Brandon Bruce, athletic director and head football coach at Newberry High School, will give the pep talk to more than 500 athletes from St. Ignace, Sault Ste. Marie, DeTour, Cedarville, Pickford, Brimley, Engadine, Newberry, Rudyard, St. Mary, Whitefish Township, and Bahweting schools before the students travel to their respective areas for competition.

The opening ceremonies include the introduction of two athletes carrying their school banner into the gymnasium, and lighting of the torch by three students.

Schools hosting games include grade 5-6 boys basketball division B-C at Sault Middle School; grade 5, girls basketball division B-C at St. Ignace Middle School; grade 6 girls basketball division B-C at LaSalle High School; grade 5-6 boys basketball division D at DeTour High School; grade 5-6 girls basketball division D at Brimley High School; bowling at Gateway Lanes in St. Ignace; chess at Sault Middle School; dodgeball at Pickford High School; snowboarding at Minneapolis Woods in Sault Ste. Marie, and swimming at Rudyard High School.

Dodgeball is a new sport this year that takes the place of volleyball. St. Ignace and Moran Township will co-op their student-athletes.

"We’re looking forward to another year of the winter games," said Don Gustafson, middle school principal and winter games advisor for St. Ignace. "It is a day that all of the athletes look forward to."