By Charlie Commeret
This is an exciting time for sports in the state of Michigan and the Detroit Area. The rise of the Lions, Pistons and Tigers has been very exciting for everyone, including Grand Rapids Community College students.
Currently, the Lions’ season is over after a great regular season and a disappointing loss in the NFC Divisional Round to the Washington Commanders. The Detroit Pistons are currently standing 5th in the Eastern Conference, improving off a last-place finish in the prior season. Additionally, the Detroit Tigers defied the odds and made the playoffs after a rough start, even winning one playoff series before losing to the Cleveland Guardians in the Divisional series. Many students at GRCC have enjoyed seeing Detroit sports prosper after a long losing streak.
For Gage Behrenbrinker, 19, of Wyoming, the rise of the sports teams in Detroit has built a community in the Michigan/Detroit area where they can rally around the success of the sports teams and are overall growing at a good rate. For the majority of people, including Behrenbrinker, the Lions were the highlight of the season.
“I’ve watched the Lions the most,” he said, his favorite part was the regular season. “It was just the overall dominance on the field,” said Behrenbrinker, referring to their 15-2 record-breaking regular season.
Similarly, 18-year-old Carson Capers of Grandville agrees that the rise of the Lions, Pistons and Tigers is bringing a community together in Michigan and the Detroit area. He mentioned how in years prior people used to be laughed at for being a Lions fan, but now it is cool to be a fan since they are having some success on the field.
“I think they are pretty good right now,” he said. “The Detroit Pistons are doing a lot better and same with the Lions.”
The highlight of the season for Capers was the Detroit Lions clinching home-field advantage with the win at home versus the Minnesota Vikings in week 18 of the regular season.
Overall for most GRCC students, the Lions were the most popular watch for Detroit Sports this season. It brought a community of people together with the success they had on the field this season and brought excitement with them being relevant again, which they haven’t been until very recently. Although the early playoff exit was very disappointing for the fans, much appreciation was shown for their greatness this season and the hope for a Super Bowl title in the future.
