Boys Soccer Rankings

Boys Soccer Rankings

by | Sep 16, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Boys Soccer Rankings.

Written Tuesday September 16th at 8:13 AM

Here are the boys soccer rankings according to Anthony Taormina.

  1. Troy Athens- Red Hawks proving to still be the standard bearer in the Red
  2. Clarkston- Very strong bounce back season for the Wolves
  3. Berkley- Bears continue to show that you can compete as a small school in the toughest division
  4. Bloomfield Hills- Blackhawks holding steady, once again, one of the White standard bearers
  5. Royal Oak- Ravens strong once more in the White also hold a win over the Red Hawks
  6. Seaholm- Maples continuing to impress in the Red
  7. Troy- Colts are the classic Jekyll and Hyde of the Red
  8. Oxford- Wildcats showing a lot of inconsistency this season
  9. Lake Orion- Dragons slowly adjusting to life in the Red
  10. Rochester- Falcons holding their own in the White
  11. Adams- Don’t let the Highlanders record fool you, they are still a very strong program
  12. West Bloomfield- Too many losses and ties, not winning soccer for the Lakers
  13. Groves- Falcons youth has been on full display
  14. North Farmington- Raiders leading the Blue in their final year in the OAA
  15. Stoney Creek- Cougars trying to make the White a three team race
  16. Farmington- Falcons struggling in their final year in the OAA despite being in the White
  17. Ferndale- Eagles have been impressive so far in the Blue, not afraid to play teams in the White
  18. Pontiac- Phoenix staying steady in the Blue. Tie against Avondale helps

19, Avondale- Yellow Jackets struggling against the better teams but holding their own in the Blue

  1. Harper Woods- Pioneers got a big win over the Knights. Will help in the Blue standings
  2. Southfield Arts and Tech- Warriors have only played two games all season long
  3. Oak Park- Knights have not scored in the three games they have played all season
Should Boys Soccer Go Four Divisions???

Should Boys Soccer Go Four Divisions???

by | Sep 16, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Should Boys Soccer Go Four Divisions???

Written Tuesday September 16th at 8:10 AM

By Anthony Taormina

Every year, we see a clear disparity especially among the teams in the lower divisions. Even next year when both Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott come into the OAA. It is clear that both are them are established and will field teams. One of the questions that surround certain schools is whether they will field teams or not. The lowest division, the Blue has four teams you are pretty certain will field a team but there are three teams you never know.

So, here’s the question, should Boys Soccer follow the same route as Girls Soccer.

Go Four divisions.

Give teams particularly those three teams a chance to field teams and compete with each other. The teams I talk about are Southfield Arts and Tech, Oak Park, and Harper Woods. I am concerned with the participation numbers of those three schools. I wonder what is the issue there. Lack of commitment towards Boys Soccer. A bigger commitment to other programs like football (which all three teams field great numbers in.)

The Boys Coaches simply will not go four divisions. There is a lot of pride in being in the Red, it is one of the premiere divisions in the state of Michigan. Multiple State Champions have come out of being from the Red division but something has to be done to help the smaller schools, especially the three that struggle to field competitive programs.

The Girls Coaches get it right. To help teams who struggle, they set up a Gold divisions with four teams, Pontiac, Southfield Arts and Tech, Harper Woods, and Oak Park. For the last two years, it has been successful with teams having competitive games with the other and could argue, it has benefited participation numbers with those programs. While at the same time, you have a stacked Red and a stacked White division year in and out.

It would mean reducing the Blue division but it may be worth it.

It is clear that there are teams who stand out.

The league has tried to help the three boys teams in the past by placing Pontiac and Ferndale with them but how fair is that to both those teams? Yeah they get wins but they are not seen as strong wins.

You can still have a stacked Red division and a stacked White division but something has to be done in regards to the three teams who struggle to field programs. Follow the Girls model, set a separate Gold division, and have them play home and home with each other, its six games (out of eighteen you can play). It makes a lot of sense. It encourages those kids on struggling programs to hopefully come out and play. Putting them in a three division stacked Blue is not going to help anyone, it will discourage participation at those three schools, we may be seeing it. It’s something Boys Soccer Coaches might not see when it comes to their Realignment meetings. I know they like three divisions but in regards to those three schools, something has to change.

Fostering Futures Scholarship dinner unites partners

Fostering Futures Scholarship dinner unites partners

by | Sep 16, 2025 | Regional News

Treasury Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2025

Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167

Fostering Futures Scholarship

Panelist member Pura Strong and State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks converse during a panel discussion at the Fostering Futures Scholarship benefit dinner in Detroit on Sept. 12, 2025.

