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Former LSSU Laker wins 2023 Sault Gus Macker

Blue Chips take home this year's Gus Macker championship as former LSSU Laker Michael Smutny scores winning shot, assisted by Kole Swiss of Rudyard
Sara Eisinger
Sara Eisinger

Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament returned to historic Water Street this weekend, where 153 teams from around the country and across the St. Marys River competed in two days of grilling competition.

The Blue Chips took home this year's championship for the second year in a row, coming in undefeated at 4-0. Former Lake Superior State University (LSSU) basketball player Michael Smutny made the winning 3 point shot, assisted by Kole Swiss of Rudyard. Smutny played for the Lakers from 2013 to '17. Blue Chips teammate Michael Nicholson played for the Lakers from 2014 to '18. Greg Holland, originally from Petoskey, also played for the championship team.

Smutny said the team adopted its name from "Blue Chips," a 1994 sports drama directed by William Friedkin about a college basketball coach who breaks all of the rules to recruit a winning team. It stars 90's NBA heroes Shaquille O'Neal, Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, and more. 

Darrell Belcher of Grand Rapids won this year's slam dunk contest, judged by loud cheers and applause from the audience. The first place slam dunk prize was $200. 

Nearby, stood Michael Brann. This was Brann's 33rd year competing in Gus Macker competitions. He played for the Culvers out of Grand Rapids this weekend.
 
"I've played in seven Gus Mackers this year, all the way from New Mexico to Sault Ste. Marie," Brann said. "We love coming here every summer. It is nostalgic. I remember playing in the Sault Gus Macker in seventh and eighth grade."

“They come from far and beyond,” Mary Jo DuVall said, who organized Gus Macker in Sault Ste. Marie this year to raise money for the hospice care homes of Superior Health Support Systems. “Gus Macker is a great summer event. People vacation their weekends at the Macker tournaments.”

Gus Macker Vice President of Operations Michael Fuller has headed competitions for approximately 30 years. He especially looks forward to coming to the Sault each year.

"I love the Sault," Fuller said. "Everyone thinks we are just here to play basketball, but they don't all know the cause. This is for hospice. I can't thank hospice enough. My sister passed away two months ago. My mother-in-law was in hospice, too. It is a great organization. Without all of the great sponsors and volunteers, we could not put this on. We want to thank all of them."

Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament registration fees costs $5, helping DuVall and volunteers rack in anywhere between $4,000 to $6,000 per year. 

Event proceeds will support all hospice rooms under the Superior Health Support Systems umbrella to include Hearthside Assisted Living, Merlin Home, Pennington Home, Harbor View Assisted Living & Hospice, and White Wiles Home.

“We need to say thank you to our community members in Sault Ste. Marie, all of our local businesses, and the organizations who have made a financial donation to bring this event to town,” DuVall said.

Many local sponsors helped make this year's Gus Macker possible. Nicloet Bank was the primary event sponsor.

The 2023 Sault tournament was up 40 teams from the 103 registered teams in the 2022 Gus Macker competition.