MORE THAN 500 K-12 STUDENTS LEARN SUSTAINABLE PROCESSES OF THE MAKING OF THE MADE-IN-MICHIGAN OFFICIAL COURT OF THE2027 MEN'S FINAL FOUR®
IRON RIVER, Mich., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Connor Sports® today hosted a sustainable forestry education event here in partnership with the Forest Park (MI) School District, Iron Mountain (MI) School and West Iron (MI) Schools and local industry partners to begin the production process for the Official Court that will manufactured at Connor Sports' manufacturing mill in Crystal Falls (MI) for the 2027 NCAA® Men's Final Four®.
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56C`QmkA E:E=6lQr@??@C $A@CEDUR_bhj }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D t5F42E:@?2= s2J] Qmk:7C2>6 :5lQ!=2J|65:20`Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^>>I]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^|$a__agch^r$\!C6D6?E2E:@?]>Acn:5l~pahgge_fQ H:5E9lQde_Q 96:89ElQbadQ 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q D4C@==:?8lQ?@Q ?2>6lQ!=2J|65:20`Qmk^:7C2>6mk^Amk^5:Gm
kAm%96 kDEC@?8mk6>m}2EFC2= #6D@FC46D t5F42E:@?2= s2Jk^6>mk^DEC@?8m 2E E96 r@@<D #F? 7@C6DE :? xC@? #:G6C H2D 7@4FD65 @? AC@G:5:?8 2 7F? 2?5 65F42E:@?2= H2J E@ =62C? 23@FE C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C6DECJ 7@C >@C6 E92? d__ u@C6DE !2C<[ xC@? |@F?E2:? 2?5 (6DE xC@? z\`a DEF56?ED 2D A2CE @7 E96 AC@46DD @7 DFDE2:?23=J 92CG6DE:?8 E96 E:>36C 7@C E96 a_af u:?2= u@FC 4@FCE]k^Am
kAm$EF56?ED G:D:E65 2 D6C:6D @7 :?E6C24E:G6 7:6=5 DE2E:@?D DE27765 3J r@??@C $A@CED 2?5 a_ =@42= :?5FDECJ A2CE?6CD :?4=F5:?8 =62C?:?8 23@FE DEC2E68:4 E:>36C D6=64E:@? 2D 46CE:7:65 3J E96 u@C6DE $E6H2C5D9:A r@F?4:= Wu$rX 2?5 92?5\4FEE:?8 >6E9@5D]k^Am
kAmp 9:89=:89E @7 E@52JVD 24E:G:E:6D H2D E96 76==:?8 @7 2 7@C6DE EC66 3J 46CE:7:65 $p(( {6G6= ` EC2:?6C qC@4< '2?~DD @7 rCJDE2= u2==D[ |x\32D65 '2?~DD u@C6DECJ E@ 36 FD65 :? E96 >2?F724EFC6 @7 E96 ~77:4:2= r@FCE 7@C E96 a_af }rpp |6?VD u:?2= u@FC] %9C@F89 @3D6CG2E:@?[ DEF56?ED =62C?65 E9C@F89 AC@A6C E649?:BF6D 2?5 D276EJ >6E9@5D @7 EC66 76==:?8 2?5 492:?D2H @A6C2E:@?]k^Am
kAmQ$FDE2:?23:=:EJ 92D 2=H2JD 366? 2 AC:@C:EJ 7@C r@??@C $A@CED :? @FC A@D:E:@? 2D E96 :?5FDECJ =6256C :? 92C5H@@5 32D<6E32== 4@FCE >2?F724EFC:?8[ 2?5 E@52JVD 6G6?E :? A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 @FC G2=F65 &AA6C !6?:?DF=2 E:>36C :?5FDECJ A2CE?6CD AC@G:565 2 4=2DDC@@> :? E96 H@@5D 7@C DEF56?ED 7C@> E96 u@C6DE !2C< W|xX 2?5 (6DE xC@? W|xX D49@@= s:DEC:4ED[Q D2:5 q6?;2>:? q249>2?[ rt~ v6C7=@C }@CE9 p>6C:42^r@??@C $A@CED] Q(6 E92?< 2== E9@D6 H9@ 56G6=@A65 DF49 2D EC6>6?5@FD 65F42E:@? AC@8C2> E@ D9@H =@42= DEF56?ED 7:CDE\92?5 E96 AC@46DD @7 C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C6DECJ 2?5 9@H E9@D6 7@C6DE E@ 7=@@C >6E9@5D 2?5 AC@5F4ED H:== 36 FD65 7@C E96 |256 :? |:49:82? ~77:4:2= r@FCE @7 E96 a_af |6?VD u:?2= u@FC :? s6EC@:E]Qk^Am
