Students competed in archery, basketball, volleyball, dodgeball, bowling, chess, giant slalom skiing and snowboarding.

Almost 800 participants from the eight school districts, along with their families and school administrators, crowded into the Kingsford Middle School Gymnasium for the opening ceremony to kick off the day of competition.

The Kingsford Carpenter-Clash American Legion Post 363 presented the colors. Singing the national anthem, under the direction of Norway-Vulcan retired music instructor Dawn Kranz, were Great Eight participants Ashley Peterson and Anjuli White from Florence; Dalaney Wagner and Skylar VanOss from Forest Park; Sophia Richtig and Emelia Miles from Iron Mountain; Hally Kusmitch and Zoey Cowling from Kingsford; Maddie Boehmer and Carli Bischoff from Niagara; Tayla Adams and Kaydince Bozile from North Dickinson; Jayda Hunter and Grace Schiltz from Norway-Vulcan; and Eiley Meske and Gracyn Melstrom from West Iron.

David Holmes, Kingsford High School principal, led the ceremony. He spoke of the history of the games and the fact that this event is the only one of its kind that continues in the Upper Peninsula. He thanked all of the Great Eight sponsors and also the major sponsor, Connor Sports, for its many years of continued support of the Winter Games.

Opening ceremonies in Kingsford for the 26th Great Eight Winter Games included a laser light show by Negaunee native Tim Anderson and a color guard from Kingsford American Legion Post 363.

Administrators representing the school districts were Florence Superintendent Ben Niehaus, Forest Park Superintendent Becky Waters, Iron Mountain Superintendent Jerry Sardina, Kingsford Middle School Principal Mary Carlson, Niagara Superintendent Nate Burklund, North Dickinson Superintendent/Principal Angel Inglese, Norway-Vulcan Superintendent Lou Steigerwald and West Iron Superintendent Chris Thomson.

Tim Anderson of Nu-Salt Laser Light Shows International provided another amazing display. His performance was set in time to several musical numbers with the addition this year of some pyrotechnics that made it even more enjoyable. The show included laser projections of each of the school names and mascots, events offered and also the logos of the major sponsor, Connor Sports.

Anderson is based out of California and is a native of Negaunee.

Each school district presented its school flag during the opening ceremony. The flag bearers were Isabella Millan and Dustin Williams, Florence; Lauren Kudwa and Anthony Kurtz, Forest Park; Macy Linsenbigler and Betsy Vanegas-Mendoza, Iron Mountain; Clairice Strehlow and Christopher Burie, Kingsford; Emma Brasure and Aiva Champeau, Niagara; Antonio Inglese and Maggie Mattson, North Dickinson; Cole Baij and Grace Schiltz, Norway; and Anthony Sucholl and Darren Johnson, West Iron.

To honor the official start, the Winter Games torch was lit by Iron Mountain seventh-grade student Isabella Pickett.

Sponsors of the 2020 Great Eight Winter Games include: Connor Sports; Bacco Construction Co.; Barb’s Cafe; Danielson Insurance Agency; First National Bank & Trust of Iron Mountain-Kingsford; First National Bank & Trust of Iron River; Florence Elementary PTO; Florence Hardwoods LLC; Florence Motor Sales; Forward Financial Credit Union; Great North Bank; Hall’s Hardware; Hebert Construction Co.; Iron County Kiwanis; LaChapelle Insurance Services; LaFaive Oil Company; mBank of Florence; mBank of Niagara; Miners State Bank; M. J. Electric; Niagara Athletic Booster Club; Niagara Lions Club; Nordic Booster Club; North Dickinson PTO; Northern Interstate Bank; Norway Dental, P.C.; Stateline Chevrolet; TDS Inc.; UP State Credit Union; and WIC Booster Club.

The 2020 Great Eight Winter Games shirts were designed and printed by Chris Freeman and Advanta Print of Iron Mountain.

The organizing committee was comprised of Karen Harrison of Florence, Lisa Olson of Forest Park, Joe Trudeau of Niagara, Mike Roell of North Dickinson, Joe Tinti of Norway-Vulcan, Angie Williams of West Iron Co., Carol Maloney, Chris Hartman, Donny Bianco, and Julie Wonders of Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Schools. They were pleased that the day went smoothly and was enjoyed by the participants. The committee is grateful for the many people behind the scenes who made the day a success — school administrators and personnel, site supervisors, coaches, officials, timers, scorers, ticket takers, concession workers, custodians and also the parents of the participants.

