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Eskymo Baseball, Softball Teams Start Practice                     The temperatures were 70 degrees and the skies were sunny on Wednesday, so the Escanaba high School boys baseball and girls softball teams took advantage by holding scrimmages and practices outside, rather than in the gym. The start of the regular season is still a couple of weeks away for both the baseball and softball teams, but days like this will help both Eskymo teams to get prepared. Pictured above: Tim Lueneburg swings as Alex DeHaan catches during the intrasquad.               Left photo: Erin Gregoire practices her swing. Right photo: Jayme Frappier hits off a tee. Bottom photo: Jake Rodman pitches to Nick Vandermissen, as DeHaan catches.

Dagenais, Crawford Honored As 'True Eskymos'                   The Escanaba High School Fan Club held its annual "Spring Fling" event over the weekend, and as part of the evening, two awards were handed out. One was the "Eskymo Business of the Year Award"...and that was given to Crawford Funeral Home, and owner Jim Crawford. Crawford was praised for all of the sponsorships he has authorized over the years to support Eskymo athletics. The biggest award, however, was the Bud Stegath Eskymo of the Year Award. And that was given to Mike Dagenais, the part-owner of Elmer's County Market. Dagenais was praised for all of the behind-the-scenes support he has personally given to the Eskymos over the years, as well as for the help that his grocery store has offered. Pictured above: Dagenais is surprised as he gets the award from the Booster Club's Sue Roberts. Below photo: Crawford speaks on his award. (Lisa Dagenais photos)

Schwalbach Hired As Eskymo Baseball Coach  The Escanaba School Board voted 5-1 Monday night to hire Kirk Schwalbach as the high school's varsity baseball coach. Schwalbach served as assistant coach for the past three years under Don Lauscher. Lauscher resigned last fall after five years in charge of the program. Schwalbach has coached five different Gladstone Little League Baseball All-Star teams over the past decade. He was the manager of the Delta County Senior All-Stars that earned a state tournament appearance in 2009. He is a 1979 Escanaba HS graduate. "We have a great group of kids coming back," Schwalbach said after Monday night's school board meeting. "We have some kids who will get an opportunity to play who didn't play much last year. It all comes down to defense, pitching, and quality at-bats. We need to get in some open gyms, pick the team, and then go from there." "Kirk has proven that he can teach the game of baseball," Escanaba Athletic Director Dave Wilson said Monday night. "He has a very good rapport with the kids. And he makes it all about the kids. That really came through during the interview process." Schwalbach is the third manager since the Eskymo program was revived in 2002. He follows Jude VanDamme (120-15 in five years), and Lauscher (130-27 in five years).                   Top photo: Kirk Schwalbach coaches first base during a game last season. Above: He high-fives with his players during pre-game introductions. (Lisa Dagenais photos)

Escanaba Cheerleaders Finish 7th; School Best The Escanaba High School competitive cheerleading team took seventh place at the 14-team MHSAA Division Two district tournament in downstate Mason on Friday. The 706.39 points posted by the Eskymos were the best in school history, although it was 36 points shy of being enough to qualify for the regional finals. Marquette was the only other U.P. team at the meet, and the Redettes were 11th with 612.35 points.

Escanaba Football Coach Dan Flynn Retires For the first time in more than a quarter century, the Escanaba High School is looking for a varsity football coach. Veteran coach Dan Flynn announced his retirement on Monday. He's been the head coach since 1986, and served as an assistant under Jerry Cvengros going back to 1971. Escanaba Athletic Director Dave Wilson played under Flynn back in the late '80s. He also coached under him for ten years, and has been his boss as the athletic director for the last five. "He's the best," Wilson said. "He's dedicated more than 40 years of his life to this school and to the Escanaba Athletic Department. There's no coach that I know of that's treated kids better. He's made Escanaba football for the kids and about the kids. It's a strange day. He's affected a lot of kids lives. He will be missed." (Listen to Dave Wilson's statement by clicking the button on the left side of this page) Flynn met with his players Monday before making his announcement. Wilson says the position will be posted internally, but he does not have a timetable for doing that.

