all of the achievements of the 2023 State Championship basketball team on Wednesday, April 12 in the Munising Middle/High School gymnasium. The bleachers were packed for the game and the ceremony.

While the Cuffs vs Seniors game is an annual tradition of wacky alumni and community engagement with a basketball motif, plenty of athletic skill and special moments were on display. Family members facing off, non-basketball players making plays and bringing the crowd into the game all added to a historic night of celebration. Altogether, 17 seniors and 27 members of law enforcement from 10 agencies joined in on the fun.

Classifications for Michigan High School Athletic Association elections and postseason tournaments for the 2023-24 school year have been announced, with enrollment breaks for postseason tournaments posted to each sport’s page on the MHSAA Website.

The Munising Pool League has ended its 202223 season, with the Barge 2 team passing Bear Trap in the final week. “Practically everything came down to the last week: first, second, MVP,” Munising Pool League President Chris Agnello said.

More new leadership is coming to the Mustang tennis program, but it comes with familiar faces. Taking over the boys tennis team this Spring will be Munising alumni Noah Ackerman and Chase Nebel.

Munising has not fielded a softball team for a full season since 2019. With the pandemic and lack of numbers, getting a team together for 2023 was the first challenge. Now goals of improvement, sportsmanship and winning are achievable.

The all-U.P. awards have also been released for the 2022-23 girls basketball season by the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. Four Alger County players were named to various teams across the region.

South Shore Fishing Association Vice President Jesse Bianchi presents a check for $15,329 to Alger County Undersheriff Steve Blank on Thursday, March 30. Ross Anthony and Pam Basil of the SSFA join members of Rescue 21 outside the Alger County Courthouse for the presentation. The money was raised through the inaugural Munising Bay Ice Fishing Derby in February, which was organized through the SSFA as a fundraiser for Rescue 21. Local organizations donated prizes and raffle items while Rescue 21 volunteers assisted in the event gameday operations. The check was presented after all expenditures and prize payouts were completed.

A team-based victory, focused on fundamentals, pushed the Munising Mustangs past the Marine City Cardinal Mooney Cardinals 54-44 at the MHSAA Division 4 Semifinals on Thursday, March 23. Munising wasted no time getting on the board as Trevor Nolan popped a three pointer just 18 seconds into the contest.