Like many high school athletes, Caledonia sophomore Brinlee Barry misses playing sports right now.
"It has been really hard," Barry who plays basketball and lacrosse for the Fighting Scots said. "It is honestly kind of scary I don't know when it is going to get back to normal and I just want to spend time with my teammates again and play my game."
But Barry is excited for a new opportunity as she has been chosen as one of eight new members for a two year term on the MHSAA's Student Advisory Council.
"I was honestly surprised," Barry said about being selected. "I was really hopeful to get it but with how many applicants there was, I think there was 179 this year, it was a record and I was kind of scared because I didn't see many west siders on there but I was really excited and I'm excited to meet new people."
Not only was the number of applicants a record but it was about twice as many as the MHSAA normally receives.
Barry becomes the first Caledonia student ever selected to the council that was adopted in 2007.
She carries a grade point average of over four and is eager to give back in her new role.
"I love sports so anything to do with sports I want to be involved in," Barry said. "I have had so many experiences and opportunities in a lot of sports I want to help other athletes get the things that I have but as I've grown older I see sports are more about sportsmanship and safety and the board is really big on promoting that."
With the uncertainty that surrounds athletics heading into next school year the student advisory council may have a big challenge in front of it, something Barry understands heading in.
"Going to the fall with fall sports everything is going to change because who knows if we will still be quarantined or social distancing," Barry said. "I think everybody is going to be eager to get back to playing sports and watching sports so I think we are still going to have to allow sports but we are going to have to push on the sportsmanship and safety factor of sports."
The members of the Student Advisory Council are scheduled to meet seven times a year plus a 24-hour leadership camp in June which has been postponed due to COVID-19.
