Jay (Junior) Stielstra - MCSHOF Inductee - 2010

Jay Stielstra participated in track and field, football and basketball in all four years of his high school career. In track and field, he long-jumped 22 feet, 9 5/8 inches, setting a school and Mason County record that still stands. It is the oldest county record still standing. In 1950, Stielstra was the Class B state champion in the 180-yard hurdles with a time of 20.9 seconds. In 1951, he finished first in the long jump at 21 feet, 5 3/4 inches and repeated in the 180-yard hurdles, winning with a time of 20.6 seconds. Stielstra went to the University of Michigan on a track and field scholarship and lettered for four years. He also played football one year, but his career was interrupted by injury. At Michigan, Don Canham was his track coach. After college, he moved on to Ann Arbor Pioneer as an assistant football coach. Stielstra coached Pioneer's varsity football team for approximately 10 years and won the mythical Class A state championship in 1962 when his team was 8-0 and the top-ranked team by the Associated Press. He moved over to Ann Arbor Huron and specialized in African history. Now retired, Stielstra is also an outstanding musician.