Fostering Futures Scholarship dinner unites partners to expand college opportunities for foster youth,
including landmark $50,000 donation

The Sootchy Charitable Foundation gift is the biggest ever
for Detroit foster youth to open college savings accounts

DETROIT – Collaboration and generosity were on full display at the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund benefit dinner Friday where community partners and donors rallied to support foster youth pursuing college.

The event at Detroit’s Roostertail featured a historic $50,000 gift from the Sootchy Charitable Foundation and Yoba Development, as well as a $25,529 donation from the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP), alongside other contributions and special recognitions underscoring a shared commitment to help foster youth build brighter futures through higher education.

“For over a decade, the Michigan Department of Treasury, Michigan Education Trust and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have worked together to bring hope and opportunity to Michigan’s foster youth,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “This evening is about recognizing the barriers and demonstrating how compassion and support can be the difference between a dream and reality. We believe deeply in the potential of our foster youth.”

A partnership between the Michigan Education Trust (MET) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) makes Fostering Futures Scholarships possible.

“Every young person deserves the support and resources they need to pursue their educational and career dreams,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “MDHHS is proud to be part of Fostering Futures, which assists students who have experienced foster care with tuition and fees, books and supplies, and room and board for students at a vocation school, apprenticeship or college. For foster youth, financial support isn’t just helpful – it’s essential. By investing in their education, we’re not only helping them open doors, we’re affirming their worth and potential. ”

The fundraiser featured actor and youth advocate Dr. Malik Yoba, founder and CEO of Yoba Development and David Adefeso of the Sootchy Charitable Foundation, who announced a joint $50,000 donation to MET. The gift will establish MET education savings accounts — $1,000 each — for students at the House of Providence and for youth in the afterschool program at We Care Family Care.

More than 300 guests raised $111,000 for scholarships through MET, the Michigan Department of Treasury’s 529 prepaid tuition savings program.

In addition, MESP marked its 25th anniversary with a special gift: a $25,529 donation presented by Jennifer Burke and Chris McLeod of TIAA, Tuition Financing Inc. The donation, part of a yearlong campaign to match individual contributions to the scholarship, was in recognition of MESP’s milestone year, further expanding opportunities for Michigan foster youth. MESP is Michigan’s direct-sold investment 529 plan and partner in supporting foster youth.

Close to 10,000 youth are in the Michigan foster care system administered by MDHHS. Nationally, it is estimated that between 69% and 85% of students who have experienced foster care complete high school by their mid-20s, and just 8% to 11% go on to earn a postsecondary degree (associate or higher) — five times lower than the national average.

“The Fostering Futures Scholarship program ensures that young people who have experienced foster care are not left behind when it comes to accessing higher education,” said Robin Lott, executive director of  Treasury’s Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning. “We are grateful to every donor and partner who helps provide these students with the tools and resources they need to succeed — including the very special, ongoing support of Albert and Mitsie Scaglione and the Park West Foundation. In addition to their support for Fostering Futures Scholarship, they are helping hundreds of Detroit youth through various programs, which is dedicated to helping youth thrive as they transition from the foster care system.”

This academic year alone, 441 students at 60 different Michigan colleges and universities are benefiting from the scholarship. Since 2012, Fostering Futures events have raised more than $1.4 million, with all funds raised awarded as scholarships within the same year.

Couldn’t attend and want to make a difference?

Donate online, or mail your donation with the completed Fostering Futures Scholarship Contribution Form and a check made payable to the “State of Michigan — Fostering Futures Scholarship.”

Contributions made by Dec. 31 are eligible for federal and state income tax deductions for that year. MET’s Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund is an IRC Section 170(c) organization, making all donations tax deductible.

To learn more about the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund or to donate, go to www.michigan.gov/fosteringfutures.

Sponsors of the Detroit event were the MESP, Park West Foundation, Michigan Student Financial Aid Association, Michigan Association of State Universities, Ferris State University, Güd Marketing, Lake Trust Credit Union, former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Maura Corrigan, iHeartMedia, Metro Parent, Michigan College Access Network, Orchards Children’s Services, Western Michigan University Seita Scholars Program, the New Foster Care, Michigan Association of Broadcasters and WXYZ-TV 7 in Detroit.
Be Alert for Text Message Phishing Scam Making the Rounds

Be Alert for Text Message Phishing Scam Making the Rounds

by | Sep 15, 2025 | Regional News

Treasury Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2025

Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167

Treasury: Be Alert for Text Message Phishing Scam Making the Rounds

Treasury Never Sends Unsolicited Text Messages Requesting Sensitive Banking Data

LANSING, Mich. – Cybercriminals are up to new tricks with a new nationwide text message scam now circulating in Michigan that requests taxpayers’ personal banking information, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.

