Legacy program brings pride to St. Clair Shores

ST. CLAIR SHORES — St. Clair Shores has always been a city that holds significant pride in its sports.

Whether it was Kyte Monroe packed with baseball games or one of the numerous local high schools competing on any given night, the community revolves around athletic competition.

One program in particular has made a mark in the community for over 70 years and continues to mold young athletes and cheerleaders each year.

“We absolutely try to convey the pride of our history,” SCS Green Hornets President Don Quest said. “I always lean on our history and the ability to be a part of our program that has been a part of our history since the 1950s.”

Quest has been a Green Hornet since his playing days in 1987 and started coaching football for the Green Hornets in 1996. Quest came back as president of the program last year after serving as president from 2001 to 2012 and coaching from 2012 to 2019.

“Growing up and going through the program, I had a great experience,” Quest said. “I love football, and it gave me a great experience to give back.”

The Green Hornets offer football at the flag, freshmen, junior varsity, and varsity levels, while also offering cheer from flag to junior varsity. The football teams play their home games at Lakeview High School and compete in the Eastern Suburban Football League against local teams such as the Warren Jets and Grosse Pointe Red Barons.

The program provides all equipment except cups and cleats for football and, more importantly, provides leadership and confidence for young men and women heading into high school.

“I would say fundamentals of football and cheer are not first but definitely there. It’s community and fundamentals that are passed off after high school that are first,” Quest said. “I always tell our coaches that our goal isn’t wins and losses, it’s to prepare these young men and women for high school.”

The Green Hornets suffered through the pandemic, shutting down operations and fearing the worst — that was, until the community came together and helped rebuild the organization to where it is now.

“It was a rough year. The organization suffered from a numbers perspective,” Quest said. “We’ve had a great response from the community in terms of an outreach program and advertisements.”

Local high school football coaches such as Lakeview’s Pat Threet and Lake Shore’s Marcus Cribbs assisted the program any way they could, and now the numbers have returned to 150 participants between football and cheer.

“Ultimately, I think our goal is to get to the 175 to 200 number,” Quest said.

A huge win for the Green Hornets would be returning its varsity cheer program. To qualify for a varsity team, the program needs five varsity signups.

While not having a varsity team, the cheer program currently carries 28 girls with 14 on the junior varsity team.

Cheer director Amber Stanczak, who has been with the Green Hornets for 15 years, said the cheer program’s importance is conveyed through its commitment.

“We love giving them the foundations to give them good fundamental skills, and them building on those fundamental skills,” Stanczak said. “These girls, quite a few of them, could have gone onto middle school to cheer, but they didn’t do it because they love the Green Hornets program.”

The cheer program prides itself on forming a family within its team, and Stanczak said it starts in the flag program.

“When they start younger, they truly do become close and tight,” Stanczak said.

The cheer teams have a competition each year against other ESFL teams and, this year, will compete at Fraser High School in the annual competition.

As the season progresses — and hopefully participant numbers do, as well — the Green Hornets will continue to make a lasting impact in the St. Clair Shores community.

Whether a Hornet now or a former Hornet, it’s a family that keeps growing.

“When I was coaching, my main message has always been that we’re family,” Quest said. “Whether you go to Lakeshore, Lakeview, South Lake, Clintondale or De La Salle, you’re always a Hornet, and you’re always a part of the family.”