kAmt5F42E:@?2= DE2E:@?D :?4=F565i 92?5 4FEE:?8 2?5 EC66 D6=64E:@?j FD6 @7 962GJ 6BF:A>6?Ej :>A24E @7 DFDE2:?23=6 7@C6DECJ @? H:=5=:76j 4FEE:?8 @7 =@8D :?E@ =F>36Cj AC@5F4E:@? @7 E96 4@FCE :?4=F5:?8 2 4@FCE A2?6= D:>:=2C E@ E9@D6 E@ 36 FD65 7@C E96 u:?2= u@FC 4@FCE[ 2?5 E96 Q=2?5:?8Q 2C62 H96C6 E96 4FE =@8D 2C6 DE2865 2?5 AC6A2C65 7@C EC2?DA@CE E@ E96 D2H>:==]k^Am
kAmr@??@C $A@CED =@42= :?5FDECJ 6G6?E A2CE?6CD :?4=F565i &?:E65 $E2E6D u@C6DE $6CG:46j {! qF:=5:?8 $@=FE:@?Dj }6H {627 r@?DF=E:?8[ {{rj (9:E6H2E6C pDD@4:2E6Dj }2EFC2= #6D@FC46 r@?D6CG2E:@?j p>6C:42? q:C5 r@?D6CG2?4Jj r@?D6CG2E:@? s:DEC:4EDj q:==6CF5 p>6C:42D r@CA@C2E:@?j #6?6H23=6 #6D@FC46 $@=FE:@?Dj vC62E {2<6D %:>36C !C@5F46CD pDD@4:2E:@?j u@C6DE x?5FDECJ $276EJ U2>Aj %C2:?:?8 p==:2?46j |:49:82? s6A2CE>6?E @7 }2EFC2= #6D@FC46Dj |:49:82? pDD@4:2E:@? @7 %:>36C>6?j |x r@?D6CG2E:@? ~77:46CDj $92>4@^$92>4@ {F>36Cj vtx r@?DF=E2?EDj '2?~DD u@C6DECJj r@@<D #F? r@>>:EE66 2?5 &]!] |:49:82? (@C<D]k^Am
kAmQ%96 s6EC@:E {@42= ~C82?:K:?8 r@>>:EE66 8C62E=J G2=F6D E96 6>A92D:D @? E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 E96 a_af |6?VD u:?2= u@FC 4@FCE 36:?8 AC@5F465 H:E9 DFDE2:?23=6 >6E9@5D 2D 2? :>A@CE2?E 6=6>6?E @7 E96 @G6C2== 7@4FD @? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 7@C E96 6?E:C6 a_af |6?VD u:?2= u@FC :?4=F5:?8 3@E9 @77\4@FCE 2?4:==2CJ 6G6?ED 2?5 E96 6I4:E:?8 4@>A6E:E:@? @? E96 4@FCE 2E u@C5 u:6=5 :? s6EC@:E[Q D2:5 s2G6 q6249?2F[ rt~ s6EC@:E {@42= ~C82?:K:?8 r@>>:EE66]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mpq~&% r@??@C $A@CEDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmu@F?565 :? `gfa[ r@??@CkDFAm®k^DFAm $A@CED :D E96 =6256C :? 92C5H@@5 DA@CED 7=@@C:?8 2?5 :D 2 AC676CC65 AC@G:56C E@ E96 }rpp[ }qp[ uxqp[ ux'q[ 2?5 @E96C 8=@32= DA@CED @C82?:K2E:@?D] r@??@C $A@CED :D 2 A2CE @7 E96 v6C7=@CkDFAm®k^DFAm 4@>A2?J] v6C7=@CVD 4FEE:?8\6586 E649?@=@8J[ 9:DE@CJ @7 :??@G2E:@?[ 2?5 56D:8?\7@CH2C5 AC@5F4ED 2D 2? :?E6C?2E:@?2= =6256C :? E96 7=@@C:?8 :?5FDECJ AC@G:56 r@??@C $A@CED H:E9 8=@32= D4@A6 2?5 6?92?465 C6D62C49 2?5 E649?@=@8J C6D@FC46D] %96 v6C7=@C A@CE7@=:@ 2=D@ :?4=F56D $A@CE r@FCEkDFAm®k^DFAm[ %2C27=6IkDFAm®k^DFAm[ sF>2A=2DEkDFAm®k^DFAm[ $?2A{@4< x?5FDEC:6DkDFAm®k^DFAm 2?5 $E286 $E6AkDFAm®k^DFAm] r@??@C $A@CED 92D 2 AC@G6? 4@>>:E>6?E E@ DFDE2:?23:=:EJ H:E9 2? 6I46==6?E 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C64@C5 :? C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C6DECJ[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 FD6 @7 u@C6DE $E6H2C5D9:A r@F?4:= Wu$rX\46CE:7:65 >2E6C:2=D] %96 4@>A2?JVD >2?F724EFC:?8 724:=:EJ :? p>2D2[ |x[ :D :?56A6?56?E=J\2F5:E65 2?5 4@>A=:2?E H:E9 x$~ `c__` DE2?52C5D] r@??@C $A@CED AC@5F4ED :?4=F56 =625:?8 A6C>2?6?E 92C5H@@5 DA@CED 7=@@C:?8 DJDE6>D[ 52?46 DEF5:@ DJDE6>D[ 2?5 AC6>:F> GF=42?:K65 CF336C DA@CED DFC7246D] r@??@C $A@CED :D @? E96 H63 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]4@??@CDA@CED]4@>Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmHHH]4@??