Wylie E. Groves High School in Beverly Hills has been named the first recipient of the Jon Fitzgerald Sweepstake Award, presented by the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association.
This award recognizes Groves High School for its excellence, competitive depth, and historic dominance across all facets of interscholastic speech, debate, and theatre.
The honor caps off an unprecedented “triple crown” for the school.
During the 2025–26 school year, Groves captured state championship titles in Debate, Forensic, and One Act (Studio) Theatre.
The award honors the legacy of Jon Fitzgerald, who served as the executive director of MIFA for 40 years.
The Sweepstake Award was designed to recognize the single school that best embodies his vision of comprehensive excellence.
“To win state championships in Debate, Forensic, and Theatre all in a single school year is a monumental achievement on its own,” said John Rutherford, director of theatre and head forensic coach. “But to be named the inaugural recipient of the Jon Fitzgerald Sweepstake Award makes this season truly historic. Jon Fitzgerald spent four decades building the foundation for speech arts in Michigan, and we are deeply honored to carry his legacy forward.”
The award was presented during a ceremony on June 28 at Ludus Technologies corporate office in Ada, Mich.