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HERMANSVILLE -- For the 83rd time, the Meyer Township Community Club in Hermansville will be the midwest epicenter for independent basketball tournaments. The 2022 edition of the Gold Medal Classic basketball tournament tips off Thursday evening with four games on the docket.
At 6 p.m., Jeffrey John Seamless Gutters of Norway will take on Fireplace North of Iron Mountain in Class EE. The gutter hangers will feature recent former Norway High School players, including 2022 Division 4 second team All-U.P. selection Nolan Amundson, 2020 and 2021 Division 1-3 Second Team All-U.P. selection Logan Parolini and Zachary Seat -- the grandson of longtime Gold Medals tournament director, the late Raymond P. Bray.
The 7 p.m. game will be a Class C game between two long-time tournament stalwarts. Kakuk Construction of Daggett will take on Iron River Shamco. Kakuk's will feature the seniors from the 2022 MHSAA Division 3 state runner-up Menominee Maroons, along with their head coach Sam Larson and his assistants.
The Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Division 1-3
2022 player of the year Aiden Bellisle of Menominee will play for Kakuk's.
A pair of Class D games will conclude the opening night of games, with the 8 p.m. game pairing Jim's Plumbing of Wallace taking on Stihl Saw Sales of Powers.
Jim's Plumbing, owned by Jim Starzinski, is another long-time sponsor of teams in the tournament.
The final game Thursday night will feature a group of Menominee County farmers, including Class of 1995 North Central standout Tom Granquist and Bark River-Harris standout Justin Blonairz of Perronville. The group will call themselves Farmersonly.com and take on Wilson Farms of Stephenson at 9 p.m.
Friday night's schedule will also include four games and begin's at 6 p.m. A Class EE game between Bellmore Farms of French Town and NutriFeed of Powers begins the evening of action.
The 7 p.m. contest is the opening Class E game of the tournament, as Hermansville Wildwood will take on Jim's Plumbing. Shamco's Class D squad will take on Rapid River at 8 p.m.
The final game of Friday night will be a Class C game between Juice Promotions of Carney versus Dave's Auto of Iron Mountain. Former Norway High School standout Joey Pontbriand and former Iron Mountain All-U.P. performer Jake Hogberg will join Carney-Nadeau graduates, the Polfus brothers, Jacob and Mike, on the Juice Promotions Class C squad. The Dave's Auto roster features Kingsford graduate Geoff Smart, as well as Iron Mountain graduates Pat Flood and Kyle Johnson.
Something of note that will take place Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the
Community Club, there will be a renaming dedication ceremony of the Club.
Longtime Gold Medal Tournament official and lifelong Hermansville resident, the late Frank Rodman, will be honored by the Meyer Township Board and the current Gold Medal Tournament Committee in renaming the hallowed building in his name.
Meyer Township Board Member Chad Knodl will deliver a speech on behalf of Meyer Township, and Matt "Sweets" McCarthy of Niagara, Wis. will speak on behalf of the Gold Medal Tournament Committee during the ceremony.
A rundown of Saturday and Sunday's Class A and Junior High divisions will be published later in the week.
After taking Monday evening off, the tournament will run Tuesday evening through April 17.
Classes C, D, E and EE will conclude on April 15, with Class B and the Woman's Division to be held April 16 and 17.