Here at FHC, our tight-knit community stands by one another and supports each other like no other school. From large community get-togethers to our top-tier sports teams, we have been quite spoiled over the years when it comes to calendar-worthy events. With so many events though, our sports stand out, and with a plethora of state championship-winning teams, there is no doubt that the school’s accomplishments reflect back into the community in a positive way. 

Over the span of the past few years, FHC’s athletics have soared past the competition and many teams have even won the state championship in their respective sport, and winning the title is everything to some of our athletes. It goes without saying that a win is more than just a ring: it is an honor.

“Winning the state championship is the ultimate goal, and it really legitimized all the work I put in throughout the season and other seasons,” stated senior Sam Sneider. 

Although these wins have meant so much to the athletes, it isn’t just the individuals on the field feeling the effect of these wins; the FHC community and students look forward to these wins to boost their morale and give them an opportunity to prove their school spirit against other schools. 

“To me, winning the state championship would mean that we have proven how great of a team our school is as a whole,” said senior Izzy Walters. “From the student section to the actual players, we stuck together to win the title.”

Within the past year, not only did girls soccer win a state championship, but boys lacrosse did as well. The community was overjoyed when it had two sports in the same season take the title, and it made the 2021-2022 school year that much better.

“The people in the community saw the lacrosse and soccer state championships as a glimpse back to past times when we had state championships in the spring, and I think everyone enjoyed that feeling,” former FHC athlete and state champion Mac Boike said. 

The reason state championships are receiving so much attention right now though compared to normal is because of our FHC football team; the team has made it to the state semifinals, and because of this accomplishment, one question remains: Will we have a chance to make it all the way?

The FHC Ranger football program may have multiple conference, district, and regional championships under its belt, but it has never been able to win the state championship. The closest the Rangers came to bringing home the title was in 1994 when they made the state final at the Pontiac Silverdome but came up just shy in the final seconds. This opportunity is extremely important and exciting to our community because this would be a first not only for our seniors and generation, but the first ever in Ranger history. Knowing we are so close to this title, the football team and the community is getting excited that we may be able to finally pull it off. 

“It would mean a lot to me to bring the first-ever football state championship home but first, we have to win this week in order to have that opportunity,” senior football captain Raymond Cargill said. 

Although the outcome of the state semifinals is uncertain, it is fair to say state championships old and new are a treasure to the athletes and the community and really prove that there is no better place to be than Ranger Country.