The Lake Orion boys basketball team won 77-50 over Harper Woods on Senior Night. It was a career night for Ethan Sharkey. In his final game in the Lake Orion gym, Sharkey scored a career-high 24 points. He described what this night was like for him and shared his thoughts about his time as a starter for the varsity squad. I also talked to fellow senior Sam Blakely about how he hopes his community will remember his contributions to the basketball and football teams.

Lake Orion junior Izzy Wotlinski has become a leader for the Lake Orion girl's basketball team. Her journey hasn't been easy as she has had to overcome tearing her ACL twice. Wotlinski hasn't let that slow her down as she is determined to help lead the school to another district title.

Sam Ali is the sports director of two TV stations in Flint, Michigan. When Michigan won the national championship in college football earlier this month, broadcasting rules prohibited him from showing footage of the game during his sportscast. So he improvised with comic illustrations of the game. His sportscast caught the attention of several national media outlets. Ali's artwork made him a viral star.

The Saginaw Valley State football team celebrated Senior Day with a blowout win over Northern Michigan last week. The Cardinals wrap up the season this Saturday on the road against Michigan Tech. Coach Ryan Brady recapped last week's win and discussed some impressive performances that came out of it. We also previewed this week's game against Tech.

The Saginaw Valley State football team has won its last two games and prepares to tangle unbeaten Davenport on Saturday. I spoke to Cardinals' Coach Ryan Brady about those wins and who stood out for his team defensively. We also discussed the Cardinals' mindset going into their meeting with Davenport.

Lake Orion senior linebacker Kaydon Degraffenreid didn't like football when he was younger. He has since developed it into his biggest passion and the Dragons are glad that his family moved from Florida to Lake Orion. The Dragons are 6-0 and ranked sixth in the state this week thanks in part to his presence on defense. I spoke to him about his journey and what it means to him to be a part of the community. In Lessons From Coach Watkins, Steve and I discuss how teams can use these last three weeks of the regular season to be prepared for the postseason despite what their record might be. Saginaw Valley State Coach Ryan Brady joined me to preview the Cardinals' matchup with top-ranked Ferris State.

Joey DeBrincat has been one of the many players that have contributed to the success of the Lake Orion football team. I caught up with him and discussed his football journey.  I also spoke to Saginaw Valley State football coach Ryan Brady to discuss the Cardinals' (2-2) matchup with in-state rival Grand Valley State.

Saginaw Valley State lost a tough game last week at Truman State. I talked to head coach Ryan Brady about that 21-7 defeat and how the Cardinals plan to bounce back this week at home against undefeated Indianapolis.

For the first time since 2012, Lake Orion football is 4-0. Last week, the Dragons took down third-ranked West Bloomfield 17-13 on their home turf. Lake Orion is ranked sixth in the state in Division One. The dragons are tied for tied with Clarkston for first place in the OAA red. I spoke to Coach Chris Bell and seniors Joey Debrincat and Kayden Degraffenried. They told me they expected to achieve this level of success. We also discussed how they plan to stay undefeated after this Friday’s showdown against Stoney Creek.

Michigan Congressman John James is not only ecstatic about the Lions' week one win over Kansas City, he was not only ready to hang a banner on it, he proclaimed his love for the Lions on the House Floor. Usually, that's reserved for important matters facing our country. But while standing next to a painting of coach Dan Campbell, James used his time to address Congress to talk about the Lions. Talk about your Sir, this is a Wendy's moment.

Lake Orion native Mitchell Debrincat is in his first season as the starting tight end for Saginaw Valley State. I talked to him about his journey from being a member of the Lake Orion football team to playing for the Cardinals. We discussed the work that went into it as well as his passion for music. We also talked about his cousin, NHL star Alex Debrincat, and his return to Michigan as one of the newest members of the Red Wings. They have never actually met, but that could change this season!

The Saginaw Valley State football team opened the season with a 34-24 win over Winona State. I talked to Coach Ryan Brady about his team's performance in that victory. We also discussed the upcoming season, the difficult schedule for the Cardinals and the players on his roster that he's expecting to be key contributors to his team. We also preview the Axe Bowl game with rival Northwood.

During the summer, many kids play in travel sports to enhance their skills. This can benefit high school athletes wanting to take that next step in college sports. But what should parents look for before signing their kids up to play travel sports? Steve Watkins and I discuss the various aspects that summer travel sports provide. We also talked about the experiences he had with those athletes after they returned to his program.

In this edition of Lessons From Coach Watkins, Steve and I discuss what high school athletes should be doing during summer break with the fall sports season about a month and a half away. Steve discusses what types of exercises they should be performing regularly. He also stresses the importance of having fun, but staying out of trouble.

Ryan Slocum has been a regular contributor to this podcast. But he also has one of his own called The Job Guys. It's a podcast for professional wrestling fans. Slocum has always been a fan. He came up with a way to discuss wrestling news and events. He shared with me the thinking behind the show and the many topics he talks about on his podcast.

The Saginaw Valley State football team held its annual spring game on April 15. Coach Ryan Brady joined me to talk about how things went for his players. We also discussed how his team is branching out into Michigan communities to teach kids about the game. We also discussed the possibility of recent grads Trevor Nowaske and Nick Whiteside getting selected in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Trevor Nowaske had a solid career as a member of the Saginaw Valley State University football team. He recently put on a show for NFL scouts at his Pro Day. Nowaske's performance has many draft experts and columnists believing that he could hear his name called during the upcoming NFL Draft. I talked to Nowaske about how he put in the work to go from Division II's GLIAC to the NFL. He shared stories about his journey and why he thinks he would be a great addition to any NFL roster.  I also share my story about the last SVSU player selected in the NFL Draft and the legendary playoff performance he had with the Green Bay Packers.

Ben Hassenger combined his love for music and the Detroit Tigers into his very own spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Hassenger wrote songs about his memories following the club and his many trips to Tiger Stadium that wound up in the Hall of Fame archives. In "The Voice of Summer", Hassenger sang about how much Ernie Harwell meant to him and the state of Michigan. During our conversation, Hassenger told me about what Harwell meant to him and Tigers' fans across the state. In his song "The Corner", Hassenger sings about the final game at Tiger Stadium and saying goodbye to the old ballpark at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues in Detroit. Hassenger shared both songs with me and explains how he got his other nickname, Michigan's Ukulele Ambassador.

When I first met Steve Watkins, he told me about the time he tried out for the St. Louis Cardinals farm system. Steve was considering playing college football on a full-ride scholarship or grinding it out in the minors. While he decided to pursue football, he enjoyed his time with the Cardinals. While he was there, he met a fellow prospect named Earl. Earl eventually made it to the big leagues with the Cardinals. He wowed fans with spectacular defensive plays and ultimately, cart-wheeled his way into the Hall of Fame.

Jake Champagne averages over 20 points per game for the Oxford High School boys' basketball team. The sophomore phenom has emerged as one of the top performers in the OAA. I caught up with Jake to find out how he reached that level early in his career. I also spoke with his coach, Steve Laidlaw, about his development. We also discussed how he earned the nickname, "Smiley Shark" and his recent interest in chess.