Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By CHARITY SMITH
Ironwood — Aaron Froelich was officially hired as the Gogebic Community College assistant esports coach during the regular meeting of the college board of trustees on Tuesday.
Froelich, who also serves as the manager of Campus Suites, has been a volunteer assistant coach for the esports program since August. He said he’s been involved with esports since spring of 2020, and volunteered because of his interest in the sports and its history.
“I have some graphic design in my past and I feel I can really apply it (to esports),” he said. “It’s quite a bit of fun.”
“Froelich has been working as the interim esports assistant coach since 2020 and has shown great initiative during this time,” said GCC president George McNulty. “He has worked with coach Jim Halverson to support students, create and design the current esports graphics for social media. … He has proven to be an asset to the team.”
In December, the GCC Rainbow 6 Siege team placed second in the national championship tournament. Froelich helped with the production and broadcast of the game.
“I want to continue to educate our student athletes on things aside from playing the game itself,” Froelich said. “There’s a lot of avenues and esports itself is growing these days. Like in the media production side of it — commentating (during) the games, making the graphics, working production, working cameras. All that kind of stuff can be very helpful.”
Froelich will be paid $3,000 as assistant coach.
The esports team will start its regular season on Feb. 7. This season, the team will be playing Rainbow 6 Siege, Overwatch, Valorant, Call of Duty, Rocket League, Fortnite, Super Smash Bros, and NBA 2K.
New sign
The board approved the bid from Cook Signs, of Marquette, for $37,000 to construct a new sign on Jackson Road that will be shared by the college and the city’s Pat O’Donnell Civic Center.
The college is working with the city of Ironwood to enter into a shared agreement. The new sign will have an LED digital display to announce events and provide information for both the college and the civic center.
GCC Vice President of Business Services Erik Guenard told the board the college’s marketing department will be controlling the reader board on the sign. It will be comparable to the sign at the Skilled Trades Center at the corner of Midland Avenue and Greenbush Street in Ironwood, according to a press release.
The college and the city of Ironwood have agreed to split the cost of the sign and its construction 60/40.
Guenard said he wanted the college to have the biggest piece of the sign so that is why the college will be paying for 60%.
“I wanted to make sure that we were the majority share of it because it’s on our property and we want to be the first thing that people see when they come in,” Guenard said.
After installation and other expenses, he estimated the sign project will cost around $50,000.
“I’m excited to bring it because I think this is really going to up the ante for the college and the front door. God willing and good weather, we will have it this mid summer,” he said.
The board also:
—Approved the contract to allow the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District to rent space on the Ironwood campus during the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The GOISD programs that use the campus include: computer aided drafting and design, certified nursing assistant, and robotics and construction technology.
—Accepted the retirement of Laura Krell, administrative assistant to the career counselor.
—Approved the adjunct faculty list for spring 2021
—Board members John Lupino and Tom Brown were given the oath of office as they were reelected to the board in November. Lupino was also reelected chairman of the board.
—Decided to hold its February meeting on the last Monday of the month, instead of on the last Tuesday, due to a scheduling conflict of board member Bill Malloy. Further meeting dates will be determined in February.
