FSU

Ferris State's Andy Bronkema To Compete In Mecosta County Celebrity Harness Race

Big Rapids, Mich. - For the fourth time, a member of the Ferris State University Athletics Department will compete as a celebrity racer to raise funds for charity in this year's Mecosta County Fair "Celebrity Harness Race".

Current FSU men's basketball head coach Andy Bronkema, who guided the Bulldogs to the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championship, will be among five local riders who will race in the Celebrity Sulky Race at the Mecosta County Agriculture Free Fair on Tuesday, July 9, in Big Rapids at the Mecosta County Fairgrounds. He'll race to raise support for "Friends of Ferris" in support of the university.

The event begins with an Infield Party starting at 6:30 p.m. (ET) and tickets for the event are $20. The price includes admission to the race and party, appetizers, best dressed derby attire contest, a cash bar and more. All proceeds go to the racers' charities.

Along with Bronkema, the other racers in the community service fundraiser will include John Chaput, racing for The Shamrock Invitational, along with Melissa Scheible, who will be racing for Artworks. The other two participants will be Aaron Thompson, racing for Angels of Action, in addition to Emily Fransted, racing for St. Mary's School.

Tickets can be purchased thru any of the racers or at various local businesses such as the Angels of Action office or Currie's Gas Station.

This year, Bronkema will follow in the footsteps of Ferris State Hockey head coach Bob Daniels, who competed in the event as a celebrity racer in 2014 to support the Little Kevin Courtney Youth Hockey fund, along with former FSU Associate Athletics Director Jon Coles, who was in the 2015 race riding for Friends of Ferris. Most recently, current FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger also raced for the Friends of Ferris in 2017.

The 2018 NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, Bronkema guided the Bulldogs to the most historic season in school history in 2017-18 when FSU finished 38-1 overall and claimed the school's first national championship. The Bulldogs have presently won 20 games or more five consecutive years under his direction.