For the second time in school history, the Kingsley Stags are State Champions in football after a thrilling win against Almont at Detroit's Ford Field. “A record-tying performance from [senior running back] Eli Graves helped secure a victory...he accounted for three touchdowns in the first half alone, also tying the state finals record by being responsible for 30 points,” reported Kameron Goodwill for The Detroit News. Chase Bott also added a 35-yard touchdown thanks to a pass from QB Gavyn Merchant.
To players and coaching staff, this game was about more than just bringing home the hardware. Graves told reporters he dedicated his game to his brother Owen, whose senior season was cut short by the pandemic.
In post-game interviews, Coach Tim Wooer mentioned former captain Justin Hansen, a Marine killed in combat in Afghanistan, and Trina Schueller, a longtime football mom who died from COVID in 2021. “There comes a time where your players teach you about life, and Justin Hansen did that for sure, and so did Connor Schueller. Tonight we had a chance to share [their] story,” he said to The Detroit News.
The win and excitement were shared by the entire community. When the team arrived home from the game in Detroit around 1:00AM on Sunday, November 26, they were greeted by a packed gym full of fans with signs and applause.
Before their game, they experienced a district-wide assembly send-off, which included a paraded escort by local first responders and streets lined with village fans.
“The last couple of years have been rough but this is a new era for us,” said Superintendent Rothwell to the Record-Eagle. “Community is everything in northern Michigan, especially for small towns like ours. This coming together is really a celebration of life — a testament to who we really are. Our kids will never forget it.”
The Kingsley Community is invited to a community celebration at 7:00PM Friday, December 1, for the Kingsley High School Varsity Football Team
...who won the Division 6 MHSAA State title this past Saturday at Ford Field. It is Kingsley’s second football state title in school history (the last in 2005).
The event will be held in the Kingsley High School gymnasium and will feature a free raffle for attendees with signed Kingsley helmets and footballs for winners. We will honor and present state championship medals to the members of the 2023 Kingsley football team and recognize other community members who have been instrumental in making the 2023 season a successful one.
Media, community members, family, and friends are welcome to attend.
The Kingsley Athletic Department would like to involve the entire Kingsley community, in celebrating the accomplishments of our football program and invite anyone interested in attending to come to KHS this Friday night to celebrate Stag Football.
Questions? Email AD Mitch Miggenburg at mmiggenburg@kingsleyschools.org