@CDA@CED]4@>k^2m[ u2463@@< 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]72463@@<]4@>^4@??@CDA@CEDQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmHHH]72463@@<]4@>^4@??@CDA@CEDk^2m[ {:?<65x? 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=:?<65:?]4@>^4@>A2?J^4@??@C\DA@CEDQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]=:?<65:?]4@>^4@>A2?J^4@??@C\DA@CEDk^2m[ 2?5 @? %H:EE6C or@??@C0$A@CED]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mr@??@C $A@CED t?G:C@?>6?E2= #6DA@?D:3:=:EJk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF= EJA6lQ5:D4Qmk=:mx? a__h[ 2? :?56A6?56?E 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 6?8:?66C:?8 7:C> 2F5:E65 2?5 56D:8?2E65 r@??@C $A@CED 2 Q+6C@ (2DE6 r@>A2?J]Qk^=:mk=:mpD 2 >6>36C @7 E96 |2A=6 u=@@C:?8 |2?F724EFC6CD pDD@4:2E:@? W|u|pX[ r@??@C 2596C6D E@ E92E @C82?:K2E:@?VD DEC:4E 8C25:?8 2?5 BF2=:EJ DE2?52C5D]k^=:mk=:m|2A=6 92C5H@@5 FD65 :? E96 4@FCED :D 7C@> 2 C6?6H23=6 C6D@FC46[ H:E9 E96 &]$] 8C@H:?8 D:I E:>6D >@C6 92C5H@@5 E92? :D 92CG6DE65 6249 J62C]k^=:mk=:mr@??@C C64J4=6D `__T @7 :ED H2DE6 >2E6C:2= 2?5 @776CD u@C6DE $E6H2C5D9:A r@F?4:=\46CE:7:65 H@@5] %96 u$r >2C< C6AC6D6?ED AC@5F4ED 7C@> H6==\>2?2865 7@C6DED]k^=:mk=:mr@??@C H2D E96 7:CDE |u|p >6>36C E@ 36 46CE:7:65 3J E96 #2:?7@C6DE p==:2?46 2?5 :D E96 @?=J :?56A6?56?E=J 46CE:7:65 +6C@ (2DE6 DA@CED 7=@@C:?8 >2?F724EFC6C]k^=:mk^F=m
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56CaQmkAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^>>I]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^|$a__agbe^r$\%C66];A8n:5l~pahggdfgQ E:E=6lQr@??@C $A@CEDUR_bhj }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D t5F42E:@?2= s2J :? xC@? #:G6C |x] Q 2=ElQr@??@C $A@CEDUR_bhj }2EFC2= #6D@FC46D t5F42E:@?2= s2J :? xC@? #:G6C |x] Q ^mk^AmkAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^>>I]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^|$`hebbc`^r@??@C\$A@CED\{@8@];A8n:5l~pahgefffQ E:E=6lQr@??@C $A@CED =@8@Q 2=ElQr@??@C $A@CED =@8@Q ^mk^Amk^5:Gm
kA :5lQ!&#{Qmk:>8 E:E=6lQr:D:@?Q H:5E9lQ`aQ 96:89ElQ`aQ 2=ElQr:D:@?Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^:>8^72G:4@?]A?8nD?lstecag`U2>AjD5la_ae\`_\_dQ ^m ':6H @C:8:?2= 4@?E6?E E@ 5@H?=@25 >F=E:>65:2ik2 :5lQ!#}&#{Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^4@??@C\DA@CED\2?5\FAA6C\A6?:?DF=2\E:>36C\:?5FDECJ\9@DED\?2EFC2=\C6D@FC46D\65F42E:@?2=\52J\b_aghghhc]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^4@??@C\DA@CED\2?5\FAA6C\A6?:?DF=2\E:>36C\:?5FDECJ\9@DED\?2EFC2=\C6D@FC46D\65F42E:@?2=\52J\b_aghghhc]9E>=k^2mk^Am
kAm$~&#rt r@??@C $A@CEDk^Am
kAmk:>8 2=ElQQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^CE]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^CE]8:7n}6HDxE6>x5lstecag`U2>Aj%C2?D>:DD:@?0x5la_ae`__d`g`f!#0}t($0&$!#00000stecag`U2>Ajs2E6x5la_ae`__dQ DEJ=6lQ3@C56Ci_AIj H:5E9i`AIj 96:89Ei`AIjQ ^mk^Am
