Welcome to Benzie County Central Schools

The BCMS Cross Country team welcomed the crowds to a home meet Wednesday at the Benzie Blitz 2-Miler. 

 The team fed off all the support and warm October sun and had a great run!  

There were six Personal Records (PRs) on the day, with three apiece on the boys and girls squads.  

The home team put on a show, with the boys and girls both seeing first place finishes from Lexie Ewing and Isaiah Graetz. 

For Lexie, this was her third straight #1 finish, while Isaiah continued his five race run of first place finishes while also reaching a PR!  

Matthew Vroman had his fastest race yet too, finishing fifth, while Wyatt Streeter dropped over a minute off his previous best time. 

On the girls side, Elizabeth Armstrong had a PR race, finishing fourth, and Isabella Wood had a fantastic breakthrough run, cutting off a minute from her previous best.

Audrey Torongo had another solid run, reaching a season best finish, and Lexi Leiffers also had a PR. 

It was indeed a fine fall day for the Husky MSXC team to tune up for MHSAA Regionals next week in Cadillac for one final race.

Cheer these Huskies on!  GO BENZIE.

Let's hear it for Benzie Central Alumni, Maria Blazejewski.

Maria is being inducted in the Lake Superior State University Alumni Association - Athletic Hall of Fame - 

"Maria Blazejewski ’13Maria Blazejewski ‘13 was one of the most accomplished student-athletes in Lake Superior State women’s basketball history during her career from 2009 to 2013. A two-year team captain, she led the Lakers in scoring three times (2009-10, 2011-12, and 2012-13) and led the team in rebounding as a senior, averaging 6.5 rebounds per game. Her outstanding 2012-13 season earned First Team All-GLIAC honors after receiving Second Team recognition in both 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Blazejewski’s name remains prominent throughout the Laker record book. She ranks fifth all-time in career scoring with 1,585 points, fifth in free-throw percentage (80.2%), seventh in free throws made (372), and tenth in field goals made (581). Her senior season was one of the finest in program history, highlighted by a school-record 164 free throws made, an 86.8 percent free-throw percentage that ranks fourth all-time, and a scoring average of 17.8 points per game, ninth-best in a single season.

Her contributions to the program extended beyond statistics. Blazejewski earned the Terry McDermott Freshman of the Year Award, the Bud Cooper Coaches Award, the Chris Comito Award, and the Deb McPherson Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year Award. In recognition of her lasting impact on the program, the women’s basketball team established the “4 Award” in honor of her jersey number. The award recognizes what a student-athlete has given to the university, community, and team, and continues to be presented to deserving Lakers women’s basketball players.

A standout in the classroom as well, Blazejewski earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and graduated magna cum laude. She was named to the Dean’s List all four years and received GLIAC Academic Excellence honors three times.

Looking back on her time at Lake State, Blazejewski is most appreciative of the relationships she built along the way. “When I look back on my time with the LSSU women’s basketball program, the first thing that comes to mind is my Laker teammates,” she said. “We pushed each other every day, worked tirelessly side by side, and built memories that went far beyond the court.

”Following her graduation, Blazejewski embarked on a successful professional basketball career that has taken her to nine countries across Europe, Australia, and Puerto Rico. Among her many accomplishments, she finished sixth in MVP voting in Australia’s WNBL, earned All-Portugal First Team and All-Portugal Import Team honors, averaged more than 19 points per game in four professional leagues, and was recognized in 2023 as one of the Grand Traverse area’s Influential Women.

Despite her success on the international stage, Blazejewski says she has gained an even greater appreciation for the support she received during her years as a Laker. She remains grateful to her family, friends, professors, fellow students, alumni, and members of the Sault Ste. Marie community who helped shape her experience at Lake Superior State and looks forward to reconnecting with many of them at the October reunion.

Blazejewski’s connection to LSSU also runs through her family. Her parents, Mark and Kathleen, are both LSSU alumni, and she has an older sister, Meredith, and older brother, Lucas. Her father, Mark, was a member of the 1975-76 LSSU men’s basketball team, which was inducted into the LSSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.

Benzie Central continues to be proud of Maria and all of her accomplishments.  We also are grateful for what she gives back to our girls baskeball program with her various clinics.

"-Lake Superior State University Alumni Association

Congratulations, Maria.I will share pictures after the weekend!

Mrs. Catina Crossman

__________________________________

Executive Assistant to the Superintendent

Board of Education Administrative Assistant

Director of Communications| Social Media | Talent Mngt. Asst.

Pupil Accounting Specialist

Schools of Choice Coordinator 

"Dear Principal,

At Wesco, we are proud to serve our local communities and grateful for the opportunity to give back to the schools that help shape their future.

For the sixth consecutive year, Wesco and Pepsi are partnering to donate $20,000 to local public high schools through our annual Pepsi Challenge. 

Thanks to Pepsi's generous financial support, this program allows our customers to make a difference in their communities simply by purchasing a fountain drink at Wesco.

From October 26 through December 30, 2026, two cents from every qualifying fountain drink sold at participating Wesco locations will go toward supporting local public high schools, until the $20,000 goal is reached.

Each participating high school is guaranteed a minimum donation of $100, with the remaining funds distributed based on fountain drink sales at the Wesco locations supporting each school.

As one of our selected schools, you can expect a visit from your local Wesco manager in January 2027 to personally present your school's donation check.

We encourage you to share the Pepsi Challenge with your students, families, and school community. 

Every fountain drink purchased at your local Wesco helps support your school and contributes to the success of this program.

We sincerely appreciate the important work you do for our communities and are proud to partner with Pepsi in supporting public education."

Sincerely,

Bryan Link

Marketing DirectorWesco Inc.

Benzie Central High School Traveling Program 

- Donut Sale -

Friday, October 30  7:20 AM - HS Entryway -

 All proceeds help support our annual trip to Washington D.C

“DONATION TO MCKINLEY’S KIDS 

   The Almira Township Fire & EMS Association presented a $1,000 check to McKinley’s Kids this week— which was raised at our annual open house. 

We’re fortunate to have Deputy McKinley in our schools, and we’re proud to support his mission.

McKinley’s Kids provides about $500/week right now for lunch accounts. 

Check out Matt’s facebook page to stay updated! All donations can be sent to Benzie Central Schools with “McKinleys Kids” in the memo." 

 - Almira Township Fire & EMS Department

Thank you, Almira Township Fire & EMS Department!