Fun in the Valley
Musical Director Rachel Ridder received an exciting e-mail from the Sutton Foster Awards both Kain Holton and Crystal Eckhoff have been nominated for their outstanding performances in Little Shop of Horrors!
What are the Sutton Foster Awards?
Each year, schools across Michigan can nominate their fall and/or spring musical productions for consideration. The Wharton Center sends a team of adjudicators to attend a live performance, evaluating students and selecting standout performers. From each qualifying production, adjudicators nominate two or more students for “Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role.”
Those nominated are invited to participate in one of the Sutton Foster Awards’ workshop and audition weekends, as well as the Sutton Foster Awards Showcase—a public performance held at the Wharton Center. At the showcase, judges determine Michigan’s two state winners, who then advance to New York to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. Finalists in the Sutton Foster Awards Showcase also receive a $1,000 cash prize.
We are SUPER excited to celebrate these two well-deserved nominations for Maple Valley! Congratulations to Kain and Crystal!
Sports
For sports schedules, please visit the Athletics Website: Upcoming Sporting Events
On December 1st, the JV and Varsity Boys Basketball teams traveled to East Jackson for their season openers. The JV team started the night strong with a dominant 57–16 win. Varsity followed with an impressive performance of their own, securing a 56–45 victory to cap off a successful evening for the Lions.
On December 1st, the 7th and 8th-grade boys' Basketball teams traveled to Springport.
On December 3rd, the 7th and 8th-grade boys' Basketball teams traveled to Union City.
On December 3rd, the MS Competitive Cheer team traveled to Union City for a Big 8 Jamboree.
The Maple Valley wrestling team had a strong showing at the Don Johnson Invitational, finishing 6th overall with 120.5 team points and earning multiple medals—including three champions.
Champions:
190 – Jackson Burpee (6–0): 1st Place, Jackson dominated the bracket with two tech falls, a semifinal decision, and an 11–1 major decision in the finals.
G110 – Dakota Leslie (3–1): 1st Place, Dakota earned two impressive wins by fall to claim the title.
G190 – Brooklyn Burpee (3–1): 1st Place, Brooklyn secured the championship with two pins, including one in just 19 seconds.
Top Finishers:
113 – Trapper Wawiernia (3–3): 5th Place, 13 team points, Trapper earned a pin in the quarterfinals and won the 5th-place match by injury default.
126 – Roman Schilz (4–4): 6th Place, 12 team points, Roman battled through the bracket with two pins and a major decision.
215 – Tyrese Robinson (4–1): 3rd Place, 22 team points, Tyrese secured three wins by fall, including the 3rd-place match.
285 – Joe Long (5–2): 3rd Place, 22 team points, Joe had a strong day with four pins and a decisive 3rd-place finish.
Other Competitors:
120 – Sawyer Wawiernia (0–2)
150 – Josh Deppe (2–4): 7 team points, Earned two wins by fall in the championship and consolation rounds.
157 – Quincy Page (1–3)
165 – Noah Lucas (1–3)
Maple Valley finished 6th as a team with 120.5 total points.
