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Kelly Ripa, Mark Consuelos’ son Joaquin to attend University of Michigan

ANN ARBOR – Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’ youngest son, Joaquin, will be heading to Ann Arbor in the fall. The news was announced on Sunday on social media by the University of Michigan’s wrestling team, who signed the New York native. In the announcement, the team wrote: “SIGNED: Welcome to the family, @joaquinconsuelos! #NewBlue #GoBlue.”Ripa also took to Instagram to share the news with a photo of her husband and son wearing maize and blue Michigan sweatshirts. Joaquin shared the U-M wrestling team’s image on his Instagram account and wrote: “Super excited to step into this next chapter with @umichwrestling!

AFC Ann Arbor withdraws men’s season for second year due to pandemic

ANN ARBOR – AFC Ann Arbor officials announced on Tuesday that its men’s team will not participate in this year’s USL League Two season due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The club is currently consulting with the United Women’s Soccer division’s leadership to determine whether or not the women’s team will compete this year. “From the beginning of the pandemic, we have been precautious about our return to play and have followed the guidance and advice of our state’s top medical expert, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun,” Bilal Saeed, Chair of AFC Ann Arbor said in a statement. “Under these guidelines and current state restrictions, we cannot in good conscience bring players in for a league season,” the club said in a statement. “We understand AFC Ann Arbor’s decision to withdraw from participation in the 2021 League Two season,” USL Vice President Joel Nash said in a statement.

Michigan Athletics put on pause -- Athletes, coaches, team-staff asked to quarantine

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – All athletic programs at the University of Michigan will be put on a 14-day pause starting Sunday, a school official confirmed Saturday night. Read: New COVID strain prompts 2-week pause of Michigan Athletics activitiesThe decision was made by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Team members -- student athletes, coaches and team staff -- are asked to immediately isolate or quarantine until further notice. MDHHS sent University of Michigan officials a memo explaining our recommendations, but has not issued any orders for the university to take any actions. Due to possible exposure to the virus in the community, MDHHS has also recommended increased testing in Washtenaw County to the Washtenaw County Health Department.

Watch Michigan Marching Band’s first-ever digital show

ANN ARBOR – The Michigan Marching Band performed the first digital show in its 123-year history on Saturday ahead of the Wolverines’ football game against Penn State. The band performed a variety of songs, including “Help!” by The Beatles, “Don’t Back Down” by Bruce Springsteen and “Amazing Grace.”Familiar voice and longtime Michigan Marching Band announcer Carl Grapentine appears throughout the performance. “I want to join the Michigan Marching band in thanking members of our medical community,” said Howard in the video. From musicians to flag team members, to cheerleaders and baton twirlers, the video features scores of the band’s members performing from their dorm rooms, permanent residences, front yards and on the band’s practicing grounds at Elbel Field. And it wouldn’t be a Michigan Band show if the drum major didn’t do that famous backbend on the field at the Big House.

Ann Arbor Public Schools postpones start of winter sports season

ANN ARBOR – Superintendent of Ann Arbor Public Schools, Jeanice Kerr Swift, announced on Thursday that the winter sports season will be delayed until January due to concerns over COVID-19. “Participation in indoor practices and competitions during a public health pandemic comes with a risk to the health and safety of those involved.”The announcement comes two weeks after Swift urged the Michigan High School Athletic Association in a public letter to postpone the winter sports season. Since Swift’s original letter on Oct. 30, new county and statewide cases have skyrocketed, breaking numerous one-day infection records. “Don’t wait for a call from the Health Department,” Jimena Loveluck, health officer for Washtenaw County Health Department, said in a statement. Schools across Metro Detroit have begun to shift from in-person to remote learning due to the surge in new COVID-19 cases.

Ann Arbor Public Schools calls for delay of winter sports season over COVID-19 fears

ANN ARBOR – Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift released a statement on Friday morning urging the Michigan High School Athletic Association to postpone the winter sports season as cases of COVID-19 reach new levels across the state. We take our responsibility very seriously to coordinate high school sports activities in a healthy, safe and responsible manner during the COVID-19 pandemic that continues this fall. "Therefore, we are calling on the MHSAA to delay the start of the winter athletic season. "Over the next two weeks, we will continue our advocacy to delay the winter sports season. We will provide regular updates to our school community and present the Board of Education with a report on November 11, 2020.

