A parent's social media post began circulating after her son was removed from the Negaunee (Mich.) High School varsity basketball team for missing two practices to attend deer camp — a long-standing Upper Peninsula tradition.
According to Tiffany Store, the absences were communicated in advance, but the consequence was removal from the roster, as reported by Stateline Sports Network, serving Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Gaven Store, who had never missed a single game with his teammates since third grade, has since moved to a different sport.
Many who reacted online called it “punishment, not coaching,” according to SSN. Former coaches said it went against what high school sports are meant to teach. Others pointed out that the school handbook allows students two excused school days per year for hunting, which intensified frustration over whether that should extend to sports.
But just as quickly, a strong wave of support for first-year coach Bill Hill followed.
Tiffany Store also shared a screenshot of a text exchange between herself, her husband and Hill. In it, she asked the coach directly whether Gaven was removed from the team specifically because he informed the coach in advance that he would miss two practices while out of town with family.
Hill responded that:
• After tryouts, Gaven told him he would be hunting on Monday and Tuesday
• He was told the expectation was that he would be at practice
• Gaven reiterated again on Friday that he would still miss both days
• At the varsity level, full attendance is required
• The situation had already been discussed with the athletic director
According to SSN, this exchange has now become a major part of the public debate surrounding communication, expectations and accountability.
Several Negaunee players and parents have publicly defended Hill and the team’s standards, with one player writing, “The ‘unhealthy expectation for kids’ is soft. The bar was set, we knew it. If you’re not mentally and physically fit and not willing to fully commit your time, don’t play. Multiple players gave up hunting time and work time. Nobody is complaining. We communicate and work around it. Our coach is flexible and easy to talk to. He made a decision knowing the consequences. Simple.”
Another parent post said their child would “bend over backwards, walk on hot coals” for Hill and credited him with making a huge positive impact on athletes from 3rd grade through 12th grade. That same parent expressed heartbreak over how the social media reaction has affected not just one family — but the entire community.
Negaunee Public Schools administration and and the NPS Board of Education cosigned a social media post Saturday, stating, "We are aware of the recent comments circulating on social media regarding our boys’ basketball program. As a district, we do not typically respond to online debate, but we want to express our support for our coaching staff, teachers, support staff, and all who work every day to provide a positive experience for our students.
Hill, who was hired in June, has now released the full tryout, practice, scrimmage, and hunting window, showing that varsity players had up to nine full days available to hunt. Junior varsity players had 10 days to hunt, and freshmen had 11.
“Varsity players could have hunted nine full days if they chose," Hill said. "Negaunee basketball values family time. I missed my own kids’ first basketball tournament because Negaunee Varsity Basketball came first. Love our team, love our parents, love our administrators! You only made us stronger.”
