Calumet Wins Their First High School Bowl Championship in 30 Years, and Houghton Student Wins Goldsmith Scholarship
MARQUETTE, April 4, 2020 – The Calumet “Copper Kings” played the Houghton “Gremlins” in the 2020 Championship of High School Bowl and won by a score of 280-210. Forty schools from the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin field teams for WNMU-TV’s High School Bowl tournament, now celebrating 42 years on the air. Northern Michigan University awarded scholarships to the first and second-place winners, with Calumet receiving $2500 and Houghton $1500 in scholarship funds to be distributed by the schools.
Houghton High School Senior George Manson was named as this year's recipient of WNMU-TV’s Dave Goldsmith Scholarship, awarded annually to an outstanding senior player. George appeared on High School Bowl for four seasons and was instrumental in leading the Houghton Gremlins to the 2020 finals. George will receive $1500 to use towards his college education.
Calumet’s road to the championship began with a win over Hancock (380-70) in the second round; and in the third round they defeated Menominee (250-80). The Copper Kings advanced through the next two rounds with wins over Munising (320-90) and Superior Central (280-200) to earn a coveted spot in the championship game.
Houghton began the 2019-2020 High School Bowl season by defeating Brimley (340-80) in the second round, Dollar Bay (370-80) in the third round, and Gladstone (370-120) in the quarterfinals. They clinched their spot in the championship with a win over Sault Ste. Marie (400-140) in the semifinals.
This is only the second time the Calumet Copper Kings have won the championship game. They have not appeared in the final High School Bowl tournament game since 1990 when they won against Sault Ste. Marie.
The Houghton Gremlins made their fifteenth appearance in the final game of the High School Bowl Tournament this year. They won the High School Bowl Championship in 2019 when they competed against Bessemer.
Representing Calumet, seated from left, are players Ben Jackson, team captain Zander Worm, Serenity Snyder and Lowell Torola. Standing is coach David Torola. Players for Houghton are, seated from left, Sam Fang, team captain Kate Desrochers, George Manson and Brian Knewtson. Standing is coach Rebecca Keyes. High School Bowl host Jim Koski is standing at lower left.
Major production funding for High School Bowl is provided by The Ray & Peg Hirvonen Foundation, and by Janice Mills of Escanaba, and by the Donald & Audrey Anderson Foundation. Local support is provided by 18 Upper Peninsula Credit Unions: TruNorth Federal Credit Union, Marquette Community Federal Credit Union, U.P. State Credit Union, Tahquamenon Area Credit Union, Soo Co-op Credit Union, Peninsula Federal Credit Union, Gogebic County Federal Credit Union, Northern United Federal Credit Union, Torch Lake Federal Credit Union, Michigan Tech Employees Federal Credit Union, Delta County Credit Union, Great Lakes First Federal Credit Union, Baraga Community Federal Credit Union, Iron Mountain/Kingsford Community Federal Credit Union, Embers Credit Union, Settlers Federal Credit Union, Chippewa County Credit Union and Integra First Federal Credit Union. Local support is also provided by Petrucelli and Waara, Attorneys at Law; and by Johnson Controls; in partnership with the Regional Educational Service Agencies & Intermediate School Districts of the Upper Peninsula.
WNMU-TV is a member-supported public broadcasting service of Northern Michigan University and is licensed to the NMU Board of Trustees.
