Roland Drummond.

Clan Affiliation: Clan Drummond

Tartan: Ancient Clergy

Class: Master

     In addition to competing in the Highland Games, Roland is also your athletic director. Roland has been competing in Highland Games for 11 years. His nick-name is "Preacher" and that is because he is! Roland is a pastor at a church in Flint, MI. His favorite event in Highland Games is the Caber Toss and he has been called a caber specialist. He has won many caber titles both in the USA and in Canada winning the North American Masters Caber Toss Championships in 2007. Roland also claims Scottish ancestry. There is a "Drummond Castle" near Crief, Scotland. Roland has been married for 33 years to Lori and together they have 5 children. They reside in Linden, MI.


John Tracy

Clan Affiliation: Irish

Tartan: County Cork Tartan

Class: Master

     John Tracy (or JT) is a crowd favorite wherever he goes and is easily one of the most recognized masters in the region. He is in his 12th season as a Highland Heavy athlete. When asked what his favorite Highland Games events are, JT simply says, "All of them, except for the stones." JT excels at the caber toss and has been a caber champion at multiple competitions, even taking the title one year at the prestigious North American Masters Caber Toss Championships. John has been married to the lovely Lorrie since 1975! Yes, they are approaching their 40th anniversary!

Mark Peterson

Clan Affiliation: Clan Bruce & Clan MacLaren

Tartan: Bruce

Class: Master/Lightweight

     Mark's fascination with the Highland Games began when he attended a North American Masters Caber Toss Championship and was given the opportunity to try and turn a novice caber. He did it! So he was invited to try the regular caber, and he was able to turn that one as well! The rest is history. Mark has been competing in the Highland Heavy Events for 10 years. Mark's favorite event is the weight over bar. This event is usually the last event contested, but Mark says, "At the end of the day, when you feel like you can't even lift a bottle of water--but we go out there still and go for it!" Mark has been married to Amy for 22 years (Mark says, "She is a saint!) and they reside in Mt. Clemons.

 

Jay Holloway

Clan Affiliation: Clan Livingston

Tartan: Livingston

Class: Master

     Jay comes to us from Gaylord, MI. He is entering his 4th season as a Highland Heavy Events competitor. Jay likes all of the events, but his favorites are caber toss, sheaf toss, hammer throw (both heavy and light) and weight over bar. Jay has been married to his lovely wife Vicki since 1986 (that is 28 years if you are counting!!).

Dale Gehman

Clan Affiliation:

Tartan:

Class: Master

     We are honored to have Dale Gehman numbered among our athletes this year. Dale has done just about everything there is to do in Highland Games - announcer, judge, and for several years in a row  was ranked one of the top 5 masters class athletes.. IN THE WORLD! When Dale throws heavy stuff, he means business! He has been invited to compete in some of the most prestigious Highland Games in the country! Keep your eyes on this phenom! Dale makes his home in Gaylord, MI and is married to  the everdelightful Julie.

Marty Schafer

Clan Affiliation: Clans McDonald & Cochrane

Tartan: United States Marine Corps/Infantry/Veteran

Class: Lightweight

     Marty is in his second year throwing in the Heavy Events as a lightweight competitor. One look at his achievements tells you that Marty is a force in the division! His favorite event is weight over bar but going strictly by the numbers, his best event is the caber toss. Marty is married to the love of his life, Jamie and they have a 2 1/2 year old named Kaleb. Mount Pleasant is where they hang their hats. We are excited to have Marty at Linden this year and you will be excited to see this athlete in action on June 21st!

Ken Green

Clan Affiliation:

Tartan:

Class: Master

Jason Cherry

Clan Affiliation: Clan Kilpatrick

Tartan: National Heritage

Class: Master/Lightweight

     Jason is a bit of a mystery man. We know that he has been competing in Highland heavy Events since 2009 and he is married to Laura . If you would like to know more about Jason, you'll find him on the field on June 21st!

