After Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced January 22 that contact winter sports could not start competition until February 21 at the earliest, Let Them Play founder Jayme McElvany re-sparked the movement in hopes to get the season reinstated earlier.
McElvany, who originally started this group back in August to advocate for the full return of fall sports, is now actively advocating for winter athletes across the state.
She announced on the Let Them Play Twitter page that they will be filing a lawsuit against Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) on the basis of declining mental health and the economic loss of scholarships.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday, February 2 and the MDHHS issued a statement to FOX17 on the matter saying that they “do not make decisions based on lawsuits, but on data and ongoing advice of public health experts.”
They have also started a GoFundMe that has raised over $56,000 that will go towards legal fees for the lawsuit and putting up billboards in Lansing. All remaining money will be used to go towards either helping low income athletes pay their “pay to play” fees or their travel out of state fees if Michigan doesn’t allow them to play.
This is no small movement either. Her Facebook group has garnered over 34,000 members and has received letters of support from college coaches like Oakland University’s basketball head coach Greg Kampe and University of Michigan’s boys basketball coach Juwan Howard.
Superintendents, athletic directors, coaches and athletes state-wide have been anything but silent as well.
The Ottawa-Kent (OK) White conference athletic directors, including Athletic Director Pat Marsman, issued a statement Wednesday, January 27 in support of the student athletes within the conference.
“As the OK White conference, we know that our student-athletes are best served being involved in [Michigan High School Athletic Association] MHSAA educational-based athletics. The learning opportunities that school sports provide are immensely valued and impactful,” the statement read.
Just one day after, Kent County superintendents, including Superintendent Dr.Scott Korpak, wrote a joint letter to Whitmer and the MDHHS regarding the postponement of winter sports.
That same day, dozens of parents and athletes were also able to testify to the Michigan House Oversight Committee, including Coopersville senior Ethan Coady who helped organize the rally that happened at the Capitol on Saturday.
“[Getting to testify was] a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Coady said. “When people from the capitol building are calling you and saying ‘Hey we really want you here to share your story,’ it makes you feel like people are listening and wanting to help your cause.”
After the testimonies, The Senate Committee on Education and Career Awareness unanimously voted 6-0 that requests Whitmer’s administration to allow winter sports to resume immediately. At this time, she has not reversed the decision made on January 22.
While no student-athletes from Northview went to testify Thursday, they still have their opinions on the matter and are fighting for their seasons.
“For most people, [sports] is what keeps them going and helping us feel a sense of normality in our lives. We’ve been stripped of so many things we used to do,” junior wrestler Maria Potrero said. “We still hope to have a season and hopefully they allow us to compete.”
The Roar will continue to update this matter on their Instagram @thenvroar.