In this latest scheme, scammers send urgent, unsolicited messages that appear to come from the Michigan Department of Treasury. The message falsely claims that a refund has been processed and that accurate payment information must be submitted by the taxpayer—or the refund will be forfeited.

The Michigan Department of Treasury never sends unsolicited text messages asking for personal data like banking information. Taxpayers who receive such messages should not reply or click on any links.

“This scam is just another trick in the cybercriminal playbook,” said Katina Litterini, who oversees Treasury’s Tax Administration Services Bureau. “Taxpayers who receive this bogus text message should immediately delete it. If you have questions about an outstanding refund, taxes owed or another state tax issue, please contact us so we can log the scam and discuss your options.”

The Michigan Department of Treasury corresponds with taxpayers through official letters sent through the U.S. Postal Service.

Taxpayers who receive this unsolicited text message or have questions about their state individual income taxes should call Treasury’s Individual Income Tax Information Line at 517-636-4486. A customer service representative can log the scam and verify outstanding refunds, if available.

To learn more about Michigan’s taxes, go to www.michigan.gov/taxes

Text Message Scam

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MDARD Report Warns of Tariff Impacts on Food Prices

MDARD Report Warns of Tariff Impacts on Food Prices

by | Sep 15, 2025 | Agriculture

Governor Whitmer Header

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 15, 2025

Contact: press@michigan.gov

New MDARD Report Warns of Tariff Impacts on Food Prices, Agriculture Industry

 

LANSING, Mich. – Today, ahead of a speech from Governor Whitmer on tariffs and the state budget, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) released a new report indicating that surging federal tariffs have increased food prices, reduced agriculture exports and generated uncertainty throughout Michigan’s food and agriculture industry. This report comes as a response to Governor Whitmer’s executive directive asking various state offices to investigate, calculate, and report the latest impact of tariffs on Michigan’s economy.

 

“Federal tariffs are raising the cost of groceries, making it harder for Michiganders to feed their families and they are causing massive uncertainty for our farmers and agriculture industry, threatening hundreds of thousands of jobs statewide,” said Governor Whitmer. “While we cannot change the national tariff rate, we must work together at the state level to support the farmers and producers who help put fresh, affordable food on our tables. In Michigan, that means passing a balanced, bipartisan budget that funds the infrastructure and programs farmers and food producers need to do their jobs and get food from the farm to the plate. Let’s get it done.”

 

“I continue to hear from farmers and producers across the state of Michigan who are deeply concerned about their ability to weather market uncertainty, including the impacts of retaliatory tariffs imposed in response to U.S. trade actions,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “Tariffs are jeopardizing agricultural jobs, disrupting rural economies and reducing Michiganders’ access to affordable food.”

 

According to the report, tariffs are raising costs and sowing uncertainty in Michigan’s food and agriculture sector, which contributes nearly $126 billion to the state’s economy each year. Food and agriculture businesses support more than 800,000 jobs in Michigan.

 

In 2024, prior to the Trump administration’s tariffs, Michigan set a new state export record by exporting nearly $3 billion of food and agriculture products. Comparing the first half of 2025 to the same period last year, Michigan’s:

  • Soybean meal exports fell by 46 percent,
  • Wheat exports declined 89 percent,
  • Fresh cherry exports fell by 62 percent, and
  • Fresh apple exports declined 58 percent.

The report shows that tariffs are not only raising the cost of food, they are also making it more difficult for Michigan farms and food businesses to sell in international markets. Canada, China and other countries responded to the Trump administration’s tariffs with retaliatory tariffs of up to 140 percent on U.S. agriculture goods. These retaliatory tariffs are drying up export markets that Michigan farmers and producers depend on.

 

Additionally, tariffs are driving up the cost of packaging used for food products. Steel and aluminum tariffs could increase canned food manufacturers’ costs by up to 12 percent – costs which are expected to be passed on to consumers.

Tariffs are taxes on goods imported into the United States. They are paid by the person or company that imports the goods. Companies often pass some or all tariff costs on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

During the first Trump administration, retaliatory tariffs cost Michigan farmers more than $277 million in export revenue. Increased tariffs in this administration are producing higher costs and greater uncertainty for Michigan food and agriculture businesses while putting agriculture jobs and families who depend on affordable food at risk.