Thomas Sic

Clan Affiliation: Clan Ferguson

Tartan: Ferguson

Class: Master

     Thomas is in his first year competing as a master, but has made a good showing for himself! His favorite event is the caber toss. He has an 8 year old daughter and they reside in Westland, MI. Thomas wants to give kudos to his trainer for the Highland Games Mr. John Tracy (see above). Let's see if the student can beat the teacher!

Brendaen Dinwoody

Clan: Ancient Maxwell

Tartan: Navy

Class: Novice

      Brendaen has stepped up and agreed to fill a spot in our novice group. Having competed in highland games before, Brendaen is our most experienced novice. A former high school thrower, Brendaen say's that his favorite event would be the weights for distance, though his best event is the light hammer. Brendawn puts on quite a show and we are thrilled to have him at Linden this year (many more to come?). Brendaen makes his home in Alma, MI.

Jesse Drummond

Clan Affiliation: Clan Drummond

Tartan: Highland

Class: Novice

     This is Jesse's very first Highland Games competition, but Jesse has earned the right to compete by working hard on the field at many Highland Games. Jesse is an all around accomplished athlete. He plays both defensive and offensive line on his high school football team, wrestles in the heavyweight division, throws both shot and discus in track & field, and is also a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do. His favorite event is the Scottish Hammer. Jesse does equally well when it comes to caber toss, and took to tossing the caber like a duck to water. If you follow Highland games, Jesse is one athlete to watch in coming years!

Hunter Berecz

Clan Affiliation:

Tartan:

Class: Novice

     Hunter is another well rounded athlete who is making his very first entrance into Scottish Highland Heavy Events. Hunter should do very well because Hunter plays football as well as competes in track and field where he excells in shot put and discus. When asked what his favorite event is, Hunter said "The stone." That is because Hunter is one of the very best at high school shot put, and it translates well into the stone in Highland Games. Hunter is excited to compete at Linden Mills Days, and we think the crowd will be excited to see him there too!

Jake VanDermark

Clan Affiliation:

Tartan: Irish Revenge

Class: Novice

     Jake rounds out our novice class this year. He brings both football and powerlifting experience to the Highland Games. When asked what his favorite event is, he said without hesitation, "Caber. Plus the crowd likes it too." This young man is one to watch for as he progresses in the Highland Games! Jake makes his home in Byron, MI.

Meet your Games Announcer!

Mike "Michigan Moose" Brown. Mike is a former Highland Athlete and now a world class judge and announcer. Mike has traveled to Highland Games in Scotland and was even given the honor of  judging at the Masters World Championships in Scotland! We are honored and fortunate to have Mike as our announcer extraordinaire!

Meet your Head Field Judge

Ivor "The Viking" Alcorn. Ivor is a former athlete and former open champion of several Highland Games. We are proud and honored to tell you that Ivor has served his country with the United States Army serving 3 tours in the Middle East . Ivor is married to the effervescent Amy who is a regular at many Renaissance Festivals. Ivor and Amy also have experience as athletic directors at Highland Games. We are honored to have Ivor as our head field judge.

Meet your Official Scorekeeper

Lori Drummond

Clan Affiliation: Clan Drummond

     Lori is married to your athletic director Roland Drummond and has shared his journey in the Highland Games. Though not Scottish by birth, Lori has embraced the Highland Games and is often one of the most vocal fans on the field! Lori has been a scorekeeper at several Highland Games and as a former branch manager of a bank, she is well able to keep the numbers in line!

Meet your Field Marker

David Drummond

Clan Affiliation: Clan Drummond

      The field marker is perhaps one of the most important jobs on the field. The field marker has to have nerves of steel since the implements will be headed in his general direction! He has to have quick reflexes to get out of the way! He has to have a keen eye to see where the implement lands and mark the spot for the head field judge. All of these seemingly super-human attributes can be found in our field marker, David Drummond. David has even managed to compete in a Highland Games or two (back in the day), so he is well aware of the needs of the athletes and the judge and will be a great asset on the field. We are please that David has agreed to help us!