MUSKEGON – One former NFL player, a state championship volleyball coach, a group of high school golfers with a rare state-title four-peat and one historic boys basketball team comprise the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame’s 2023 induction class.
Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Joe Berger of Newaygo, highly successful Fruitport volleyball coach Dan Potts, the 2009-2012 Mona Shores girls golf teams that captured four straight Division 2 state titles, and the 1953 Muskegon St. Joseph boys basketball squad that won a state championship make up the newest group of inductees.
The two individuals, the golf teams and basketball squad will be enshrined during the Hall of Fame banquet on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center in Muskegon. They’ll be joined by Gene Young Distinguished Service Award winner Frank Coletta, a longtime volunteer and supporter of youth and high school sports in Ravenna as well as council and board member.
Male and female Scholar-Athlete Award winners will be announced in May.
“Our 2023 class reflects amazing feats of glory, coaching prowess and NFL storylines from four professional teams. Muskegon area’s sports history is well represented with our incoming class. We couldn’t be prouder,” said Dan Beckeman, who was recently named president of the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame board of directors.
Berger, who played offensive line and linebacker for Newaygo High School and was a walk-on at Michigan Tech, spent 12 years in the NFL as an offensive guard and center. A two-time, first-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honoree at Michigan Tech, Berger was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round (207th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft.
After stints with the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys, the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Berger settled in with the Vikings in a seven-year tenure. He appeared in 145 games and made 84 starts during his NFL career.
Potts put Fruitport on the volleyball map and guided the Trojans to the lone team state championship in school history. During an eight-year run, he led Fruitport to the state’s final four six times. Under Potts’ tutelage, the Trojans captured the Class B state championship in 2005 and were state runners-up 2001-2003 as well as in 2006. He coached at Fruitport 1992-2007.
In three seasons at the Mona Shores helm, Potts led the Sailors to back-to-back OK Black Conference titles and the 2014 Greater Muskegon Athletic Association championship. Potts also was a strong player in his own right on the professional beach volleyball circuit.
Mona Shores’ girls golf program made Michigan High School Athletic Association history with four consecutive Division 2 state championships 2009-2012. The Sailors, who were coached by John Brainard, won those titles in convincing fashion, too, finishing ahead of the pack by 15, 26, 27 and 41 shots, respectively.
During that four-year run, Mona Shores went 72-0 in matches and won virtually everything in sight, including conference, GMAA, regional and state titles. Additionally, all four of those Sailors squads earned Academic All-State recognition.
Even though the school closed for good following the 1952-53 academic year, Muskegon St. Joseph’s boys basketball team left its mark. The squad captured the Class D state championship by stunning heavily-favored Detroit All Saints, 58-51 in overtime.
St. Joseph, which was coached by Charles Wiersma, accomplished the feat despite not having a gymnasium of its own. The Saints practiced at the old Catholic Youth Organization gym in downtown Muskegon and played its home games at Muskegon High School and other locations.
Coletta, who moved to Ravenna in 1953, spent many years volunteering and giving back to the small community. He was board president of Ravenna Summer Recreation for 25 years. He ran the clock and scoreboard for Ravenna High School home football games for 45 years, and ran the clock for home basketball games 10 years.
Coletta worked on the committee that brought Rocket Football to Ravenna, plus he was a member of the Lions Club that helped complete the youth baseball and softball complex at Conklin Park. Additionally, Coletta was a Ravenna Village Council member for 18 years and served on the Ravenna Board of Education for five years.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame banquet will go on sale this spring.
For more information on the Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame, go to the organization’s website at www.mashf.com.
