December 2022 Issue of Varsity Monthly Thumb Magazine

PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
Athletes are selected as the Players of the Month for their athletic
accomplishments, leadership roles, and community impact.
EVAN
PERUSKI
UBLY
FOOTBALL
HAILEY
GREEN
NORTH BRANCH
VOLLEYBALL
UBLY FEATURED THE MOST PROLIFIC OFFENSE
IN THE HISTORY OF 11-PLAYER FOOTBALL IN THE
THUMB, SCORING 651 POINTS, ON ITS WAY TO THE
DIVISION 8 STATE RUNNER-UP.
At the helm of that explosive unit was junior quarterback
Evan Peruski. A starter since he was a freshman, Peruski
was a threat on both sides of the ball. Every time he
carried the ball, he averaged over 15 yards, finishing with
1,197 (78 carries) and 20 touchdowns. He threw for five
more scores.
On defense, he ended with four interceptions and one for
a touchdown. He had a one-handed highlight reel catch in
the state title game.
“The mental and physical growth
he’s had in the last couple of years
has really shown,” said Ubly coach
Eric Sweeney. “Evan works really hard
on getting stronger, he’s just done a
great job of making himself better.”
As a team, Ubly rushed for over
5,000 yards and 84 touchdowns.
With the constant threat of Peruski
dashing to the outside, it put a strain
on opposing defenses.
“What it does, it makes it where
teams have to defend us from sideline-to-sideline,”
Sweeney said. “He can take it from both sidelines. That
threat of those long runs outside is what elevates our
offense.”
Peruski was selected as the 2022 All-Thumb Player of
the Year by the Thumb Sportswriters Association.
Throughout the season, he was held back by the
coaching staff due to the margin of victory. But his
signature game came in a 49-7 Division 8 regional
championship win over Fowler, where he rushed for 267
yards on just 10 carries and four touchdowns. He also
ARTICLES BY PAUL ADAMS picked off two passes,
returning one 65 yards for a
score.
NORTH BRANCH’S HAILEY GREEN IS THE TYPE
OF PLAYER HER TEAMMATES FEED OFF. HER
ENERGY IS INFECTIOUS AND ONE OF THE REASONS
THE BRONCOS CAPTURED THE DIVISION 2 STATE
VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
As the team’s three-year Libero, Green has become the
anchor of the defense. “She’s super quick in the backrow,
very good at reading the other team and she plays with a
ton of energy,” said North Branch coach Jim Fish. “She’s
the quarterback of our defense and plays with passion and
energy that gets our team fired up.”
Only a junior, Green is a two-time
Division 2 All-State selection. She is
the latest in a long line of fantastic
defensive players for North Branch.
Green is the top-ranked Libero by
Prep Dig for the Class of 2024 and
the fifth overall prospect in the state
of Michigan.
“In our program, we’ve had several
Division 1 Liberos, and she’s right
in line with them,” said Fish. “I think
the difference for her is she plays so
passionately. The energy she gives the rest of our players in
unbelievable. That’s what we love about her.”
Green became the 10th player from North Branch to
be named All-Thumb Player of the Year by the Thumb
Sportswriters Association. She could become only the fifth
player to repeat as Player of the Year in 2024.
“We keep pushing her and she recognizes that she can
still grow as a player,” Fish said. “That’s the exciting thing,
she doesn’t rest on our laurels. She knows she can get even
better. We’re in the fine-tuning part of her game.”
He added: “She truly is like having another coach on the
floor. This year is the first time she’s come to me with
things she sees on the court. A lot of times, you don’t get
to that point because you don’t get four-year players that
often.”
4 December 2022 CONTACT US AT 989-673-5826 VIEW FREE ONLINE AT WWW.VARSITYMONTHLYTHUMB.COM PURCHASE PRINTS AT WWW.MISPORTSPHOTOS.COM
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