Mick Francis and Katie (Pickette) Slagh are the 2018-2019 inductees into the Hopkins Athletics Hall of Fame.
Michael ‘Mick’ Francis, a longtime coach and teacher at HHS, Francis was chosen as an inductee for the tremendous amount of time he has given to students, athletes and athletic programs. Mick coached many successful teams (specifically in softball and football). After retiring, he continues to support local athletics helping on the sidelines for the football program, now coached by his son, Cody Francis..
Katie Pickette Slagh set state records in her respective division in both the 100-meter hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles. She went on to compete as a heptathlete for Western Michigan University. In 2005, she became WMU’s first ever MAC champion in the heptathlon.
The two will be honored between the boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball games at about 7 p.m. Feb. 8 in the high school gym.
The Hopkins Athletic Hall of Fame was launched in 2016. The first group was selected by a special committee that was formed that spring.
Inductees last year were retired football coach Rex Weaver, community boosters Dennis and Judy Kennedy, basketball player and coach Tracy Hazen Iciek and members of the 1999 football team that was state runner-up.
The first class of Hopkins High School inductees were Joseph Roxbury, Class of 1931; Jim Hazen, Class of 1949; Jerry Herp, 1957; Jim Newell, 1966 (coach 1970-2010); Karen Caywood Schwartz, 1977; Kris Knobloch, 1989; Tim Kisner, 1997; Sabrina Bird Mertes; Coach Al Deal and community member Carol Guy.
What about Bob Beck? He has called the awesome Viking football games forever. That’s just not right!
Outstanding selections for such an award. Maybe next year for Bob Beck.and Eugene Knobloch. Bob has been there forever announcing and Gene was an outstanding high school football player and was a lineman for Cenral Michigan University.