Kingsford softball players Elaina Bortolini and Macy Holmes, front center, are all smiles while waiting to be introduced along with their teammates at the inaugural spring “Meet the Flivvers” hosted by the Kingsford High School Athletic Booster Club at the Kingsford Middle School gym on Monday. Similar events have been held previously for fall and winter sports, with organizers holding Monday’s event to also give student-athletes participating in spring sports their moment in the spotlight. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

Flivver supporters were treated to ice cream before a short ceremony in the gym where most of the estimated 160 student-athletes participating in spring sports were introduced.

“Considering it was our first official spring ‘Meet the Flivvers’ it was a pretty good turnout,” said Chris Hartman, KHS athletic director.

This spring Kingsford will again feature a number of sports teams, including baseball, softball, boys and girls track and field, boys and girls golf, boys tennis and girls soccer.

Booster club president Dennis DalSanto said similar events have annually been hosted for fall and winter sports.

Kingsford boys track and field coach Joe Kriegl, at left, recognizes members of his squad at the first-ever spring “Meet the Flivvers” event on Monday. Kriegl encouraged Flivver fans to come out and watch Kingsford during the upcoming season. “We’re strong. We’re fast,” he said. (Dennis Mansfield/Daily News photo)

“We have a lot of three-sport athletes,” DalSanto said. “(But) it was brought to our attention that some of our student-athletes only participate in spring sports.

“Here at Kingsford we like to make sure all our athletes are recognized,” he added.

Hartman praised the booster club for hosting the event, saying the organization deserves “a huge thank you … for sponsoring the ice cream social and for everything they offer our student-athletes and coaches throughout the school year.”

The spring event not only provided recognition for the school’s student-athletes, but also gave DalSanto a chance to recruit volunteers and potential new booster club members.

Kingsford will host the U.P. Track and Field Finals on June 4. DalSanto said the booster club will need between 60-80 volunteers to help operate the concession stand during the event.

And, with some members possibly leaving after the children graduate, he added there’s a need for new members to step up and help out.

“We have some long-term people who will be stepping away. They don’t have kids in high school anymore,” he said. “If you’d like to join, we’re a great group of people.”

Individuals interested in volunteering for the concession stand for the track and field finals or who want to find out more about the KHS Athletic Boosters Club should contact the KHS Athletic Office by calling 906-779-2670 or emailing Hartman at chartman@kingsford.org.

Dennis Mansfield can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 225, or at dmansfield@ironmountaindailynews.com.