Escanaba's Austin Young Commits To Northern                   Escanaba High School senior Austin Young has committed to play football at Northern Michigan University. Young was a Michigan All-State quarterback selection in 2011, shattering several Escanaba High School offensive records during his senior season. But Young is being recruited as a slot-receiver by NMU, not a quarterback. Young is also a hockey and baseball standout at Escanaba, so what was the determining factor in his decison to try football at Northern Michigan? "I am going to college to play football and to get a good education," Young said. "I like that it (NMU) is close, and they seemed very interested in what I can do. I'm gonna have to train harder than most people, so, hopefully, I can get it done." Young says that he is looking at a career in criminal justice, and that is what he will study at Northern. "I don't know which way I'm gonna branch out yet, though," Young said. CLICK HERE to watch Young's best run of the '11 H.S. football season.

Escanaba Cheerleaders Compete In Marquette                     The Escanaba High School competitive cheerleading team competed at the Marquette Cheer Challenge over the weekend. The Eskymo girls finished third in the event with 711.29 points, behind Kingsford (722.83) and Munising (719.85). Marquette finished fourth and Norway fifth. Esky girls pictures are courtesy of Linda Bockman.

Eskymos Win Holiday Gymnastics Tournament               The Escanaba High School girls gymnastics team won the championship of their own tournament on Wednesday, but by just a whisker. The Eskymos won with 114.45 points, Negaunee was second with 113.90. Marquette finished third with 63 points. Negaunee's Sara Pakkanen was the all-around winner (33.30). She won the floor (9.55) and bars (8.70) competition. Escanaba's Drew Mattson was second in the all-around (32.35). She won the vault (8.70) and beam (7.65). Erin Mattson was third overall. Pictured at left: Escanaba's Lexi Berube on the bars. Pictured at right: Negaunee's Sara Pakkanen was the "all-around" winner. Pictured below: Smile, Girls! WATCH ESKYMOS vs MINERS GYMNASTICS MEET CLICK HERE  to watch Escanaba's Drew Mattson's bar routine. CLICK HERE  to watch Escanaba's Megan Heidt's bar routine. CLICK HERE  to watch Negaunee's Katie Torreano's floor routine. CLICK HERE  to watch Negaunee's Sara Pekkanen's floor routine.

'Meet The Eskymos' Kicks Off 2010-'11 Season                    The high school sports season is under way across the Upper Peninsula, and in Escanaba, the school held its annual "Meet the Eskymos" night Thursday at the Escanaba Athletic Field. It's an event to introduce the community to the football, volleyball, cross country, and tennis players and coaches....and the Esky cheerleaders. The event also allows school administrators to introduce parents to how athletic programs work. Pictured above: the Eskymo football players wait to be introduced. Left photo: longtime Eskymo supporter Frank Berres. Below photo: the Escanaba High School cheerleaders rev everyone up.                 CLICK HERE  and HERE  to watch video clips of the girls in action Thursday evening!

Dagenais, Berube Sweep Esky's Major Awards                       The trophy case is getting a bit crowded for Escanaba High School seniors Jared Dagenais and Sherri Berube. Berube and Dagenais both won the coveted Gessner-Photenhauer Award on Wednesday, which has been given out for more than 80 years to the students with the best combination of athletics, academics, and character. To qualify, the kids had to have at least a 'C' grade point average, and have either three letters in one sport, two letters in two sports, or one letter in three sports. It is named after Herman Gessner, a local businessman who started the award in 1924.  Berube starred in Eskymo wrestling, cross country, and track and field, earning a total of 12 letters over her high school career (counting two years as manager on the noys tennis team). Dagenais had ten letters in Eskymo hockey (four), baseball (four), and football (two).  Both Berube and Dagenais also won the 2011 Gary Abrahamson Award earlier this week for having the most varsity letters in their high school careers amongst all athletes in the Senior Class. Top photo: Dagenais and Berube pose with Escanaba High School Athletic Director Dave Wilson and the Gessner Trophy on Wednesday. Left photo: Berube and Dagenais pose with the Gary Abrahamson Trophy earlier this week.