The committee also acknowledged the Kiwanis Ski Club and Pine Mountain Ski Hill for hosting the skiers and snowboarders and Recreation Lanes for hosting the bowlers. The committee is appreciative, as well, of the many sponsors who donated to ensure that the students of the area were able to participate in this unique day of competition.

At the conclusion of each event. medals were awarded.

EVENT RESULTS

Dodgeball

Sixth-grade boys: First place, North Dickinson; Second place, Norway-Vulcan; Third place, Kingsford No. 2; Fourth place, Kingsford No. 1; Fifth place, West Iron.

Seventh-grade boys: First, Niagara; Second, West Iron; Third, Kingsford No. 1; Fourth, Norway-Vulcan; Fifth, Florence

Eighth-grade boys: First, North Dickinson; Second, Norway; Third, Florence; Fourth, West Iron No. 1; Fifth, West Iron No. 2.

Volleyball

Sixth-grade girls: First, Forest Park; Second, West Iron-Blue; Third, Kingsford- Gold; Fourth, Florence; Fifth, Iron Mountain.

Seventh-grade girls: First, Kingsford No. 2; Second, Forest Park; Third, Kingsford No. 1; Fourth,Iron Mountain.

Eighth-grade girls: First, Florence No. 2; Second, West Iron No. 1; Third, Niagara; Fourth, Kingsford No. 1.

Basketball

Fourth-grade boys: First, Forest Park; Second, Norway; Third, North Dickinson; Third, Florence.

Fourth-grade girls: First, Florence; Second, Forest Park; Third, Kingsford; Third, Norway.

Fifth-grade boys: First, Iron Mountain; Second, Forest Park; Third, West Iron; Third, Florence.

Fifth-grade girls: First, Kingsford; Second, Niagara; Third, Forest Park; Third, Norway.

Archery

Fourth-grade boys: First, Paxton Sapplicio, West Iron, 29; Second, Samuel Anderson, North Dickinson, 27; Third, Jaxon House, Iron Mountain, 26; Fourth, Cody Conery, North Dickinson, 24; Fifth, Jason Harwath, North Dickinson, 22.

Fourth-grade girls: First, Calleigh Galeazzi, Iron Mountain, 27; Second, Chloe Bodde-Schlotman, Florence, 18; Third, Harmony Scott, West Iron, 17; Fourth, Aubree Peterson, Kingsford, 14 (28); Fifth, Evelyn Brooks, Kingsford, 14 (26).

Fifth-grade boys: First, Kyle Blazier, Kingsford, 30 (45); Second, Marcus Lindgren, Iron Mountain, 30 (40); Third, Jake Benz, Kingsford, 23; Fourth, Kyle Kay, Niagara, 18; Fifth, Cash Koski, West Iron, 15.

Fifth-grade girls: First, Kaija Hill, BB Kingsford, 24; Second, Olivia Sage, BB Iron Mountain, 22; Third, Alaina Mande, Kingsford, 21; Fourth, Ashley Angle, Florence, 16; Fifth, Danni Yarger, West Iron, 5.

Sixth-grade boys: First, Alexander Erickson, Kingsford, 37; Second, Roy Waters, West Iron, 31; Third, Joseph Verrette, Iron Mountain, 30; Fourth, Terry Verley, Kingsford, 28.

Sixth-grade girls: First, Saimi Santi, Forest Park, 33; Second, Alyssa Hedmark, Niagara, 30; Third, Kaitlyn Mathison, Forest Park, 23; Fourth, Madelyn Zeuske, Kingsford.

Seventh-grade boys: First, Izayah Reed, Kingsford, 37; Second, Toby Verley, Norway, 29; Third, Dylan Lindgren, Iron Mountain, 25; Fourth,Shane Kuzmic, Iron Mountain, 13.

Seventh-grade girls: First, Mylee VanHese, Kingsford, 34; Second, Kayla Dault, Kingsford, 30; Third, Justine Geldmeyer, Niagara, 18.

Eighth-grade boys: First, Dawson Laitinen, Iron Mountain, 13.

Eighth-grade girls: First, Delaney Kramer, North Dickinson, 30; Second, Maggie Mattson, North Dickinson, 25.

Bowling

Fourth-grade boys: First, J.T. Weeks, West Iron, 170; Second, Gavin Quayle, Iron Mountain, 161; Third, Lucas Steadman, Kingsford, 138; Fourth, Austin Cowling, Kingsford, 127; Fifth, Ryley Conley, West Iron, 96.

