76 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2019
sports HIGHlights
Nate Emery of Farmington Hills, one of
the top rock climbers in his age group in
the country, grew his hair out for three
years so he could make a donation to
Children With Hair Loss.
The not-for-profit organization based
in South Rockwood provides human hair
replacement at no cost for children and
young adults who have lost their hair
because of an illness.
Nate donated 13 inches of his locks
July 20.
The 10-year-old Hillside Elementary
School fifth-grader was invited to walk
the runway to show off his new hairstyle Nov. 2 at Laurel Manor in Livonia
in the 15th annual Charity Ball presented by Children With Hair Loss.
Children who have received hair also model their new hairdos at the
Charity Ball.
Merrick Michaelson of Frankel
Jewish Academy took second place
among 93 runners Sept. 10 in the
first Catholic League Division 3-4
cross country jamboree of the season.
Michaelson completed the course
at Young Patriots Park in Riverview in
18:41.9.
Rounding out the Jaguars’
top
five runners were Jonah Feldman
(46th; 23:12.2), Aidan Keenan (48th;
23:17.2), Henry Tukel (71st; 26:53.6)
and Andrew Tukel (92nd; 34:40.9).
FJA placed eighth among 11 teams
in the team standings.
In another FJA note, the boys
tennis team was ranked No. 5 in
Division 4 in a recent Michigan High
School Tennis Coaches Association
poll.
Oh, Brothers
Siblings are on University of Michigan
football, cheerleading teams.
STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMII STOLOFF PHOTOGRAPHY
O
ne is a football player.
One is a cheerleader.
One is reserved. One
is outgoing.
They’
re brothers. And they’
re
on the field in front of more
than 100,000 screaming fans
at Michigan Stadium in Ann
Arbor every time the University
of Michigan football team has a
home game.
Louis Grodman, 22, is a
fifth-year senior defensive back
and special teams player for the
U-M football team. His brother
Nathan Grodman,19, a junior,
is in his third year on the U-M
cheerleading squad.
Each brother earned a spot on
his team the hard way, through
a tryout.
“I’
m beyond proud of what
my brother has accomplished,”
Nathan said. “He’
s my biggest
role model. He works so hard.”
“I really appreciate how
Nathan has supported me,”
Louis said.
While their focus is on foot-
ball and cheerleading during
games, the brothers do get a
special moment when the foot-
ball team heads into the locker
room for the final time before
the kickoff through a tunnel of
cheerleaders.
“We do a fist bump or high
five,” Louis said.
“It’
s a surreal feeling knowing
my brother is out there playing
for the football team,” Nathan
said. “To be honest, that’
s my
favorite part of the game. Having
him there makes it personal.”
The brothers’
parents are
Robert and Lisa Grodman of
Commerce Township.
“It’
s very exciting for us to see
Nathan cheering for Louis,” Lisa
said. “It’
s a challenge to watch
them simultaneously, but we love
every minute of it.
“We’
re immensely proud of
them. They work hard doing
what they enjoy and they get
excellent grades in their classes.
That shows their dedication and
perseverance.”
Each brother wants to go to
medical school.
Louis, who will graduate from
U-M in December, is thinking
about becoming an orthopedic
surgeon. Nathan is focusing on
becoming a pediatric oncologist.
Now, about those different
personalities.
“Nathan is more of a free spirit
than I am,” Louis said. “He’
s
always happy and he makes the
people around him happy, too.”
“Once Louis gets to know
you, he’
s more talkative,” Nathan
said. “With me, even if I don’
t
know you, I’
ll talk your head
off.”
The brothers had no plans to
play football or cheer at U-M
after they graduated from Walled
Lake Northern High School.
“I wasn’
t going to play football
in college,” Louis said. “But I
Nathan Grodman and Louis Grodman
quick hits
BY STEVE STEIN
continued on page 78