Ann Arbor hockey team reports positive COVID-19 cases

ANN ARBOR – The Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association has reported a total of six positive COVID-19 tests on its team. The youth team has been quarantining since the first positive cases emerged last week. The last time the team was at Ann Arbor Ice Cube was on Oct. 17, but management believes that the players who tested positive were not in the locker room with the other players. “AAAHA intends to keep each positive tested individual off the ice for 14 days from the date of the positive test,” wrote team management in an email. The team has reported each case to the Washtenaw County Health Department, which is monitoring the cases.

Ann Arbor Huron, Pioneer football teams suspend activities after confirmed COVID-19 case

ANN ARBOR – Ann Arbor Public Schools announced on its website on Thursday that a Huron varsity football player has tested positive for COVID-19. According to the notice, AAPS was made aware of a probable case on Oct. 6 and reported it to the Washtenaw County Health Department. All Huron varsity football activities and games through Oct. 16 have been canceled. Huron played against Pioneer last Friday, and due to potential contact during the game, all Pioneer varsity football activities have been suspended. AAPS said it is working with the Washtenaw County Health Department on contact tracing with members of the Pioneer team.

Michigan Athletics: Nearly $6M donated by football season ticket holders

ANN ARBOR – On Monday, the University of Michigan Athletics Department announced that football season ticket holders donated nearly $6 million worth of tickets over the last few months. According to a graphic tweeted by Michigan Athletics, 3,580 season ticket holders donated their tickets, accounting for 16% of all season ticket holders. The gifts ranged from $75 to $38,792 and came mostly from season ticket holders from California, Illinois, Michigan, New York and Ohio. We had 3,580 season ticket holders donate their @UMichFootball tickets to our athletic department, raising $5.9M. At the time, season tickets holders who had already paid for their tickets were told they could apply their balance to 2021 season tickets, request a refund or donate them to the athletic department.

University of Michigan junior OT Jalen Mayfield leaves to enter NFL draft

All rights reserved)ANN ARBOR, Mich. Michigan offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield is entering the NFL draft. These last few weeks have been filled with stress and have put me in a place where I have a difficult decision to make, Mayfield wrote in his post. Mayfield chose to leave the Wolverines one week after the Big Ten postponed its fall football season because of the coronavirus pandemic. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Mayfield was an honorable mention All-Big Ten player last season after starting 13 games at right tackle. The NFL plans to hold its draft outdoors in Cleveland next year from April 29 to May 1.

Ann Arbor Huron High School suspends in-person workouts for two athletic teams

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Ann Arbor Public Schools has suspended summer in-person workouts for two athletic teams at Huron High School after an individual connected with both teams tested positive for COVID-19. On Friday, AAPS announced that the field hockey and girls basketball programs were suspending in-person summer conditioning. The school system did not give details about the individual who tested positive but said that it had been in contact with health officials and would follow protocols. AAPS released the following statement:The Huron High School field hockey and girls basketball programs have both suspended in-person summer conditioning due... Posted by Ann Arbor Public Schools on Friday, July 31, 2020 Like what youre reading? Sign up for our email newsletter here!

Dexter-Ann Arbor Run to move online for Labor Day weekend event

ANN ARBOR, Mich. On Wednesday, the Ann Arbor Track Club announced that its annual Dexter-Ann Arbor Run will not be held in-person this year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). The Dexter-Ann Arbor Kids Run, intended for children under the age of 12, has also been made into a virtual race. The aDexter-Ann Arbor Run has happened every year since 1974 and features a picturesque 13.1 mile course from Dexter to historic downtown Ann Arbor via the scenic Huron River Drive. The 2021 Dexter-Ann Arbor Run is anticipated to take place June 6, 2021. Find out more about the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run at http://dxa2.com.

University of Michigan welcomes back football, basketball players this week

ANN ARBOR Michigans athletic department says football and basketball players are welcome back on campus starting this week if they choose to take part in voluntary strength and conditioning work. Michigan says its process for reopening the athletic campus includes a 14-day pre-report risk assessment and a six-day resocialization period to campus. The resocialization period includes COVID-19 and antibody testing. Players and staff will have daily screening before being admitted to facilities. The second phase of returning student-athletes to the Michigan campus will include cross country, field hockey, golf, soccer, tennis and volleyball.