Fourth-grade girls: First, Madison Miller, Kingsford, 130; Second, Delilah Heimerl, Forest Park, 112; Third, Evelynn Vue, West Iron, 106; Fourth, Mikayla Wolf, Florence, 91; Fifth, Hazel Hongisto, Niagara, 88.

Fifth-grade boys: First, Jace Peterson, Iron Mountain, 242; Second, Robert Mikolajacyk, Norway, 144; Third, Joshua Bunker, Kingsford, 112; Fourth, Mitchell Rea, Florence, 89; Fifth, Gabriel Nelson, Florence, 87.

Fifth-grade girls: First, Wynter Weeks, West Iron, 162; Second, Mackenzie Guy, Kingsford, 138; Third, Kia Miller, Iron Mountain, 110; Fourth, Laci Miles, Iron Mountain, 71; Fifth, Lena Roell, Kingsford, 56.

Sixth-grade boys: First, Gavin DuBose, Iron Mountain, 209, Second, Scotty Wagner, Forest Park, 174, Third, Devin Martin, Forest Park, 161, Fourth,Jaxon Neuens, Niagara, 130, Fifth, William Hoffman, Forest Park, 114.

Sixth-grade girls: First, Chloe Roell, Kingsford, 138, Second, Autumn Niemi, Kingsford, 129.

Seventh-grade boys: First, Blake Flaminio, Kingsford, 257, Second, David Nanninga, Kingsford, 193, Third, Jack Wilinkski, Kingsford, 55, Fourth,Perry Miller, Norway, 147, Fifth, Hayden Henes, Kingsford, 144

Seventh-grade girls: First, Libby Vross, Kingsford, 184, Second, Alyssa Steadman, Kingsford, 181, Third, Savanna Hunter, Forest Park, 123.

Eighth-grade boys: First, Ben Cook, Kingsford, 185, Second, Cayden Cherubini, Kingsford, 16.

Eighth-grade girls: First, McKenna Trulock, Kingsford, 238, Second, Zoey Cowling, Kingsford, 203, Third, Sara Bird, Kingsford, 179, Fourth,Haliauna Kusmitch, Kingsford, 161, Fifth, Lylian Bunker, Kingsford, 160.

Chess

Fourth/Fifth-grade boys: First, Evan Grymes, Kingsford, Second, Ben Cowen, Kingsford.

Sixth-grade boys: First, Chase St. John, Kingsford, Second, Nash Rouse, Forest Park, Third, Josh Schiltz, Norway, Fourth,Liam Kolby, Forest Park.

Sixth-grade girls:First, Kylin Werner, Kingsford, Second, Daniel Arcand, Kingsford.

Eighth-grade boys: First, Christopher Burie, Kingsford, Second, Anthony Kurtz, Forest Park, Third, Carter Kassin, Iron Mountain, Third, Lucas Kassin, Iron Mountain.

Giant Slalom Skiing

Fourth/fifth-grade boys: First, Caleb Erickson, Kingsford, 35.68, Second, Skylar St. John, Norway, 38.37, Third, Caleb Baker, Florence, 40.19, Fourth,Wyatt Kassin, Kingsford, 55.74.

Fourth-grade girls: First, Julia Domaradzki, Kingsford, 44.26, Second, Chloe Lanning, Kingsford, 45.14, Third, Haylee Kasten, Kingsford, 50.83.

Fifth-grade girls: First, Sophia Fornetti, Iron Mountain, 33.56, Second, Lauren Bissen, Kingsford, 34.78, Third, Ina Holt, Niagara, 37.26, Fourth,Adriana Thompson, Florence, 46.11.

Sixth/Seventh-grade boys: First, Ben Fornetti, Iron Mountain, 29.48, Second, Tanner Miller, Kingsford, 37.27, Third, Paolo Occhietti, Kingsford, 42.19.

Sixth/seventh/eighth-grade girls: First, Sophia Ruesch, Kingsford, 34.96, Second, Grace Schiltz, Norway, 37.8, Third, Linnea Boehmfeldt, Kingsford, 39.36, Fourth,Lauren Lewandowski, Kingsford, 44.07.

Snowboarding

Fourth/fifth-grade boys: First, Jackson Fox, Kingsford, 51.6, Second, Max Mindock, Kingsford, 01:10.9.

Sixth/seventh-grade boys: First, Connor Hansen, Kingsford, 44.1, Second, Landon Ferrara, West Iron, 51.4.