Drew Otten, of Rudyard, with the Eastern Upper Peninsula Winter Olympics torch. Alexis Barr of Cedarville (right) and Jack Slater of Pickford performed the lighting of torch that kicked off the opening of the winter games Saturday, February 23. Pickford High School hosted more than 350 young athletes, along with coaches and parents, for the opening ceremonies of the 42nd Annual Eastern Upper Peninsula Winter Games Saturday, February 23. The games offer one day of competition in a range of sports, including basektball, swimming, bowling, and chess, for students from many participating school districts, with a focus on sportsmanship and opportunities to make friendships with students from other school districts.

Students were welcomed to the gymnasium by energetic music provided by The Generic D.J. Hosted by Straits Area Community Education, Sault Public School, Consolidated Community School Services, and Bahweting School, the event then opened with a procession of athletes introduced by Don Gustafson, LaSalle High School principal.

St. Ignace banner carriers (from left) Angela Donajkowski and Morgan Ray. Banner carriers included Kristen Cline and Amber Colosky of Pickford; Angela Donajkowski and Morgan Ray of St. Ignace; William Lysinger and Nathan Smith of Cedarville; Emily Bosley and Julie Reed of DeTour; Ben Wyse and Jeff Winchester of Engadine; Elden Salo and Caleb Salo of Rudyard; Allison Immel and Henry Sawaski of Newberry; Carmine Ferraro and Mat Arbic of Sault Ste. Marie; Tony Mongene and Bailey Widon of Brimley; Matt Kibble and Andrew Krupa of St. Marys; and Nathan Reed and Andrew Rechner of Bahweting.

Military veterans from American Legion Post 323 of Pickford and American Veteran Post 79 of Raber presented the colors.

Pickford Middle School students

Payton Mastaw and Danielle Petingalo sang the National Anthem.

Keith Krahnke, Pickford High School superintendent, welcomed the athletes and Mr. Gustafson introduced Tim Christian, assistant hockey coach at Lake Superior State University, who presented the opening message. Coach Christian impressed on the young athletes four aspects of sports to think about during a lifetime: Play hard and give your best; play by the rules and feel good about yourself; be a good sport, and whether you win or lose, good things can happen, and have fun, the most important thing in participating.

Pickford banner carriers (from left) Kristen Cline and Amber Colosky. The Winter Game Oath was followed by the lighting of the torch by Drew Otten of Rudyard, Alexis Barr of Cedarville, and Jack Slater of Pickford.

Following the opening ceremonies, the athletes were dismissed for games in at schools and sites in St. Ignace, Pickford, Sault Ste. Marie, and Rudyard.

Results of the winter games will be printed in an upcoming issue of The St. Ignace News.

Rudyard banner carriers (from left) Elden Salo and Caleb Salo.